The Author's Rewritten Drafts

[xxx]

[xxx]

Hindi pumasok si Magda ng trabaho ng ilang linggo ngunit ramdam niyang may nakamasid sa kanyang bawat galaw. Kaya madalas niyang binubuksan ang bintana ng kanyang apartment. Paminsan-minsan ay lumalakad siya habang tuwalya lang ang nakatahob sa katawan.

Maybe, trust can be gained quite easily if accompanied by desire. Who knows?

Madalas siyang naiiyak na lamang...

Whenever she was crying, Porcupine would visit to know if she's doing fine. Mas lalo itong naaawa sa tuwing madadatnang may bakas ng pag-iyak sa takot ang kanyang mata.

After a few weeks of not showing to work, she gained courage to go back to work. Mukha namang nagulat ang lahat sa kanyang pagbabalik. Sinubukan niyang hindi gumawa ng hakbang upang hakutin ang atensyon ng tao.

"I'm just reminding you, you're already on chapter ten. The evilness is only at fifteen percent." Palagi na lang siyang pinapaalalahanan ni Boy Buwesit sa percentage ng kanyang target. She clearly knew. Mayroon siyang nilulutong plano.

"You're back..." Agila looked at her from head to toe.

"I'm sorry, sir. I took a three-week leave." She bowed her head.

"Can we talk?" Malamyos ang kanyang boses.

Tumango naman si Magda at naupo sa harap ng kanyang desk. Nanatiling nakayuko ang kanyang ulo, hindi man lang niya tinapunan ng tingin ang lalaking kaharap.

"Look, it's about what happened three weeks ago..." Agila sighed. "I'm really sorry, Magda. I'm sorry for hurting you like that."

Silence enveloped them. "I... Kailangang-kailangan ko po ng trabaho, sir." Napalunok siya. She swallowed hard.

She was still clearly upset and afraid, but she swallowed all that so she could keep her job. It added more fuel to Agila's guilty conscience.

Mas lalong namuo ang mga tinik niya sa lalamunan. He vowed to regain her trust. And he also wanted to help her to recover her memories even if it meant hating him.

"I still want to help you remember, Magda. If you let me..." saad niya. "Are you okay? Gumaling na ba ang pasa mo?" Bahagya siyang lumapit upang i-eksamin ang kanyang leeg.

Nagulat naman siya sa lapit nila sa isa't isa. Nakaawang ang kanyang mapulang labi. It was inviting for a kiss. Her eyes looked a bit worried. Gustong alisin ni Agila ang pag-aalalang iyon sa kanyang mata. He gulped hard seeing her up-close.

Even with scars, her feature is undeniably beautiful. Muling bumalintanaw sa alaala ni Agila ang mga panahong pinagsamahan nila ni Magda daang taon nang nakakalipas. Mas lalong sumidhi ang pagkalito ng kanyang puso.

He was in trance... to claim her lips.

But the disaster was avoided hearing someone cleared his throat. Naabutan silang dalawa ni Porcupine sa ganoong posisyon. Magda's cheeks became red.

Agad siyang tumayo at nagpaalam na babalik sa kanyang trabaho. Hindi niya magawang salubungin ang tingin ng mga ito.

"What was that? Pagkatapos mong saktan ang babae... hahalikan mo naman? Paano si Alethea?" tanong ni Porcupine.

His eyes were shut close. Sumandal siya sa swivel chair.

"I'm confused..." Humugot siya ng malalim na paghinga. "I'm confused with my feelings. It seemed like my feelings for her resurfaced. Baka hindi naman talaga iyon nawala at hinanap ko lang sa mga babaeng nakasalamuha ko. Hindi ko alam."

"Or maybe... it was the feeling of guilt because you couldn't save her before." Porcupine added more to his confusion. "You have to sort it out. Kawawa naman sila. Hindi ka playboy, bossing."