Glimpses of Yesterday (Isla Contejo #2)

Chapter 26

NANATILI ako sa Amerika ng halos dalawang taon hanggang sa mapagtanto kong mas gusto ko pa ring sa Pilipinas magtrabaho. I didn't know, but I really felt that my career really belonged in the Philippines. Maybe because doon naman kasi talaga ako nagsimula na ring magtrabaho noon. And that was where I graduated college.

May naging trabaho naman ako sa isang construction company sa U.S, but I was still really longing for a career in the Philippines. Kaya 'yon, matapos ng halos dalawang taong pananatili ko roon ay bumalik din ako ng Pilipinas. I was already fine and I felt like I really forgot a bit about... everything that happened. I have already moved on.

I applied in one of the biggest architectural firms in Manila until I got a lot of clients and also big projects. I was doing fine in Manila. I love my job. I love the company I was working with. I also gained some friends in there. Ciello and I were still seeing each other once in a while. Hindi ko pa ulit nakikita sina Enrico, Iñigo, Quillon, at... iyong isa. Busy rin kasi pare-pareho sa mga sari-sariling trabaho.

Nakuntento na akong sa Manila na lang. Karamihan ng mga tinatanggap kong offers ay sa loob lang din ng Manila. Ewan, ayaw ko na lang din siguro talagang lumayo. But then... when I received a call from one of the people I looked up to the most in the construction industry, saying that he had an offer for me in Isla Contejo, I had no choice but to accept it.

It wasn't like napilitan ako or what. I also really wanted to accept the offer because Engineer Gonzaga was one of the people that I really admire. It would be great to work with him -- it would be an honor. I still remembered how I met him through my ex boyfriend's father many years ago and I still remembered how I got fascinated with his journey in the industry. I thought before that someday, I would want to be like him.

Kaso, ang nagpapagulo kasi sa isip ko ay ang fact na babalik ako sa Isla Contejo. I mean, OMG? Magmula noong makabalik ako rito sa Pilipinas, never pa akong nakabisita ulit doon kasi I was always so busy with work. I had no time to travel! I wanted to at least visit Manang Lou and our house there, but my schedule couldn't let me.

Isa pa, ang mas inaalala ko ay baka makita ko si ano ro'n. Nasaan na ba iyon ngayon? Parang wala naman yata rito sa Maynila. Nabanggit din ni Ciello na matagal na palang wala ito sa Molinario Architectural Firm.

Hindi naman sa ayaw ko siyang makita o mayroon akong matinding galit sa kaniya kaya ayaw ko siyang makita. Medyo natatakot lang ako na baka... bumalik lahat ng sakit na naramdaman ko noon. I didn't know, though. I just really felt that memories from the past would come back to me the moment I see him again.

Pero... nakakahiya naman kasing tanggihan si Engineer Gonzaga at saka sayang talaga 'yong offer. I also wanted to at least visit the place, so... sige na nga! Baka wala naman iyon do'n. Kung naroon man, dedma na lang.

"Dedma-dedma ka pa diyan--stupid! You were almost gawking at him earlier!" naiinis at parang tangang saad ko sa sarili nang makabalik ako sa bahay.

Ang sabi ko noon sa sarili ko ay kapag nakita ko ulit siya ay dededmahin ko na lang. Syempre, it would be awkward kung kakausapin ko pa. Kahit nga tingnan man lang ay parang ayoko dahil baka makipagtitigan pa. Pero ano 'yong kanina? Kung pagmasdan ko siya, ang tagal! Na-miss mo ba, Jaeda? Hay naku!

Nang matapos ang pag-uusap-usap namin nila Engineer Gonzaga and the newbies, Daniel and Kristoff, halos takbuhin ko ang sasakyan ko kanina dahil parang need kong magtago. I went to La Contejo Resort earlier to see the place that Engineer Gonzaga and his team (including me) would be working on. I didn't expect that Arsen was there! Ang sabi niya ay katatapos lang daw ng meeting niya roon. Kung ganoon, madalas ba siyang naroon? Baka may iba pa siyang meetings doon sa mga susunod na araw?