Perfectly Imperfect

Chapter 19

Chapter 19

Four months later…

“Jas… hindi ka pa uuwi?” napaangat ang tingin ni Jasmine sa nagsalita. It was one of her officemates. Bitbit na nito ang bag at handa nang umuwi.

Nakangiting umiling siya bilang sagot. “Sige na, mauna na kayo. I still have tons to do. Wala si Helga diba? I had to cover up for her.”

“Sipag mo talaga. O sige. Mauna na kami ha?”

Tumango na lang siya at saka ngumiti.
As usual naiwan na naman siyang mag-isa sa opisina. She wasn’t lying when she said that she still have some things to do. Nakaleave na kasi si Helga para sa honeymoon nito. She got married two days ago at dahil may mga naiwan itong trabaho, sya ang naatasan na mag-asikaso sa mga iyon. Hindi naman siya nagreklamo. Mabuti nga at may mapagkakaabalahan siya. For 3 months, maayos na rin ang takbo ng lahat. Marami nang nangyari. Isa na nga doon ang kasal ni Helga, ang pagkapromote niya into managerial position. Pero dahil may mga naiwan pa siyang trabaho, tatapusin niya muna iyon bago ang transition niya sa bagong position. She was grateful. Sino ba ang mag-eexpect na may maganda pang mangyayari sa kabila ng madilim na parte ng buhay niya? Maybe because of determination, nagawa niya pa rin ng maayos ang kanyang trabaho. And it paid off.

Around seven in the evening when she decided to go home. Masaya siyang uuwi nang gabing iyon dahil nalinis na nya ang lahat ng pending niya. Tomorrow will be the start of her training. She was excited and scared. Bagong challenges na naman ang nakaabang sa kanya and of course bigger responsibility. But who cares? That is something she can always brag about. Pinaghirapan niya ang position na iyon.

As the elevator opens, she stepped in and pressed ‘2’. Bahagya niyang ipinikit ang mga mata niya. Ramdam na niya ang pagod. That’s a good thing. Hindi siya mahihirapan matulog dahil pagod siya. Siguradong makakapagpahinga siya ng maayos sa gabing iyon. She yawned when the elevator opened at the second floor.

“Staying late for work?”

Napatigil sa paglalakad si Jasmine nang marinig ang boses na iyon. Nabitin sa ere ang hikab na gustong gusto niyang pakawalan kanina. No. She was just dreaming or imagining things. Pero sariling utak na mismo nya ang tumutol sa idea.

Slowly, she turned. And just like déjà vu, she saw him leaning against the wall, hands in his pockets and staring at her lovingly. Her heart automatically beats faster than the usual. Para itong nabuhayan bigla ng makita ang binata.

Again, no.

She shouldn’t feel that way. She learned to live for months without thinking of him – better yet, not too much. Kahit paano ay natutunan niyang limitahan ang sarili niyang nakadepende sa binata. She’s almost doing well. But now he’s here, ruining everything again.

“Why are you here?” mas malamig pa sa yelo na tanong niya.

“To make it up for the lost time. To face the truth, no matter how painful it is.” He answered.

She wanted to laugh. Really now? Ngayon pa ba? But from the looks of it, he must have really enjoyed the time he asked. Maayos na ang hitsura nito. Hindi na haggard. Parang nanggaling sa isang masayang bakasyon. Samantalang siya, parang namatayan.

But on some part, may namatay naman talaga – ang puso nya.

“I have to go.” She said as she turned back. But before she could take a step, she felt him grab her arms.

“Can we talk?”

Hinarap na ito ulit.

“Yes. But not now. I’m tired and I don’t think I can still absorb whatever you’re going to say. So let’s call it a night.”