Love and Desire(#5)

Chapter 23

Chapter 23

Nadine

"C'mom team. It's getting late. We need to get the samples before the sun goes down." Ma'am Millet shouted as she clapped her hands. Napatingin ako sa kanya at sa labas ng kuweba, magdidilim na ang paligid kaya binilisan ko ang pagkuha ng mga nakadikit na pwedeng maging basehan ng assignments namin. Nang makontento ako sa dami nito ay maingat akong bumaba mula sa malaking bato na ginawa kong hagdan ko kanina.

"I already got mine." I told my team while raising my jar. Miss Milett just nodded then pointed out of the cave. I immediately walk towards out then sighed in relief.

"Hey brat. How's your vacation?" I looked back and Lance's giving me a look. I just shrugged then sat on one big rock. Hindi ko na rin inisip kung madumi na ang malaking bato o hindi, pawis na pawis na rin naman ako at madumi sa loob mg kweba.

"It was good." I answered formally. Magsasalita pa sana ito ng may umakbay sa'akin. Tinignan ko naman kung sino at napailing na lang ako ng makita ko ang nakangiting si Kuya Rads.

Tulad ko ay pawis na pawis din sila at madumi. We're on the same team and Miss Milett's the one who's managing us.

"Akala ko ba, hindi ka na babalik dito?" Tanong nito. Oo, laking pilipinas ito at labis na ikinatutuwa ko dahil may kababayan ako noong nagsisimula pa lang ako.

"Uy, wala akong sinabi na hindi ako babalik dito. Besides, I signed the contract. I need to finish it." Sabi ko sa kanya. Tumawa lang ito at nakita rin si Lance na akala mo ay naiintindihan niya ang pinag-uusapan namin.

Nakalabas na rin ang iba naming kasamahan at nagsimula na kaming maglakad pabalik sa site. Kasabay ko si Kuya Rads at nasa harapan kaming dalawa.

"Yeah. Pati nga ako. Pero isang taon na lang ako dito. Tapos magi-stay na ako sa Pilipinas, for good." Nakangiting sabi niya kaya medyo napabagal ang paghakbang ko kasabay ng paglaki ng mga mata ko.

"You mean, you're getting married?" I asked with my eyes widened. He gave me a genuine smile then nods his head slowly.

"Oh, my God." I absentmindedly said. Kuya Rads has a girlfriend in the Philippines. They're having a LDR for six years now and yup, they made it. Kinaya nilang dalawa. There were times that they will argue and fight over the phone but I'll talk with them. They even about to give up last time but Kuya Rads manage to fix it before it's too late. Then now, whoah! They're getting married.

"Aalis na ka dito. Paano ang pangarap mo, kuya?" I asked him again. He smiled then looked at me.

"It's hard to make a choice but I love her. And marrying her may not be my goal but it's my ultimate dream." Sabi nito sa'akin. "Alam mo ba, Nadine. Wala ng mas sasaya pa ng matanggap ako sa trabaho ko pero mas masaya pala ang marinig ang oo ng taong pangarap mong makasama sa habang buhay." He said like he's walking on a cloudy nine. I chuckled then poled his arms.

"Well, you can marry her and continue working here. It'll be a big lost to our team if you'll quit." I gave him a half smile. Tumawa lang ito at ginulo ang buhok ko.

"As I've said, it's a hard decision." Mas nauna itong naglakad at inalalayan ako sa mga malalaking bato. "But it's not wrong to sacrifice for a person who's worth it. May mga firm at laboratories din naman sa Pinas. Mas mababa nga lang ang sahod pero mas masaya naman dahil makakasama mo ang mga mahal mo sa buhay." Napatigil ako sa sinabi nito at natahimik.

He has a point too. But in my case, if I'll stay in the Philippines, I won't work in a laboratory anymore. I'll work in our company---wearing business attires and making business proposals. It's not my genre but I'll do it after two years. Yup it's hard.

It's really hard.

Hindi na kami nakapag-usap pa dahil narating na namin ang site at sumakay na sa mga sasakyan. I checked my jar again then smiled. Naupo na rin ako at napasandal sa upuan.

Ngayon ko naramdaman ang pagod. Idagdag mo pa ang init at amoy pawis ng paligid.

"Do you think there's really a species there?" One of my team asked us. Nagsimula rin nilang ilabas ang jars nila at nakipag-usap sa kani-kanilang katabi.

Yinakap ko ang jar ko at napapikit. Bwisit, kulang na kulang pa ang tulog ko dahil inasar pa ako lalo nina Jenny at Mia kagabi. Naluluha rin ang mga mata ko dahil sa hapdi ng mga ilaw sa sasakyan.

"Nadine, don't cry. He loves you." Biro ng isa sa team namin kaya napamulat ako at napatingin rito.

"Oh, shut up. My eyes are just hurts."

"And if he doesn't. Lance does." Kanchaw naman ng isa sa mga barkada ni Lance. Napuno ng hiyawan ang buong sasakyan kaya napasimangot ako.

"Hey, where's your professionalism!" I shrieked that made all of them shut their mouths up.

I shook my head then closed my eyes again.

-------

Kakatapos ko lang maligo ng may tumawag sa Skype ko. I wore my dress and rushed towards my seat. I'm expecting my mom's call but Kier's name appeared on my screen. What's his problem?

I shook my head and pressed accept. Bumungad sa'akin ang pagod na mukha nito kaya napataas agad ang kilay ko.

"Did you call to show your ugly face?" I asked him. Ngumiti ito ng bahagya at napailing.

"Pangit ako?" He smirked. "Sabi ni Yvette, gwapo ako e." He shows his perfect set of teeth as his hand gestured a pogo sign. Napasimangot ako at napairap.

"Edi siya ang tawagan mo. Huwag ka ngang ngumiti. Naiirita ako." I told him. He chuckled then made a face.

"Oh sige. I'll end this call." Pananakot pa nito kaya huminga akong malalim at tignan siya ng matalim.

"Bwisit ka rin e." I frustratedly pointed at the screen. "Tumawag ka ba para asarin lang ako? Magsama kayo ng Yvette mo! Bobo naman 'yang Yvettemo! Pangit pa! Pangit! Pangit kayo pareho!" I said out of my lungs. He let a soft laugh until it became really loud.

Bwisit. May gana pa talaga itong humalakhak?

"Mabulunan ka sana." Banta ko pero tumawa na naman ito. Inis kong tinignan ito hanggang sa mapagod. Nagpupunas rin ng pawis sa noo dala ng pagtawa niya kanina.

"Hey, huwag na ikaw tampo. Lumalaki na naman butas ng ilong mo." Natatawang sabi niya kaya mas lalo akong nainis.

"Che." Umirap ako at humalukipkip. Ngumiti lang ulit siya. Bwisit, ba't ba ang ganda ng ngiti ni Negro?

"Ito naman, nagtampo agad. Ikikiss na lang kita." He winked then move his face closer to the screen.

"Eww."

"Eww ka diyan. Gustong-gusto mo namang mahalikan. Hindi pa nga magaling ang mga kalmot sa likod ko dala ng mga halik ko sa'yo." He smiled like an idiot that made me flushed.

Uh, I don't want to remember!

"Ewan ko sa'yo."

He laughed sexily. "Oh, sige na. You should sleep after this. Patuyuin mo muna ang buhok mo bago ka mahiga para hindi sumakit ang ulo mo. Stare at a green object to relax your eyes. Huwag kang magpapagod bukas ha? Workaholic ka pa naman." Umiling ito. Tumango lang ako pero napaingos rin.

"Opo, tatay." I kidded. "Say hello to Kuya Nathan and Ate Vea na lang. Tell them I missed them." Bilin ko.

"Do you miss me too?"

"Super!" Natakip ko ang bibig ko sa naging sagot ko. Unti-unti kong tinignan siya at unti-unti rin lumawak ang ngiti niya.

"I missed you too, Nadie. More than your super." He chuckled but staring at me with all his emotions.

Hindi ko napigilan ang sarili ko at agad kong isinara ang laptop ko saka napahawak sa dibdib ko.

What the hell is wrong with my heart? What is this feeling? I'm happy but I feel like I'm about to puke.

It feels like there are horses that racing inside me. Is this normal?

Nah, I think I need to see a doctor early tomorrow.