Behind those Clouds

Prologue

"Miss Tuazon, pinapatawag po kayo ni Mr. Rivera sa office niya."

I closed the folders that I'm reading nang marinig ko ang sinabi ni Clarisse. Agad naman akong napabuntong-hininga, nandyan na siguro iyong head chef ng food resto na makikipagcollaborate sa amin para sa yacht party ng isang famous celebrity.

I nodded at her and smiled, "Okay, nasaan ba sila?"

Inayos ko ang mga folders na kanina kong binabasa, nilagay ko iyon sa gilid ko nang maayos. Tumayo ako at pumunta sa gilid ng office ko kung nasaan ang heels ko. Sinuot ko ang black stiletto ko na kanina kong tinanggal. Naramdaman ko kasi na sumakit ang paa ko kaya nagpalit muna ako ng slippers.

"Nasa office po ni Mr. Rivera, Miss."

Tumango na lamang ako sa kanya at ngumiti, sign na alam ko na ang gagawin. Pagkatapos rin naman noon ay umalis na rin siya.

Tiningnan ko ang sarili ko sa aking camera ng cellphone. Mukha namang ayos na itong itsura ko at hindi na kailangan pang magretouch pa. After I checked myself, I get the folder that will be needed for the mini talk.

Lumabas na ako ng office ko at taas noong naglakad. I heard the staffs' greetings so I greeted them back with a small smile.

Nang makarating ako sa harap ng office ni Mr. Rivera ay humugot muna ako ng hangin para makahinga. I don't know why I'm nervous right now. Siguro dahil hindi ko pa kilala ang ka-collab ng company namin, lalo na't it's a big project for us.

Dahan-dahan kong hinawakan ang doorknob ng pinto at pinihit iyon. Natanaw ko na agad si Mr. Rivera na kausap iyong head chec ng resto na magiging ka-collab namin.

I don't know but I think the man's built is almost the same built as him. Parang nawalan ako ng hininga nang maaalala ko siya. It feels like the pain is coming back again. The pain that happened five years ago, is still here. It didn't vanished.

I caught their attention, and I was overwhelmed when I saw the person who's Mr. Rivera's talking with. I thought they have the almost same built that made me remembered things, but I was wrong. It's because it is really him. Muntikan ko pang mahulog ang folder na hawak dahil hindi ko ineexpect na makikita ko siya rito.

Five seconds have passed, I started to composed myself again. Palihim akong huminga ng malalim at ngumiti sa kanilang dalawa.

I walked towards their direction and sat on the available chair towards him. Hindi ko siya tiningnan, agad akong humarap kay Mr. Rivera na ngayo'y nakatingin sa akin. I gave him a small nod and smiled at him. He introduced me to him.

Pinakilala ako ni Mr. Rivera sa kanya at pinakilala siya ni Mr. Rivera sa akin, kahit kilalang-kilala ko siya. I don't know if he knows me or forgot me already.

"Mr. Guerrero, this is Miss Tuazon, the Chief Operating Officer of this Service Company. Miss Tuazon, he is the Head Chef of the restaurant that we will collaborate with, Mr. Guerrero."

Para akong nabingi nang sabihin iyon ni Mr. Rivera. I don't know what to do. I can't believe I'll see him after five years. Five freaking years! After the pain that he caused me... hindi ko akalaing magpapakita pa siya sa akin.

"Sylas Alexander Guerrero. I'll be looking forward to work with you, Miss Tuazon." He said with a deep tone voice. 'Ni hindi ko man lang mabasa ang ekspresyon niya nang sinabi niya iyon.

Mas lalong naging malalim ang boses niya. His features changed a little bit too, mas naging mature ang itsura niya. His eyes, I can't read his eyes. Tila 'di ko mabasa, masyadong blanko. Hindi kagaya noon na, kitang kita na mahal na mahal talaga niya ako.

Wait.. 'Di ko pala sure kung minahal niya nga ba ako ng totoo. Napangiti tulog ako nang mapait.

"Ziah Nathalie Tuazon, same too you Mr. Guerrero. I hope we will get along well for this big project." I accepted his handshake.

Gusto kong higpitan ang pagkakahawak ko sa kamay niya. I wished that the time will stop, I wish that I can hold his hand again. But of course I can't do that. Kasi ako lang naman ang nagmahal sa aming dalawa. Ako lang naman ang nagpakita ng tunay na nararamdaman nung kami pang dalawa.

I went back to my senses, nang tanggalin niya ang kamay niya. Masyado yatang natagal ang pakikipag-kamay naming dalawa. Kaya binaba ko na rin ang akin.

He looked away and diverted his gaze to Mr. Rivera. Ako naman ay muling nagsalita.. na mukha namang nagulat siya dahil sa nga sinabi ko.

"And I hope you'll collaborate with this project not just because your friends urged you to, I want you to collaborate because you wanted to."

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Reproduction or usage of this work in whole or in part in any form of by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereinafter invented,is forbidden without the permission of the author.

All the characters in the story have no existence whatsoever outside of the imagination of the author,and have no relation to anyone having the same names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author , and all the incidents are merely inventions.

@kathxhern :D