OXYGEN

LIV

The problem about the air we breathe is that, sometimes it gives us life, but most of the time it suffocates us.

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After ng appointment namin sa Pollysteel ay agad din kaming bumalik sa office dahil may gagawin pa raw si Doctor Havoc kasama si Black, Darcy, at Doctor Elliot. Dumeretso naman ako sa opisina ni Mrs. Fitz para ipagpatuloy ang pagaayos ng files.

Habang nakaupo sa gilid ay saka ko inalala ang mga panahong nagsisimula palang ako sa Y.I.P, 'yong mga panahon na hindi ko pa kilala sina Darcy at Black at si Doctor Elliot palang ang nag-iisang taong kilala ko. It was still a magical experience for me. I can still feel those moments and I will still choose to experience those moments again and again. Pero kahit anong gawin ko ay hindi ko na maibabalik pa ang kahapong iyon. Those precious moments has become a memory.

I heave a sigh and stood up on the glass wall. As the light dipped below the smog-filled skyline, casting gray shadows over the quiet city, I found myself looking in my reflection. I have become a different person. I was still the crying baby because of my emotions, but the way I analyze and understand everything has gone too far. Maybe because of my experience? Or maybe because I chose to be someone, again.

Even if my heart is still carrying the consequences of my decisions, the painful memories are still etching deep inside my soul.

After staring at my reflection, I decided to go back in fixing the files again. Maya-maya pa ay mayroong kumatok sa pinto ng opisina ni Mrs. Fitz kaya doon napunta ang buong atensyon ko. The door opened and Officer Jack went inside.

"Cora," he said with his surprised eyes. He's probably not expecting in seeing me inside his mother's office.

"Officer Jack," I uttered after fixing myself.

He's wearing his black uniform with his fixed hair. He looks weary despite of his wide and golden smile. Napunta ang atensyon ko sa dala niyang folder na agad naman niyang inilapag sa table ni Mrs. Fitz.

"Umalis ba si mama?" He asked.

I nodded my head. "Nasa loob sila ng testing room kasama sina Doctor Havoc at Doctor Elliot."

After I said Doctor Elliot's name, the smile on his face has suddenly gone. Nag-iba agad ang expression ng mukha niya na parang may sinabi akong mali.

"Have you met?"

May idea naman na ako na itatanong niya iyan, I even rehearsed my words kung ano ang isasagot sa kanya kung sakali. But right now, I am out of words to say. Hindi ko alam kung ano ba dapat ang sabihin dahil baka iba ang dating sa kanya. Doctor Jack is a very observant person especially because he is from the security department. It's his job to be keen. It means that he is intellectually alert in decoding data.

"A few times," I responded. "Hindi naman maiiwasan kasi pareho lang kami ng floor at kasama niya si Mrs. Fitz sa bagong project ng government."

Nakita ko sa mga mata ni Officer Jack na hindi siya satisfied sa sinabi ko. Knowing him, alam kong kailangan niyang malaman ang detalye sa mga unwanted rendezvous naming dalawa ni Doctor Elliot. But I can't even describe all the things that has been happening.

"Good to know that you were able to stay and be with my mother, Cora. I'm just hoping that everything that had happened from the past will set you free. You deserve to be happy." He smiled at me and I became lost in my own thoughts.

Nagpaalam si Officer Jack sa akin dahil pupunta pa raw siya sa headquarter nila. I was left dumbfounded knowing na hindi manlang ako nakasagot kay Officer Jack sa sinabi niya. He clearly knows what I've been through. Ngayon palang maingat na si Officer Jack sa akin at kita ko palagi sa mga mata niya ang pagaalala. I can't help myself but to overthink the possibilities.