Forever

Proposal

9:00 p.m.

I did not realize late na pala. I am so tired but I have to finish this layout for the presentation in a few weeks. I don't think I am even half way through it. All the people in the office are gone now, except for the night security guards and most of the lights are out. I'm not afraid of being alone here, I am more afraid of not being able to finish this. I actually like working here late, that means I don't have to go home and face all my problems back home.

In the middle of the silent office I heard some movements coming from the outside of my little room. All of a sudden I saw a figure outside my door.

Standing confidently with arms across her chest the figure greeted me. "Good evening. Pwede ba tayong magusap? Meron akong business proposal na makakatulong sa'yo."

"I'm not doing any business with you!" gosh she irks me.

"Hindi kami magnanakaw Rhian. Hindi namin magagawa kay Sir Victor yun. Napakalaki ng utang na loob ko sa daddy mo. Sa maniwala ka o hindi mahal ko at ginagalang ang ama mo. At ngayon wala na siya, gusto ko sayo magbayad ng utang na loob."

What? She is just talking nonsense. So I stood up and grabbed the phone to call the security downstairs. "Hello guard, pumunta ka sa artist room ngayon, may MAGNANAKAW dito eh."

Hinarap ko si Glaiza. "Ngayon kapag hindi kapa umalis, pangangatawanan ko ang pagsusumbong sa guardiya."

She looks frustrated now and that's what I wanted. Sakto naman ang pagdating ng security guard.

"Ma'am Rhian, ito po ba ang sinasabi niyong magnanakaw?"

"Aalis nako." Buti naman at natakot tong babaeng to. "Kung kailangan mo ko alam mo kung saan ako hahanapin!"

"Mapapanis ka sa paghihintay pero hinding hindi ako lalapit sayo."

Tuluyan nang umalis si Glaiza. All I feel towards her is rage right now. Rage for what they have done to my Dad. I can't believe that this person I considered my friend was able to do this to me and my family. I leaned my head on the table, I can feel it throbbing right now. Then I clenched my fist on my chest, I can't believe, I can't even fathom that I had feelings for her before! Stupid Rhian!

.......

It's almost 11 o'clock when I arrived home. Buti nalang may jeep pa akong nasakyan. When I opened the gate to the house, I saw that it is pitched black with one light flickering in the kitchen probably coming from a candle.

Sinalubong ako ni Yaya Ising hawak ang isang kandila.

"Yaya Ising, bakit wala tayong ilaw?"

"Naputulan tayo ng ilaw Rhian." Habang papasok kami sa madilim naming bahay may iba pa palang problema siyang sasabihin. "May dumating na taga bangko kanina. Gusto lang daw niyang ipaalala sayo yung pinirmahan mong promissory note. Hindi mo pa daw yun nababayaran eh."

I sat down, feeling my knees getting weak. I don't know what to do to fix all these problems. Yung sweldo ko sakto lang sa ginagastos namin dito sa bahay every month, paano ko pa mababayaran yung iba naming pagkakautang. Kuya is no where to be found, he has not been home for days now.

"Rhian pinutul din ang telepono natin. Ilang buwan na daw kasi kayong hindi nakakabayad."

I buried my face on the palm of my hands and started to sob. My life is a mess.