“Oh ba’t ganiyan mukha mo?” Kim asked while we were having lunch. I am seated between her and Tyrone.
We are in one table with the bullies as usual. The blessing just finished and we are having lunch now.
“Sinong lumukot diyan sa itsura mo?” Cienne added.
“Eh si Thomas kasi,” I almost whined like a baby girl.
“Oh anong ginawa sayo nun?” Mika asked.
I told them the conversation I had with Thomas in his car on the way here.
“Talaga??” They all asked in chorus.
“Oo nga eh. Walking distance lang galing dito sa bahay ni Mika,” I informed.
“Totoo?” Mika beamed and I nodded.
“Oh bakit parang hindi madrawing yang mukha mo? Bibigyan ka na nga ng bahay,” Carol inquired.
I didn’t know how to express myself properly.
“Nahihiya ka no? Okay lang yan best. Tama naman talaga yung sinabi ni Thomas na responsibilidad niya naman talaga kayo ng anak mo,” Mika said.
“Oh ba’t pati ako? Si Tyrone lang,” I retorted.
“Okay lang ba sayo na paghiwalayin kayo ng anak mo. Ang dami mong iniisip. Hayaan mo na nga maging tatay sa anak niya,” Cienne said.
Well, she’s right. Tyrone and I are a packaged deal.
Then I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket. I took it out and it was an unknown number. I swiped it open.
“Hello?” I answered my phone.
“Hello Tara?” I heard a man with British accent answered. And there’s only one person who calls me Tara because he can’t pronounce the whole Victonara.
“William?” I asked back.
It’s my boss. I remember putting my number on my resignation letter. I signaled the bullies to tone down their conversation. They all gave me strange looks.
“Hey Tara, you still owe me a meeting, right? I’m already here in the Philippines,” he said.
“You want to meet now?” I asked.
“No. No, I just arrive. Maybe the day after tomorrow will do. Will that be okay?” he asked.
“Yeah. Sure, that’ll be alright,” I answered.
“Okay. I’m here in Manila Shangri-La Hotel. We can just meet here. I’ll wait for you in the restaurant below 10 in the morning?”
“Okay. I’ll be there,” I said.
“Tara, I really hope you’ll come back to us,” William said.
“Will, let’s just talk about it over the meeting,” I said.
“Okay. I’ll see you then,” he said.
“See you,” I said and the conversation was ended.
I laid my phone on the table.
“William???” The bullies inquired altogether.
“Boss ko yun,” I answered shortly.
“Ahhhh,” they said.
“Boss? Bakit daw?” Mika asked.
“Ayaw kasi akong bitawan. Nag-set ng meeting para pag-usapan,” I said.
“Pinuntahan ka talaga dito?” Carol questioned.
“Oo eh, ewan ko ba dun kay Will,” I said.
