It's been a year since the day I waited for her.
In denial ako. I always lied that I am not waiting for her but the truth is, I am indeed still waiting for her. Kahit ayokong bigyan ng pag-asa ang puso ko, but my stupid heart is still hoping na babalikan niya ako.
Galit ako sa kanya that's because I'm longing for her. Ni wala akong idea kung saan ko siya hahanapin at walang makapagsabi sa akin kahit si Kian at tita niya wala ding alam. But every day passes by. I gets colder and colder. I feel like I was left standing there alone in the dark. Cold and losing my sanity.
I have too many questions that need answers.
"Why did Mae not come back?"
"Did she bang her head and wake up with amnesia?"
"Did she change her feelings for me?"
"Is she dead? Or alive?
Those questions have been battling in my head over and over again. And until now, I am still looking for answers. And the funny truth was? No one can give me answers. So I am curious. What might the answer to that question be?
"Ready to start your first day at work?" Mom is in front of me, trying to cheer me up, and I'm just giving her the cold shoulder. "Not excited?"
She didn't stop asking questions and kept following me around.
"I'm good, mom."
"Your father arranged for you to have a beautiful secretary!"
"Mom, leave me alone!"
"Okay, I'm just saying--- It has been six years Black. You did your part in waiting. Hindi na masama if hayaan mong maging masa---"
"I got to go!"
"Okay, just tell me kung anong masasabi mo kay Chiez. And be a good gentleman Black, I like her for you hindi kami nag katuluyan ng tatay niya pero malay mo kung kayo ang tutupad nun."
"Kia, stop pushing Black to Hanz Ledesma's daughter." Singit ni daddy, buti pa siya nakakaintindi, si mama kasi ewan.
Pero teka? Cheiz? Ledesma?
"Why not? She's a beauty queen!"
"Ang tanong type ba ni Black ang ganung babae? Alalahanin mo wala sa anak mo ang nag asawa dahil sa ganda lang o dahil sexy ito. They always fall for a woman that gives them challenges. There's something in the woman they choose to fall in love with."
"Tama ka MOY, teka asan si Orange? Bakit hindi niyo kasama?"
"Nauna na siya sa office, early bird catches worm daw!"- turan ni daddy na napa iling alam na nito ang karakas ni Orange pagdating sa babae. "Mana ni Trigger ang damuhong 'yun."
"Ang sabihin niya kaya siya nauna dahil magpapa cute pa siya sa mga babae doon!"-mom.
"That's what I thought of!" Segunda ni daddy
Papasok palang kami ni daddy ay rinig na namin ang malakas na tawan ng mga babae lalo na si Orange at bigla lang itong natigil ng makita nila kami. "Dad!" Sigaw ni Orange na mukhang napahiya.
"In my office Orange, now." Hindi galit si daddy pero may authority ang boses. Sumunod si Orange kay dad na napakamot sa ulo.
Yan kasi ang playful sa nga babae. I was left standing in the crowd when suddenly, I heard this familiar voice. Siya nga! Parang gusto ko ng maniwala sa Destiny. I slowly look at the owner of that voice.
"We'll meet again, sir?"
Shit! Am I being played by pranks here?
"Speechless, sir?" Ani ng babaeng halos napunit ang bibig sa laki ng ngisi.
"WHAT ON EARTH ARE YOUR DOING HERE?"
"Wor-k-ing?"
"Then start doing your job and stop bothering me!"
Natakot ang mga nasa paligid at nag si alisan para bumalik sa kanya-kanyang pwesto. "But you're my job, sir!"
"Let me remind you that I have no business with you!"
"Yes, we have unfinished business, sir!"
"GO SCREW YOUR SELF MISS."
"Cheiz Ledesma, sir!"
"Right! My secretary!"
"Cute. But don't worry, sir, your not my kind of guy."
"That's better! Now I can breathe."
"Are you that cold jerk, sir? Or only because you are still hurting? Graveh, isang taon na hindi pa talaga tayo naka pag move on."
"What the hell is she talking about? And who is she to talk about my problems here?"
"I am this cold ass. So deal with it!"
"Aye...aye.. sir!"
Nag saludo pa ito at umalis, napailing nalang ako, I think I'm having a trouble for secretary here.Cheiz guided me to my office, and I was amazed by what was written on the door. BLACK FUENTEBELLA, CEO
"Wait! Is this a joke?"
"I take it as your surprised?"
"Hell yeah! What do you expect? A CEO? I don't even have the experience to manage though matagal na akong apprentice ni daddy. But the position is so high."
"Well, your father trusts you enough, so start working on your experience."
"Why do i have this feelings na magiging kontrabida ka sa buhay ko?"
"Weeh... nasabi mo lang yan kasi hanggang ngayon naiinis kang isipin that we shared the same bed together."
"Don't even remind me of that stupid night!"
"Why? Am I not that beautiful enough for you?"
"Give me the previous reports ni daddy ng mapag aralan ko."
"Haiszt! Parang gusto ko na talagang mainis sayo! Yung ibang lalaki nag kakandarapa sa akin tapos kayo? Deadma ako!"
"Kayo? Meaning bukod sa akin mayroon pang hindi ka nagustuhan? O baka naman dahil malandi ka!"
"Malandi? Ikaw Mr. Fuentebella sumusobra kana!"
"Ganyan mo ba sinisigawan mo ang boss mo huh, Ledesma?"
"Ikaw ehh, nakakainis ka tawagin ba naman akong malandi?"
"Tingnan mo nga yang suot mo." She is waering red mini skirt at ang top niya ay hapit na blouse na lantad ang mapuputi niyang clevage. "That's not the proper uniform here. So tell me, are you here working or seducing your boss?"
"Fine!"
"Go get me a black coffee."
"Starbucks o Bo's Coffee?"
"Bakit pati sa kape ang sosyal mo? Go to the pantry and make me some coffee. I know they have that here since my father is a coffee addict."
Umalis na si Cheiz ay binuksan ko na ang laptop ko ng makita ko ang wallpaper ko, si Mae in her rainbow hair. Na miss ko ang addict niyang buhok at pasaway na ngiti. Ano na kaya ang kulay ng buhok niya ngayon? Hinaplos ko ang screen gamit ang kamay. I miss you, Mae. I don't think may gaganda pa sayo. I bend over and kiss the screen then I notice na nabasa ang screen, hindi ko alam na naiyak pala ako.
"So she's the reason for that tears right now. Bakit ba kayo nahihibang sa kanya? Now I started to hate her!"
"You know her?"
"SHEILAH MAE ROMUALDEZ! THE SASSY GIRL THAT EVERYBODY LOVED!"
"How did you know her?"
"NEVER MIND SIR! HERE'S YOUR COFFEE, KUKUNIN KO LANG MUNA ANG KAILANGAN NINYONG REPORTS."
Nawala ang happy face ni Cheiz at napalitan ng galit at lungkot. Why the sudden change of attitude? Does she knows Mae?
***
I can't control the anger seeing her. The sassy girl and the best girl kung e describe ni Marrion. I was busy chasing him, when he is also busy dreaming about her. Hindi ko malaman kung bakit sila ni Black baliw sa kanya mas maganda naman ako sa kanya.
Padabog kong inilabag ang folder. Hindi talaga ako maka move on knowing siya ang kasintahan ni Black na dahilan ng mga luha nito. Siya? Ang reason kung bakit iniiyakan ni Black? Ang taong imposible pa sa posible? What's so special about her? Grrr... SHEILAH MAE ROMUALDEZ para paraan lang yan! I know your here, makikita mo this time ikaw naman ang iiyak!
Bumalik ako sa office at inilapag ang folder na ipinakuha ni Black. "How did you know her?"
"Why would I tell you?"
"Dahil ipapalipat kita kung hindi mo sasabihin sa akin. Its betrayal to your boss you know."
"Jerk!"
"Ano ulit 'yun, Ledesma?"
"School mate siya ni Marrion, ang lalaking gusto ko na malaki din ang gusto sa kanya. See? Ano bang nakita ninyo sa kanya? She is nothing compare to my beauty, duh!"
"She is way more beautiful to me than you. Why ask that guy? I bet he told you so."
Dahil sa sinabi niya ay binato ko siya ng sapatos and I dont care if sisisantihin niya ako pero instead, for the very first time ay natawa ito na nagpalaki sa bilogin kong mata. The cold jerk laugh, how ironic.
"Ledesma, beauty is only one-sided. Kung sa tingin mo guy falls for a woman dahil sa beauty lang niya eh gago siya. There is beyond beauty that makes us guys like such a girl. It could be her character. Her originality. How smart she is or how we complemented each other. I like Mae because she is a total package. Her craziness side and her originality. She is the only woman who can bring out the best in me."
Naluha ako sa sinabi niya, naalala ko ang mga sinabi ni Marrion sa akin.
"You're a crazy brat, Cheiz. Stop dreaming na magugustohan kita. Bukod sa ganda mo ano pa ang maipagmamayabang mo sa 'kin? You are not even smart to begin with. Puro ka sakit sa ulo sa mommy at kuya mo. If you woudn't change your way? No one will like you. Beauty fades so rely on your attitude. Maganda ka nga bastos ka naman!"
"Are you okay?"
"Black, paano ba maging mabait?"
"Now your asking the wrong question to the right person. Tingin mo masasagot ko yan? Ano ba ako sa tingin mo anghel?"
"Gusto kong mag bago para magustohan niya."
"Wrong!"
"Huh?"
"Don't change because you wanted to please him. You will just end up bitter 'pag hindi ka niya magustohan. Instead, change for yourself. Grow up, Cheiz, stop playing and chasing. Liking someone is not just about saying it. It's about showing that person why it must be you he chose to fall for. Change for the better. Mae is like that. Her true self brings smiles to the person around her. I don't have to like her, but her totality creeps into my heart, and I was defeated."
This statement coming from Black is impressive. "Thank you, Black. You are the only person who talks to me like this. Now you're my best friend."
Niyakap ko siya na nagulat at biglang pumasok ang daddy niya at kapatid niyang galit sa akin. Opps, i smell trouble. Cheiz naman kailan ka magtanda.