My Bossy Rich Boyfriend

CHAPTER 44: I Missed You

CHAPTER
FORTY-FOUR

I Missed You

"Welcome back, Ms.Reyes.." natigilan ako nang madinig ang pamilyar na boses iyon. Nagtaasan ang balahibo ko at naramdaman ko ang pagkalabog ng aking dibdib. Halos mabuwala ako sa aking kinatatayuan at kahit full air-conditioned ang buong building ay parang bigla akong pinagpawisan. His voice sounded deeper but the effect on me was still the same.

Shit! Anong ginagawa nya dito? Bakit? Nababaliw na ba ako? Siguro dulot ito ng hangin sa Pilipinas. Nagkakaroon ako mga ilusyon — pero bakit siya pa?

"Ronnel?" tumikhim ako dahil muntikan na akong pumiyok. I was a bit confused. Was this the reality? Baka naman nasa eroplano pa ako ngayon at nananaginip lang. Pasimple kong kinurot ang kamay ko. Kinagat ko ang ilalim ng labi ko. Ang sakit.

Nang humarap siya ay nakumpirma kong hindi lang ito basta panaginip lang. I was in my most beautiful dream. I immediately noticed the things that had changed in him. He became more mature. Mas nadepina na ngayon ang kanyang jawline na parang kayang-kaya na akong saksakin ngayon. Ang dating bagsak niyang buhok ay nakaayos ngayon in a professional way. He looked more mature yet younger. Still my baby face ex-boyfriend, with his serious eyes that I could not see the twinkle anymore. I could still remember the last time I saw those beautiful eyes. That time they were filled with tears, pleading for me not to leave.

"Para kang nakakita ng multo, Ms. Reyes.." when he spoke again, I suddenly asked myself how could I hurt someone like him. "It's only me. The one and only, Ronnel Dela Vega."

"Y-Yeah.." natawa na lang ako sa isip ko dahil 'yeah' na nga lang sasabihin ko nabulol pa ako. "So . . how are you?"

Teka, tama ba 'yung tanong ko? Kailangan bang kamustahin ang ex-boyfriend? Well, maybe..

"I'm fine. No — I'm great. And how about you? How are you?" Hindi ko alam kung nang-iinis siya o kung ano.

Iyong tono ng pananalita niya parang may sinasapulan na nerve sa utak ko. Nakakaramdam ako ng pagkainis at parang gusto ko siyang tirahin nitong ballpen ko para itama sa gitna ng kanyang noo.

"I'm good.." 'yun lang ang nasabi ko at bumalot ang katahimikan sa loob ng meeting room.

The pregnant pause became awkward until I could already inhale it in the air. Hindi ganito ang in-expect ko sa muli naming pagkikita.

"Ahem!" I broke the silence. Kailangan ko munang magpaka-professional right now. "So, why do you want to invest in our company?"

"Because . . I just want to," muntikan ng tumaas ang kilay ko sa naging sagot niya. So, nag-isip na siya niyan? "Why Ms. Reyes, I can see that you don't want to invest in our company, do you?"

"That's not what I think.." pagbabaliwala ko sa nakangisi niyang mapupulang mga labi.

Para bang iniinis niya talaga ako. Ako naman itong nayayamot sa kanya! Baka gusto nitong mapakitaan ko siya kung paano mag-karate ang isang Sofia Reyes.

"Okay.." he shrugged his shoulder. "So why did you name your company SR Company ha?"

Tuluyan nang tumaas ang kilay ko sa naging tanong niya. Hindi man lang niya alam na ganoon naman talaga ang pangalan ng kumpanya namin.

"Akala ko ba mag-i-invest ka, Mr. Dela Vega. Bakit pati yata history ng company namin ay inaalam mo?" Nakataas pa rin ang kilay na tanong k.

"Of course. That's how I work. I want to make sure that your company is stable enough."

"If you're not sure about our company's state, then don't invest," paghahamon ko sa kanya.

"That's not what I mean," tumuon siya sa kanyang upuan bago seryoso kaming tumingin sa isa't isa. "Let me just guess. SR means Sofia Reyes."

Tumango-tango ako. Sure, SR stood for Sofia Reyes. In-assume niya sigurong 'R' stood for his name. Duh. Ang assuming ng isang 'to.

"Yeah, that's it," I nodded. "And what's with Norfos thingy?"

Nginisian ko siya. I was just returning the favor, but he remained serious.

"It's none of your business," mataray na sagot niya. Nakakakulo siya ng dugo!

What a piece of shit! Kapag ako nag — ugh! Stop cussing Sofia!

"Okay fine, then, welcome to SR Company.." tumayo na ako at inayos ang mga gamit ko.

Ayokong magtagal dito! Kung okay lang ay huwag ko na ngang dalhin ang mga gamit ko para mapabilis lang. Para walang pabigat. Pero ayokong magmukhang tanga kaya naman dahan-dahan ang ginawa kong kilos. Nakataas ang aking noo.

"Thanks for your time," ngumiti lang ako sa kanyang sinabi. Feeling ko nga ngiwi 'yun.

Naglalakad na ako palabas nang madinig ko ang pagtawag niya sa pangalan ko. Lumingon ako sa kanya matapos tumigil sa nakabukas ng pintuan ng kwarto. Hinintay ko ang susunod niyang sasabihin.

"I missed you.." sabi niya sa mababang tono.

Nabitawan ko ang doorknob na hawak ko. Kumalabog muli ang aking dibdib. Huminga ako nang malalim at pinilit na winasto ang sarili.

The way he said those words was unbelievable. It was too pure and sincere. Parang gusto kong maniwala, but at the back of my mind there was a small voice telling me that he was just lying. He was just doing this because he wanted to take his revenge. And his first step was to make me believe that he truly missed me.

I won't fall for it. That was the first thing that came to my mind. I smiled sweetly at him. They way I smiled at him before.

"So, then.." I paused. "The feeling is mutual."

Pagkasabi ko no'n ay naglakad na ako palabas ng meeting room. Pagkarating ko sa elevator ay ramdam ko pa rin pangangatal ng sikmura ko. Tumikhim ako. There was a part of me which wanted to cry. Gusto kong maglabas ng frustration kahit isang beses lang.

Unfortunately for me, even though how many times I restrained myself, I couldn't help but smile like an idiot. Wala na ang kabang dumadagundong sa loob ng dibdib ko, ang maliit na boses na nagsasabing nagsisinungaling si Ronnel o kahit ang pangungumbinsi ko sa sarili kong hindi na ako ulit mahuhulog sa kanya.

Because deep inside my heart, there was his name. Nakatatak na iyon at hindi na kailanman mawawala pa. No matter how hard I would try. No matter how many long years had passed.

Siguro okay lang naman. We could still be together, right? 'Di ba? 'Di ba? He missed me. I missed him. Ano pa ba?

I composed myself. I went inside my car and started the engine. Nilingon ko ang nasa backseat ko.

"He missed me daw.." proud na sabi ko sa stuffed toy na cheese na nasa backseat kasama ng picture frames at ceramic half heart- shaped.

Welcome back to me!