“I was on a meeting when you called. Hindi ko nasagot agad ang tawag mo. I'm so sorry, baby. Did something happened?”
Nasa kusina ako at nagsasalin ng gatas sa baso nang dumating si Caesar. He is panting so hard, hair is a little messy and sweat is trickling down his handsome face. Para siyang tumakbo sa isang marathon.
Mabilis siyang lumapit sa akin at yumakap ang kaniyang kamay sa aking baywang.
Nangunot ang noo ko at tuluyan siyang hinarap. “Did you run or something? Ba't parang pagod na pagod ka?”
“I run towards the company's parking lot right after the meeting when my secretary told me that you called when I was inside the conference room.”
Run?
Tumakbo siya? Puwede naman siyang mag-elevator, ah?
“Why didn't you use the elevator then? Para hindi ka tumakbo ng ganoon kalayo.”
His office is at the top of the building and if I am not mistaken, there are thirteen floor in his company. So he basically run a marathon after all.
“The fucking elevator is broken and I was already too worried about you. I was thinking that there might be a problem and you need me or you wanted to eat something or anything that you want me to buy for you.”
I smiled and held his face in my hand gently. I want to tell him about happened. . .I just don't know how.
“I called because. . .”
His face is all serious as he stare at me and wait for what I might say.
“Kanina someone is trying to break in inside,” marahan at maingat na sabi ko, takot na baka bigla na lang siyang mag-wala ngayon.
“What?!”
Ngumuso ako at saka kinagat ang labi bago muling nagsalita. “At first, akala ko delivery lang ng pagkain or something pero habang tumatagal kasi iyong katok sa pinto, mas lumalakas iyon.”
His face hardened as his eyes turned bloodshot.
“I didn't get to see his face dahil hindi ko naman binuksan ang pinto-”
“God damn it!” Humiwalay siya sa akin at tumalikod sa gawi ko.
Ilang malulutong na mura ang sinabi niya bago ako muling hinarap. Bakas ang galit, panghihinayang, at pag-aalala sa kaniyang mukha.
“I'm sorry, I wasn't able to answer your call, baby.” Bakas sa mukha niya ang galit pero umawang ang labi ko ng marining kung gaano karahan ang paraan ng pagkausap niya sa akin.
“I'm so sorry. . .” Inabot niya ang aking braso at malamlam ang mata na tumitig sa akin. “Were you scared?”
He look so guilty right now. He shouldn't be though.
Kinagat ko ang labi at marahan na tumango. “I was scared for our baby, Caesar.”
Kung ako lang ay kaya ko naman ang sarili ko pero dahil may isa pang buhay sa sinapupunan ko ay talagang nakaramdam ako ng takot kanina.
Nagbaba si Caesar ng tingin. “I wasn't here when you needed me.” His voice is bitter.
“Hindi mo alam na mangyayari iyon. Kahit ako ay hindi ko rin inasahan, Caesar. Don't blame yourself. The important thing is we are safe.”
“What if it happen again? And I am not here. . .again?”
Nakakunot ang noo niya at titig na titig sa mukha ko. Nagtatagis ang bagang at madilim ang mukha niya.
