Seeking Gaston Lynx Esquivel

Chapter 37

I entered the elevator casually. I was surprised to see him this soon. But of course, he is my boss and we are in the same building. We might see each other anytime at hindi na iyon maiiwasan.

"Good morning, Sir!" Eng. Alfredo greeted him.

I looked at him again and his eyes were still on mine. Umiwas ako ng tingin ng hindi ko nakayanan ang instensidad ng kanyang mga titig.

"Morning." I was quite shocked by his voice.

He sounded so cold and distant. Malayong-malayo sa dati niyang pakikitungo sa mga empleyado nila.

Tumingin ako sa katabi niya. He was with his father's assistant. I stayed in the corner, trying to avoid him as much as possible.

But why would I avoid him, though? Maybe my guilt? I was the one at fault and I definitely hurted him...and no matter how long since it happened, it still happened  and I hurt him in the process.

And if given the chance...I would like to apologize.

Unless he moved on. And treated our past like it was nothing.

I find breathing extremely hard at my last thought. But who knows...maybe the past meant nothing to him now.

I held onto my chest and concentrated on my breathing.

"Are you fine, Eng. Ada?"

I looked at Eng. Alfredo, looked at me with concern, and that is when I realized that his voice was too loud and all three pairs of eyes were on me.

Napalunok ako ng malalim ng makita ko ulit ang malamig niyang titig. Binitawan ko ang hawak ko sa nananakip kong dibdib at umayos ng tayo.

"I'm fine…" I whispered it to him.

He looked at me still at sakto namang bumukas na ang elevator para sa amin. We both walked out at nagulat na lamang ako ng alalayaan niya ako sa may siko ko.

I wanted to remove his hold but I do not want to make a scene again. Kaya naman hinayaan ko siya hanggang sa malapit na kami sa may pintuan ng canteen.

"I'm fine now. Thank you." Ako na ang humawak sa kamay niya at tinanggal ito sa pagkakahawak sa akin.

Calyx doesn't like it when someone unfamiliar holds me. Naiinis siya at pagsasalitaan ang sino mang humawak sa akin. Siguro namana niya sa akin ang ganoong ugali niya?

And that is why he calls me Mama too. He doesn't like it when a guy approaches me, kaya naman nasanay na rin siya akong tawagin ng ganon. It was his uno card for the men who he thinks have motives for me.

He opened the door for me and we quickly saw Ina reserving a table for us. The canteen here is famous, the food is excellent kaya marami kaming kumakain na empleyado dito. Lutong bahay na lutong bahay kasi ang dating ng mga ulam, kaya minsan ay unahan kami ng lamesa.

"Eng. Alfredo will join us today."

He smiled at Ina warmly. For some reason, his smile resembles his smile a lot. But that was before, and judging from his action in the elevator a while ago, he wasn't the same anymore.

"It's fine, ako na ang kukuha ng orders natin."

Tumango naman ako at sinabi na sa kanya ang ulam ko ngayon. I miss tinolang manok from the province kayo yun ang napili ko. Afterwhich, Eng. Alfredo assisted her.

We ate our lunch after at silang dalawa lang ang nag-uusap. They kinda have the same vibe, and they were so engrossed with their conversation. Sasagot lang ako kapag tinatanong na ako.

Eng. Alfredo and I were in the same office while Ina was on the other side, we are on the same floor kaya sabay-sabay na rin kaming umakyat.

"Mauna ka na Alfredo, restroom lang muna kami."