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Wala akong nagawa kung hindi ang papasokin siya. I am not touch by his presence nor effort but I don't want to put his staff's hardwork into waste.
Kunot na kunot ang noo kong naka tingin sa computer. Kanina ko pa binabasa ang files at documents na senend ni Kuya Zac pero walang pumapasok sa isip ko.
My thoughts are so lost. Lalo nang matingnan ko ang itsura ng labas. The windows of my office are glasses and it's not tinted. May mga blinds lang. Ang ilan ay itinaas ko para mag observe kung nagtatrabaho ba sila ng tama at hindi tamad.
My employees and his staffs where all giddy while they're setting up the buffet in the multi-functional hall. This was our old conference room until Dad built a new room on the third floor for it. At dahil walang cafeteria sa hacienda, dito kadalasan na kumakain ang mga empleyado. It's more convenient for them dahil open space at nasa first floor lang, katapat ng opisina ko at nang sa receiving area.
Pinalibutan agad siya ng mga babae. Hindi ko sigurado kung nangungumusta ba tungkol sa development ng bayan, nagtatanong o interesado lang talaga sa kanya.
Iritang-irita ako nang ngumingiti-ngiti din siya. May nakita pa akong pa simpleng humahaplos sa kanyang braso. Hindi rin naka takas sa'king mga mata 'yong babaeng kumurot at inilagay sa likod ng buhok ang ilang takas ng buhok.
Bumusangot ako at pinatay ang computer. I open my cellphone. Mas lalo akong nainis nang maka tanggap ng text galing kay Kuya Zac.
Kuya Zaccarroz:
Please send my regards to Hex, my cutie lovely sister!
At may mga emoji pa 'yon na puro naka ngiti at labas dila! Umirap ako. Bakit, hindi ba uso sa kanila ang cellphone? O Facebook? At kahit IG man lang?
Now I think of that... I open my new private personal facebook account that I created last week. The old one which had thousands of followers were already handled by my ex-manager and will be soon deactivated. Mabuti narin 'yon nang hindi na ako makulit nina Stefano, Crux at lalo na ni Benz.
I tried to search his full name but nothing comes out. I tried to shorten and used his nickname pero wala din. I log in to my IG, Twitter and even Skype but no trace of him was found. Nag-isip ako ng mabuti at sinubokan ang Google and thanks God it's so reliable!
There are articles that narrates about his achievements. He topnotch in the board exam and he became a successful lawyer. But it was shortlive after he won in the election as the Mayor in Almendra. He was a newbie in the politics pero nailampaso niya agad sa votes ang mas batikan pa sa kanya.
It doesn't end there. It also narrates his successful projects for our small town. Marami siyang ginawang proyekto katulad ng road construction, road widening at pagpapatayo ng mga panibagong establishamento which benefits the people's needs especially in terms of hospital and medicines. Marami rin siyang nabigyan ng trabaho at scholarship. Marami din siyang natulongang small time business para lumago ang kanilang kita. At marami din siyang ginawa at sinimulang livelihood at feeding program which helps hundred poor families in Zaccarrio particularly in Almendra. He was even considered a hero because of his nobility.
Walang halos maibatong pangit na balita tungkol sa kanya. Although I read some articles which reported that their family are corrupt. I don't believe it since I knew that they got their riches from their booming business. Baka nga i-donate niya pa ang sweldo niya. He is always humble. And he never uses his riches for arrogance.
So much for that information... I close my eyes and swing myself on the swivel chair. Sobrang nagulat lang ako ng biglang nag ring ang bell. It's lunch time already!
I heard knock and acknowledge when it was just Lura. She pops her small face in the door she slightly open. Ngumiti siya, kalahati lang ng katawan ang ipinasok.
"Ma'am Zaccary, lunch na po! Tapos na po namin na set ang buffet. Halika na po, Ma'am!" she positively said.
As much as I want to lock myself in my office, naaalala ko ang kawawang mukha ng mga hardworking niyang staff at ang enthusiasm ng mga emplyedo kong saluhan sila.
I nodded and fix my hair. Tinupi ko hanggang siko ang suot kong white long sleeve. Lumapad naman ang ngiti ni Lura at agaran na isinagaw sa labas na sasamahan ko sila.
Pagkalabas ko ay nagsitilian ang lahat nang maglakad si Hex palapit sa'kin. He handed me the flowers, his gifts and the chocolates and I was force to accept it. I just don't want to disappoint and ruin the mood of the people around if they saw it face to face that I decline his gifts.
"Ma'am Zaccary, Mayor Hercules, diyan na po kayo maupo sa special table na si-net namin. Dito na po kami sa malayo." Rommel said, one of my employee.
Ngumiti ako at hinarap din ang mga staff niya. "Thank you so much everyone for all your efforts. I'm sure the food is all delicious. Enjoy your lunch too."
"Galing po lahat kay Mayor Hercules 'yan Ma'am Zaccary. Idea niya po lahat ng ito!" masiglang tugon ni Arlene.
I nodded and I didn't expand my speech. He pull a chair for me and I sitted silently. He sat in front of me after. Our table is filled by different classics of food so we didn't have to fall in line to get some in the buffet table.
Tahimik akong kumain at ganoon din siya. He put food in my plate. Umawang ang labi ko habang tinitingnan kong gaano ka expert at ka flawless ang galaw niya. His veins protruded and the balbons in his hand was blown a bit by the ceiling fan. Napatingala ako sa ceiling at inisip kung bakit hindi ko pina aircon ang kwartong ito nang hindi ako mawala sa ulirat ng ilang saglit.
"Mind your own plate." malamig kong sinabi. If he still like our old habits, well, I do not.
His lips parted, wanting to say something but in the end, he slowly nodded. We continued eating silently that I could hear some crickets if only his staffs and my employees were not too loud.
I glance at him a bit and found out he is already staring at me as he look sad while chewing his food. Umismid ako at nagpatuloy sa pagkain. But his senses won't just stop! He pour grape juice on my glass.
Nangangalahati pa lang siya pero patapos na ako. I stood up quickly at napatayo din siya. I notice that everyone were so intrigue with us that whenever I glance at them, they would pretend to be busy or they would immediately talk to their seatmates.
"Tapos ka na? Konti lang ang kinain mo, Zaccary..." ramdam ko ang pag-aalala sa boses niya. O baka guni-guni ko lang?
I was hungry but I lose my appetite because of the hollow in my chest. I couldn't take it anymore being close to him like this. Pakiramdam ko'y bilang lang ang hininga ko sa tuwing malapit kami. At parang malalagutan ng hininga sa tuwing magkakatitigan kami ng di sadya.
"I'm full." I said and took a sip on the glass of water, obviously rejecting the glass of juice he offered.
Before I could walk past him, he immediately give me the bouquet, his gift and the chocolates na muntik ko ng makalimutan! My heart really don't want to accept it but the people's stare around us made me do so. Inabot ko ito at agad na pumasok sa opisina ko ng walang sinabi.
I put all the blinds down. Abot-abot ang tahip ng puso ko. Pasalampak akong umupo sa swivel chair at wala sa sariling binasa ang maliit na card na naka staple sa bouquet.
My dear Zaccary... I want to talk so many things to you but I know you're still aloof at me. But I can wait... And I'll give you time... I will wait patiently. Even if you keep pushing me away. Even if you don't want me. I will stand still. I will never give up on you. Please, give me a chance.
H,
Napapikit ako. Hinilot ko ang aking sentido at niyakap ang throw pillow. Wala akong natapos buong mag hapon dahil sa sulat niya. I keep reading his letter like a scene in the movie. Ngumuso ako at sa huli, ginulo ang aking buhok.
Bakit niya ba ako kailangang litohin ng ganito?
The bell rang but I didn't flinch. Hindi na ako nagulat dahil sa kakatingin ko sa Calvin Klein wristwatch ko.
I heard a knock on the door. Lura entered and I ask her to turn off my aircon and everything. She ask me if I need something but I told her she's free to go.
"Thank you, Ma'am Zaccary. See you po tomorrow. Ingat po!" aniya bago isinarado ang pinto pag ngiti at tango ko sa sinabi niya.
I powdered my nose and retouch my red lisptick. I brush my short hair and tuck my bangs sideways. Tatayo na sana nang makatanggap ng tawag kay Mrs. Alfon.
We talk a bit about the successful distribution of our products in the market today. I advise her to send me a copy of report and when we're finish, I cut her off.
Lumabas ako ng may ngiti sa labi kahit naging unproductive ang araw ko. Sobrang nagulat nga lang ng makita si Hex sa sofa na naka hilig, tinuko ang braso habang sinusuportahan nito ang maamong mukha na antok na antok na.
Nang marinig niya ang presensiya ko agaran siyang napatayo at ngumiti. I can't respond his smile. I was too flushed.
I couldn't believe that he really waited for me. He was early today and I didn't entertain him the whole day. I even give him a cold treatment during lunch. I wasn't polite and I didn't say thank you for his gifts, flowers, and his total effort about the buffet lunch.
I am so harsh but then I remembered what he did to me years ago...
Napatikhim ako at nag lakad ng taas noo. He followed me quickly and like a soldier, he equalled me so we can march together. Tatlong hakbang ko, dalawa lang sa kanya! Ang tangkad niya. Napasimangot ako.
"Ingat po kayo Ma'am Zaccary, Mayor Hercules." magalang na sabi ng security guard nang i-lock na niya ang double door ng office.
"Ingat din po..." I politely said.
Tumango at simpleng tinapik lang ni Hex ang balikat ng guard.
My forehead wrinkled when I figured something. Damn! I didn't bring my car and I forgot to text my driver. I didn't bring one today because I was lazy this morning. Now I regretted it big!
"You didn't bring you car?" marahan niyang sabi, tinatantiya ang mood ko. "And you forget to text your driver?"
Obvious ba?
Umiling lang ako. Baka ano pang maisip niya! Agaran kong kinuha ang cellphone at tenext si Manong driver.
"Ihahatid na kita..."
Kumunot ang noo ko. "I already texted my driver. You should go home. I can manage myself."
Mariin siyang umiling at inilagay sa magkabilang bulsa ang dalawang kamay niya. The way he move swiftly, like a lazy tiger, makes me more irritated.
That's why girls like him because of his pa-cool move. Not sure if he is forcing it or it is very natural to him. But he is always like this even when we were kids. It's hard to maintain being fake so I guessed, this is his really normal self.
He sigh and nodded slowly. His soulful eyes averted when I can't stop throwing daggers at him with my eyes.
"I'll wait for you then... I'll escort you until you get home safe." he said huskily.