The One Who Fell Ahead

Chapter 30

It's been months since I-assign na ako dito sa PH. Everything was going fine, not as planned, but it's doing great. 

Madaming adjustments and stuff but I managed to compress it all together with the help of my friends around, and of course, my number one supporter, Patrician Xander. 

For the past months, I have been working at the same firm as Acel, which may have made us a little bit closer... it was unexpected! Naging madalas lang talaga ang mga meetings and discussion namin kaya we sometimes need to talk... same as me and Theo, our friendship grew actually. Me and Acel became mature and did not think about the past. We'll sometimes see each other sa cafeteria at mapagpasyahan na sabay nalang kaming mag lunch, or sometimes we'll have a little chit-chat sa event na parehong invited kami. 

It was not that big of a deal though... for me

I still didn't tell him about Xander, and I'm not planning to... After all these years... Did he really deserve to know him?... I don't know. Ayokong sagutin.

I signed the contract which states that I'll have to stay here for at least 5 years till the project finishes. My life here has never been better, not that hindi ito mabuti nong nasa Singapore pa kami, but me and Xander are having more privacy as we should. I enrolled him in a decent school, at dahil may trabaho ako, may kinuha rin akong yaya para bantayan siya. I became more independent and had more trust in myself. 

"Hey," May sumiko sakin sa gilid habang nagtitimpla ako ng kape dito sa pantry ng floor namin. "Are you okay? You look stressed," Sinubukan niya 'pang damahin yung init sa noo ko gamit ang likod ng kamay niya pero binawi ko din naman agad,

OA?!?! 

"It's not a good time to talk to me. I'm trying to finish all the pending works today." Tinalikoran ko siya pero ramdam ko naman ang pagsunod. "I'll take a three days day-off muna."  To answer his next question, inunahan ko na. "Now get a life, Acel."

"Sungit!" Komento niya. 

Nastr-stressed na ako! Parang na pre-pressure na akong tapusin lahat ng mga kailangan kong gawin ngayong araw dahil nga mag le-leave ako for three days dahil magbabakasyon nga daw si Mama dito. And ayokong magcram matapos ang tatlong araw kong pahinga.

I know naman that she can handle herself pero matanda na kasi and it's been awhile since bumalik siya dito. Matanda na din siya, she needs proper look out and care dahil hindi natin mababasa ang panahon. 

Pabalik na'ko sa office. All I need to do is to finalize the interior design na gusto nung client ko and other paper works along, and I'll be done. 

I had this part time job in Acel's firm. I don't know if natatawag pa din ba siyang part time when it gets all my time of the day. 

Sayang naman kung puro check sa building na lang ang gagawin ko and all I do in this firm is to sit down. Good thing they have connections here. I could still get a client even though wala pa akong pangalan sa sariling bansa.

While busy thinking of the things that I have to do ay hindi ko na namalayan na may nabangga na pala ako,

"Hala- sorry po..." Tinignan ko kung sino yung nabangga ko at sa masamang palad ay boss ko pa nga yung nabangga. Mabuti nga at hindi na umapaw o ano yung kape sa damit niya o kung saan. "Theo- Sir, I mean." I cleared my throat. "I apologize for what I did-- I-I'm just-- My mind was just..."

Natigil ako sa pag-explain at naguguluhan siyang tignan. Ngumiti lang siya aba... Pupunitin ko talaga 'yang gwapong ngiti na yan.

"Calm down, Rehl," Ngisi niya. "I didn't get hurt or so. Just be careful next time hm?"