Cruel Summer

ika-31

"What are you doing here?" I asked coldly.

I don't know if I waited for him for the past 2 years. Naalala ko lang ang pangako niya noong huli kaming nagkita, at hindi ko alam kung pinanghawakan ko ba 'yon, o kung naghintay ako sa kaniya. Basta galit ako, yun na 'yon.

"I'm here for my project proposal," tugon niya. "May I come in?"

I did not look at him and just nodded while I'm focusing on my laptop. Unti-unti kong nararamdamang lumalakas at bumibilis ang tibok ng puso ko habang naririnig ang mga footsteps niyang papalapit sa akin.

He sat down on a chair in front of my desk. Matalim akong tumingin doon at ibinalik muli ang tingin sa laptop, at huminga nang malalim bagong muling tumingin sa kaniya.

He hasn't changed at all. Mas naging mature lang siya tignan, at mukhang may mga kaunting pisikal na anyong nag-iba sa kaniya.

"Didn't know you're name is Mr. B now," I said nonchalantly. He was just looking at me, and it made me feel uncomfortable so I tore my eyes off him.

"I did that because I know you wouldn't accept my proposal if you knew that it was me in the first place," he said.

"Kahit naman ngayon, hindi ko tatanggapin 'yan. Bakit ba kompanya ko pa naisipan mong kuhanin? Ang dami namang iba."

"Ikaw ang gusto ko, Engr."

Napalunok naman ako roon, at kita kong nagtatago ng ngiti si Bry habang nakatingin sa akin. He licked his lower lip. I cleared my throat.

"Bakit ako ang gusto mo?" wala sa sarili kong sinabi. Nang mapagtantong mayroong kakaibang kahulugan iyon ay binawi ko agad. "I-I mean... why our company?"

"Because I believe in you."

Natigilan naman ako at pakiramdam ko'y hindi ako makahinga sa hindi malamang dahilan. Kung noon ay maari niya akong idaan sa mga salita niya, pwes ngayon hindi na. I've learned. Hindi na dapat ako naapektuhan sa mga sinasabi niya, at hindi ako pwedeng magpadala sa bugso ng damdamin.

"That's it?" tanong ko.

"Of course there's more to it," he confidently said. "I've seen your works. Nakasama na rin kita noon sa trabaho noong nasa R&L. Kilala kita, at alam kong maibibigay mo ang pinakamagandang kalidad ng proyektong tinatrabaho ng kompanya mo."

I was just looking at him while he's explaining. He then lifted his brows and stretched his lips for a smile. Tumingin ako sa laptop ko.

"Still no."

He sighed. He then put his folder on my desk and tapped it. "Just in case you change your mind, take a look at his proposal, and call me-- no. Babalik ako rito."

"You don't have to," pagtataray ko. "Hindi ako interesado."

"I'll make you interested, then. I'm willing to do everything para mapa-oo kita."

"Baka masayang lang oras mo, baka nasa Netherlands ka na hindi mo pa rin ako mapapa-oo."

He smirked. "Don't worry. Hindi naman na ako babalik sa Netherlands. Maraming marami akong oras para sa'yo."

Hindi na ako tumugon pa at nagfocus na lang sa trabahong ginagawa ko. Tumayo na siya at nagpaalam. Narinig ko namang binuksan na niya ang pinto, pero nanatiling bukas iyon.

"Engr. Fontanilla," he said before leaving. Binaling ko ang aking tingin sa kaniya at pagod na nagtaas ng kilay.

"I missed you."

He then closed the door and left, but I'm still staring at it for a very long time. I think my heart skipped a beat. Bakit naman kasi sa lahat ng magiging kliyente ko, siya pa?