"Ma'am Alaina? Out na po ako. Malinis na po ang café. Nilinis na po namin, hindi ka na po kasi lumabas simula kaninang tanghali. Una na po ako maam, ingat po kayo pauwi."
I jolted awake when i heard Mimi's voice from the other side of my office' door. After that i didn't hear any more sound. Maybe she got home. I sighed heavily.
I wiped my excess tears. Some of it even dried on my cheeks. I stood up from sitting on the floor. Gosh, hindi ko man lang namalayan na nakatulugan ko na ang pag-iyak kanina.
Memories flooded through my senses. Parang kailan lang ang mga iyon. Oh wait, it's been three years...
Three painful years.
I went to the bathroom of this office and i bit my lips upon seeing my reflection on the mirror. I looked like a mess. Magulo ang buhok. Kalat ang mascara. Namamaga na ang mga mata.
Napabuntong hininga nalang ulit ako bago tanggalin ang isang contact lens sa kanang mata ko. Natanggal na iyong nasa kaliwa kanina noong naguumpisa pa lang akong umiyak. Hindi ko na rin alam kung saan ko nalagay iyon.
I washed my face. I stared at my reflection once again. Wow, sa loob ng tatlong taon ngayon na lang ulit ako umiyak ng ganito. Napangiti ako ng mapait bago lumabas ng banyo.
I grabbed my extra eye glasses on my desk. Magsasalamin na naman ako. Pambihira, pang ilang contact lens na ba 'tong nawala ko?
Inayos ko ang suot kong denim pencil skirt at cream colored puff sleeve top. I looked at my wristwatch and my eyes widened upon seeing the time. I immediately tied my hair into a messy bun before grabbing my handbag and the keys of the café.
I went out of my office, making sure to check all of the equipments here. Once I'm done checking all the plugs, machines, etc. I went out through the main glass door. I locked it in a hustle.
My phone rang ang i immediately answered it when i saw who the caller was.
Bruhildang Teressa is calling...
"Yes, i know I'm late." I answered as i was placing the keys on my bag.
"Hoy, gaga ka! Anong oras na?! Yung sinet-up kong kadate mo! Siputin mo! Sayang—" I stopped on my tracks when i saw the man who's confidently leaning his back against the material of his expensive car. His hands were on his pockets. And his eyes bore onto me. Napatalikod ako bigla at inayos ang salamin ko kasi baka dinadaya na naman ako ng mga mata ko.
Lihim akong napausal ng dasal. Lord, ano pong ginagawa ni Joaquin dito?
"Nakikinig ka ba, Alaina?" I snorted at Teressa. Nawala sa isip ko na kausap ko nga pala sya sa kabilang linya.
"Oo, nakikinig ako. Nakalimutan ko lang na may sinet-up ka na namang date para sakin. Sorry ah, hindi ko kasi kailangan yan." Sarcasm was evident on my voice. Kung pwede lang sakalin si Tere dahil sa mga kalokohan nya ay matagal ko ng ginawa.
"Anong hindi kailangan? Siputin mo yun! Sayang, bes! Engineer yun!" I rolled my eyes. Engineer? Na naman?
"Oo na! Eto na! Sige, babush!" Hindi ko na sya hinayaang makasagot at pinatay na lang ang tawag.
Ramdam na ramdam ko kasi ang titig ng taong prente paring nakasandal sa sasakyan nya. Ano na naman kayang kailangan nito?
I gathered my courage and breathed deeply before facing him. I didn't show any emotions, even though my heart is already beating erratically just by the mere sight of him. My glasses wasn't really kidding me.
He stood straight, still giving me the look. I walked closer to him but still drawing a distance between us. Our eyes locked. None of us even blinked. But i avoided his gaze first.
Tumikhim ako at parang doon lang din sya nabalik sa realidad. He wet his lips before throwing me a cold stare.
"May date ka?" Napaangat ang kilay ko dahil sa tanong nya. I shrugged my shoulders nonchalantly. My heart was still beating fast. Why does he have to ask me that?! And why does my heart still act so crazy for him?!
"Bakit andito ka?" Sinadya kong palamigin ang dating ng tanong ko. Emotionless kumbaga. Kahit na hindi na talaga ako mapakali at gusto ko nalang na taguan sya.
"About our annulment papers..." He clicked his tongue on his inside cheeks. I gulped at that sight. But of course i eventually avoided my gaze.
My eyes landed on his upper body. Oh he's wearing different clothes now. He's wearing a cream colored button down shirt, faded jeans and his expensive shoes. Nakatupi hanggang siko ang sleeves ng shirt nya kaya malaya kong natatanaw ang mga ugat na naroon. And he's wearing a construction vest, siguro kakagaling nya lang sa site. Engineer things.
Sa totoo lang para tuloy kaming nakacouple outfit—wait what? Erase erase. I cleared my throat.
"Kailangan mo na naman ng pirma ko? Ilang pirma pa ba?" This time nag-angat na ako ng tingin at parang pagkakamali iyon kasi hindi ko kinakaya ang intensisdad ng titig nya. Nakakatunaw.
His hair was disheveled but he still looked so good. His hair was a bit longer and it was swaying through the wind. His diamond earrings were illuminating through the light on the post near us. He looked so heavenly sexy! Damn it!
"Ayaw mo na bang pumirma? Sabihin mo lang. Wiz akembang mamimilit." He shrugged his shoulders at para akong tinakasan ng ulirat dahil doon.
How could he act like it was nothing to him, if i wouldn't sign those papers?!
"Wala akong sinasabing ganyan, Joaquin." Mariin kong sabi. His gaze snapped back at me. Nagsukatan kami ng tingin. My eyes wandered on his handsome face. His diamond earrings shone like it was an invitation to come closer to him and i don't like it!
"Saysung ko nga, waley." He sighed defeatedly. I smiled inwardly. Eto ang Joaquin na kilala ko, dinadaan ako sa mga gay linggo nya.
Sa loob ng tatlong taon, maraming nagbago saaming dalawa. I became busy with the shared business i have with Tere. And Joaquin here is already a licensed engineer. After his graduation, i was informed that he's already reviewing for the boards. And eventually he passed.
Long story short, he's now Engr. Joaquin Acacius M. Alcazar. The one who owns Dreamy Homes Construction. A successful construction company that he managed to build in just a span of two to three years. I knew that he named his company after our late daughter.
Our Johanna Dreame.
Sa totoo lang sa loob ng tatlong taon, nagkikita parin naman kaming dalawa, pero tungkol nalang iyon sa annulment papers, birthdays at death anniversaries ng anak namin. No more. No less.
Tatlong taon na ring pinoproseso ang mga papeles para mapawalang bisa ang kasal namin. Hindi ko alam kung ganun ba talaga katagal yun oh dahil mabusisi lang talaga si Joaquin. Ewan ko, ayoko nang mag-isip ng kung ano ano pang tungkol sakanya.
"Ipadala mo nalang sa address ko. May lakad pa kasi ako." I said as a matter of fact. Palagi namang ganoon ang set up kapag kailangan nya ng pirma ko. Pero bakit nandito sya ngayon?
He sighed deeply like it was such a bothersome. Why is he acting so weird all of a sudden? What's wrong with him?
"Sige, magfly away na akez. May lakad din kasi ako." May lambot ngunit may diin nyang sabi. Kumunot ang noo ko ng dali-dali syang sumakay sa kotse nya at padabog pang sinara ang pinto noon. Napairap ako sa hangin.
Anong problema nun?
BINABASA MO ANG
The Gentle Truth
RomansaGENTLEMEN SERIES #1 More than just a best friend, Alaina cherished Joaquin. She had feelings for him since they were young, and Joaquin was aware of his constant differences. There's nothing wrong with him being gay; his family and closest friend bo...
