Chasing Dreams (Book 2)

Ninety Six

SANDRO's POV

Leon: How's my granddaughter doing? It's been... a while.

Sandro: She's getting better, Don Leon.

Leon: Mabuti naman kung ganon. Ilang linggo o buwan na ata kaming hindi nakakapag-usap.

Yes. It's been a month since the incident happened. Samantha made up her mind to move in at my house in Ilocos. She barely talks to anyone and she's not answering any of her family or friend's calls and texts. Gusto nya muna kasing lumayo sa Manila para makalimutan lahat ng masamang nangyari between her and Nick. Hindi rin naman namin sya masisi kung yun ang naging desisyon nya. We all thought that it was for the better, so she could heal her inner peace, especially her trauma.

Leon: She sent her resignation last week. Ang sabi nya, babalik na sya ulit sa pag-aaral and she even showed me her admission slip.

Sandro: Already? Wala po syang nababanggit sakin.

Leon: That woman. She's very unpredictable don't you think?

Sandro: She is, sir.

Leon: Nagmana sa akin ng katigasan ng ulo, hindi ba?

Sandro: Sir, kayo ang nagsabi nyan ah!

Leon: Haha! Si, si.

He laughed and his smile reach his eyes. I pour some whiskey on his glass habang pinagmamasdan ko ang masaya nyang mukha. This is the first time that I've talk to him ng walang pag-aalala at halong kaba.

Leon: Did you know the university where she enrolled?

Sandro: Hindi po.

Leon: In MMSU.

Sandro: MM-ehem-SU?!

Bigla akong nasamid sa sinabi ni Don Leon. How did she even get in ng walang proof of residency sa Ilocos?

Leon: Are you alright?

Sandro: Y-yes po. I'm sorry.

I was really shock. Sa araw-araw namin na magkausap through video call ay wala naman syang naike-kwento na kahit ano tungkol dito.

First, hindi ko alam na nagresign na sya. Second, I'm aware that she's interested on going back to school pero wala naman syang nabanggit na nakapag-enroll na pala sya. And third, of all schools and universities, bakit sa MMSU sya nag-enroll? Does that mean na wala na talaga syang balak na umalis ng Ilocos?

I think I need to talk to her in person.

Leon: Kailan kayo huling nagkita?

Sandro: Two weeks ago po. Pero uuwi din po ako dun mamaya so I can visit her.

Leon: Bueno. Hindi ko na sasayangin ang oras mo dito. You may go para maaga kang makarating don.

A soft knock on the door caught our attention. Maya-maya pa ay dumungaw ang tito ni Samantha. What's his name again? I forgot.

He came in and stood beside the door. Mukhang may importante silang pag-uusapan.

Leon: My secretary is waiting for you outside, hijo. She will assist you to the parking lot.

Sandro: Thank you, sir. Mauna na po ako.

He pat my shoulders bago ako tuluyang tumalikod. Pagkatapos ay tinanguan ko ng bahagya ang anak nya when I walk passed by him. Sakto namang paglabas ko ng pinto ay tumunog ang cellphone ko.

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