He Was My Umbrella

56

A few weeks later, I finally went back to work! I have an ongoing case that's why I'm on my way back to the firm because the trial earlier in court was done. That was the last trial that's why we are gonna celebrate,

Because we won the case.

Justice is served! Ah! This is my first victory in court ever since I established my firm.

"Congrats, Attorney Sandovs!" masayang bati ni Cheska nang mabalitaan na kami ang nanalo.

"Thank you so much, Ches! Ang sarap sa feeling manalo ulit!"

Nasa sasakyan ako ni Cheska kasi ihahatid niya ako sa firm. Hindi ko pa kasi nakukuha ang kotse ko, e. Baka nga mag book na lang ako mamaya.

Nang makabalik ako sa firm, I had a lot of paperwork to do! It was already 5 PM and I assumed that I would work until late at night.

"Okay, I can do this."

I was wearing a black pencil skirt, a dark green long-sleeve satin blouse, and dark green heels. I curled my hair, pero naka ponytail na ako ngayon dahil ayoko ng nakaharang sa mukha! I also wore glasses kasi nakaharap ako sa laptop. I look like the ones in movies that are the hot secretaries! Chos.

"Atty. Sandoval?"

Nagulat ako nang tawagin ako ni Ysabelle, ang secretary ko, at kumatok sa pinto. Tiningnan ko ang orasan dahil madilim na sa labas. 9 PM na!

"Yes, Ysa?" tanong ko nang pumasok siya.

"You have a visitor, Atty," nakangiti niyang sabi.

"Huh? Closed na tayo, ah," nagtatakang sabi ko dahil wala naman akong inimbita.

"It's the CEO and head engineer of RRR Engineering and Architectural Corp."

Napaisip ako ng saglit, parang pamilyar ang kompanya.

"Engr. Cabrera, Ma'am!" Tumawa siya dahil ang tagal ko pang nag isip.

"Oh! Hala, sige, let him in!"

I looked at the mirror to see if I looked fine. Okay pa rin naman, medyo nagulo lang ang buhok pero maganda pa rin! Messy effect ba, eme.

"Hi," bati niya.

Naabutan niya pa akong nag-aayos! Kainis. Baka isipin nitong nagpapaganda ako para sa kaniya. Hindi 'no!

"What brings you here?" I asked.

"Just brought you a drink," he raised the cup holder on his hands. "Iced chai latte."

Jusko! Naaalala ko na naman 'yung nag- Starbucks kami noong 18th birthday ko! Kainis! Iyon rin kasi ang in-order ko noon kaya bigla kong naalala.

"You didn't have to," I chuckled as he handed me the drink.

"What's with working late at night?" tanong niya.

"I felt the urge to work extra hard today because I just won a case and I wanted to be productive," I said as I sipped.

"Congratulations, Atty!" he raised his hand to give me a high-five. Siyempre, nakipag high-five ako.

"Thank you, Kuya-"

Shit. Napatingin siya sa akin at hindi alam ang sasabihin.

"I meant..... engineer. Sorry," I chuckled nervously.

"You know, back when you said you wanted to be a lawyer, I've always imagined the time where you'll tell me that you've won a case. Then, here we are," he smiled at me.

"Grabe, 'no? Ang bilis. These were just dreams before. Pero ngayon nasa akin na."

"I'm proud of you, Adi."

God, I've been longing to hear that from him.

We grew close these past few weeks. Closer and close. Just as like we were before, but not that close.

He also told me that he had already finished a project.

"I guess green is our lucky color, then?" Napansin ko kasing naka-green necktie rin siya.

"Animo La Salle."

A few minutes later, I shut down my laptop and fixed my things.

"Let's go?" I asked.
He stood up and followed me.

"Bye, Ysabelle! Ingat pag-uwi!" I greeted Ysabelle when I saw her at her desk.

"Salamat, Atty!"

As we were walking down the hallway, he was behind me and suddenly called me and said,

"You look beautiful in green."

"Yeah, Animo La Salle."

I chuckled because I thought that it was funny! Because it is! Ipipilit ko kahit ngumiti lang siya at hindi tumawa.

Iyan naman ang isa sa mga gusto ko kay Renzo, ang pagbibigay niya ng compliments. I find it sweet lang kasi appreciative siya at observant.

Nang makaalis kami sa parking, nagtaka ako kung bakit siya kumaliwa imbis na kumanan. Eh sa kanan ang direksyon papuntang village namin!

"Where are we going? Are you going to kidnap me?!" sigaw ko sa loob ng sasakyan.

"You'll see. Just relax. Matulog ka na lang para hindi ka maingay," bahagya niyang tawa.

At ayun nga, wala pa nga ata atang sampung minuto ay nakatulog na ako.

Unti-unti kong idinilat ang mata ko at nakaharap ako sa kaniya. Pinaglalaruan niya ang mga labi niya habang nakapatong ang braso sa bintana at ang isa naman ay nakahawak sa manibela. Nakabukas na ang mga bintana namin at wala halos kotseng nakakasalubong.

Napatingin ako sa paligid at hindi alam kung nasaan kami. Tiningnan ko ang oras at nakitang 1 AM na.

"Where are we?"

Tinanong ko siya pero itinuro niya lang ang cellphone niyang naka-on ang GPS.

"We're in Rizal?!"

"Yep."

Napapikit ako sa kilig dahil eto na, nasa Rizal na kami! City lights, here I come!

Kita ko na ang mga city lights! Nasa kalsada kami at nakapaligid sa amin ang city lights sa malayo. Nasa bundok ata kami.

Ang saya kasi nakababa pa ang mga bintana namin! Ang lamig pa ng hangin. Tapos, biglang tumugtog sa radio ang Getaway Car by Taylor Swift.

"Ridin' in a getaway car, there were sirens in the beat of your heart. Should've known I'd be the first to leave
Think about the place where you first met me. In a getaway car!"

I felt like we were in a getaway car because he was driving fast and I was having fun. 

We parked in front of a mini-hotel with a breath-taking view from the mountains.

"Reservation for Maverick Cabrera," sabi niya sa receptionist.

"Room 19, Sir."

Kinuha niya ang key card at pumasok na kami sa elevator.

"I don't have clothes...."

He just chuckled at me and lifted the bags.

"The one in the white's yours,"

He pertained to the white bag that he was carrying.

"I asked Cheska to prepare it for you,"

"That piece of shit talaga." I laughed.

As we entered the room, our reactions were both the same.

"There's only one bed."

Mapapa Animo La Salle ka na lang talaga, eh. Haha.

*****