YuanFen

Chapter 8

Akira

Nakafocus ako sa ginagawa kong paghahalo ng iba't ibang kulay ng pintura nang tumunog yung notif ng phone ko, indicating a new email message.

"Did I miss any deadline?" I asked out loud kahit ako lang naman mag-isa ang nasa loob ng work place ko.

Naiiling na binitawan ko yung ginagawa ko at saka nagpunas ng kamay.

It is not my normal to allow myself to be interrupted when I am doing my passion, yet, since I am still distracted with the fact that I made things worst with Elise instead of fixing it up, I really cannot concentrate at all.

I haven't heard anything from Dewei mula ng sugurin ko si Elise sa opisina nito at pagsalitaan ng kung ano-ano. I know that what I did is already out of line. Wala akong karapatan na sabihan ito at diktahan kung paano nito gustong patakbuhin yung buhay nito. And to add more guilt, I really had no rights to demand for an equal treatment because she sees me and my foster family, an enemy.

Tsk. Tama si Dewei. Sana hinayaan ko na lang. Marahil sa ginawa ko ay mas lalo pang lumala yung sitwasyon at gipitin niyon si Dewei at yung kumpanya nito.

Crap.

Napahinga na lang ako ng malalim habang nilalakad yung distansya patungo sa mesa kung saan ko ipinatong yung laptop ko. Doon ko na lang ichecheck.

Napaawang yung bibig ko ng mapansin kung kanino galing yung mensahe sa email ko.

Elise Calvry.

Kinusot ko ng ilang ulit yung mata ko bago tinitigan ulit yung screen. It is really a message from Elise.

Kaso hindi iyon sinend sa personal email ko. It was sent in Ark's email.

Of course, Aki. What do you expect? You and that Calvry are not close. Why would she even bother sending you an email?

'Tsk. Kahit naman ako bilang si Ark, ay hindi naman din close sa babaeng iyon.

I lazily sat on my chair as I open the message.

Hey, Ark. Hope my email finds you well. Have you thought about my proposal? I have a free time this coming weekend. How about a coffee? Just a casual chitchat.

P.S Just so you know, it's a sales call. I won't stop until you say yes.

A smile crept my face. Typical Calvry. Won't stop until you say yes and they get what they want.

Kahit wala ako sa plano na magpatuloy na magpanggap na ibang tao dito, I couldn't deny the fact that it's becoming convenient. This is the only way I could talk to Elise na hindi kami nagtatalo o nauuwi sa pagtatalo.

Mainit na kasi yung dugo nito sakin dahil nga inaakala nito na inaagaw ko sa kaibigan nito si Payne. Bukod pa sa hindi maganda yung history ng kinikilala kong mga magulang sa pamilya nito. Saka isa pa ay dahil sa lantaran na pagtanggi dito ni Dewei noon.

We know each other since then. But there's not a single good string of fate that entangled us. Sa tuwing magtatagpo kasi kami, laging hindi maganda yung mga nangyayari sa mga tao sa paligid namin at kaming dalawa yung palaging nagkaclash at nagsasagutan. Tila ba kami yung representative ng mga tao sa paligid namin.

I am in a deep thought as I type my message back.

Hey back there, Miss Calvry. Are we now on first-name basis? Out of context, cutting modesty is fine.

I would like to say that weekends find me free too. However, I would be lying if I say so. I've got no free time to spare to have a chitchat and cups of coffee with you. You see, I choose anonymity for a reason. It's nothing personal.