Sullies of Haunted Yesterday (Casa Fuego Series #4)

Chapter 33

After You 

Titig na titig ako sa screen ng cellphone ko. Nauuna ang hiya sa akin. Lalo na kapag naaalala ko iyong nipost ko para makita niya!

The light turned green. I put my phone down and drove away. It surprises me how I could still focus on the road when I have a lot in my mind. When the embarrassment died down a bit, I can't help but think... is she really his girlfriend?

Kilala ko si Eros. Kung girlfriend niya iyon, hinding hindi niya kakausapin. Did I misunderstand what I saw? Naunahan ba ako ng panlulumo at dapat ba tinanong ko pa rin siya?

Marahan kong pinikit ang mga mata nang maayos kong naipark ang sasakyan. Hindi agad ako lumabas at ilang sandaling tinitigan ang cellphone ko.

There was a green circle in his username. That means he's active, right? Should I reply?

Ano naman ang irereply ko? Totoo naman na medyo iniiwasan ko siya, both consciously and unconsciously. Consciously, because I think he has a girlfriend. Unconsciously, because the longer this goes on, my pride gets harder and harder to swallow.

I sighed and put my phone inside my bag. I'm exhausted, physically and mentally. It was a long day, and I honestly cannot deal with this right now. Sakop niya palagi ang utak ko, pero masyado akong pagod ngayong gabi.

I woke early in the morning the next day. Nakapagligo at bihis na ako, kumakain na ng breakfast nang saka ko lang binuksan ang phone ko.

There were notifications again. I clicked on it and it directed me to the same social media application from last night. It was from... Eros... again!

lourd_eh:

I think you're avoiding me.

lourd_eh:

Is something up?

Napalunok ako. Hindi naman siya tanga para hindi maramdaman iyon, especially after I declared to him that I'll win him back.

It makes me wonder... does he think I wasn't serious when I said I want him back? Or does he think I'm too weak that I seem to be giving up now?

Napabuntong hininga ako sa sarili ko. I boldly declared in front of him that I'll win him back, and I meant it, but now I'm slowly backing out? Bakit ba ang bilis kong sumuko pagdating sa kaniya?

Okay, then! I'll reply... and ask him if he really has a girlfriend. Until tonight. Iyon ang palugid ko sa sarili ko dahil hindi ko pa kaya ngayon.

Just two weeks before my contract in the company ends, I started bringing my things from my office at home to my office in the firm. Nilagay ko ang mga files sa boxes, pati na rin ang iilang pang dekorasyon.  

Inangat ko ang tingin sa sketch na nakadisplay sa dingding ko. Siguro dapat ko nang tanggalin iyon sa kuwarto ko. Hindi maganda na iyon ang bumubungad sa akin paggising. Kung noong mga nakaraang linggo, ginaganahan ako kapag nakikita ko. Pero ngayon, naalala ko lang ang nakita ko.  

Tinanggal ko iyon sa pagkakasabit sa dingding. I was about to put it in my small storage room when I stopped midstep. Ang bigat sa loob na itago iyon. Bumuntong hininga ako at nilagay ang sketch sa box. Sa opisina ko na lang ididisplay. At least doon, masyado akong abala para makita iyon.  

"You look vibrant today," puna ni Architect Santiago. "Is it because your contract is ending? You're finally free."  

Humalakhak ako at umiling. "Hindi naman sa ganoon..."  

Magaan nga ang pakiramdam ko nitong mga nakaraang araw. Masakit pa ring isipin ang tungkol kay Eros pero pilit ko na lang iyong kinakalimutan. Kapag hindi ko siya naiisip, hindi ko namamalayang magaan ang pakiramdam ko kahit mag-isa sa apartment. Hindi tulad noon, namamanglaw ako, iniisip ko man si Eros o hindi.