Escaping Strings

Chapter 21: Give

“I will, bye.”

Alas tres na nang hapon ay hindi pa rin tapos ang event. Sa totoo lang, si dad at Cara nga ang dapat na nandito eh, hindi ko naman kasi trabaho ang mag-speech sa harap ng maraming tao dahil sa hindi naman ako ang CEO. Also, I am not the one who should oversee this division because I am not Cara, the Branch Manager. Hay, hindi naman sa nagrereklamo ako at mahal ko ang trabaho ko pero 'di ba... wala lang.

Vince?

“Anong ginagawa mo rito?” tanong ko nang makalapit ako sa kaniya.

“Ah, wala. Gusto ko lang sanang i-check kung maayos ba ang lahat dito.” My left eyebrow arched to what he said.

Hindi niya naman trabaho 'yon. Ano bang nangyayari sa mga tao ngayon, nagka-rumble-rumble ang way of thinking in terms of business?

“O–kay.... Balik lang ako...,” turo ko sa direksiyon kung saan ako nanggaling.

“Wait, can we talk?”

Ano bang problema niya at parang hindi siya mapakali? No. Ano bang problema niya at sinundan pa niya ako rito para lang makipagkuwentuhan? Halata namang ako ang ipinunta niya kasi wala naman siyang nabanggit sa akin kanina na pupunta siya rito, nakisabay na sana ako.

“Once again, please, welcome, Miss Martina Fortalejo!” the speaker announces as the crowd gets on their feet to applaud.

Tumingin muna ako kay Vince. Bumuntong hininga naman siya bago tumango. Inayos ko ang sarili ko at saka lumakad para umakyat sa stage.

“Thank you.”

I cleared my throat as they silenced themselves.

“Actually, I did not expect that this event would be this successful. I am so grateful that all of you put a hand together just to get through all the inconvenience....”

Thank goodness at natapos ang pagkahaba-habang impromptu speech ko. Dios mío, hindi ako prepared. Mabuti na lang talaga at na-touch ako sa presentation nila kaya nakapagdrama ako. Daming kaekekan. Ngayon, puwede na akong umuwi. I want to see Matt all of a sudden. I don't know why, but I miss him. I am missing him as fuck right now!

“Oh,” I spoke out in shock when somebody pulled me out of the crowd.

“Let's go somewhere quiet.”

“Hindi ka pa ba uuwi?” Kasi ako, gusto ko na eh. I almost blurted. Gusto ko na kasi talagang umuwi, I'm dead serious.

We got to the second floor of the event center and head to the balcony. I find him weird these days. Para bang mayroon siyang gustong sabihin? But I don't have time for that. Baka kasi hindi naman gan'on kaimportante at asarin lang niya ako like he usually do.

“Martina....” He hold both of my hands, “Do we have no chance? Be honest, wala na ba talaga?”

“Chance? Ano bang sinasabi mo? Chance saan?”

I suddenly feel awkward when he didn't speak up and just stare at me melancholy.

“Ahm, wha—” He pulls my head and torridly, he kisses me.

“V–Vincent!” I pushed him away.

Dammit! What is this?! Sinasabi na nga ba, wala na siyang magagawa pang matino kung hindi ang asarin ako, my head groans in shock as I step backwards.

Shit, I don't like this. I don't like what is happening.

“I still love you, Martina,” he uttered, unfeigned.

I don't actually know what to feel when I hear him say it. Tsk, lagi naman akong walang alam. But wait, no — I do feel... nothing. I did not feel anything.