A Designer's Creation

9. Feelings in the Air

Laging sinasabi ng mga tao ko na para akong robot. Even si Forest, sinasabi niyang para akong de-susi. If I have a goal, I always stick to that goal hanggang matapos ko. Never akong nalungkot o natuwa sa result. Lahat ng trabaho, lahat ay parte na ng routine na required akong matapos every day.

I have no healthy social life. I talk to people and forget about them afterward. People come and go, wala akong solid attachment sa ibang tao maliban sa mga tinuturing kong kaibigan. And these friends have their other friends, too.

Hindi ako ang kaibigan nila na ako lang. I'm always that friend na maaalala lang if it will concern me. Parang side chick na lalapitan kung kailan lang convenient. And I prefer that. Madaling ma-drain ang social battery ko kahit na ganoon ko pa ka-close ang isang tao, so I'd prefer people na temporary lang. I don't know how to keep them in my life and I told them, find someone else better than me and be with them. That's for their own good. They deserve better.

But yeah, some days were too crucial at kailangan ko ng kaibigang makakausap. Nabubuwisit ako sa mundo pero wala naman akong choice kundi harapin ang mundo paminsan-minsan.

I was in the fifteenth floor with Tyrone and Forest. Inaayos na nga raw nila ang issue ko with Jomari Lianno. Kanina, nakausap na ang lawyers at nagkakaroon na ng agreement. At gaya ng inaasahan, nanghihingi ng danyos si Jomari. And I said what I needed to say: kakasuhan ko ng harrassment si Jomari and nakakuha ng security footage sa condo kung saan nakita akong tumatakas mula sa unit niya.

Ang daming mga inilatag na papers ni Forest habang nakikinig sa kanya si Tyrone. "Nakuhaan na ng testimony ang security management ng condo ni Jomari. Malakas ang laban natin since may natamong injury si Cinnamon. Done na ang test sa kalmot niya sa balikat. Magpapasa na lang tayo ng medico legal sa police station para makapag-file ng case."

"Itutuloy pa rin ba ni Jomari ang case against kay Cinn?" tanong ni Ty.

"Nag-fall under self-defense ang ginawa ni Cinnamon and sinabi na ng mga abogado na kahit mag-file siya ng physical injury, void ang petition since he started the assault at lumaban lang si Cinnamon for her safety."

"Good. I'll take these papers. Wait for me here, kakausapin ko lang si Rosanna about the other legalities."

I glanced at Tyrone and he already collected Forest's files before he left the blank meeting room.

My eyes were focused on the city view behind the glass wall of the fifteenth floor. It was still raining, and the weather of April was not as cooperative as it should be. Wala namang bagyo pero may habagat at mawawala rin after two days according to the weather forecast.

"Don't worry, Cinn. You'll be fine."

My gaze shifted to Forest. Sobrang pilit ng ngiti niya sa 'kin. Hindi bagay sa kanya ang magpilit ng ngiti. She's so pretty today and if hindi lang sila magpinsan ni Tyrone, for sure, pati siya, nabiktima na n'on.

"How are you feeling? Kanina ka pa nagsi-space out. Okay ka lang ba?"

Actually, wala naman akong pakialam sa case ko na pinoproblema ngayon ng buong Lion Fashion. Iba kasi ang umiikot sa utak ko.

"Resty, I have a question."

"All right, go ahead."

"I met a guy . . ."

In an instant, her eyebrows raised and her eyes widened like I've said something I shouldn't be speaking of.

"You met a guy, Cinn? That's not you. Are you okay?"

Wala pa man akong sinasabi, kumokontra na agad siya.

"Resty, I met a guy and he's nice."

Yung pilit na ngiti niya kanina, biglang nahaluan ng malisya at nangalumbaba na agad siya sa long table na para bang nakaka-curious ang sinasabi ko. "Okay, so there's this nice guy. Then what?"