Watch my Step (Friend Series #4)

Chapter 14

These past few months, I've realized that studying is really important. Getting high grades and aiming to be in the dean's list weren't the crux but the knowledge and skills you will acquire. That is very essential once you're already in your field, practicing what you have learned from the program you have took. I didn't expect that I will realize that from him. Of all people.

"Wow. Kai Almendarez is studying. Breaking news." sarkastiko kong sabi nang maabutan siya na seryosong nag-aaral sa lounge sa baba ng building ko.

I always see him here. Tuwing labas ko ay inaasahan ko na nandito siya.

Umangat ang tingin niya sa akin at ngumiti. Pinaglaruan nito ang earcuffs sa kaliwang tenga habang nag-iisip ng isasagot sa akin.

"Kahit ganito tingin mo sa akin, nag-aaral pa rin ako."

I laughed as I dug my ballpen and notes from my bag. "Tingin ko sa'yo? Bakit anong tingin ko sa'yo?"

"Walang alam." suplado nitong saad at binalik ang mga mata sa pagbabasa.

Natawa ako.

"Hoy."

Ipinukpok ko sa ulo niya ang ballpen na hawak. He looked at me sharply but his smile is betraying him. Sa huli ay nginitian pa rin ako.

"Wala akong sinabing ganyan."

"Your eyes say so."

Umirap ako at binaba ang tingin sa notes ko. Bumuntong-hininga ako at kinagat ang pang-ibabang labi nang may mapagtanto. Mabilis akong umiling para maalis ang kung anong iniisip saka itinuon sa notes na nasa harap ang buong atensyon.

Noong huling semester ay okay na ang grado ko, average. My dad isn't a bit happy about it but I'm fine with that. Kailan pa siya natuwa sa akin? Wala akong matandaan. The good part there was that I didn't receive another beatings from him.

I lifted my eyes and caught him staring at me. Sa reaksyon nito ay mukhang kanina pa niya ako tinitingnan.

Umarko ang isang kilay ko nang mapansin ang pagiging seryoso nito.

"What do you think of marriage?" he suddenly asked.

Kung may iniinom lang ako ngayon ay baka nasamid na ako sa naging tanong niya.

He's asking about marriage? Kai's asking about marriage?

Impossible.

But he already did, Step.

"What?" I uttered, still awed.

"Kasal. Anong tingin mo sa kasal?" he said stressing the word "kasal."

We stared at each other. Kaagad kong binali nang mapatunayan na seryoso nga ito.

"A norm." bulalas ko sa unang naisip.

Isang salita ko pa lang ay mabilis itong gumalaw sa kanyang kinauupuan para umupo ng maayos. He wants to hear more as he became attentive all of a sudden. Pansin ko iyon.

"People tend to get married because it has been a custom, a practice na kapag umabot ka na sa edad na bente hanggang trenta ay dapat magpakasal ka na."

Tumigil ako sa pagsasalita nang makita ang reaksyon niya. It's like he wants to counter.

"Bakit?"

My eyes widen when I realized something.

"Don't tell me you believe in marriage like how everyone else does?"

Generally, people tend to believe that marriage occurs out of love. That's how it should be. And maybe for some, it works like that and I considered them lucky but that's not how it works for others.

"Anong masama kung ganoon nga ang paniniwala ko?"

Gulat ako sa pag-amin niya. He believes in marriage? Another breaking news to me. This playboy does really believe in marriage.

"So, my engineer doesn't believe in marriage huh?" he taunted when he saw my scorn.

Umirap ako.

"I don't even see myself getting married." I stated.

"At all?" he probed.

"At all."

"You can't be that absolute. Baka magbago isip mo sa susunod."

Natatawa akong umiling sa kanya.

"You'd rather see me petting cats at my thirties, forties or fifties than having a husband and carrying a child of my own."

I saw it with my own eyes how my sentence surprised him. Sa tingin ba niya lahat ng babae ay gustong magkapamilya't magkaanak?

"Ayaw mo rin magkaanak?"

"I'd rather adopt."

Muli siyang tumahimik kaya napapantastikuhan ko siyang pinagmasdan.

"What's with this topic? You wanna get married?"

Umiling siya at binagsak ang mga mata sa binabasa. Pinagpatuloy nito ang pagbabasa na parang hindi kami nagkaroon ng diskusyon tungkol sa kasal.

"Bakit ka tumahimik bigla?"

"Just realized that we both have different perceptions."

"We are?"

So, he does believe in marriage and he wants to have children huh?

"So, what?"

I mean, ano naman kung magkasalungat ang pananaw namin tungkol doon? Hindi naman kailangan na magkapareho.

"Yeah, so what." he sighed and flipped the page of his book.

"You know what, if you want to have a family, you should start getting into a serious relationship right now. Tumigil ka na sa pambababae mo–"

"Nakita mo ba akong nambabae?"

I stopped forming sentences in my head when he retorted. Saglit akong natigilan at napaisip sa kanyang sinabi. Sa mga nakalipas na buwan ay wala nga akong naririnig na may girlfriend siya. Hindi ko rin naman pinapakiaalaman iyong parteng iyon ng buhay niya. As long as I am getting a good and safe sex from him, he, having girls doesn't have anything to do with me. And this is Kai Almendarez I am talking. Imposibleng wala!

"I-I don't know... with you."

Matalim ang tingin niya sa'kin at padabog na itinayo ang librong hawak niya. "Ikaw lang ang babae ko."

I blinked twice.

Ano?

When I realized that he's trying his sweet talks to me, kaagad kong binato sa kanya ang ballpen na hawak.

"Tumigil ka nga!"

"Tumigil sa?"

I rolled my eyes, grabbed my ballpen and pointed it at him.

"Stop flirting with me and with the other girls. Like you said, you believe in marriage and you want kids. For that to happen, stop being an ass and start getting in a serious relationship. Find a girl who also believes in marriage and wants to have kids as well."

"Why would I?"

Suminghap ako sa maikli nitong sagot.

"You really don't get it, do you?" hindi ko alam kung bakit ako naiirita sa kanya bigla. It's like he doesn't know what he's saying. Nalilito tuloy ako ngayon kung seryoso ba siya sa mga pinagsasabi niya.

"So you would complete each other! Ano ba 'yan. Ang bobo naman."

"Why would I have to find a girl when I have already found her?"

"Sino? Si Gwen?" I blurted out the first name I have in my head.

Nagsukatan kami ng tingin. Hindi ito nakasagot kaya sa tingin ko ay tama ang binanggit kong pangalan.

That's the last talk I have with him. After that day, he became so busy with his studies since he's a graduating student. Ang alam ko ay nagsisimula na rin siyang mag-trabaho sa kompanya nila kaya hindi na ako nagugulat kung nakikita ko siyang nasa ibang bansa kasama ang ama o di kaya ay ang mga Tito niya.

Speaking of his graduation, I don't know what is with me but I was actually considering giving him a gift? At namomroblema ako sa bagay na 'yon. Like what would I acknowledge myself? From his fuck buddy? And what would I write on the card? Thank you for giving me good sex? It's disgusting I know but that keeps on bothering me for some couple of days and nights.

Wait, why bother with that? Just buy him a box of condom and fling it at his face! Damn. I didn't know that giving gifts would be this complicated.

I let out a sigh and my vision went up 'til it reached the end of the massive edifice in front of me. All glass and steel. Nasa harap ako ngayon ng gusaling pagmamay-ari ng mga Almendarez.

Almendarez is a well-off family. Matagal ko nang alam iyon pero sa tuwing makikita ko ang mga property nila ay hindi ko pa rin mapigilan ang mamangha.

Pumasok ako sa loob at kaagad na tumungo sa tamang palapag. As soon as the lift slid open, unang nadapuan ng aking tingin ang babaeng attendant sa lobby. Lumapit ako rito saka sinabi ang pakay.

I have an appointment with Engineer Guillermo today. It's related to my field study subject that's why I need to consult an engineer and immerse myself with the working environment.

The attendant talked to Engineer Guillermo via intercom. Kaagad ding bumukas ang opisina ni Engineer at hindi ko inaasahan na siya ang makikita ko.

Lawrence Almirañez in his dashing white long sleeves and black slacks caught me off guard.

"Miss Saldiviar."

Tumayo ako ng tuwid nang mahimigan sa tono ng kanyang pagsasalita ang pormalidad.

"Y-yes."

"I'm Engineer Lawrence Almirañez, Engineer Guillermo's apprentice." pormal nitong pakilala sa sarili.

"Step Saldiviar, Engineer Almirañez." balik kong pakilala sa sarili.

Ngumiti siya sa akin. Sa aming dalawa ay mukhang ako lang ang nakakaramdam ng pagkailang. Lalo pa akong nailang nang maalala ko ang mga mensahe niya na hindi ko sinagot. Hindi ko alam kung ilang beses na niya akong napadalhan ng mensahe. At sa lahat ng mga iyon ay wala akong sinagot ni isa. Hindi dahil sa ayaw kong sagutin kundi sa hindi ko alam ang dapat i-sagot. Ayaw kong magkamali ng sasabihin kaya mas pinipili ko na lang na huwag sagutin ang anumang mensahe niya.

And now, that he's here, I kind of regretted it. Hindi ko alam na dito niya piniling magtrabaho! At apprentice pa ng napili kong cooperating engineer sa subject na 'to. At ilang semester mayroon ako na subject na ganito? Hanggang maka-graduate ako? Damn it.

"Nasa meeting si Engineer kaya ibinilin ka niya sa akin."

He led the way to his boss' office. Nang makarating kami ay parang ang sikip ng opisina para sa aming dalawa kahit malawak naman ito. Parang kinakapos ako sa hangin tuwing magtatagpo ang tingin naming dalawa. Damn. What is happening to me?

"Engineer Guillermo's still in a meeting, Miss Saldiviar. Any refreshments you like?"

"I'm good." I said and tried to entertain myself with the decorations and furnishings of the office.

Umupo ako sa gray na couch dito sa opisina habang siya ay nasa kanyang mesa sa isang tabi. We were quiet for more than five minutes. If this will take an hour, this will be probably my death.

Wala rin akong magawa dahil ubos na ang baterya ng cellphone ko. I can't keep myself busy, unlike Lawrence who can do so much in his table. If it wouldn't look weird, I would offer my help. But that would contradict my attitude towards him. Hindi ko nga sinasagot sa chat tapos kakausapin ko sa personal.

Ilang pag-tama at pag-iwas pa ng tingin naming dalawa ang nangyari saka bumukas ang opisina ni Engineer Guillermo. Thank god. Tumayo ako agad nang makita ang beteranong enhinyero.

Ferdinand Guillermo is a forty-five-year-old engineer. I chose him as my cooperating engineer because he's a self-made engineer. Galing sa pinakamababa hanggang sa pinakamataas na posisyon ng enhinyero sa kompanya ng mga Almendarez. I am fortunate enough that he accepted my application.

I introduced myself to him even when I already submitted my personal information to him. Bumalik din ako ng upo sa couch nang umupo rin siya rito habang inaayos ang suit. We discussed about the outcome and content of my course and set the schedules of our meetings so it won't conflict both our schedules.

Napakaikli ng treynta minutos habang kausap ko si Engineer Guillermo. Mas mahaba pa ang sampung minuto kong paghihintay sa kanya.

"It's nice to meet you, Miss Saldiviar."

"Me too, Engineer."

Tumayo ako at tinanggap ang nakalahad mniyang kamay. He then glanced at Lawrence's table. Dumagundong ang puso ko nang makuha ang gusto niyang mangyari.

"Engineer Almirañez, kindly escort her way out."

Gusto kong tanggihan but I don't want to leave a bad impression as well. Ngumiti ako ng pilit sa matandang enhinyero saka bumaling kay Lawrence na ngayon ay nakatayo na.

"Yes, Engineer."

Lumapit ito sa'kin saka ako iginaya palabas ng opisina. Wala akong nagawa kung hindi ang sumunod sa kanya hanggang makarating kami sa tapat ng elevator. We were waiting for the door to open until he called my name.

"Step."

"Hmm?" I hummed then coughed. Damn. Am I that obvious?

"I know, I should have gotten your message why you're not replying to my chats." he chuckled as he stared at the door of the elevator in front of us.

"Do you have a boyfriend?" he suddenly asked and turned to me.

I gasped, unprepared with his question. Hindi pa man ako nakakasagot ay nagsalita itong muli.

"I'll take that as a no. You won't hesitate to answer yes if you have one, right?"