Where Eternity Begins (SOW #4)

30.

I tapped my finger on the table as an awkward air surrounds us. Kahit ang ingay ng mga customer ay hindi nakapagpawi ng tensyon sa mesa kung nasaan kami.

I just agreed to her. I also wanna talk to her and if I'll have a chance, probably slap her and shout at her.

But, akala ko ba naka move on ka na, Erich?

"Well..." She suddenly blurted followed by an awkward chuckle. Napataas ang kilay ko at sumandal sa upuan habang nakatingin sa labas.

"It's nice seeing you again. Uhh, c-congrats pala sa bakeshop mo!" She exclaimed and I only sighed and thanked her.

"Get straight to the point, may trabaho pa ako," malamig na sabi ko at tumitig sa mata niya. She surprisingly held my gaze. She took a deep breath and smile at me.

"Well, let me tell you a story first.." she said. "My father owned restaurants and cafe pero nang mawala si Papa, ipinasa 'yon sa akin. I couldn't let my mother handle that because I don't want her to be stress. I became the CEO of those two businesses," she played with her finger.

"I heard about Raijin Anderson looking for an investor and a business partner. My relatives on my father's side has been insulting my capability, saying I'm not suitable for being a CEO. Sabi nila, ako raw ang magpapabagsak sa pinaghirapan ni Papa and when I saw Mr. Anderson, who I immediately recognized as the brother of a well known photographer and artist, Mr. Victorious Khein, I tried my luck. Actually, ako ang nag-approach sa kaniya at nag-alok."

Huminga ako nang malalim at uminom sa kapeng nasa harapan ko.

"I became interested with him, I admit. Nang magkakilala kami, I immediately saw how passionate he is. How eager he is to build a restaurant. It's admirable. Bihira akong makakita ng lalaking gano'n. Lahat ng kakilala kong lalaki ay laki sa luho at hindi na pinaghihirapan ang lahat, pera na lang but with Mr. Anderson, I saw a different one. It caught my attention," I nodded and look around, watching my staffs working and interacting with customers.

"Then, you saw us in the café, nakilala agad kita. I saw Mr. Anderson's wedding ring, I just pretended I didn't. I tried hitting on him. Sinubukan kong magpapansin kaya hanggang opisina, dumadalaw ako. Until, he suddenly went to the office after a news of gas leak explosion was spread. Siyempre, nagtaka ako doon kasi pagpasok niya sa opisina niya noon, napaluhod agad siya," her voice became low.

"And then? Ever since that, lagi mo na siyang... pinupuntahan?" Mariing tanong ko.

The woman looks down and nodded. "I took advantage of the situation. I became a bitch and tried grabbing the chance of getting him while he's fragile. Everytime I'll go there, lagi ko siyang naaabutang umiiyak at nakatutok sa laptop niya roon. He said he's trying to find someone, he spends all day and night in front of his laptop," she said and it feels like my heart stops.

Gulat akong napatingin sa kaniya. "What? Raijin is... finding someone?" She nodded.

"He kept crying pero kailanman ay hindi siya umalis sa harapan ng laptop niya."

So, that time, while he is away, he's still trying his best to find our lost daughter? He's blaming himself yet he's still eager to find Kim. The truth breaks me. It's not just me, we are both mourning.

"And the day you saw us, pwede mo akong sampalin para sa sasabihin ko dahil ang totoo niyan..." She took a deep breath. "Sinubukan kong patulugin siya... sinubukan kong hawakan siya but he kept whispering apologies and he kept whispering your name... and the name Kim." Sumama ang tingin ko sa kaniya kaya napaiwas siya.