As You Lie Awake

34

TW: depression, thoughts

"Good Morning, Sir Llagas!" Someone greeted him.

Ralph smiled and the girl's cheeks flushed as she started looking away. We are now on the asshole's company. I stared at her, expecting to be greeted too. Ano, si Ralph lang?! Big deal pa naman sa 'kin ang greetings lalo na nandito ako sa company ni Gabriel. Bigla siyang umayos ng ekspresyon ng mukha nang makita ang paninitig ko.

"G-Good Morning, Miss Guerrero..." aniya at umiwas na agad ng tingin. Kung kanina, kinikilig kay Ralph kaya umiwas, sa 'kin nailang pa yata. Well, not my problem.

"Mr. Llagas scheduled a meeting with Mr. Vargas today at 12 PM. It's still... 11:49 po and may meeting pa rin si Mr. Vargas so I couldn't call him to... uh—"

"Daming sinabi. Oo, we'll wait. Saan ba pwedeng umupo?" Tanong ko. I can't help but say that. Even the mere thought of being in Gabriel's company makes me mad.

"I-I'm sorry, ma'am! Dito po..." iginaya niya kami sa isang waiting area ro'n. Ralph's smile were more visible now. Tumingin ako sa kanya at umirap.

"You're too harsh!"

"Wala kang pake," I stated, having a glimpse of smile on my face, too.

He chuckled softly, "Dude, come on!"

Natawa na lang ako sa complain niya pero natigil kaming pareho ng may nabasag na kung ano. Pareho kaming napatingin ni Ralph kung ano 'yon. Napahinga ako ng malalim. It was the lier! With a broken coffee mug on the floor! Bakit naman nabasag 'yun? Matalim na agad ang tingin ko at hindi ko alam kung bakit.

"Call a janitor. It fell accidentally." He commanded. Umirap ako. Tanginang sablay mo naman pala.

Napaiwas ako ng tingin nang mamataan ang kabuoan niya. He's wearing a black polo shirt and a brown jeans that made him look like some fucking actor in the States. God, I need to stop thinking bago pa niya mahalatang 'di pa 'ko nakaka-move on, walangya! At tangina, nasaan naman si Candice dito?

Tiningnan ko ang oras sa cellphone at 11:54 na. Wala pang 10 minutes kanina. Ano 'yon? Akala ko ba 12PM exact?

"Shai, stand up," Ralph reminded me because he's the only one standing. I immediately stood up and faced Gabriel or Mr. Vargas or whatever name they call him. It's lier for me.

"Good Morning, Gabriel Vargas." Ralph greeted so I claimed that I need to greet him, too. Pahamak na Ralph.

"Good Morning." Maikling bati ko naman.

Kumunot ang noo ng sinungaling pero wala akong mabasa sa ekspresyon niya. Nilabanan ko na lang ang pakikipagtitigan niya dahil kapag umiwas ako, olats 'yon. I made my face fierce, so he wouldn't also read my expression.

"Follow me." he said with authority.

It's so fucking deep I could swam into it. What the fuck?

Shaira, sinungaling siya. If he can move on, well, you can, too. And if you can't... then kawawa ka naman. Whatever, you can still live, idiot. Don't fucking think about love like it's the only thing in the world. I don't want to go to the severe depression phase again. Sumunod nga kami ni Ralph. Sa opisina niya yata kami pupunta. Nakarating kami ro'n. This company is really new to me. Bago nga talaga siguro dahil hindi ito 'yung Real Estate nila na alam ko dati.