Where Do Broken Hearts Go?

Prologue

WHERE DO BROKEN HEARTS GO?
SUNRISE SERIES FIVE
Dillion x Callan

PROLOGUE

"Where have you been?"

Kapapasok ko pa lang sa office, bumungad na agad ang co-worker ko na si Fragid. Tinaasan ko lang siya ng kilay saka naupo sa sarili kong cubicle.

"Why do you have to know?"

I fixed my things on my table for me to have a better working spot. Less messy, less stress, less hassle. Kakakain ko lang sa kainan d'yan sa baba ng building. Mas gusto kong kumain sa baba kasi mae-expose ka sa tao. At least, I can smell fresher air.

"Nothing." He sighed and glanced at his paperwork. I chuckled when I saw how thick the paper was. Oh, man. Better do your job and stop talking to me.

Wala naman akong masiyadong gagawin sa ngayon kung hindi ang i-photo copy ang binigay na papeles sa akin. Ako na rin ang inatasan nilang mag-proofread ng documents. I can finish that within a couple of hours.

Napatingin ako sa bintana. Good thing, our department is located in the higher place of the building. From here, I can see the thing that I only see in the pictures before. It feels great that I can see the Merlion Park much nearer now. It reminded me of those hardships I had before reaching this.

"We're going to have some fun this night." Napabalik ang tingin ko kay Fragid nang muli itong magsalita, hindi man lang inalis ang tingin sa papeles. "Do you want to come?" He looked at me for a second before glancing back at his work. Napaisip naman ako.

"No," I answered with finality. May aayusin pa ako sa unit ko and I don't think I can make it this night. I can unwind anytime I want to but not now.

"Why?"

"Why so curious?" I can't help but get pissed. Bakit ba curious na curious 'tong Singaporean na 'to sa mga bagay na ginagawa ko? Can't he just mind his own fucking business?

"This happens rarely so why don't you join us?" He said, now looking at me full of curiosity. I want to poke those curious eyes.

"I have more important things to do than to enjoy," I said and started typing on my computer. "And that's personal." Inunahan ko na siya.

Wala na siyang nagawa. Everybody knows that when I say I can't, I can't. And nobody had the nerve to bother me about those things. When I say I won't, I won't. I don't care if they find my companion boring. So what? Lesser friends, fewer problems.

I just don't like the guts of this man, Fragid.

"Mago-overnight ka, Cal?"

Nang makarating ako sa xerox machine, tinanong ako ni Cybelle. Thankfully, she's a Filipina. Nagpo-photo copy din ito kaya isinandal ko muna ang siko ko sa cubicle na katabi nito at hinintay siyang matapos.

"Hindi. Ipapasa ko na lang mamaya 'yang papers sa head. Konti lang din naman 'yan. And about proofreading, I'll just finish those in my unit," sagot ko saka dinampot ang papel na nahulog niya. "Ie-email ko na lang sa head 'yon." Tumango-tango naman siya.

"Biyayaan mo nga ako ng sipag! Grabe, bakit ako, hindi ko magawang magtino sa trabaho na 'to." Bumuntong hininga pa siya.

Cybelle is five years older than me but her vibes is younger than mine. I often see her watching C-Dramas while working. Buti hindi siya nakikita ng head. Malamang ay natanggal na agad siya.

"Konting-konti na lang talaga, lalambitin na ako sa Merlion na 'yan at maghahanap ng Singaporean na mapapangasawa." Mahina pa itong tumawa. Isang ngiti lang ang naisagot ko, medyo naiinip na. "Ayan, ayos na. Ikaw na."

"Thank you."

Ginawa ko na lang ang dapat gawin doon. Unlike in the Philippines, workmates here are quieter when it's working hours. Mga pagtitipa lang talaga at ugong ng aircon ang maririnig mo. Gan'on na rin ang mga pagbuklat ng papel at ang tunog ng mga sapatos sa sahig. The workplace is more peaceful and less toxic.

Nagbabakasyon pa rin naman ako sa Pilipinas, of course, it's my hometown; however, these days, I am planning on staying here in Singapore for good. I mean, I don't have anyone to look for in that country. My family is all in different countries and we're not that really close for us to have some get-together. And, I don't think I can face them.

"You're going home already?"

My brows furrowed when he ask again. Really? Pero mas pinili ko na lang na tanguan siya. Hindi talaga mabubuo ang araw no'n kapag hindi nag-uusisa. Buhay niya na ata ang tanungin ako nang tanungin. Palibhasa, pamangkin ng may-ari kaya ang lakas ng loob. Hindi ko alam kung bakit kailangan niya pang magtrabaho sa department na 'to while in fact, he can just grab higher positions. He had connections. He'll just tire himself.

"Hayy..."

I sighed as I arrived at my unit. I lazily sat on the single couch and let my body rest for a while. I didn't even do anything that much but I feel like the whole world is at my back.

I heaved a sigh and got up. Pumasok ako sa kuwarto ko para maligo. Tinatamad akong maligo pero kailangan. Ayoko namang madumi ang katawan ko kapag matutulog. It feels weird, isn't it?

Hinubad ko ang pantaas ko na damit saka pumasok sa loob ng bathroom. I just took a cold shower and let the water flow through my naked body. I rested there for a while before deciding to clean myself.

"I forgot to buy groceries, again?"

Padabog kong sinara ang compartment ng cabinet ko nang makitang wala itong laman. My forehead creased when I saw the pack of noodles in the box. I flashed a smile before deciding to just eat this. I won't die if I eat noodles this night. Maggo-grocery na lang ako bukas.

"What the fuck is wrong with this car?"

Annoyance immediately filled my entirety when my car suddenly malfunctioned. Hindi naman gan'on katagal ang sasakyang 'to. I just bought it years ago, I guess? But look, it has a defect already. I need to change this car as soon as possible.

I let out a frustrating groan before going outside to check. Binuksan ko ang trunk ng sasakyan at wala naman akong nakitang mali. Kunot-noo kong binagsak ito saka padabog na muling sumakay.

"Ano ba! Tangina, naubusan ba ako ng gasolina? Kakapa-gas ko lang!" Inis na hinampas ko pa ang steering wheel.

Kung alam ko lang na mauubusan ako ng gas, sana hindi na lang ako nag-grocery. Putangina talaga. Nasabunot ko pa ang buhok ko saka muling lumabas para sana maghanap ng sasakyan kaso ang wala man lang dumadaan. Tangina na naman.

"Hi, do you need any help?"

Kunot-noo kong tiningnan ang nagsalita sa likod ko. Pakiramdam ko, nahinto ang paghinga ko nang magtama ang mata namin. His twinkling-ash gray eyes brought everything back.

He's wearing a dress shirt with three buttons open. His hair is fixed and it looks waxed. His features became rougher than before. He's standing proudly while carrying a paper bag on his left arm.

My lips parted when I recognized who he was. His reaction mimicked mine but he immediately looked away and sighed as if he didn't know me.

"D-Do you need any help?"

I smiled sarcastically.

Of all places, I never expected to meet him here again. And of all people, I never expected that it would be him...

Again.