Bound to Fall

Kabanata 4

Kabanata 4

"We'll schedule Sprint Planning on Friday so we can think of a better approach for the in-progress features. We can try pair programming para mabilis na ma-cope 'yong other pair. If you have other suggestion din para mas bumilis ang mga tasks, please chat us-me or Leilah, we'll have leads meeting tomorrow," sir Calvin talked, seriously.

It was the final words he said after our Sprint Retrospective. Hindi kasi naming natapos ang mga naka-plot na tasks namin. He's thinking of other approach para mas lalong makasabay 'yon iba-including me. Sa ngayon kasi puro sina Renzo, Aki, and Jade ang almost nakakatapos ng mga naka-assign sa kanila. Almost, but not at all because they are coaching and assisting other devs too.

Ramdam 'ko rin 'yong tingin ni sir Calvin dahil out of four tickets in my plate, isa lang ang natapos 'ko. Namali kasi ako ng points din na lagay and I think kinulang din sa check 'yung scope ng ticket.

I felt disappointed, of course.

"Check natin bukas 'yong ticket mo." Jade's voice appeared. Naramdaman ko ang akbay niya sa akin. "H'wag mong gaanong isipin 'yun. Kailangan din makita ng mga nasa upper management 'yong hirap natin," sabay halakhak ng mahina. "Charot!"

"Thanks, Jade..." I bit my lip, my eyes burning.

I breathed deeply and walked toward my station. Nilikom ko na ang gamit ko dahil nasa baba na ang shuttle bus naming pauwing hotel. I shut down my computer. I can't take my mind off to my task and previous meeting. Ilang beses na kong napabuntong hininga kahit na sinabihan naman ako ni Jade na tutulungan sa task 'ko.

Isa-isa na ang team sa pagsakay ng elevator pababa ng building. Isa ako sa mga huling taong naghihintay nang susunod. I am so occupied that I didn't mind my surroundings. All I know is someone pressed the elevator's down button and then nothing.

"Cianne messaged me to look after you here." A familiar voice appeared.

Namilog ang mata 'ko at hinanap 'yon. Nawala ako sa ulirat.

"A-ano?" Halos pasigaw ang boses 'ko.

I saw him curving his lips.

"S-sorry..." sabi 'ko kaagad.

Si Aki.

Si Aki 'yong nagsalita.

"Bakit daw?" Hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala sa sinabi niya. "Sa'n ka niya minessage..."

Aki shrugged his shoulder. "LinkedIn?"

"H-ha?" I snapped, stunned. "Seryoso ba ang babaeng 'yon."

"Ya," aniya sabay pakita ng phone niya.

Minessage nga talaga ni Cianne si Aki sa LinkedIn. Talagang sa LinkedIn pa niya minessage 'yon. Anong nasa isip nitong si Cianne?!

"I don't use Facebook anymore. Baka nag-message siya doon pero 'di ako sumagot. She tried LinkedIn, so there," he explained.

"Hayaan mo na lang 'yan. Don't mind. H'wag mong nang replayan," ani 'ko. Ilang buntong-hininga na ang ginawa 'ko sa harap ni Aki.

"I don't mind," ani Aki sabay bawi ng phone. "She's sending me old photos..."

"W-what?" bigla 'ko. "Seryoso?"

"Yup," sagot muli ni Aki sabay pakita ng phone niya ulit.

Namilog ang mata 'ko nang ipakita niya 'yung photo na nasa likod kami ng room sa school. Sa ilalim ng malaking puno na may kahoy na silyang pahaba. Nakaupo kaming lahat kasama sina Cianne and other friends. But what caught my attention is me and Aki.

I was sitting beside Aki. And he's not looking directly in the photo but looking at me...I looked young and was in love.

And so, he was.