Reconcile

Prologue

Here I am, driving my car on the way to the office, preparing for a meeting with a client. For some reason, an inexplicable nervousness creeps over me, tightening my chest. I can't quite put my finger on why I feel this way.

Driving feels monotonous, a repetitive cycle of stops and starts. To ease the tedium, I decide to play some music—anything to fill the silence. My eyes remain fixed on the road ahead, yet my mind drifts as Unti-Unti by Up Dharma Down begins to play. Its melancholic rhythm wraps around me, and I find myself letting out a deep, weary sigh, as if releasing the tension weighing on my shoulders.

While driving, I couldn’t help but notice how much the buildings had changed. It’s been years since I last passed through this area, and now most of the structures are new and towering. The roads and surroundings barely resemble how they used to look. I never imagined that progress and transformation would come this quickly. I find myself missing the familiar sights I used to pass by.

When I arrived at my workplace, I parked and went inside. My co-workers greeted me warmly—I've only recently transferred here, yet they made me feel welcome. I headed to the coffee area to grab a cup, taking two instead—one for myself and one for my client. What I’m unsure about, though, is whether he’ll come alone or bring others. It’s been a while since I last saw Dwayne—he’s my client today and a friend of Zion. He needs designs for his house and is already planning what suits the land’s location.

There's a familiar face in front of my office door as I make my way through it to meet with my client. I squinted my eyes kong tama ba ang nakikita ko.

And yes, siya nga. He was wearing a black slacks, a dark blue buttom-down shirt, leather oxford shoes, and a silver watch. Hinahawi ang buhok nito sa gitna at abala sa kaniyang telepono, his brows, eyes, and his lips, hindi pa rin ito nag babago, mas tumangkad lang siya lalo. bago pa man ako nito mapansin ay agad ko naman pasimpling inamoy ang aking sarili and also checking my face sa small mirror that always with me. wait, why am I even checking my self? agad naman ako nitong napansin buhat ng aking pag hinto sa kaniyang harapan.

"You're late, Mrs. Guivencan." sambit nito kasabay ang kaniyang mapang-asar na ngiti. Nakakahiya man aminin pero namiss ko ang mga ngiting 'yon. What? no way, ano ba 'tong naiisip ko.

"I mean, Architect Alvarez." ngumisi naman ito muli.

"What the fuck are you doing here?" I swear to God, this jerk. The moment he smiles at me while looking into my eyes I wanna.. I wann- I want punch him as hard as I can!

"Is this how you greeted your clients? come on now." Malamig na sabi niya, ganon pa man kahit malamig ang pagkakasabi niya ay parang nang-aasar pa rin ito, habang nakataas ang isang kilay at naka cross ang balikat.

Oo nga, bakit ba ako nagagalit? let's be professional. Ano ba ginagawa nitong lalaking to rito, pormado pa parang may i-didate. Akala mo pogi siya! pogi nga, hindi naman akin.. HUH?! fuck! ano ba tong naiisip ko!

I cleared my throat "What are you doing here?" Ani ko, I checked my list of clients and wala siya ro'n.

"Well, I asked Dwayne to set this meeting." Aniya habang nakatingin lamang 'to saakin, surveying and definitely judging me. Bago pa man ako mag salita ay.

"Daddy, I saw a fish there, look." hagikhik at maligalig na sambit ng batang babae na lumabas galing sa pinto ng opisina ko, ang siyang nag pabilog sa'king mga mata.

A child? at kaninong anak naman to? may anak na ba siya. so tama nga ang mga bali-balita and the girl with him last time was his wife, nag asawa siya. Pinapamukha niya ba saakin na tama lang ang pang-iwan ko sakanya dati? Who cares?

"Who cares?" Agad ko naman tinakpan ang bibig ko when I slip.

"What?" He asked with confusion.

"Daddy! please come inside, faster!" muling pag silip naman nito sa pinto ko kasama ang naunang bata, this time it was a boy.

Wait, sa pangalawang pag kakataon na may lumabas na bata ay kinakabahan na ako, bakit ba ako kinakabahan, it's almost 5years. I have moved on.

Our eyes met but he immediately look away at tinoon ang atensyon sa dalawang bata, I hate kids.

"For real, Zion?" I cleared my throat. "Don't fucking tell me your wife was also here, hindi 'to amusement park."

"Well, yes. But-" bago pa man niya tapusin ang sinasabi niya ay pumasok na ako sa opisina. Nakita ko naman ang dalawang batang na nag-lalaro sa couch, wait, saan naman ang asawa niya?

"Where's your wife?" ani ko, na may halong pag tataka nang lingunin ko siya. "Hindi dapat dito dinadala ang mga bata, Zion. At sabihin mo kamo sa asawa mo na kunin na sila rito." sunod ko pa, kalmado lang ang pag kakasabi ko pero ang laking impact nito sa loob ko, sana hindi nalang ako bumalik, sana, sana hindi na ako nag expect, fuck! ang tanga tanga ko. Bakit pa ba ako bumalik dito, bahagya ko namang sinasabunotan ang buhok ko.

Hindi niya na ba ako mahal o baka hindi talaga minahal? pano niyang nagawang palitan ako ng ganon kadali. I mean 5 years na ang nakakalipas, pero..

Ngumisi lang ito, nag e-enjoy sa nakikita at naririnig niya, this jerk.

"She's here, nakatayo." malumanay nitong sambit, tf is wrong with him. Agad ko naman pinasadahan muli ng tingin ang buong opisina ko nag babakasaling may spot akong hindi nakita, pero wala.

"Niloloko mo ba ako?" Ani ko.

He chuckled. "Silly, she's you, panindigan mo kami ng anak mo."

"No, I mean anak natin." Sambit niya muli.

Tama ba ang pag-kakarinig ko?

Ako? Anak ko?  Namin?

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