Every Step Away

ESA35

Sa Manila kasi, walang umaga at gabi. Buong araw gising ang mga tao dito!

"At bakit gabi pa? Hindi ba pwedeng ngayon?"

I chuckled, feeling entertained while talking to him even though I'm sure, I'm distracting him again from his schedule.

"May trabaho na ang mga kakilala ko, Dad. They are busy at days."

Ako lang hindi... gusto ko sanang idagdag.

Actually, nag-iisip na rin akong mag-apply muli sa isang firm. Pero siguro after na ng election para hindi na magdalawang isip si Daddy na payagan akong bumalik sa condo ko.

"Then meet later for an hour and go home."

Mas lalo akong napatawa.

"Seriously isang oras? Eeeh, Dad. I'm safe naman." kulit ko sa kanya.

I heard his heavy sigh.

"Please? Please?" I tried to make my voice sound cute even if I don't know if it's still suitable on my age.

"Umuwi ka ng maaga." pagsuko niya.

I muttered an airy yes before listening to his long list of "paalala" before I say goodbye.

Nawala ang ngiti ko noong napansin ko ang tingin ni Hezekiah saakin. Pinapanood niya ba ako? He was already leaning on his swivel chair.

"You seem close to your dad now."

Tumango ako at ngumiti ng maliit. "Yeah..."

"That's good..."

Sasagot sana ako noong nagbukas ang kanyang pinto. Agad akong napalingon doon dahil wala naman akong narinig na pagkatok.

My lips parted as I saw Ara. So she can enter here without knocking huh? Kahit ba may importanteng ginagawa si Heze ay pwede? His secretary let her do that?

Sabagay, if she's really his girlfriend... baka nga.

Napatigil siya noong makita ako sa couch. Her eyes widen like she saw some ghosts.

"Hello." I greeted her so that I can wake her up from her shock.

Nakakahiya naman yung itsura niya sa boyfriend niya. She just looked the same, not even a slight feature older.

"S-santh..." she called me.

Ngumiti lang ako sa kanya.

"What are you doing here?" tanong sakanya ni Hezekiah.

Bumalik ang tingin ni Ara mula saakin papunta kay Hezekiah. She slowly walked towards his table.

"A-ano... I'm just going to give you this..." she said while walking with a folder in her hand.

Hindi ko alam pero may kakaibang kirot akong naramdaman noong maglapit sila. It's always been like this.

"Tsaka yung－" Ara gazed at me.

Napabuntong hininga ako at inalis ko ang aking bag mula saaking kandungan. I think I need to leave so that they can have their privacy.

"Labas lang ako saglit..." paalam ko.

"No, stay." Napatigil ako dahil sa utos ni Hezekiah.

Nasa akin na ang atensyon niya ngayon imbes na kay Ara. I looked at Ara and I saw the pain in her eyes.

"Ayos lang...para makapag-usap kayo."

"No, hindi naman mahalaga－"

I cut off Hezekiah's word.