(Jayron's POV)
Ka-katapos lang ng meeting namin ni Atty. Alvarez. Everything went smoothly. He's relaxed now. Unlike our meeting last Saturday. He was very intimidating and brave but this time he's easy and very convincing.
He got a very unique approach when it comes to business. We got along well when we talked about the future ventures that we'll both share. His dreams to bring his company to every Filipino. No matter what level of life style they may have.
His taste with things are simple but detailed. Even if he's busy he always finds time to check every level of his company. He's very hands on with everything. Such a trait one dedicated person have.
We talked about his journey as a lawyer. Few personal things. About his family. Even his love of sports, specially basketball. I was surprised when he told me that he watched me play from my college team until now. Pumila pa nga daw s'ya dati para sa autograph ko. 'Yun daw kasi ang gift n'ya sa ina-anak niya.
I never though I'll get to know the other side of Atty. Alvarez. He even invited me to his company's annual conference in Cebu. It was even in time with the opening of the three new branches of CHI. So I gladly express my interest to come. At mukhang na tuwa naman siya.
I've seen his being ruthless, his unbeatable leadership; to his love for his family and friends. We even lost the time. If it wasn't for a call from his best friend ; we probably shared lunch together. I even forgot about my date with Yuni.
Kaya as soon as we bid our good byes umalis na ako sa office n'ya. Meron din ata s'yang ka meeting over lunch.
I was about to get in the elevator ng may ma mataan akong familiar na mukha. Gusto ko sanang habulin pero baka may maka bungoan na naman ako. Which reminds me of the girl I accidentally hit this morning. I wanted to help her, kahit konteng alalay man lang sana sa kanya until her office. Pero tinakbuhan niya ako. Siguro may hinahabol na meeting din y'un.
Na guilty talaga ako. Kung hindi sana naglalakbay ang isip ko wala sana akong nasaktan kanina.
And so I just let it slip away. Baka nagiging paranoid lang ako. Lahat na lang ata ng tao na-associate ko kay Juan. Like kanina. Akala ko yung nanay ni Juan na kahawig ni Baby. Tapos ngayon lang ang singkit na tatay ng bata.
I closed my eyes and breath in some air. I really got to find out this crazy things in me. Dadaan sana ako sa bahay kanina baka sakaling ma timing-an ko ang parents ng bata. Pero hindi ko naman magawa kasi hindi ko pa pwedeng dalhin si Yuni doon.
I wonder when will I be able to undiscover this. I was lost in my thoughts while in the elevator. I was thinking about too many things na hindi ko na napansin ang pag vibrate ng phone ko.
Kaya ayun. Hindi ako mag kandarapa sa pag call back sa taong sampung beses nag miss call.
"Uy! May tumawag na MVP na fiancé ng SUPER SIKAT NA INTERNATIONAL MODEL." Sarcastic at mapang asar na sagot ng magaling at nag-iisa kong kapatid.
"Justine, I received ten missed calls from you. Is that all you got for me?" Balak lang ata akong topakin ng bata'ng to. -----Teka. Local number niya ang naka-register sa phone ko. " You're home?"
"See, kuya. You don't even know we're home." Tama ba ang rinig ko? We? Bago ko pa man siya ma-tanong about it. Nagdaldal na ang kapatid ko.
"Yeah, kuya. Sumabay na ako kay Daddy. Hindi kasi tumigil si Mommy ng kaka-kulit na umuwi kami ng sabay. Kaya ayun. Kahapon kami dumating."
"Sorry. I didn't know." I felt irresponsible na hindi ko man lang alam na umuwi pala sila. Ang hilig ata ng mga mahal ko sa buhay na eh surprise ako this days. "How's Daddy? And the house. Have you talked to Luisa and Lucy before you left?"magkasunod kong tanong.
"Well, kuya how will you know. Eh busy ka doon sa fiancee mo. Daddy is fine. Na ayos naman kaagad yung bahay. As to kina ate. Nag kausap naman kami. We even had dinner in their house.. Grabe ang ganda ng bahay nila ate, kuya. As in. Ang dami ko nga'ng nakuhang pictures eh. I'll show it all to you pag okay na ang exhibit ko." Non stop parin talaga mag salita ang bata'ng to.. He's the total opposite of my Baby. Napabuntong hininga na lang ako sa mga naiisip ko.
"What's with the sigh kuya? May narinig ka ba sa mga sinabi ko. Would you like me to repeat it for you?"
"No. I heard it all. Kamusta naman daw sila Luisa?" Yes, I have to say no right away. Kasi talagang uulitin niya ang mga sinabi niya at malamang madadagdagan pa.
"Sure ka kuya?" Mapilit talaga.
"Yeah, Justine. Narinig ko lahat. So, how are they?"
"Masyado ka talagang interested pag sina ate ang pinag-usapan. Or baka naman you're just asking me about them but in fact si baby lang naman ang gusto mong itanong." Here we go again. Ang hilig talaga manuya ang bata'ng to. Saan ba pinaglihi ni Mommy to?
"You know. If you're not gonna answer me properly. Why don't you just tell me why you called."
"Alright, kuya JR. Atat. Okay naman po sina ate. Maayos ang trabaho nila. They just told Daddy the same things they told me about baby. Though madami silang na kwento about kina Tito at Tita and even about Leila. But unfortunately not much about your baby Liana Lira. And oh." I can feel na biglang na lungkot ang boses niya. Hindi kaya wala masyadong na kwento sina Lucy about kay baby eh dahil malihim parin ang bata'ng y'un. Did she grow up the same? I wonder how great of a lady she become.
"Kaya nga pala ako tumawag sayo kuya." Mabilis na nawala ang lungkot ng boses niya at napalitan ng makulit at mapang-asar n'yang tono." Mommy asked me to call you. Baka daw kasi hindi siya makapag-pigil pag s'ya ang kumausap sayo. Parang kinalimutan mo daw s'ya. Naku kuya mag ingat ka. Pipigtasin ni Mommy 'yang tenga mo."talagang pinag-tawanan pa ako.
"Huh? What did I do?"pagtataka ko. Tumawag naman ako last time na puponta akong Batangas ah.
"Kuya. Mom and Dad miss you. Mas pa sa pagka-miss nila sa akin. Parang ikaw nga ang umalis ng halos walong buwan eh. Grabe maka-react si Mommy. Tapos madalas pa silang masinsinang nag uusap ni Daddy. Parang may importanteng bagay na secret lang at hindi ko pwedeng malaman."
Could it be about Juan. Even me, I felt something stronger about it after the Batangas trip. Seeing those familiar faces together brings ghost bumps in me. What if it was really Baby. What if she's Juan's mother. If that's the case, is that Chinoy she's always with the father of Juan. What if no? Who could it be? Could it be me? Nawala ako sa mga agam-agam ko. I can hear Justine talking about our Mom's weird actions this past few days. He had been changing topics about Dad, their stay in Australia, the house and even his escapades. Pero hindi ko na alam kung ano ba ang mga naging reactions ko sa mga kwento n'ya. O kung may mga nasabi ba ako.
Hindi ko man lang alam kung kelan ba tumigil ang tawag. Ni hindi ko man lang napansin na binabagtas ko na pala ang daan pauwi sa bahay ko. Gustohin ko mang doon umuwi ngayon hindi pa pwede. I still got to go back to Yuni's unit. Doon kasi kami dumiretso from Batangas. Baka mag worry pa 'yun at kung ano na naman ang gawin. I'll just call my Mom when I get there.
°°°°
(Joshua's POV)
"Sir Joshua." Kakatapos lang ng orientation ko sa mga bagong employees ng Company. Na brief na din kasi sila ng Baby ko about the work at mga experienced naman na sila kaya madalian na lang. Then now comes Tanyita handing a folder of new accounts na pumasok this week.
"Is everything here Tanya?" Kailangan ko kasing ma review ang lahat. Nagawa narin ng mga staff to pero I want to check everything again.
"Yes Sir. Complete na po."
"Very good Tanyita. Pwede ka nang mag lunch. Five minutes na lang naman."
"Talaga po?" I just gave her a nod. Then, ayun kumaripas na ng takbo. Na takot ata na bawiin ko. I just fix my things at tumayo na rin ako. I have a meeting with Atty. Alvarez. As usual, over lunch na naman. He's such a busy person kaya pati sa pag-kain nagta-trabaho parin s'ya.
We'll probably talk about the meeting this morning. Sayang. Hindi ko na naman makakasabay sa pagkain ang Baby ko. Daanan ko kaya muna sa office n'ya. I miss her already kahit na sandali ko pa lang s'yang hindi nakikita.
Hindi pa ako official lover sa lagay na to huh. Paano pa kaya pag naging kami na talaga. Kini-kilig ako. Funny? Normal lang naman sigurong kiligin ang lalaki'ng katulad ko. Lalo na pag ang reason ay ang napakaganda at napakabait na si Liana.
