Cruel Summer

ika-36

Sebastian will stay in Batangas for a week, and he'll come back here in Manila right after. We've been updating each other, and he always calls at night, before going to bed.

2 days have passed, and the construction is going well. Lagi akong nasa site para imonitor ang progress ng construction nito, pero pumupunta rin ako sa office dahil may mga meetings din akong kailangang daluhan. Bakit naman kasi ako pa ang gustong maging engineer dito sa project ng R&L, e marami din namang magaling na engineers sa kompanya ko.

I'm here at the office right now because I have a meeting with another client. Mas busy ang araw ko ngayon kumpara sa mga nagdaang araw, kaya naman medyo nakakapagod ang buong maghapon.

"Thank you," I said to the client. They left as soon as the meeting ended.

Lumapit naman ang sekretarya ko para sabihin kung ano nga ba ang mga dapat kong gawin sa araw na ito. Tumango naman ako sa kaniya at nagpasalamat, at dumeretso na rin sa loob ng office ko pagkatapos.

I was busy doing some paperworks when my phone rang, and it was Bryson who's calling. I picked it up, but I'm still working on my paperworks.

"Hello?" bungad ko.

"You free? Labas tayo," he said.

"I'm busy," I replied. I looked at the clock and it's already 8 PM. I still have tons of paperwork to do and check.

"Kahit nasa labas na 'ko ng kompanya mo?" tanong niya. I sighed.

"Pababa na."

Inayos ko na ang aking mga gamit at napabuntong hininga na lamang. I already ate, but it's just disrespectful for me not to go out with Bry especially he's already outside my office.

Pagkalabas ko naman ay nakita ko si Bryson na nakatayo sa labas. He turned to me and smiled at me. Lumapit na rin siya sa akin.

"Napilitan ka ata," he said.

"Okay lang," sabi ko. "Bakit ka ba nag-aya?"

"You never say yes whenever I ask you to go out with me. Baka ngayon, pwede na tayo lumabas. Have you had dinner?"

I nodded. He bit his lower lip and slowly nodded. "We can just walk around, or go to the mall... whatever you want to do."

Hinarap ko siya. I admit that he hurt me in the past, but I don't want to be rude to him. May pinagsamahan pa rin naman kami. I still see him as a friend. An old friend... I guess?

"You choose. Ikaw nag-aya 'diba?"

Tumango naman siya at pinagbuksan na ako ng pinto ng kotse niya. I didn't bring my own car, kaya naman kung hindi kami lumabas ni Bryson ngayon ay paniguradong commute ako.

He brought me to the MOA seaside. It somehow looks good at night because of the lights from the restaurants ang the mall. Bumili lang kami ng ilang pagkain para habang tumatambay ay may makakain kami.

"Why did you bring me here?" kuryoso kong tanong. He looked at me and smiled, then he turned his gaze again to the crowd.

"Wala lang. Trip ko lang. Tagal ko na ring 'di tumatambay dito, e. High school pa ata ako."

I nodded. I just stared at the sea, and listened to the indistinct chatter by everyone at the seaside. Maraming tao, at marami ding mga bata.

Napansin ko naman ang isang batang tumatakbo habang may dala-dalang piano na laruan. The little girl was pulling her mom.

"Gusto ko ng piano, Mama!" she said. Her mom is slowly getting irritated at the little girl so she carried her and just left the place.

I smiled. Maganda na sa murang edad pa lamang ay mahilig na at interesado na ang mga bata sa iba't ibang uri ng instrumento tulad ng piano. I just see myself in her. A little girl who wanted to play the piano, and wanted to impress everyone.