I have been very busy these passed few days because of the problems that the company is currently facing. Masaya nga ako at suportado naman ako ng halos lahat ng empleyado.
Oo, minsan ay nadidismaya ako dahil hindi maiwasan na makarinig ako ng panget na perspective about sa nangyari that even my leadership is being questioned especially by most of the board members. Pero ang mahalaga ay handa akong harapin ang lahat ng problems ng kompanya. I am trained by my parents to do my best and even if we are not in good terms, gusto kong maging proud pa rin sila sa akin.
Laking tulong din ni Adrian sa akin sa mga nagdaang araw dahil hindi niya lang ako basta tinutulungan sa negosyo kundi pati na rin sa eating habit ko. He has been my reminder kapag nakakalimutan kong kumain especially now na subsob ako sa trabaho. I owe him a lot.
Nagbuntong-hininga ako at hinilot ang temples ko. This is worse than I expected.
"Are you alright?" tanong ni Ivy na siyang nakaupo sa couch at ramdam ko ang mataman niyang titig sa akin.
"Madami lang problema ngayon ang kompanya," sagot ko sa kanya at tumango naman siya.
"Kumusta kayo ni Raphael?" she asked nonchalantly dahilan upang mapatingin ako sa kanya.
Wala pa nga pala siyang alam sa nangyari because we never have the chance na magkausap starting nang bigyan niya ako ng advice.
"We broke up," sagot ko sa mahinang boses.
"What?! That easily?!" Napatayo siya at agad lumapit sa akin
I closed my eyes firmly. "Yes and please Ivy." Then, I opened it again. "Ayoko muna siyang pag-usapan. May mga problema ako ngayon sa company. Maybe blessing in disguise na rin 'tong nangyari upang mabaling ang atention ko sa work."
"Pero Mavic... Anong nangyari?" pangungulit niya pa rin sa akin.
This is also one of the reason kaya ayoko muna siyang makausap because I'm sure that she's going to keep on bothering me until I tell her what happened.
"Ivy, I have no time at this moment. Maybe, next time," wika ko as I give her a contorted smile habang siya ay isang irap lamang ang itinugon.
I chuckled at her reaction as I brought my eyes at the papers on my desk. But agad naman iyon nawala at kumatok muli ang thoughts ko kay Raphael sa aking mind.
I shook my head, wanting to brush that unwanted thought of mine.
I continue listing alternatives and reviewing each outcomes whilst Ivy just busied herself with the a fashion magazine that is in my office. I'm glad that she didn't bother on asking me more questions.
Naging tahimik muli ang opisina dahil sa parehas naman kaming busy ni Ivy until Adrian entered my office bringing his usual smile and a paperbag on his right hand.
"Dinalhan kita ng snack at baka nagugutom ka," he said nang makalapit na sa akin at inabot ang dala that is why I accepted it in an instant.
I looked at him and smile. "Thank you."
"Sige. Nagpunta lang talaga ako rito para ibigay sa'yo 'yon," aniya at nagpaalam nang umalis kaya tinanguan ko na lamang siya which is the reason for him to left already.
I am so lucky dahil nakakilala ako ng isang Adrian sa buhay ko. He had been a dear friend to me ever since we met.
Naalala ko pa ang first impression ko sa kanya noon. He's an easy go lucky and a ball of sunshine man. Well, it's partly true dahil totoo namang masayahin at palakaibigan siya. But he is also a hardworking guy wherein there's no doubt kung bakit malayo na agad ang narating niya at the age of 27.
"Who's that?"
Napatingin ako kay Ivy na siyang nakataas na ang isang kilay at pagkatapos ay tinapunan niya ng look ang paperbag sa gilid ng table ko. Nakalimutan kong naririto pa nga pala siya sa office ko.
"A friend," I answered her shortly.
"Friend? Really?" she asked then chuckled unbelievably.
"Yes," I answered like it isn't a big deal. I mean, it really isn't.
"Mavic, I know na hindi ka naman ignorante sa galawan ng mga lalake paggusto nila ang isang babae. Kaya sigurado akong hindi lang friend ang turing sa iyo ng lalakeng 'yon."
"You are just giving color to his kindness. Mabait lang talaga 'yong tao," saad ko dahilan upang makakuha ulit ako ng isang irap from her.
Minsan gusto ko na lang dukutin ang mata niya dahil sa panay ang irap niya sa akin. Kung hindi ko lang talaga friend ang babaeng 'to, I'm sure of that na dati ko pa siya nasampal at nasabunutan.
"Fine. He sees you just as a friend. Continue to believe that," she said as she shrugged her shoulders off.
After a few more minutes, she bids adieu as she finally left my office.
I sighed.
Peace at last.
Napakunot ang noo ko nang tumunog ang cellphone ko and I saw a familiar number that registers on the screen.
Kahit pa man dinelete ko ang number na iyon ay mahirap atang hindi ko malaman na it's him who is calling dahil memorize ko ang cellphone number niya.
I debated whether I should answer his call until I sighed and gave up. This is one of the step for me to move on, kaya kailangan kong harapin ito.
Nang masagot ko ang tawag ay magsasalita pa sana ako pero narinig ko na siyang nagsalita.
"I love you," he said at ang tahimik kong puso ay nabibingi na naman sa lakas ng kabog nito.
I can't even utter a single word.
I waited for him if ever na may sasabihin pa siya pero there's none until the call died.
What did he say?
No, Mavic. You should not get your hopes up. Baka wrong number ang natawagan niya. Alam mo naman kung bakit ka niya niligawan, di ba? And it wasn't because he is in love. It is all for revenge.
But the mere thought of him loving a lady, breaks my heart.
Hindi naman talaga ito ganoon kabilis mawala. But I believe one day, I will wake up with knowing that I do not love him anymore. And I can't wait for that day to come.
"Mavic, hindi mo na nagustuhan ang pagkain?" tanong ni Adrian dahil kasalukuyan na kaming kumakain ng dinner.
"No. It's delicious, actually." I paused and looked at the food on my plate. "I just remember something," wika ko at naramdaman ko ang kamay ni Adrian na hinawakan ang hand kong nasa ibabaw ng table. I stared at it for awhile. Naputol lang nang magsalita siya.
"Everything will be alright. Kung inaalala mo ang mga problemang kinahaharap natin ngayon, then don't be. We'll get back on track," he said giving me a reassuring smile.
"I know. I'm positive na malalampasan din natin ito." Umiling ako. "I'm not giving up yet."
"Ang buong kompanya ay nasa likod mo lang, sumusuporta sa bawat hakbang na gagawin mo," he said as we continue eating our dinner.
The stillness of the night and the good ambiance of the restaurant help me to let me forgets about my problems and worries even just for a moment.
"Mavic," pagtawag niya sa akin.
"Yes?"
"May gusto sana akong sabihin sa'yo," saad niya at sa pagkakataong ito, his face which is always smiling is converted into a serious one.
I couldn't understand myself dahil nakaramdam ako ng kaba habang nakatingin sa seryosong mukha ni Adrian.
"I like you, Mavic. No. I think I am in love with you," he said without breaking his stare on me.
Para akong nawalan ng voice dahil sa narinig sa kanya. I...I don't know what to say. I don't even know how to react.
He smiled at me gently, wanting to remove the tension that is in between us.
"Pero, Adrian—"
"You don't have to say anything or reply to me if you don't feel like it. I understand dahil hindi pa man matagal nang nagkahiwalay kayo ni Raphael and please... know that I am not pressuring you to return to me the favor. Gusto ko lang talagang ipaalam sa iyo ang nararamdam ko."
"Kailan pa?"
"On our first meeting, I was really curious about you until I accepted to myself that I am infatuated to none other than the princess of the Reyes clan, Maja Victorina. Gusto ko sana noon na pormahan ka rin pero parang bagyo sa bilis si Raphael, naunahan ako. That's why I decided to just let it go. Pero ang gago iniwan ka na lang bigla dahilan upang mas gustuhin kong alagaan at protektahan ka. And recently, I admitted to myself that I am now in love with you."
"Adrian," I uttered his name in a small voice.
"I hope walang magbago sa pagkakaibigan natin," he said and by that moment, I know in myself that there is something that will change even if I don't want to.