PHANTASMAGORIA

CHAPTER 30

"Congratulations on your promotion, Miss Cuevas!" Laxus, my co-employee, congratulated me.

I was now working as a software engineer at a prestigious tech company here in California. At ngayon ay promoted ako kaya mas lalong tumaas ang ranggo ko sa company! I felt so proud of myself for being this successful already kahit na 4 years pa lang naman ako sa field.

"Thanks, Lax!" I genuinely smiled at him. We had a toast. I only invited few of my friends here in my condo to celebrate my success. Iyong mga naging close ko lang sa trabaho.

Working abroad has never been easy to me at first. I knew nobody. Pagkatapos kong gumraduate as Magna Cum Laude ay dito na rin ako nagpasiyang mag-trabaho. I wanted to have a new beginning. Gusto kong tuluyan ng iwan ang mga hinanakit ko sa Pilipinas. Getting a job here was a good start for me.

"Congratulations, girl! Big time ka na! So proud of you!" Naia congratulated me. Kasalukuyan kaming nasa Skype ngayon kasama si Rei.

"Thank you!" I giggled.

"Gosh, I so miss you na! When are you going back to Philippines, huh? Let's hangout! Have a vacation here!" Naia suggested.

I chuckled. "You know I won't go back there anymore. My life is here now!" I immediately declined.

I heard Rei groaned on the other line. "Girl, maawa ka naman! Kami na lang lagi ang naga-adjust para sa 'yo. Pagod na kami sa jet lag, Shim. Ikaw naman ang dumayo sa 'min dito. Magbakasyon ka! Bisitahin mo kami!" Reklamo niya sa 'kin. Sila kasi lagi ang pumupunta sa 'kin dito dahil ayoko talagang umuwi. It's been 4 years since my last visit in the country to celebrate Christmas with my family.

Ngumiti lang ako kay Rei bilang tugon.

Hindi naman sa ayaw ko na talagang bumalik ng pilipinas... may ayaw lang talaga akong makita ulit doon. Natatakot ako na baka kapag nakita ko ulit siya ay manumbalik lahat ng ala-ala at pakiramdam na ayoko na ulit na maramdaman. I had long forgotten about it when I came here. All of it.

"May nasungkit ka na ba there? Oh my gosh, I'm so invested! Pogi ba?" Naia was so quick to change the topic.

"Gaga, wala! Ano ka ba, wala pa sa plano ko ang mag-boyfriend! You know I am still busy saving money for my house there," sagot ko naman.

Nakita ko kung paano ngumiwi si Rei. "You're still gonna go with it? I thought your life is in California now? Bakit hindi ka na lang diyan magpatayo ng bahay? Bakit dito pa?" Nagtatakang tanong niya.

Ngumuso ako. "Alam mo naman, 'di ba? I am the only heiress of the family so I have to take responsibility! Kapag nag-retire na si Dad, ako na ang papalit sa kaniya sa company. At saka hello? Ayoko naman na sa condo ko na lang ako titira habang buhay! I wanted to have my own house!"

Tumango-tango agad si Naia bilang pagsang-ayon sa 'kin. "You know what, why don't you just work for your company instead? Tech company din naman ang sa inyo kaya field mo pa rin. Bakit ba gustong-gusto mo riyan? You are alone there. Kung nandito ka, nandito kami nila Rei. Magkakasama pa tayo lagi kaya rito ka na lang! Lumipat ka na!" Pangpe-persuade sa 'kin ni Naia.

Rei nodded in agreement before she shifted her eyes on me. "Come back here." Makahulugan niya akong tinitigan. "It's been years, Shim. Marami na ang nagbago. It's time for you to face that changes. Don't be a chicken forever."

Natigilan ako sa sinabi niya. Rei was the only person who knew about me and Aziel. She's the only one who knew our history. At sa kaniya ko lang din iyon sinabi. Umiling kaagad ako.