Claiming the Opposite ✔

35

Yours

NAIILANG akong napapatingin sa malaking billboard. It was Jauncy holding a perfume. Sa pagkakaalam ko ay may cologne brand siyang na-i-launch.

He offered me to voice over about the advertisement of the product. I told Cyrill about it and he's just cool with it. Depende lang daw sa akin kung tatanggapin ko ba ang offer o hindi. After all, hindi naman ako bitter. Work lang naman ang aatupagin ko. But I won't deny that it's a bit awkward for me.

Naaalala ko pa nga dati yung iniiyakan ko siya ng sobra. Napangiwi pa nga ako nang maalala na muntik na pala akong magpakamatay. Seryoso? Anong kabaliwan ang nasa isip ko noon? But remembering that memory made my heart clenched a bit. I was so lost that time.

My breath hitched when I'm already in the front of the mansion. Well, this was our mansion of being together before. I still remember the address of this. That's why when Jauncy told me to meet him here, hindi na ako nagtanong kung saan.

But one thing I noticed is that the wall painting is not black and white anymore. It's already a color yellow and orange. But mostly of the things displayed were gray.

"Let's wait first for the videographer and the other staffs. Baka na-traffic lang."

"It's okay. I can wait naman," I casually said.

Malalim akong napahugot ng hininga nang mapansin ang mabibigat na titig niya sa akin. I glanced sideways and clasped my hands awkwardly.

"Pwede bang h'wag mo akong titigan?" hindi ko na napigilan ang magsalita.

"Sorry. But I'm not actually staring at you. I'm just spacing out you know."

Napatango na lamang ako. Nagtataka na ako kung bakit ang tagal dumating ng mga staffs niya. Medyo nangangalay na nga ang ulo at leeg ko kakatingin lamang sa gilid, iniiwasang mapatingin sa kanya.

"Bakit ang tagal? On time akong pumunta dito kaya dapat hindi ako yung pinapahintay," pagsusungit ko.

He looked so amused that just made me pissed. Nakaramdam na rin ako ng pagkauhaw. Mukhang lagpas na nga kami ng isang oras kakaupo lamang sa sofa.

"You're so professional now, don't you? Congrats by the way that you're now living with your dreams."

I rolled my eyes. Binalewala ko na lang ang inis na nararamdaman at nanahimik na lamang.

"Hindi ka man lang ba magtatanong tungkol sa akin?" dagdag niya.

"I'm not in the mood right now, okay? Dapat bago mo ako tinawagan na pumunta na dito ay dapat nandito na rin sila. I still have so many things to do," reklamo ko.

He just shrugged his shoulders.

"We can't blame them, Xierl. Paano kung na-traffic nga? We can't do anything but to wait. At saka sa pagkakaalam ko, professional is patient. But you're so demanding though."

Agad na nagsalubong ang dalawa kong kilay. Pinandilatan ko siya ng mga mata habang nakakrus ang mga braso. I'm offended with what he said.

"Professionals are time-conscious. We always manage our time even with hectic schedules. What about you? Are you not a punctual person? Mozar ka pa naman..."

He shook his head.

"I am but sometimes I'm not. By the way, won't you ask about our pets? Nibbles and Asher? Don't you miss them? Even just them?" he said in a low tone.