Whisper of Her Lies (Nayon Series 2)

Kabanata 24

Kabanata 24
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Maingat kong ibinaba ang baso sa mesa at bahagyang nailang sa kanina pang paninitig ni Alion sa akin. Tipid akong ngumiti sa pag-asang ibabaling niya sa iba ang atensyon.

He smiled back. Napapahiyang nag-iwas ng tingin. After all the dates that I had, this one feels light that I somehow like Alion's vibe. Pakiramdam ko hindi ako pwersadong magpaliwanag kung bakit may mga desisyon akong hindi tanggap ng pag-iisip ng iba.

"I enjoyed the night. Thank you, Alion," I said, trying to dismiss the date.

"You are always welcome, Sanja. I'm so glad you returned to my invitation for a date. It means a lot."

"Oh," sandali akong nailang. "That one... I want to make things clear. Maaaring pinagbigyan ko ang pag-aaya mo ngayon pero sana hindi ito magbigay ng rason para asahan ang kahit ano mula sa akin. Inuulit ko, bukas ako sa panibagong pagmamahal pero hindi iyon ang priority ko sa ngayon."

"Of course, I remember that. You have a daughter to consider. Hindi naman ako nagmamadali."

Napanatag ako ng bahagya sa narinig. Good to know. Kung ako lang ang papipiliin, hindi ko pauunlakan ang lahat ng pag-aaya sa akin. I am sure that my daughter is enough for me. I am content with my life right now. Ako at ang anak. Sapat na sa akin 'yon.

On the other hand, I somehow miss the feeling of having a lover. I miss someone taking care of me. I forgot how great it is to have love in my heart. A romantic love, I mean. And now, my heart is trying to remember how to be attracted to someone. I need it now that I am opening myself to a chance of finding a new love.

Nakausap ko na rin si Jarrie tungkol dito. Her approval is always ahead of my decisions. Kung payag siya, saka pa ako magdedesisyon para sa sarili. I learned to value my daughter's feeling and it became my routine to always ask for her opinion. Lalo na kapag para sa amin ang kailangan kong pag-isipan.

"I'm fine about it. If that makes you happy, I support you, Mama," sabi niya ngunit hindi ako kumbinsido sa tonong ginamit ng anak.

Nahimigan ko ang lungkot sa kanyang tinig. If it makes me happy but it makes her sad, then I will say no. It became my ultimatum. No matter how much that man makes me happy, if my daughter is sad for it, I will free the love. I will likely to surrender my own happiness for my daughter's sake.

Good thing that I was still in search of it when I realized that my daughter has been lying about being happy for me. Kaya nang nakatanggap ulit ako ng pag-aaya para sa panibagong date, tinanggihan ko na. Alion tried to ask me for another night but I treated him like how I treated the others.

Sa sumunod na buwan, balik ulit ako sa pag-iignora ng mga pag-amin. I even resigned from my work in that company when the number of boys confessing increased. Ayos na rin na umalis ako dahil ilang araw lang mula nang nag-resign ako, tumawag si Papa.

"I am not sure to assume a post, Papa."

"Why? You will soon to run the business, Sanja."

Sandali kong iniwan ang kausap sa phone para balingan ang anak. I nodded at the dress she pointed and got back to our conversation.

"I don't feel like working in your company. May nahanap na rin po akong trabaho. Hindi sa linya ng kurso ko pero ayos na rin."

"Anong trabaho?" he said quietly.

"Sa Feroce, Papa. Secretary ni Lyka Zalderial."

Hindi ko na ikinagulat ang biglang pagkakatahimik ni Papa. I saw that coming. And I surely know why.

"Are you sure you want to be associated with the Zalderials?" sinubukan niyang itago ang pangamba pero masyado siyang halata para hindi ko mapansin.