Second Chance

THEODORE 18

After meeting with Athena and Clyde, dumiretso na lang ako sa Harrison mall. Paul asked me to meet up as he was planning to expand it and entertain an international client. I met him in a café inside the mall and I saw him with his laptop on the table.

"Pre!"

Umupo nga ako sa harap niya and I sipped the coffee he ordered for me.

"Kamusta na? Busy ka na ata ah???", pagbabati niya.

"Yeah. Actually."

Hinagod ko naman yung ulo ko. On my way here, I was actually busy thinking about what happened earlier. About my little fight with Soyi and to what I said to her.

Gods I was so stupid. Bat ko ba nasabi yun???

"Anyway pre, here are the credentials of the client. They've been looking for potential locations and many people are really anticipating this café. I've been thinking it would be wiser to put them sa may balcony area sa 2nd floor as to have a unique presentation. That would be a good marketing for us and for them."

I should not have told her to take the job. What if mamisinterpret niya yun?

"I'll be meeting with their local rep on Saturday. I need you there pre."

I shouldn't really give a damn to her problems. Pero si Tito Limuel kasi ang pinaguusapan. And I was so pissed to how she didn't even think of his condition para ipush ang proposal niya.

"Huy, Theo. Are you even listening???"

"Ha? Yeah. I'll be there."

"Siguraduhin mo ha! I need to make a good impression on this one. Maganda to for the future of our mall."

I decided to take my mind off Soyi for a while. Mukang seryoso kasi si Paul on this so I focused on the project. He discussed with me all their credentials and contracts, pati na din ang ibang future plans niya for the mall. Pati miski issues on hiring mall staff, dinisicuss niya din sakin. It's just overwhelming na he's really into this. He's not just like this before.

Paul then invited me in a bar to meet some of his friends too. Gabi na din kasi kami natapos. But I declined. Sabi ko I needed rest.

"Hay nako traffic pa."

While on the road, I saw that Sabrina sent a message.

"Becca will stay with mama for a while. Just informing you."

I didn't ask kung bakit. I'm sure tita will take good care of her.

Di pa din kasi kami naguusap after that incident. She wasn't even trying to have a conversation with me.

"Okay. Tell her I miss her."

She didn't reply back. After an hour, nakarating na din ako sa condo.

When I got inside the lobby, there was a commotion.

"Sabi niya daw po kasi dito siya nakatira. Baka may kamag-anak po siya dyan ngayon???"

I saw two men who looked like waiters with a girl between them. If I'm not mistaken, she looked like she passed out. Nakatakip kasi yung buhok niya sa nakatungo niyang ulo. Kinakausap nila yung tao sa reception area.

Then my eyes locked in with those different pair of shoes.

Soyi????

Di ko napigilan. Lumapit ako sa kanila.