An Oath To Take (Imperfect Girls Series #1)

Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Coffee and Lunch

Nang matapos 'kong kausapin ang aking nanay ay hindi niya na ako hinayaan pang umalis ng bahay. I stayed for the whole night in my mother's house. It felt nostalgic when I opened the doors of my old room. It was already cleaned but some of my old stuff are still there. The whole room smelled like a lemon-scented air freshener. Mukhang nilagyan ito ni Manang noong nasa kusina pa kami ni Mom.

Today, I'm planning to hit the road in a very early time. I still have to drive for almost an hour bago makabalik sa aking condo. I didn't even wait for my mother to wake up and just left her a written letter placed on top of her side table.  Kumuha muna ako ng isang bote ng kape na naka-stock sa ref at saka lumabas ng bahay.

"Hija, aalis ka na ba?" Napatigil ako sa paglalakad palabas ng bahay nang marinig ko ang mahinang boses ni Manang. I turned around and saw her rubbing her eyes with the back of her palms. Dahan-dahan itong lumapit sa akin na may ngiting nakapinta sa kaniya mukha. "Ang aga mo naman umalis. Hindi ka manlang kakain dito? Ipagluluto kita ng paborito mong umagahan," aya nito at tinuro ang direksyon ng aming kusina.

I chuckled as I shook my head to the side. "Hindi na po, Manang. Lunes din po kasi at kailangan 'kong bumalik sa trabaho. Sa susunod po, babalik ako rito nang matikman ko po ulit ang luto niyo," nakangiti 'kong sagot.

Warmth enveloped my heart as I heard Manang's offer. She really is a very sweet and caring lady. I'm glad that she's one of the people who got left here with my mother. Knowing that my mother will always be in the care of kind and caring people.

"Ay, siya't sige. Mag-iingat ka sa pagmamaneho at baka ikaw ay madisgrasya. Ako na lang ang magsasabi sa nanay mo na umalis ka na," she said as she raised her hand and scratched the side of her head. 

Naglakad ito palapit sa akin at inilapat ang kaniyang kamay sa aking likuran. She lightly made me turn around and pushed me towards the door. Sabay kaming lumabas ng pintuan papunta sa kotse 'kong naiwan sa harapan ng garahe. I grabbed my car keys and opened the door of the car.

"Thank you po, Manang. Babalik po ako rito kapag may oras na po ako," pahabol ko bago tuluyang sumakay ng kotse. She watched me as I drove out of the vicinity of the house. 

I drank half of the coffee from the bottle while looking in front of me. I let out a loud sigh and continued driving. I'm so tired right now. I don't even know if I will be able to function properly while in work. I just slept for five hours and I don't even feel energized to do something.

Finally, after almost an hour of driving ay nakarating na rin ako sa aking condo. I immediately went in the shower to wash myself. I feel like I smell like sweat mixed with alcohol. Agad akong naginhawahan nang makalabas ng banyo na nakatapal ng tuwalya ang buhok at katawan. 

I got dressed into a white blouse paired with cream-colored pencil skirt. Kinuha ko ang aking black pumps at pati na rin ang bag na gamit-gamit ko rin kahapon. I quickly grabbed my keys and went back down to go to work.

It was still a bit early when I got to work so I decided to pass by the near coffee shop. I was waiting by one of the seats when I saw a familiar person enter the shop. Napataas ang aking tingin mula sa aking cellphone at dumapo iyon sa taong bagong pasok ng coffee shop.

He was wearing a gray suit with his hair tied up in a bun while walking towards the counter to order his food. Nabaling ang aking tingin mula sa kaniya papunta sa barista na ngayo'y tinatawag na ang aking pangalan. "Imogen!" tawag ng barista habang nakataas ang aking inorder at saka ito binaba sa counter.

I grabbed my hand bag together with my phone and walked over the counter. Napalingon sa likuran si Andre nang marinig ang aking pangalan na binanggit ng barista. Pansin ko ang mga matatalim nitong titig sa akin habang palapit ako ng counter para kunin ang aking kape.