Willing to You

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE

[LAEL SHAWN]

Vilotimo's call to Umika made me anxious the whole day kaya naman hindi ako makapagfocus sa mga project proposal at mga blueprints na nakahain sa aking harapan. I tried to shrug off the nagging feeling inside but it won't go away.

Ano ba kasing sasabihin ni Vilotimo kay Umika at kailangan pa siya kitain? Gold ba siya?

Apparently, Umika thought otherwise that her 'precious bestfriend' deserves some attention wherefore magkikita sila ngayong gabi.

I grabbed my keys and stormed off my office, my colleagues immediately look-up when they saw me.

"Aga mo ata mag-out today, Cap?" Cleo asked, one of the Engineers under my supervision. They call me Cap for Captain because I'm their head Engineer. I tried to tell them before na they don't need to call me that but they were persistent until I got used to it eventually.

Tumango ako sa kaniyang sinabi.

"May kailangan lang ako gawin." I said shortly not elaborating further details.

The group looked at each other knowingly and they broke into a grin that made me confused.

"Baka susunduin si Misis." Kantiyaw ni Van, isa rin sa mga Engineer na sinusupervise ko.

Misis? Si Vallesteros? Not really.

Napailing-iling na lamang ako habang natatawa ngunit hindi rin tinutulan ang sinabi. They holler with whistles and laughter when I did not deny anything.

After magbilin ng ilang mga bagay, I bid my goodbye and head to my car.

I arrived at their meeting place 10 minutes early as per Vilotimo's time condition. They would be meeting in a coffee shop downtown where I am right now.

I know it's bad to invade Umika's privacy but hindi talaga ako mapakali kaya naman I secretly took a peaked at her inbox last night and remembered the details of their meeting. Umika doesn't know that I know, she just believed that I let her meet with him.

Napalinga-linga ako sa loob ng coffee shop and I chose the booth on the farthest corner of the place, hindi gaanong kapansin-pansin sa mga pumapasok ngunit sapat lamang para makita ang mga pumapasok. The place wasn't that crowded and it plays a nice lofi music that accentuates with its minimalist theme.

2 minutes before their meeting time, Vilotimo arrived in his suit.

Psh. What a show off.

He chose the booth just two seats from the door. I watched him check his phone. He's probably texting Umika.

He looked more mature than the last time I saw him. It was that rainy night, four years ago, when he came bashing at my house door.

"Anong ginawa mo?! Nasaan si Umika?! Umika! Nandito na ako! Umika! Uwi na tayo!" He was yelling so hard that woke me up.

I shoved his chest when he attempted to enter my house. Basang-basa ito mula sa ulan ngunit tila wala itong pakealam.

"Are you crazy? She's not here." I said rather calmly.

Irritation clouded my mind when he suddenly grabbed me by the collar of my shirt. He was breathing raggedly because of anger.

"Anong sinabi mo sa kaniya?" He was gritting his teeth so hard but I did not answer and just grinned on him that earned me a blow on my right cheek.

Kumalat ang lasang metal ng aking dugo sa aking bibig, and when I felt the right corner of my lips, I knew it was busted.

I stared at him hard from the ground soaked from the rain which he exchanged with seething anger and sadness. I clenched my fist planning to attack him.

"Sinaktan mo na naman siya." I almost felt guilty when his voice broke, his tone was so certain. Na tila ba wala na lamang akong ginawa kung hindi ang saktan si Vallesteros.

"She's not here. I don't know what you're talking about." I said at umiwas na lamang ng tingin, ang pagganti ay wala na sa isip.

Pagak itong napatawa.

"Sabagay, ano nga ba naman kasing alam mo? Ni wala ka namang pake kung sinuman masaktan mo." He said with mockery. For a while, it felt like he punched me again but no, I was just hurt by his statement because deep down I know that what he said was true.

Ihinilamos nito ang kaniyang palad sa kaniyang mukha. I don't know if he's crying or what because of the rain cascading above us.

"Nawawala si Umika. Not that it matters for you." He said with a resolved expression and stormed off from the rain again.

I was left dumbfounded still on the ground.

She's missing? Was it because of what I said?

I woke up from that memory when the server put down the coffee I ordered in front of me, just in time that the small bell from above the door chimed indicating that there's a new costumer.

I saw Umika's small walking frame still wearing her Teacher's Monday uniform. She was smiling while looking at Vilotimo's direction.

A green feeling started to stir from the pit of my stomach. The coffee suddenly tasted too bitter.

Nang makalapit ito sa kanilang upuan ay ipinaghila pa ito ng upuan ni Vilotimo.

Tsk. Baldado ba si Vallesteros at kailangan pa niya ipaghila ng sariling upuan?

I automatically dig my nails through my palm when he suddenly kissed Vallesteros's cheek, the latter just smiled sweetly at him, not protesting. They flagged the server for their orders and when the server departed with their order, they faced each other.

They were talking while small smile plays on Vilotimo's face.

I suddenly have the urge to punch his face.

They order arrived and I watched them sipped on their coffee while still talking. I couldn't really hear their conversation; their expressions tell me otherwise though.

Vilotimo suddenly became serious and took Umika's hand on the table. I almost stood up by the movement but I pulled myself. Umika smiled at him and squeezed their hand, she grip their held hands with her other hand.

I've seen enough.

I stood up without looking at their direction and stormed off the place with my heart aching.