Present day.
I was stirring the coffee I just made that I am sure I will just leave to get cold later while thinking about the pile of reports that I have to check. We have received a new batch of requests for bodyguards and I have to filter those requests before we can actually decide who we are going to send.
Sumandal pa nga ako sa may pader habang patuloy na hinahalo ang kape at iniihipan iyon. Maaga pa naman kaya may oras pa akong tumunganga ngayon. Plus, I don't think TL will berate me if I go to my office late.
Nandoon naman na rin 'yong gamit ko, e.
"You made your coffee?" pumasok si Kelly, ang HR namin doon. May dala itong folders na sa palagay ko ay mga application ng mga gustong makapasok dito sa Praesidium.
"Yeah," I nodded my head. "I opted to make one rather than to buy," I added and shrugged. I looked at the mug and frowned while looking at the coffee. Halos namuti pala iyon sa dami ng creamer na nailagay ko.
Tinitignan ko pa lang ay para na akong kinilig sa tamis ng kape na nagawa ko.
And that is why I buy my coffee every day. Ewan ko rin ba sa sarili ko at bakit ko naisip na kaya ko namang magtimpla na never ko namang nagawa sa buong buhay ko.
"Are you okay?" tanong ni Kelly habang naglalagay ng tubig.
"Are you okay?" balik na tanong ko. "You have your own panty in your floor, bakit dito ka nakikiigib?" pilit kong pinasigla ang tinig ko habang kausap ko ang babae.
Sa halos dalawang taon ko naman na rito sa Praesidium ay naging malapit na ako sa mga ito kaya nakakabiruan ko na rin silang lahat.
"Mas special 'yong tubig dito, e," Kelly said cheekily. "But, seriously... Are you okay?" sumeryoso ang mukha nito at alam ko naman din ang dahilan ng tanong nito sa akin.
Hindi lang naman ito ang nagtatanong sa akin ng tungkol sa bagay na iyon.
"Of course, I am," I smiled at her and looked at my wrist watch. "Oh, I have to go. And don't tell anyone else about our special water!" I smiled at her and strode my way towards the door while holding my mug and walked towards the office.
As soon as I got inside, Valeria or Ria as I call her greeted me.
"Hi, Ada."
"Hi," I smiled and walked towards my desk. Ipinatong ko na rin ang mug na dala sa lamesa bago naupo na rin doon.
"May dala akong brownies, gusto mo?" alok nito sa akin. I smiled and declined politely, but I know that even if I declined, she will keep some for me later. Gano'n naman lagi ang ginagawa nito simula nang nakasama ko siya roon sa opisina.
I looked at the pictures that I pinned on the side of my table and I could feel the lump in my throat.
Maddie is fine now... Duke is fine, and he made it clear with me that he's not mad and it wasn't my fault.
It's been months already, and the one who took her paid the price of what he did with his life... but somehow, I feel like I am still at that grocery store parking lot, freezing and wasn't able to do anything to save her...
It affected me... what happened to her.
Though we saved her, I still feel responsible for what happened. Akala ko nga noong nakakausap ko siya sa ospital nang mailigtas namin siya ay mawawala na ang guilt sa dibdib ko lalo na at nakita ko kung ano ang sinapit niya dahil sa kapabayaan ko... pero hindi pala.
When my injury healed, I was asked if I wanted to go back out there already, and I doubted myself so I turned it down. I was planning to quit, but TL talked to me, and asked me if I wanted to take some break, or I can just work administratively for now.
