Pursuing My Nemesis

Forty Six

Chapter 46

MY MIND WAS flying when I exited the former head's office. Malapit na ang lunch break nang matapos kami sa pag-uusap, kaya hindi ko alam kung dahil ba sa gutom kaya ako wala sa sarili, o dahil sa mga nalaman ko mula sa binata.

Aniel is going to resign from his beloved position in this company. But why would he do that? Was it still because of me? Ano pa ang mga gagawin niya na makakasakit sa akin dahil lahat ng iyon ay para sa akin? Whenever I learned that all these shits that have been happening between us were because of me, I felt so guilty and hurt. Kasalanan ko kung bakit niya ako niloko, kasalanan ko kung bakit niya ako sinaktan, kasalanan ko kung bakit kailangan niyang magmakaawa kay Architect Cordova para maagaw niya ang posisyon na 'yon sa akin, at kasalanan ko kung bakit pagkatapos ng tatlong buwan ay iiwan na niya ang kumpanyang humubog sa kung sino siya ngayon.

Kasalanan ko lahat. He did all those things because of me.

I suddenly felt like vomiting. Para akong nawalan ng lakas dahil lang sa pag-uusap namin ni Architect Cordova. I felt like I've been into a mental torture chamber for the last three hours. Mababaliw na yata ako.

I stopped from walking when I saw Freeda approaching me. Hindi ko alam kung bakit nandito na naman siya sa floor namin. May araw na kung saan-saan siya napapadpad. May araw rin naman na hindi niya maiwan-iwan ang table niya sa marketing department.

"Nemmie, there you are." Her voice was soft but filled with worry as she hugged me. "I was worried when I couldn't find you."

Kumunot ang noo ko. Nahihilo pa rin ako at kailangan ko nang umuwi para magpahinga. "Why are you looking for me?"

Kumalas siya sa yakap at tinignan ako. "Aniel came rushing to our floor this morning. He's trying to look for you. Dumaan daw siya sa planning room kanina pero wala ka. Wala rin daw si Kuya Rob kanina na nakakaalam kung nasaan ka. He asked Channing, but Channing only made him worry more. That A of a hole lied and told Aniel na hindi ka pumasok at sumama sa out of the town trip ni Architect Lee. Mas lalo lang siyang kinabahan noong nalaman niya na MIA rin si Architect Lee."

My lips parted. What the hell, Channing? Why did he do that?

"He's been out for hours now. Hindi ko alam kung saan ka niya hinahanap. I tried calling your phone. Hindi kita ma-contact."

Kinakabahan kong kinapa ang bulsa ng skirt ko. Shit. I left my phone inside my car. I should have known. Sa laptop ako nag-check ng e-mails kaninang umaga at hindi sa phone ko. Dapat ay nagtaka ako kung bakit wala sa tabi ng laptop ko iyong phone ko.

"I think it's inside my car. Nakalimutan ko," sagot ko kay Freeda.

She sighed. "Alright. I'm going to call Aniel. Sasabihin ko na nandito ka."

Pinigilan ko siya. I pursed my lips. Architect Cordova advised me to talk to Aniel if I wanted to clear this whole mess up.

I wanted to know the truth. And if facing him means knowing his reasons, then I'll do it despite the fear of breaking my broken heart more.

"I'll go to him," I told Freeda. "I might know where he is."

***

I parked my car outside Coeurs et Fleurs. I already spotted Aniel's car from the other end of the narrow lot, and it only confirmed my guess that he went here to look for me.

Bumaba ako at tahimik na pumasok sa loob ng café. I looked around the corner and saw Aniel sitting in front of a woman. It wasn't Mrs. Bonneville. The woman's a stranger to me. Hindi ko pa siya nakita na nakausap o nakasama man lang ni Aniel.