Reclaiming the Stars (Agustin Series #1)

Kabanata 18

"I'm okay." I'm not.

Iniwan ko s'ya. Iniwan ko s'ya sa labas ng banyo.

Pagkarating sa table ay mabilis akong kumain. We all look like bunch of teenagers having a reunion after several years but we aren't. We're just people who calmly smiles on the outside to live up to what others may perceive us.

"Dahan. Hindi kita uubusan," Dim tried to joke. I only scoffed at him.

"Hindi ko alam na madalas pala kayo dito," si Melissa. She tried to sound cheerful but I knew better.

"Muntik na kaming dito tumira. Halos inaraw-araw na namin dito lalo na 'pag walang trabaho," sabi ni Ade. Ngayon ko lang pinagpasalamat ang presensya ni Nat na tahimik lang na kumakain.

Ang dalawang Agustin ay panay na panay ang pagsulyap sa akin. They're looking at me like I'm Biology, they're studying me and my reaction which made me feel uncomfortable.

Pagkatapos na pagkatapos ay nagpaalam na agad ako sa kanila at sinabing maghahanda para sa meeting. I couldn't take another second of breathing in front of them. Images of my brother and father crossed in my mind.

"Sasabay na'ko," si Dim na kahit hindi pa tapos kumain ay tumayo na, dahilan para magtayuan na rin sila.

"It's okay. You can all continue," I said without looking at them. Dim tailed me from behind.

"Okay ka lang ba?" si Dim.

"No. I'll go to the hospital first," hinayaan kong si Dim ang magmaneho papuntang ospital. Medyo mabigat kasi ang dibdib ko, I'm scared that I might lose consciousness again. Ipinikit ko ang mata ko. Kasama namin si Nat na nakasunod lang.

"I told you to rest, Priya. Nakinig ka ba?" Maximus said. S'ya ang doctor na ipinakilala ni Lala sa'kin.

He's all works and works and it scares me. May mga pagkakataon na sobrang seryoso n'ya and he never spoke senseless kaya naman natatakot ako sa kanya minsan.

"I'm a busy woman. What do you expect?" I nagged him.

"You met them again?" I looked down before nodding. "I think you should see them more often."

Pinanlakihan ko s'ya ng mata. "May plano ka bang patayin ako?"

"Sino ba ang doctor sa ating dalawa? I know what's best for you kaya 'wag mo'kong sigawan," kalmado n'yang sabi. Palaging ganito ang sitwasyon namin.

He thinks I have a death wish.

"I'm suggesting for you to try seeing them more often. Try to forgive, Priya. I'm not asking you to forget. I won't blame you if you still can't do it for now. Pero maliit ang mundo, hindi pwedeng habangbuhay mo silang iiwasan." I hate that he's always right and that he simply knows everything.

"Fine," I surrendered. There's no harm in trying anyway. He did some checkups then sent me back home pero sa office muna ako dumiretso dahil sa appointment.

Nagpahatid ako kay Dim pero agad ko ring pinaalis dahil may photoshoot pala s'ya na kanina pa dapat n'ya pinuntahan. Lagot na naman 'yon sa manager n'ya.

"President nandito na po ang client," I signaled Nat to let him enter.

"Good afternoon, Architect," bati ni Kian. He's one of my college friends kaya pinaunlakan ko ang pagbisita n'ya. Most of my clients send emails while he came here in person.

"Good afternoon, Kian." Today, his excuse was my life saver.

"What an office!" ipinalibot n'ya ang tingin sa opisina ko.

My office is located at the top floor of the building. Pinasandya ko iyon for the reason that I have a certain design in mind.

The ceiling of my place is half covered in solid cement while the other half is completely glass. Ganoon rin ang buong dingding ko, so I had to provide numbers of blinds. I prefer the transparency, in that way I can see things clearly. Tanaw na tanaw din ang mga building mula sa office ko. Most of them are designed by me so it felt like seeing a painting whenever I look at them.