The Lost Helianthus (COMPLETED)

Chapter Thirty Two

"Nag-away ba kayo, Solanna, hija?"

Naputol ang pagmamasid ko sa bulaklak na nakapatong sa desk ko. For sure, this is from Alek. Araw-araw siyang hindi pumapalya na magpadala ng bulaklak simula nang huli naming pag-uusap. I don't know how to approach him, but right now, ayaw ko pa naman ring makipag-usap pa kaya hindi ko muna iyon iniintindi.

Kailangan ko munang palipasin sandali dahil baka mamaya at mag-usap kami, baka sumabog lang kami at mas lalong lumala pa ang away namin.

Marahan akong humarap sa nagsalita. It's Ma'am Gertrude, my boss and my boyfriend's mother. Ibinaba ko ang ulo ko bilang simbolo ng paggalang. "Good morning, Ma'am."

I heard her give out an elegant laugh. "No need for that, hija. You will soon be part of our family. Just call me Tita. Better yet, Mom." That, I would never do. We are in the company and I have to maintain my professionalism.

Nahihiya akong sinalubong ang mata niya. I can see how her eyes wrinkles as she smiled, resembling Alek's. For sure, sa kanya nagmana ang lalaki.

I terribly miss him and it's a mystery kung paano ko siya natitiis.

Alek has reached out to me since the day after that conversation. Ako lang itong matigas ang ulo at ayaw pang makipag-usap. Natatakot pa akong mahantong lang gaya noong huli ang mangyayari kung nagkaharap kami.

"Nag-away ba kayo?" She said, repeating her question a while ago.

I shifted my eyes to whatever it can land just to avoid her gaze again. Hindi ko alam kung dapat ko bang sabihin ang totoo. Magagalit ba siya? Will it affect the professional relationship between us?

May mga hindi kami pagkakaintindihan rin dati ni Alek pero hindi dumadating sa puntong nag-iiwasan kami at hindi nag-uusap nang matagal. Baka nahalata o napansin na ni Ma'am Gertrude dahil hindi niya kami nakikita ng anak niya na magkasama ng ilang araw na.

I gave her a short smile. "We have a little misunderstanding," I simply said. I decided to lie for the sake of mine and Alek's. If someone got to witness our talk, they will clearly conclude that it's not only a small fight. Lalo na't kahit kalmado kaming nagsasalita sa panahong iyon ay halata mo ang tensiyon.

She nodded and seems satisfied with my answer. I'm glad I denied what she conjectured. "That's a good thing. I hope you'll be able to fix everything. I don't want your relationship to crumble. And hiling ko ay makita ko  kayo sa simbahan lalo na at official na kayong engaged."

Hindi ko na dapat ipapasok sa utak ko at intindihin ang mga sinasabi niya dahil nag-iisip ako ng excuse para makaiwas na. Kating-kati na akong makapagtrabaho ngunit nawala ang kagustuhan kong iyon nang marinig ang huling salita na lumabas sa bibig niya.

"Engaged?" I repeated.

"Why? Hindi pa ba? I thought he proposed to you last Friday? Naalala ko pang ipinagpaalam ka niya na maaga kang aalis sa araw na iyon."

Shivers run from my toe up to my head. Nanlamig ako sa narinig ko. Last Friday... ibig sabihin ay noong araw na hindi ko siya sinipot ay iyon ang araw na balak na niya akong yayain ng kasal. I made him wait for hours on that supposed to be special day.

Two plans had been made that day. One was created days before and confidently expected to happen, and one came unexpectedly and needed to be attended immediately. Naipit ako sa sitwasyon at nalito kung ano o sino ang dadaluhan.

Now I get how frustrated Alek was when I did not show up that day. He was expecting something big, grand, and memorable for us but I didn't came. I only made him disappointed. Kaya pala ganoon na lang ang galit at pagkadismaya niya.