Calming the Storm

Kabanata 17

Nang inis siya buong maghapon. Kaya badtrip ako habang hinahatid siya sa pintuan para makaalis na! He will be going to Bulacan and Aklan again this week. Mas lalo pa akong nainis dahil may trabaho pa pala siya bukas pero umuwi lang para mang inis.

"I will be back after two days. I will stay for the remaining days of the week here."

Inirapan ko siya kahit nakaramdam ng galak sa sinabi. He's staying for days!

He groaned. "I need to supervise this project. Sa mga susunod na buwan, hindi na ganito ka-busy. I can stay here longer."

"Ramiel, just focus on your work. That's a big project and you have a lot more even after that."

"Those projects can run without my supervision. I want to be here when your school starts."

Mas excited talaga siya kaysa sa akin.

Pinanood ko siyang sumakay sa kotse niya. Binaba niya ang bintana at bumusina. He even winked before leaving! Nakita ko ulit ang pag ilaw ng tail lights niya nang tatlong beses bago tuluyan nang makaalis.

I sighed after feeling the same emptiness again whenever he left.

Tiningnan ko ang kisame bago tawagan ang numero niya. I let my emotions controlled me.

Isang ring ay sumagot siya. "Hello?"

Hindi ako sumagot. Hearing his voice makes me more sad! Magkakaregla na ba ako? I feel a bit emotional!

"Audra? Why? Do you need something?" he asked gently.

"Nakauwi ka na?" naiusal ko.

Hindi agad siya sumagot. I heard him sighed. "I'm entering the building. Why? May gusto ka ba? I will buy it."

"I miss you..."

The other line went silent. 

"Babalik na ako. Wait me there."

Halos mapatayo ako. "What? No, Ramiel! Wag na. I...I just said it pero ayos lang. Wag ka na bumalik!"

"No. I will come back."

"Hindi kita pagbubuksan pag bumalik ka! D'yan ka na, Ramiel. I will just wait. Dalawang araw lang naman."

He sighed. "Baby, you really know how to make me lose my mind, don't you?"

I smiled weakly. "I miss you. I will miss you..."

"Fucking two days of torture before seeing you again," he cursed again and again. "I will miss you more."

My remaining days working at the bar have remained the same since the beginning, but of course, my co-worder did not hide that  they are happy that I am leaving. Si Ristelle lang ang nagpakita ng lungkot, but I already drew a line between us. From the start, I never let us be too attached. After all, we are just co-workers.

Next week, I will be transferred to manage and attend rooms. My wage went a little lower than my previous work in the hotel, but it is acceptable. I will be working at the hotel just part time.

Ramiel is my direct boss, but I do not let him meddle with this decision. I went through its process, but I can't tell if he really did not do anything to make things work for me.

"Audra, tara kain na tayo!" aya sa akin nila Jessica.

"Tama ba? Sa susunod na linggo sa hotel ka na mismo at hindi sa restaurant?"

Tumango ako kay Mark. "Oo, part time lang din. Umpisa na rin kasi ng pasukan."

"Pero pwede pa naman tayo kumain sabay sabay, di ba?" puno ng pag asa ang boses niya. Sila Jessica at Rey ay naghihintay din ng sagot ko.