Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow (Love #1 | Completed, 2020)

Chapter 14 - And then they meet again (Aug 08, 2019)

Ngayon pa kung kailan may kailangan lang kasi siya talaga.

Nang makalapit siya, Lee knew that Julius has already recognized her. Ganoong-ganoon ang mukha ni Mizzy noong una siyang makita. The fact that he's shocked made her a little relieved. Kahit na alam na nito na babalik siya, after all the attempts to call him through his staff and colleaues— to which yielded no results— kaya niya na rin pinilit na makapunta dito kahit mahirap.

Perhaps, no matter how desperate her messages and calls were, ikinagulat pa rin ng lalaki na magpapakita talaga siya ngayon. Lee breathed a little too hard before taking the last steps towards the man who seemed to have changed through the years.

Nandoon pa rin ang kakaibang aura ng lalaki which radiates his perky childlikeness— especially with that green suit. But he has also matured so much. And maybe confidence gave him a completely different undertone. A lot of confidence. Because the shocked face only remained a split second. As soon as Lee stood in front of him, hid demeanor changed to a very business-like one.

"Lee Gabriel... It's been a long time..."

"Hi, Julius."

Julius squinted as Lee uttered her first words. It was a very low voice. Almost inaudible, lalo na sa lakas ng tugtog. Malayong-malayo sa mataas at halos matinis na boses nito noon. And maybe if he didn't see her, hindi niya mamamalayang si Lee ang nagsalita.

Lee glanced at Mizzy na nasa hindi kalayuan to ask for reassurance and validation. Hindi niya pa rin alam kung paano gagawin ito. She knew her life depended on this, pero para paring nababahag ang buntot niya. All the trust and credence she had for herself seems to suddenly float away.

Kaya mo 'yan. She noticed Mizzy mouthed.

"How are you?" Ani Julius bago biglang naglakad ng mabilis papunta sa kung saan.

Lee's naturalesa tells her not to follow Julius because it will make her seem desperate— lalo na't mabilis ito maglakad at mas lalo siyang magiging mukhang desperada lalo na sa harap ng iba.

But what will she do? She is really desperate. And her instinct tells her to follow him... until the ends of the earth. Naisip ni Lee na marahil ito na ang karma niya. Hindi niya naisip na lahat ng ginawa niyang pag-iwas dito noon ay gagawin din sa kanya nito ngayon.

"I'm okay! I'm okay! Dali-daling sagot ni Lee habang sinasabayan ang paglalakad ni Julius. "Ikaw? K-kamusta ka naman?"

She hated small talks. Siguro dati, isa na siya sa pinakamagaling mag-maintain ng conversation. She can go on and on in her questions about other people. Kahit kailan hindi niya inisip na dadating ang panahon na mapapagod siyang gawin 'yun. Na mahihirapan siyang mangumusta dahil alam sa mga ginagawa niya ngayon, at sa dahilan niya kung bakit niya ginagawa 'yun, she is starting to doubt whether all the small talks she has exchanged before were all pure or just because it was motivated by one's needs.

Kaya heto siya ngayon, hirap na hirap na gawin ang bagay na hindi na pamilyar sa kanya. Dahil sa loob-loob niya, nandito lang naman talaga siya dahil may kailangan siya. She is cringing at herself. Pero kailangan niyang tatagan ang sarili. Hindi niya namalayang kinukurot niya na naman ang tagiliran ng hita niya.

"Can't you see, I'm all good, Lee. I'm very very good." May pag-ngisi sa parte ni Julius na hindi nakaligtas kay Lee.

Gusto niyang umiyak. Parang nakikita niya na kasi ang patutunguhan nito. Na hindi talaga magiging madali ang lahat. Alam ni Julius ang ginagawa niya at sinasadya nitong pahirapan siya.

"Uhm, m-mabuti naman nakarating ka dito?" She tried to maintain her voice as low as possible. Dahil alam niyang kaunting pwersa na lang, her voice will crack.