At the End of the Road

Kabanata 1

Hindi ko mabilang kung ilang buntong hininga na ang pinakawalan ko magmula kanina. Being an HR Generalist is a busy job and requires lot of patience and energy especially when dealing with different kind of people everyday. But it's funny to think I'm here right now, lazily resting my chin to my left hand while the other is fidgeting my ballpen.

That Heather Enciso is still bugging my mind until now. We never talked about her, never let him knew I read the message and never asked what did they do the day after our anniversary. I don't want to appear as a nosy girlfriend because Nikolo doesn't like that.

I have lots of questions in my mind about that girl. I admit, I felt jealous just with the fact that Niko isn't telling me about it.

"Mau, sasabay ka?" tanong ni Erika na siyang nagpabalik sa'kin sa katinuan. Kaagad akong umiling.

"Next time" sagot ko atsaka nginitian ito.

Napangiti naman ako ng tumunog ang cellphone ko at nakita kung sino iyong tumatawag.

"Babe" kaagad kong bati. Niko and I are working in same company but in different department. Ako ay sa Human Resources at siya naman ay sa Engineering Department. Madalas man ay hindi magtagpo ang schedule namin, nakakahanap pa rin ng paraan para sabay kumain ng lunch.

"Mau, nandito kami sa site sa Antipolo. Hindi kita masasabayan ngayon sa lunch. I'm sorry, babe. I'll just fetch you later at 6:45" aniya.

Hindi na bago sa'kin ito dahil palagi siyang nasa site ngunit nalungkot pa rin ako. I can't remember when was the last time we ate lunch together. But it's alright, we're both busy professionals and adult.

"It's okay" sagot ko at pekeng ngumiti.

"I'll hang up now babe, we'll be eating our lunch na 'rin" pagpapaalam niya. Tumango-tango na lamang ako atsaka pinatay ang tawag. Guess I'll gonna eat lunch alone.

Mabilis kong inayos ang mga gamit ko. Kinuha ko ang handbag ko at nilisan ang opisina. Mabuti na lamang at dalawang oras ang lunch break namin. Sawa na ako sa pagkain sa cafeteria kaya minabuti kong kumain na lamang sa labas.

Habang binabaybay ko ang kahabaan ng Ayala Ave sa ilalim ng tirik na araw, naramdaman kong nagvibrate ang cellphone ko.

"Markus" bati ko sa kabilang linya.

"Let's have lunch. I'm here in Glorietta" aniya.

"Here in your favorite Steakhouse, Mau" dagdag pa ng nasa kabilang linya.

"You're with Monica?" nakangisi kong tanong.

"Obviously, hurry up. Gutom na ako" he annoyingly said. Ibinaba ko na ang tawag at mabilis na pumara ng jeep papuntang Glorietta.

Markus is my cousin, Nikolo's friend. Monica is also Nikolo's friend which is also my friend and I believe my cousin and her has a thing. Kaya naman kinikilig ako para sa kanila.

Ilang sandali pa ay nakarating na ako sa restaurant na sinasabi ni Monica. It's an American cuisine and their steak is my favorite.

"Finally" Markus said. Inirapan ko lamang ito. This is man is the grumpiest and had the thinnest patience I ever knew.

"Teka, sa BGC ang opisina niyo bakit kayo napadpad ng Ayala?" nagtataka kong tanong atsaka humila ng upuan.

"Ah sinabi kasi ni-" but Markus cut off Monica and glared at her.

"May appointment lang sa isang client near your building kaya naisipan kong ayain ka na rin ng lunch since malapit ka lang naman" he said while looking for something to order in the menu.

"Iyan lang ang kakainin mo?" inis na binalingan ni Markus si Monica ng sabihin nito ang gusto niyang kainin. And then again, they started arguing.

Seeing the two of them, arguing over petty little things made me smile, they look like real couple. Hindi ko maiwasang ngumiti ng mapait. Markus is my boyfriend's closest friend. Sila rin ang madalas nitong kasama tuwing nagba-bike sila. Ano kaya kung tanungin ko siya?