Tulala ako at hindi ko maintindihan ang sinabi ng doctor. I was too angry to absorb anything.
"Excuse me." Tumayo ako at iniwan ang doctor na mukhang natulala sa inasal ko. Lumabas ako ng hospital at nagpunta sa parking. Pumasok ako sa kotse ko na nanginginig ang kamay.
HIV positive.
Kinuha ko ang cellphone ko at tiningnan ang mga lab result na kinunan ko galing sa record ni Romelie. The dates are way later than mine. Una siyang nagkaroon at malamang na nahawa ako sa kanya.
Rage consumes me. She will pay. She will pay for this.
I went home that day planning my revenge on Romelie.
Kinabukasan absent ang magaling na babae. May sakit daw at hindi makakapasok. Nagngingitngit ako sa opisina ko at hindi mapakali. I fired a text message to her so she can be restless.
Simon: I know your secret.
She read my message but didn't reply. I typed another and sent her medical record. Wala pang isang minuto ay tumawag na si Romelie.
"Simon—"
"Heard you don't feel well."
"How did you—"
"I have my ways..."
Tumawa si Romelie. "Guess you are positive too..."
Nawala ang pagkakangiti ko. "No, my dear."
"Tsk...tsk...tsk... Simon, I will drag you down with me."
She ended the call and she had the last laugh. Fuck her.
After lunch, kumalat sa office na nagresign si Romelie. Immediate resignation ang ginawa at due to health issue ang dahilan. Nagtawag agad ng meeting ang Boss ko dahil pati pala si Mike ay nagresign noong isang araw.
"Ano ang nangyayari?" tanong ko sa isang officemate ko.
She rolled her eyes and said, "Masaya ka na siguro?"
No... I haven't had my revenge.
"Good afternoon," bati ni Boss na mukhang hindi masaya. "Hindi na ako magpapaligoy-ligoy, ano ang nangyayari?"
Natahimik kaming lahat na nasa meeting room.
"Two of my sales executives resign in a span of one week. Are we professional enough to settle the personal differences outside of this office?"
Tahimik pa rin ang lahat. Ang ilan ay natitingin sa akin at hindi tinago ang pagkadismaya. Magsasalita sana si Boss nang tumunog ang mobile phone niya. Nagsisunuran ang mga cellphone ng mga kasamahan ko at tanging ako lang ang walang nareceive na text.
Halos sabay-sabay silang nagbasa ng cellphone at sabay-sabay ring natingin sa akin. My Boss face is a mixture of anger and disgust.
"What?" I asked them.
Walang sumagot at ang mga katabi ko ay nagsiusog palayo sa akin.
"Simon," tawag ng Boss ko sa akin.
"What is happening?" naiinis na tanong ko sa kanila.
"Are you HIV positive?" straight na tanong ng Boss ko. My mind went blank and my face ashen.
"N-no," nauutal na sagot ko.
"Kadiri," mahinang wika ng isa sa mga officemate ko.
"I will ask you to leave," my boss replied.
"I am not..."
"Until you have proven me wrong, you can't come back to this office."
Naitikom ko ang kamay ko sa galit at mabilis na tumayo. Nagsiiwas ang mga kasamahan ko sa akin at diring-diri sila.
Galit na galit ako sa mundo at sag alit ko kay Romelie ay pinost ko sa social media ang medical records niya.
Nagkulong ako sa bahay ko at kinalma ang sarili. Kailangan ko ng plano... gaganti ako.
Kinabukasan ay nagising ako sa malakas na tunog ng cellphone ko. Marami akong notification at messages galing sa hindi ko kilalang number. Lahat ay minumura ako. Lahat ay pinagbabantaan akong papatayin.
Binuksan ko ang social media ko and my post about Romelie's medical record went south. They are accusing me of giving her HIV when the truth is, she gave it to me.
I told you, I will drag you down. See you in hell, Simon.
One message from an unknown number appeared but I know it is her. I tried to call her but the line can't be reached. Tinawagan ko rin ang number ni Romelie pero hindi na active ito.
One by one, a message from my past clients arrived and they are threatening me with law suit.
My plan, my career, and my life went to the south just like that. I have never felt this hopelessness in a long time. The injustice of humanity... the judgment before heard.
You are one of them before, a voice told me.
Nagsimulang mag-ingay maging ang doorbell ko and I didn't dare to open my door. Hateful words can be heard outside and a lot are cursing me and asking me to leave this building.
Nagtago ako sa kwarto ko... takot na takot ako para sa buhay ko. Saan ako pupunta?
BINABASA MO ANG
I am Simon
EspiritualMy name is Simon. I am living in a life that probably everyone will say a sinful. But come on, who will judge me? You? Pathetic. I don't believe in Him. I believe in myself. I did what I had to do to survive. I reached the top, until one day, my ba...
