The Risk of Falling

PROLOGUE

***

"Bat ganyan mukha mo?" natatawang tanong ni Zia

Fuck, nakakainis! Kung hindi ba naman ako tanga at naiwan ko pa talaga ang phone ko sa bahay. Maraming pwedeng maiwan cellphone ko pa. "I forgot my phone" inis kong sabi sa kanya at padabog na inilapag ang bag at binili kong kape.

"May meeting daw sabi ni Tita" sambit ni Zia, kaya pala nandito siya sa office ko. "Tayo lang muna. Sa office daw ni Tito", dugtong pa niya

Kinakabahan ako, kapag kami lang pamilya ang pinapatawag ay kadalasan may problema. Tumango ako kay Zia at inayos ang buhok ko bago lumabas ng opisina at pumunta sa office ni Mommy. Sumunod naman siya sa akin.

"Darling Jaya" bati sa akin ni Mommy. Sinenyasan ako ni Daddy na umupo sa tapat nila ni Mommy. Dad is really serious while Mom is just sitting waiting for Dad to speak

"What's the problem Dad?" i asked nervously. He smiled at me "So" panimula niya. "Our architect in Batangas decided to back out from the project" he said calmly.

I blink twice not processing what my dad told. Fuck! Bakit naman nag back out?! Pucha naman oh kung saan maraming inaayos sa project dun pa talaga umalis.

Napamasahe ako sa sentido ko "What now? Meron na bang bagong architect? or do we need to find pa?" sunod sunod na tanong ko. Nagkatinginan sila mommy at daddy sa tanong ko.

Ngumiti sa akin si mommy "Anak don't worry mag bago ng architect, kaya nga pinatawag namin kayo ni Zia dito kasi yun ang gusto naming sabihin" Nagulat ako sa sinabi niya

"What?! we can't just hire kung sino sino lang Mom!" Dad looked at mom nervously. Napatingin kaagad ako sa kanya at kumunot ang noo ko. "Look, we just can't appoint someone here. Ang laking project nito Daddy" Dad nod like he knew what im trying to say

"Okay?" Zia brows furrowed listening to us "So? Wala naman palang problema?" Naguguluhang tanong niya. "Anak, Zia, listen we already hired someone" Mom nervously smiled at me. Napatingin kaagad ako sa kanya at napataas ang kilay. I don't get it "Like seriously mom? "

"Shush, you don't have to worry about it honey. Gusto lang namin na malaman niyo" I swear i can hear my Mom's nervousness. Kaya mas lalong napakunot ang noo ko. Hindi ko alam kung may problema ba o may nangyari hndi ko alam bakit parang kinakabahan siya.

"Paanong hindi mag worry mom? I am the Engineer of this project" trying to tell her my point. Dapat sinabi nila ito saakin bago pa sila nag hire ng bagong architect.

"Okay, are you really sure Tita? You know i can look for the best architecture out there" Zia told my mom. Hindi pinansin ang sinabi ko

"Oh no no no, sweety, i told you we already found and hired the best of the best." Napataas ang kilay ko sa sinabi. She gave me a side-eye look. " We already hired Architect Vladimir Gomez to be-"

"No" I immediately cut her off. All of them look at me. Parang binuhusan ako ng malamig na tubig ng marinig ko ang pangalan niya. I closed my fits para pigilan ang pagtaas ng boses " You don't really mean it? Do you?"

"Jaya, darling" Dad tried to calm me down. "This is not about what happened in the past. I told you before right? Seperate your personal feelings, don't let it affect your job. You know that Architect Gomez is one of the best architect out there. This project is important for us"

"Naka uwi na pala siya? I thought sa ibang bansa siya?" Naguguluhang tanong ni Zia. Ignoring the fact na makikita ko na naman siya.

I scoffed in disbelief "There's no way you are hiring him" madiing sabi ko.

My mom cleared her throat. " I told you honey we already did" Inis akong umalis sa opisina and ignored when my mom called me.

Kinuha ko ang bag ko at mabilis na naglakad papunta sa car park. I started my engine and drive. Hindi ko alam kung saan ako pupunta. Sa sobrang dami Kong iniisip at inis hindi ko napansin na nag red light pala. I was so shocked na nabunggo ko ang sasakyan na nasa harapan ko.

Lumabas ako sa kotse ko at pumunta sa nabunggo ko, nakatalikod siya saakin kaya hindi ko siiya makita "I'm so sorry!" paghihingi ko ng tawad. "Hindi ko napansin. Don't worry hindi kita tatakbuhan. I will pay for everything sir." I panicked

Napalitan ng galit ang naramdaman ko ng humarap sa akin ang may ari ng sasakyan. He was wearing a plain white shirt and black jeans and he was also wearing a sunglass. Napasinghap ako, he looks like a model. Pinagtitinginan kami ng mga tao sa daan dahil syempre nabangga ko siya and of course attracted by his physical features.

Our eyes met but i immediately looked away. Kinuha ko ang bag ko sa sasakyan. Bumalik ako sa harapan niya. I offer him my calling card "Here's my calling card, just call if you need my help to repair your car" trying to act like na parang hindi ko nabobother sa presence niya

He looked at me like he didn't know me. He raised his eyebrow and looked at his car again

"It's ok miss, i can manage" Pumasok siya sa loob ng kotse niya and drove away

Napasinghap at natulala ako sa nangyari. It's been years since i last saw him. He acted like we never know each other

Like we never love each other

Wait?

Maybe ako lang ang nagmahal?

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:>>>>
Twitter: bellemxxn