Still You

Chapter Seventeen

RADD CORDOVA

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I ADJUSTED my hard hat, my attention fixed on the house being built in front of me. Standing under the shade of a lush acacia tree with Reeth, I saw the workers as they busily moved around the construction site.

Three weeks had passed since Helix began this project, and I could confidently say the firm exceeded my expectations. Reeth was the Project Engineer. Si Caleb mismo ang pumili sa kaniya. He assured me of my cousin's competence.

Wala na rin akong reklamo roon dahil pinagkakatiwalaan ko rin naman si Caleb Lagdameo sa aspetong ito. After all, he was the CEO. His firm wouldn't have gained its renowned reputation if he didn't excel in this business.

Despite his expertise in this field, his actions were doubtful. I despised his guts. What irritated me most was how openly he admired Eira, even going so far as to use the ridiculous "my labs" as his so-called term of endearment.

Every time I heard him say that, I was tempted to sew his vocal cords!

Nagseselos ka lang, gago! Hindi mo kasi matawag nang gan'yan si Eira!

Malutong kong namura ang isip ko. Why would I be jealous? Hindi ko lang matagalan na harap-harapan niyang ipakita ang interes kay Eira!

Kasi nga, gusto mong sa 'yo lang dapat siya!

Marahas akong napabuntong-hininga. I tried not to mind it. I turned my focus back to the construction site before me. I hadn't expected to see this project come to fruition. My plans for building this house had been on hold for some time, and after two long years, I never imagined I'd be revisiting them.

Admit it, Radd, you still longed for Eira. You wanted to remind her of your past together kaya mo ito ginagawa. Hindi ba't memorable sa inyong dalawa ang lugar na ito?

As that thought crossed my mind, memories began to flood in. Bigla ay nawala ang tinititigan kong construction site. Unti-unti iyong napalitan ng isang tanawing pamilyar na pamilyar sa akin...

A teenage girl sat crying on the old swing. Nakayuko siya at nakatitig sa mga palad habang walang patid ang pagpatak ng kaniyang mga luha.

I stood a few meters away from her. It was five in the afternoon, and I had just returned from school. The sun was setting, casting a warm glow over the playground. I studied the girl closely; she seemed familiar. If I remember correctly, she was in my class. Siya iyong kaibigan ni Doreethy na laging kumakausap sa akin.

"Hi, I'm Eira Villena!" Her usual introductory line echoed in my mind. I tried not to dwell on it, but the memory lingered. Damn!

Bukod kay Doreethy siya lang ang kumakausap sa akin. O mas tamang sabihing naglalakas loob na kausapin ako. Seatmates kami, marahil ay wala lang talaga siyang choice.

Pero wala na rin akong pakialam doon. Making new friends wasn't part of my goal. I was used to being alone. At my previous school, I never bothered to befriend anyone. They also avoided me because they thought I was grumpy and unfriendly.

I learned to accept that. With my mother by my side, I felt that was enough. Kaya wala akong reklamo nang sabihin nitong uuwi kami ng Baguio at dito ko na ipagpapatuloy ang nalalabing dalawang taon ko sa high school. Matagal din kaming nanirahan sa Manila dahil naroon ang trabaho ni Mama.

I was about to ignore Eira and keep walking when she called out my name.

"R-Radd?"

I stopped mid-step. I was determined to ignore her, but my body betrayed me. Nilingon ko siya. Minura ko ng malakas ang isip dahil doon.