A Road To Azlan's Heart (Azlan's Heart Sequel)

Kabanata 10

Own Grave

"Ma'am, the guest at Room 407 wants to meet you today." Umangat ang tingin ko kay Erika na ngayon ay nakatungo sa akin.

It wasn't hard for me to recognize who owns that room. I have been avoiding them for days now. Hindi ko alam kung nahahalata ako o kung mayroon talaga silang kailangan sa akin. After all, Shaira Nessia, have grown fond of me as they stays here. Walang araw na hindi ako nito tinatawag o inaaya kapag nagkikita kaming dalawa. It is either she's with him or not, but still, my answer didn't changed. It always remain as no.

"Why? Is something wrong? Hindi ba sila kumportable sa kuwartong inuokupahan nila?" kunot noong tanong ko. I glanced at my papers, giving my employee a hint that I'm busy.

Kung makikipagkita lang naman sila para makipagkuwentuhan ay wala akong oras para roon. They can only call me if they have something to rant or comment about our treatment to them. Pero sa ilang araw na pananatili nila rito ay wala naman kaming ginawa na kahit ano na maaaring ikasama nang loob nila.

I know that even with my absence, that my employee can properly handle them with ease. Isa pa ay hindi lang naman sila ang may ginagawa. I literally am busy because there are works that Ate Marjorie wasn't able to do because of her sudden disappearance in her work of field.

"Kumportable naman daw po. Siguro ay makikipagkuwentuhan lang, ma'am. Pero alam kong abala kayo kaya sinabihan ko sila na baka ay tumanggi ka para hindi umasa kung hihindi ka nga po," she said, with a gentle voice that seems to measure the thick atmosphere around.

"I am busy. Hindi ko sila makikita ngayon. Hindi ko rin alam kung kailan. Just attend to their needs when they need it. Keep them at ease when they are here," pinal kong desisyon. I raked my hair with my left hand as I stared back at the paper I am studying. May kinalaman iyon sa mga budget na kakailanganin para sa reort at mga perang kakailanganin para sa pagbabayad ng mga taxes. I need to check it all before this month ends.

And I have never been thankful in this lifetime of mine just because of work. Ngayon na may kailangan akong iwasan ay napagtanto kong puwede rin pa lang gamitin ang trabaho para makatakas sa mga taong ayaw mong makasama.

It is not that I hate them. Mahal ko pa nga ang isa, pero hindi ko kayang makipagplastikan. Siguro nga ay martir ako pero hindi ko rin naman kayang panindigan iyon hanggang dulo. I know that at the end of the day, I'd always be on my knees, begging for Him to take my pain away.

Umalis si Erika sa opisina ko na naging dahilan para mapatulala ako ng ilang oras bago ako nagpatuloy ulit. Sinubukan kong burahin lahat nang mga iniisip ko gamit ang ginagawa ko noong araw na iyon.

I was checking another paper when suddenly the door to my office, opened. I threw it a side glance, only for my eyes to get stuck there as Xian's grinning face welcomed me.

"What--What the? What are you doing here? Wala ka bang trabaho?" gulat kong bulalas. Bumaba ang tingin ko sa kamay niya na may hawak na travelling bag.

Don't tell me?

Bumalik ang tingin ko sa kaniya. Nakangisi pa rin ito sa akin at kahit walang sinasabi ay dahan-dahan na akong napailing. It can't be!

Canixter Iron! Why would you send someone like him?!

"Sa paraan nang pag-iling mo ay parang may nakahahawa akong sakit, ah?" aniya. Nakataas ang kilay na nilibot niya nang tingin ang opisina ko. He then nodded like he likes what he was seeing.

Umirap ako sa kawalan.

"May nakahahawa ka ngang sakit. Kabaliwan. Alam mo ba iyon?" nakangiwi kong pagsupalpal.