Chasing Admon Damien

Chapter 21

Ilang minuto lang ay lumabas na din si Adam mula sa kanyang opisina. Nothing changed in his expression, still dark and serious. Ni hindi man lang ngumingiti. He looked ruthless yet handsome.

I am walking behind him that’s why I had a free access to examine his back. His shoulders broaden and his muscles now are more defined. My gaze lowered in his buttocks. Still round and big. My face heated up at the thought that crossed my mind. Shit. Isang beses lang iyon nangyari. Ni hindi ko nga nakita pero nahawakan ko naman. Damn! I shook my head to erase the obscene thoughts in my mind.

Hindi ko napansin na tumigil na pala siya sa paglalakad. As a result, my forehead bumped into his strong back. Sa lakas ng impact ay halos mawalan ako ng balanse pero siya ay nanatiling nakatayo. He stood steadily as if l am just a piece of paper that bumped to him.

Humarap siya sa akin na nakakunot ang noo. Well, ano pa bang aasahan ko?

“What are you doing”

“Bakit kasi bigla-bigla kang humihinto?” Nakangusong wika ko habang hinihimas ang nasaktang noo.

Lumambot ang mukha niya. “Okay ka lang?”


Sasagutin ko sana ang tanong ngunit may humintong magandang sasakyan sa aming harapan.

“Let’s go.”

Nagsimula na siyang maglakad at pumasok sa loob ng sasakyan. Napakunot ako ng noo at nanatiling nakatayo. As far as I know, the meeting will be held at Winona’s Café beside the building. Eh, saan kami pupunta?

He opened the passenger’s window. “Don’t you want to get in?”

Bigla akong natauhan. I immediately moved and made my way inside his car. After I put on my seatbelt, he started to drive.

“Akala ko ba diyan lang sa Winona’s Café?” I broke the silence.

“Nope.”

Nope? Tsk! Napaka-tipid sumagot! Ni wala man lang explanations. Nakasimangot akong sumandal sa upuan. But then I eventually smiled when I thought of the food I had given him.

“Did you like the food?” nakangiting baling ko sa kanya.

“It’s okay.” He answered while his whole attention was on the road.

Napairap ako sa sagot niya. Okay? I put so much effort to cook that. Alam ko ring masarap iyon, and that’s the only compliment I will get? Kung matatawag bang compliment yun!

Hm… but on the other hand, okay na din iyon dahil atleast tinikman niya kesa naman itinapon niya lang.

“Bukas sinigang na baboy naman ang lulutuin ko. Gusto mo yun eh. I mean, magugustuhan mo iyon.” I giggled to hide the nervousness that I felt. Muntik na ‘yun, ah?

“Just cook for your own consumption.” Maikling sagot niya.

“Pero makakatipid ka kung ipagluluto na lang kita.”

His laughter roared inside the car. Oh, how I miss his laughs. Napatitig ako sa kanyang gwapong mukha. Hindi ko maiwasang hindi mamangha sa kanyang tawa. It was like the old times, the times when we were together. Mga panahong mahal na mahal pa niya ako.

Mas lalo siyang gumagwapo kapag tumatawa siya at nakangiti. Is it too much to ask if I wish that he should smile and laugh often? But, who am I to ask this right now? I’m just a nobody to him.

“I can buy a whole restaurant for my lunch, miss Enriquez.” The amusement was still evident in his eyes.

True. Seeing how successful he is now, he can literally buy whatever he wants. But I won’t stop there. Gusto kong ipakita sa kanya ang dahilan kung bakit ako niya ako inibig dati.

“You know I am practicing to cook, para kapag nakapag-asawa na ako, magaling na akong magluto.” I said cheerfully. Pero mas lalong umasim ang kanyang mukha. What did I do now? Para sayo din naman yun Adam! I am practicing for you!

“Sa boyfriend mo na lang ipatikim yung lulutuin mo pa, miss Enriquez.” I sensed an irritation in his voice.

‘Psh! Ipinatikim ko naman na. Pero ‘okay’ lang ang natanggap ko mula sa kanya’ I wanted to say but he might just mock me.

I folded my arms in my chest. “Basta. Ipagluluto pa din kita bukas.”I said full of determination, not really giving up.

He sighed audibly. “I have a lunch date tomorrow.”

Lunch date? Lunch date with who Itatanong ko sana kung kanino kaya lang ay huminto na ang sasakyan. Hudyat na nakarating na kami sa meeting place nila ni Mr. Saavedra

He got out from the car at sumunod na din ako. Pagpasok pa lang namin ay nakita ko na ang isang pamilyar na lalaki na nasa loob ng restaurant. He is with an old man ages from 60-65 years old. They are both seriously talking. But when Vandross' eyes landed on me, he plastered a  smug grin on his face.


My eyebrows furrowed because of curiosity. Anong ginagawa ni Vandross  dito?  I was shocked when I saw Adam shaking  hands with the old man beside Vandross.  Siya ang ka-meeting ni Adam?  Adam pulled a chair for himself. Oh, how gentleman Adam! 


"Surprised, babe?"  Nakangisi pa din na wika ni Vandross.


Nagulat ako nang tumayo siya mula sa upuan. He came near me and hugged me. I hugged him back and tapped his shoulder. Na-miss ko siya kahit na lagi niya akong iniinis. Pero kahit na ganun, alam ko naman na totoo siya sa akin at mahal niya ako bilang isang kaibigan. 


"What are you doing here? Kailan ka pa dumating?" Tanong ko habang nakayakap sa kanya. 


Lumayo muna siya bago sumagot. "I just came back the other day." 


"And the girls knew about this?"


"Yep." he smiled cooly and I just rolled my  eyes on him.  


We were all startled when the old man cleared his throat.

“What a beautiful lady we have here. Hindi nga nagsisinungaling ang pamangkin ko nang sabihin niyang maganda ka, hija. Oh, where’s my manners. I am Herminio Saavedra, hija.”


Inabot niya ang kamay niya sa akin na agad ko namang tinanggap.

“Nice to meet you po. I am Ava Crestia Enriquez.”

Vandross pulled a chair for me beside Adam and I immediately sat down.

“Thank you!”

“No problem.” Vandross winked at me but I just rolled my eyes at him. Sanay na ako sa mga pang-aasar niya sa akin. Nakakainis siya pero mabait naman siya at malambing.

Adam cleared his throat to interrupt us. “Let’s start with the meeting.” he said full of authority in his voice.

“Of course, Mr. Cervantes.” Nakangiting wika ni Mr. Herminio.


“So, may ipagagawa akong condominium at gusto kong ang kompanya mo ang humawak nito. I’ve heard a lot of good things about you and your company and I, you know, instantiy trusted  your company’s capabilities. You are very famous for working your ass to be wherever you are now." Mr. Saavedra chuckled before he sipped on his orange juice.


But Adam said nothing. Tinanguan lang niya ang matanda. He was just staring seriously at Mr.  Saavedra.  It is as if bragging about his achievements and accomplishments is not his forte. That's my man!

"Thank you for the trust, Mr. Saavedra. We ensure you to put our best efforts and heart in this project." 


Madami pa silang technical na pinag-usapan. After that, they started signing contracts and talking about legal matters. Adam immediately got up and left the restaurant. That was a big project he got but he didn't seem happy about it. Patuloy pa din siyang nagsusungit.  Hindi man lang kami nakapag-usap nang matagal ni Vandross. Tinanguan ko lang siya at nagmamadaling sumunod na kay  Adam. 


The drive to the company was quite fast.  I don't know if it was because of the free  flow of trafic or was it because of Adam's  fast driving.  Hindi ko alam kung paanong nakakaya niyang magpatakbo ng ganun kabilis pagkatapos ng aksidente. Because after the accident, I had a phobia riding to cars.


I only learned to drive because Lyca was very persistent to teach me. According to her, it’s best if I overcome my fears which was I found later true. Nakatulong iyon sa akin mas lalo na noong nagkaroon ako ng trabaho. Though napakaingat ko sa pagmamaneho dahil natatakot na akong maaksidente muli.


But Vandross was against it. Hemuli so concerned with my welfare that he didn’t want me to drive. Baka daw sa takot ko ay maibangga ko ang sasakyan. Everytime Lyca and I had a driving lesson, he was always present, trying everything to stop me and change my mind. Pero wala din siyang nagawa because I was so determined to overcome my fear. Kahit sinasabi niya noon na pwede ko naman siyang gawing driver pero hindi naman habang-buhay aasa ako sa kanya. Kaya mas mabuting matuto ako.


Pagkarating namin sa kompanya ay tuloy-tuloy na pumasok si Adam sa loob ng kanyang opisina. Papasok sana ako sa comfort room nang biglang bumukas ang elevator at iniluwa nun ang head ng Budgeting department.

“Miss Ava, pwede bang pasuyo ito kay mr. Cervantes?”

“Oo, naman. Akin na.” Inabot ko mula sa kanya ang mga folders na hawak niya.


“Pasensya na ha? Nagmamadali kasi ako. Wala kasi yung driver namin, walang susundo sa anak ko. Nag-undertime na nga ako.”

“Okay lang. Sige na, baka abutan ka pa ng heavy trafic.”

“Salamat talaga, ha?”

“No worries.” Nginitian ko muna siya bago tinalikuran. Kumatok ako sa pinto ng opisina ni Adam at pumasok sa loob.

I was taken aback when I heard Adam talking in his phone.

“Yeah. I miss you too.”

Nakasandal siya sa kanyang swivel chair at nakapikit ang mga mata. It seems like he was very tired and found comfort talking to that person on the phone. My heart is hammering because I know who he is talking to.

“How was your vacation with mom?”

Hindi pa din niya ako napapansin dahil nanatiling nakapikit ang kanyang mga mata. Para lang akong tangang nakatayo dito na nakikinig habang nasasaktan ang aking puso.

“Take care you two, okay?”

That’s it. I turned around to wipe the tears that escaped from my eyes. Kaya mo yan Cres. Laban lang.

Sa totoo lang, gustong- gusto ko nang sabihin ang totoo kay Adam pero pinipigil ko lang ang sarili ko. Sana kaya ko pang magpigil.

“Yes?”

Halos mapatalon ako sa gulat nang bigla siyang magsalita. Buti na lang at naayos ko na ang aking mukha kundi nakita niya akong parang tangang umiiyak dito.

I walked near his desk while my head bowed down, afraid that he might observe the trace of tears on my face. Wala na akong pakialam kung madapa ako, I just want to get out of here as soon as possible.

“Ahm, ito pong mga folders galing sa… sa Budgeting department. Sige po.” As soon as I said that, I immediately walked out of his office. Hindi ko na nakita ang reaksiyon niya dahil nakayuko akong umalis doon.

Pagkalabas ko ay dumiretso na agad ako sa comfort room. As soon as the door closed, my tears started to fall. Hindi ko mapigilang hindi mapahagulhol. Ang sakit.


Oo. Hiniling ko noon na sana buhay siya kahit sila ni Katrina ang magpakasal, ang magkatuluyan. But watching it came true, my heart is piercing with pain.  Masakit makita na harap-harapang may minamahal na siyang iba. Masakit makita na hindi niya ako maalala. Gustong-gusto kong sabihin sa kanya ang totoo pero maniniwala ba siya? Kung sinabi ko ba, babalik na siya sa akin at hindi na siya magpapakasal kay Katrina?  Natatakot ako na kung sasabihin ko ang totoo ay baka layuan niya ako. At yun ang ayokong mangyari. Kung bakit inililihim ni tita Brigida at ng pamilya nila ang totoo, yun ang hindi ko alam. Hindi ko mapigilang hindi isipin na talagang sinadya nilang hindi sabihin kay Adam ang tungkol sa akin dahil ayaw sa akin ng mga magulang ni Adam.


Pagkatapos ng mahigit trenta minutos ay  lumabas na ako sa cr. I made sure that  I look fine and no trace of tears before I  went out.  Pagkarating ko sa desk ay nakita  kong tumatawag si Vandross sa aking cellphone.

He asked for my number a while ago while Adam and Mr. Cervantes were busy talking. Buti nalang at tumawag siya dahil hindi kami nakapag-usap ng maayos kanina. Sinagot ko agad ang tawag niya pagkatapos ay naupo na ako sa aking upuan.

“Sa wakas, sinagot din.” Parang nabuhayang bungad niya.

“Kanina ka pa tumatawag?”

“Yeah. Pang-lima na nga to, eh. You were busy?”

“Hindi. Sorry, hindi ko kasi napansin.”

Pinunasan ko ang ilong ko dahil sa sipon mula sa pag-iyak kanina.

“Are you crying?”

“Sira, hindi. May sipon lang ako.”

“Wala ka namang sipon kanina ah?”

Napatawa ako sa sinabi niya. Kahit pala iyon napansin niya? “Meron kaya. Hindi mo lang napansin kanina dahil pinipigilan ko.”


“Okay. Just take your medicine after you eat your dinner, okay? By the way, the troop misses you already.”

“Aw, I miss them too. At tsaka ikaw. Na-miss din kita.” Nami-miss ko tuloy ang mga kalokohan namin sa New York dati.

“Alam ko namang namimiss mo na ako, eh. Kaya nga lumipad ako papuntang Pilipinas para makita mo na ako.” Mayabang na sambit niya. Narinig ko din siyang napahalakhak sa kabilang linya.


Napasimangot naman ako sa kanyang sinabi. Nakakainis talaga ito pag minsan.

“Heh! Ewan ko sayo.” Natatawang wika ko.”

Nagulat ako nang biglang dumaan sa harapan ko si Adam. Saan pupunta yun, uuwi na? I looked at my wrist watch and saw that it’s only past three in the afternoon. Ano’ng problema nun at parang pasan niya ang mundo? Sinundan ko siya ng tingin. Tuloy-tuloy siyang pumasok sa loob ng elevator.


Mabigat ang pakiramdam ko hanggang uwian. Hinintay ko pa naman siya baka sakaling babalik pa pero hindi na dumating pa. I can’t back out now gaano man kasakit. Gusto kong balang araw wala akong pagsisihan. Na ginawa ko ang lahat para bumalik siya. Na ginawa ko ang lahat para mahalin ulit niya ako kahit nakalimutan na ako ng kanyang puso.