Fading Echoes

Veinticinco

Irene

"Irene! Here, girl!" I heard Natalia call. 

I just arrived at the airport after almost 18 hours of flight! Hinatid ako nila kuya Bonget kasama sila mommy at daddy sa NAIA, kung tutuusin tutol si daddy sa pag-alis ko. Mabuti nalang at kailangan din tutukan isang branch namin dito sa Washington at napapayag na rin siya. 

I specifically asked mama and papa, Greggy's parents not to tell where am I. Dahil hindi rin naman ako nakapagpaalam sa kaniya. Mas gugustuhin ko nalang na hayaann nalang sa ganoong paraan. 

And since I'll be staying here in the US for heaven knows how long, I changed my local number already. But due to work, I need to retain both my work and personal email. Kahit na gusto ko mang palitan, hindi rin puwede. 

Natalia is one of my college best friends, she's been a resident here in the US for a long time now dahil nag-migrate din siya agad dito pagka-graduate namin ng college. Here, she took her Master's degree, and eventually her PhD. 

I smiled at her and waved back, agad niya akong sinalubong at niyakap. She called one of her guards to assist us with my items of luggage. "Did you bring the dried mangoes?!" she giggled, I nodded and smiled at her, I clung to her arm, "yes, marami rin pasalubong na pinadala si mommy for you" I answered.  "Talaga?! excited na ako!" she giggled, once again. 

"So... What is it the you have to tell me? You flew all the way from the Pearl of the Orient just to see me!" paninimula niya, nasa loob na kami ng sasakyan ngayon at nakaupo sa magkabilang dulo. I looked at her, confused, "huh?" I reacted, raising my eyebrow. Inirapan naman niya ako at hinarap ako. "Bakit ka andito!? Ang dami ninyong regional branches sa Pilipinas at ginusto mo pa talaga malayo!? kay Gregory?!" she fired at me, I shushed her at nilingon ang driver niya, na Pilipino rin. 

"Ang ingay mo Natalia!" pagsusungit ko. Bumuntong hininga ako, "the company needs me here, may big site kami sa Florida at Washington, ako na ginawang project head ni dad, okay na???" I answered. Hindi ko namalayan na andito na pala kami sa bahay. Dad made sure that I will be staying where I'm comfortable. Kaya pina-renovate niya bahay namin dito bago ako umuwi. Natalia is just few blocks away from my house kaya kampante rin naman ako kung sakali. 

"Ay, kulang, Maria! Bakit, pumayag ba si Gregory?" she fired back at me. Sabay naman kaming lumabas ng sasakyan. She walked around the car and opened the truck, pinagtulungan naman naming tatlo mga bagahe ko. 

"Bakit? nagpaalam ba ako? Asawa ko ba siya?" Sumbat ko naman, na nakapagpalaki ng mga mata ng kausap ko. Her mouth fell agape, the guard opened the gates for us. "Seryoso ka!?" she reacted when everything sunk in. 

"Gaga ka! Bakit hindi ka man lang nagsabi?" she asked. I shrugged off my shoulders. I sat on the couch when we reached the receiving area of my house. It feels cozy, but a bit empty. Maybe because I still need to adjust, again. Masasanay din ako. I thought. 

"He flew to Singapore for an urgent business trip, do I have to follow him there just to tell him nonsense?"

"Nonsense? Ikaw? Sa kaniya? Siraulo ka talaga mag-isip, minsan, ganda lang ambag mo e 'no?" she reacted and sat across me. She roamed her eyes around, "nice interior, feels... empty" she commented. I laughed a bit and nodded, "It will take time, will do the shopping also. wanna come?" I asked. 

She shook her head, "no, magkuwento ka muna. teka, wala ka ba kasama dito?"

"Meron, pero inaayos pa contract, isa pa, secretary ni daddy kausap nun, hindi ako"

"Bakit hindi mo sinama si Jane?" she asked, referring to my secretary. I stood up and went to one of my luggage, turned it on the floor, and zipped it out, revealing all Pinoy goods that were intended for Natalia. Una ko inilabas ang mga pakete ng dried mangoes, halos magtatalon naman sa tuwa 'tong babaeng 'to.