Maybe This Time

Chapter 2

Here I thought would be brave enough to say yes. Planado na! I was so ready, pero biglang umurong ang dila ko. And I just can't find the right timing to say it. I'm supposed to be enjoying this trip with Charlie, instead I am bothered and anxious. I hope she won't notice, kasi mas mahirap mag-explain.

"I hope you enjoyed" she said as she pulled me closer, we're watching the sunset by the beach "Miel, I really like you, a lot" she whispers.

I feel guilty, bakit bigla ko nalang hindi masabi na oo, sinasagot na kita, I like you too Charlie, girlfriend mo na ako?

I thought it'll be easier because it's Charlie, the most sincere girl in the world. Yet, here I am, having doubts to myself. Yes, sa sarili ko, bakit? Why is this happening? Gaano kahirap sagutin yung taong gusto mo rin? Or is it something (someone) else that I don't want to acknowledge?

Kasi kapag in-entertain ko, lalo lang akong magugulo.

My bubble of thoughts popped when I realized how close Charlie is to me, I can feel her hot breath on my face "I want to kiss you right now" her voice is low "but I still need that confirmation that I can" I gulped at pumikit. Then I felt her releasing me. Pag dilat ko she's looking straight into the sea, kahit hindi ko nakikita, I know she's hurting "Kulang pa ba?" she asks

Made me more guiltier, so I sigh "no, sobra pa nga"

"then...what's taking you too long?" she asks hopeful na masabi ko na.

"My mind..." and heart are at war Charlie, I clearly know why and I have to fix this first, kasi gusto ko buong buo mo akong makukuha. You don't deserve a half-ass commitment.

Mga salitang tinakasan ako.

Tumayo s'ya and offered her hand, looking down at me, smiling like nothing is wrong "I'm willing to wait, kahit gaano pa katagal Miel, because I know, you're worth it"

My heart melts, minsan napapaisip nalang ako if deserve ko pa ba ang taong ito. I took her hand to stand and pulled her into a hug "Soon, Charlie, soon" I said not making it sound like a promise. Because I might break it (her).

--
Dad called asking if I can go to his friend's office to talk to someone about the possible joint venture. Sabi n'ya take this as the start of my training para maging next CEO ng company. Little did he know, wala akong balak manahin yung kumpanya, I want to build my own, but hey, a training is a training, this might be useful in the future.

The building is nice, the staff are accommodating, mukhang good choice naman si Dad. We need a partner na maayos at makatao. The secretary let me in this small conference room asking me to wait a little bit kasi hindi pa tapos yung meeting ng boss n'ya. Served me a slice of cake and coffee.

About fifteen minutes or so, I heard the glass door opened. Pag lingon ko ay agad akong napalunok. Nikka...

She's the boss?

She stared at me for a second before sitting on the other side "Good afternoon, I'm sorry I'm late" paano n'ya kaya nagagawa 'yon? She's really good at being cold and serious. Will I ever see her smile? Or kahit anong emosyon?

I bet she's prettier kapag nakangiti. And what I am even thinking? I'm here for work!

I heard her faked a cough to get my attention "it's fine, my Da-- Mr. Delucci asked me to hand over these papers for your review and to schedule another meeting regarding th--" she cuts me off

"Hold on, Miel" she called me by my first name? Akala ko formal tayo dito? "Breathe..." she said, so I released a breath I didn't know I was holding "there, and about that, my father already signed the contracts" nagulat ako

Then why did my Dad... "These papers you brought are the ones your father signed, I guess you need to learn how to read first before you transact." hindi ko alam kung maiinis ako sa kanya kasi oo na hindi ko naman talaga binasa at inintindi si Dad! or hahanga kasi ang attractive pala n'ya kapag nasa trabaho.

What attractive? Melinda Delucci hindi ka pinanganak para maging marupok. Umayos ka, trabaho lang, walang landi-- God damn, I blame the hormones.

"Miel..." why is it that my name sounds so good when she calls? "lunch?" did she just asked me out? "it's okay kung may lakad ka, it was just a kind gesture, I guess" she shrugs

"Sure, my treat" I answered in a heartbeat.

Melinda "Marupok" Delucci...

But when we're about to leave my phone rang. Nikka saw the caller ID...

Charlie ❤️

"You should go, next time nalang" with that she left.

--
I ended up a lunch date with Charlie. She's telling me her struggles in applying for a job. Tapos sabi n'ya magiging freelancer nalang muna s'ya. Tito must be upset na ayaw ni Charlie magtrabaho sa firm nila.

Charlie has always been independent. Madalas silang magtalo ni Tito noon but in the end, her parents supported her, lalo na noong nakita nila how she happy is doing what she loves.

"How was the meeting?" she asks, should I tell her? Of course I should, why would I hide something like that?

"Well turned out, I was meeting Nikka"

"Oh! right, sabi n'ya nga pala last time na nag start na s'ya sa company nila even before graduation. Small world huh? So hindi ka naman ba pinahirapan or sinungitan nun? Alam mo kasi medyo may pagka s talaga yun"

"S?"

"mhmm, sumpungin, basta ganon na yun noong nakilala namin s'ya. Pero mabait naman yun"

"Kailan nga ulit kayo nagkakilala?" I ask prying or more like wanting to talk about Nikka.

"Hmm, Freshmen year, galing s'ya Japan, sabi n'ya pinatapon daw s'ya dito ng parents n'ya kasi pasaway s'ya," she laughs "she was like eighteen that time"

"Oh I see..." after that we talked about something else.

Pero lumilipad talaga isip ko pabalik kay Nikka. And that's bad news, dahil I might hurt Charlie in the future. Can I just disappear? Kahit ngayon lang, habang magulo ang isip ko.