He knew this was coming and couldn't help but blame himself for the glitch. Gusto nyang hands-on sya palagi sa sariling negosyo but what with his commitment to do the volunteer work, ipinagkatiwala nya ito sa general manager nya who turned out to be inadequate for the job. The construction business is real tough so is being a wholesale supplier for construction materials. Ang dami na rin kasing kompetisyon. At ngayon, namomroblema sya dahil nagalit sa kanya ang supplier from China dahil hininto ng kanyang general manager ang pag-order dito at naghanap ng ibang source. As much as possible, he doesn't want to burn bridges lalo na sa mga kakilala nya sa negosyo.
He was drained from a two-hour videocall with the Chinese supplier. Pakiramdam nya mabibiak na ang ulo nya sa kakaisip. He tried to close his eyes para makatulog but sleep didn't come. Pagod ang katawan nya but his mind was wide awake.
Arghhhh. I need to sleep. I need to sleep.
Ang totoo, he never had a restful sleep since his breakup with Lauren and somehow, he'd gotten used to it. Naging habit na rin nya ang uminom ng alak just to feel drowsy. But now, he wanted to do something different. He was sick of being restless...tired of fighting the obvious bouts of listless depression.
Nakatulog din sya but just like how most of his sleep were, dinalaw na naman sya ng masamang panaginip.
.....
Maaga si Julie sa site at laking gulat nya nang paglabas nya ng tent ay nakita nya si Elmo. He was always on time but not this early. He looked drained at nakasimangot na naman.
Back to his old self.
Nakita nyang pumuwesto na naman ito sa ilalim ng puno at nagyoyosi. He had this sad, faraway look on his face at di nya mapigilang isipin kung ano ang bumabagabag sa binata.
Tsk. Kawawa naman ang future husband ko. Hihi.
Muli ay naalala nya ang ginawa nito nung nakaraang araw. She still remembered his penetrating gaze, his gentle smile and his sarcastic tone of voice. Kahit nainis sya sa ginawa nito, naisip nya na mas gusto nyang ganun ang binata kesa sa kung anong nakikita nya ngayon dito. Napabuntong-hininga na lang sya as she threw one last glance at him.
Cheer up, Elmo. Life is short.
.....
Napalingon sya sa may gawi ni Julie nang marinig nya ang malutong na tawa nito. She seemed to be having a fun conversation with two volunteers, isa na doon si John. Parang tungkol sa childhood ang napag-usapan ng tatlo hanggang sa umabot na nga sa asaran.
Hoyst, Elmo, gusto mo rin magkwento tungkol sa childhood mo? Come join us. hehe
Paalis na sana sya when he heard Julie calling him out. He turned and saw her wide smile. Hindi nya maintindihan but he suddenly felt bad about himself nang makita ang ngiting yun. It occurred to him that he never saw her looking sad. She always carried this cheerful aura around her, which was a stark contrast to how he always felt. Di nya mapigilang mainis sa sarili at mainis din kay Julie.
No, thanks. Never passed that stage. He answered rather curtly at pagkatapos ay kaagad na umalis.
......
Julie gathered her things, getting ready to leave the site. Habang inaayos ang gamit ay nanumbalik sa isipan nya ang nangyari kani-kanina lang. Naalala pa rin nya ang inis na mukha ni Elmo, kung pano ito sumimangot at kung pano ito nag-walkout. Nainis sya dito. She had invited him out of goodwill kasi napansin nya itong parang nakinig sa usapan nila ni John at iba pang kasama.
But more than irritation, mas nakadama sya ng awa dito. Feeling nya kasi na may malaki itong problema kaya ganun ang mood.
Tsk. Ang emo mo lang, Elmo.
She got out of the tent at laking gulat nya nang makita nya itong nakatambay sa may gilid na tila may hinihintay. Akala nya kasi, nauna na itong umuwi. Kokonti na rin ang natitirang volunteer sa site sa mga oras na yun.
Naglalakad sya papalayo.
Ahem.
Napalingon sya when she heard him clear his throat at nakitang naglalakad ito papunta sa kinatatayuan nya kaya minabuti nyang hintayin ito.
They walked together in silence hanggang sa makarating sa kung saan naka-park ang mga sasakyan nila. She went straight to her car at papasok na sana.
Ahem.
Napalingon ulit sya sa direksyon nito at nakitang di pa ito pumasok sa kotse. Nakatayo ito sa may gilid ng sasakyan at nakatingin sa kanya.
Yes, Elmo? Can I help you? She managed to ask. Kanina pa kasi nya napansin na tila may gusto itong sabihin sa kanya.
I'm sorry, Julie.
It was a short, direct apology at alam nya kung ano ang tinutukoy nito. She nodded and smiled.
Haha. Wala yun. We all have our days, Elmo. Matipid din nyang sagot.
Bumuntong-hininga ito habang nakatingin ulit sa kawalan. Minabuti nyang pabayaan na lang ito at pumasok na sa kotse. She was preparing to turn the ignition nang marinig na may kumatok sa passenger's window. It was Elmo.
She opened the window, wonder written all over her face. Di kasi nya alam kung ano na naman ang sasabihin nito.
Yes?
He bent down to level his face with the window.
Thanks, Julie.
Muntik na syang matawa sa sinabi nito. Di pa rin pala ito nakapag- move on sa usapan nila tungkol sa 'sorry'. Nginitian nya ito.
Ano ka ba. Move on na. I'm actually glad that it happened.
Bahagya itong ngumiti but he furrowed his brows nang marinig ang sinabi nya.
Huh? Glad? About what?
She gave him a wider grin.
At least alam ko na ngayon na di ka pala dumaan sa pagkabata. Tama nga ang hinala ko. Isa kang alien. hahaha
