Second Chance

ATHENA 12

I was staring at Theo’s coat for about 5 minutes now. Inamoy ko naman ulit, ok, amoy bagong laba naman. When I arrived home last night, sinalang ko agad siya sa washing machine eh para mabalik ko agad. Kian’s place just reeked of smoke and alcohol and it stuck to Theo’s coat. Buti, wala na ngayon.

“Hmm, okay na to.”

Tinupi ko na nga siya and I put it inside a paper bag. Tinignan ko naman yung sarili ko sa salamin ko muna.

“Tama, assuming ka lang kasi Soyi.”

Turns out, Sabrina and Theo are not together....well, I guess. I would lie if I tell myself that I wasn’t relieved. I know it’s wrong, but feelings apparently don’t lie.
Tinignan ko yung orasan ko, yep, sakto lang. Di pa nakakaalis yun. I got out of my unit at kumatok nga ako sa unit niya.
Nobody answered. Tinry ko yung doorbell. After a few seconds, he finally answered.

“Soyi?”
“Ahh, eto pala. I already washed it too.”

Kinuha niya yung paper bag sakin at sinilip yung laman nun.

“Ahh. Thank you.”

Naconscious naman ako bigla kasi he looked at my dress.

“Are you going to WAR?”, tanong niya.
“Ahh, oo. The renovations are now starting diba?”
“Well, yeah…but it’s still early.”

Inaagahan ko kasi talaga para maabutan ko pa siya eh. Pano kasi 1 hour before naalis na siya lagi.

“Ahh, haha. Magbbreakfast pa kasi ako, oo. Sige, mauna na ko. Thank you ulit.”
“Okay.”

When he closed the door, nakahinga na ko ng maluwag. Wew.
Hmm, nagbreakfast na ko talaga eh. San kaya ako pupunta nito???
Hay bahala na nga, mauna na ko sa WAR. Sa kotse na lang muna siguro ako. Nagdrive na nga ako papunta sa school and yes, ako nga ang nauna sa lahat ng board members. Hayy. Dito na muna ako sa kotse, idlip na lang muna ako.

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Tumunog na yung alarm ko. Ayun.
Nagayos na muna ako ulit ng muka bago ako bumaba ng kotse. Papaakyat na sana ako ng conference room ng nakita ko si Theo nakatayo  sa may harap ng elevator.

“Kanina ka pa?”, tanong ko sa kanya.
“Yeah. You?”
“Ah karating ko lang, napatagal kasi yung kain ko.”
“Ohh. Okay.”

Nagdiretso naman siya papaloob ng elevator. Sumakay na din ako.
Nakita ko naman pinindot niya yung 2.

“Bakit 2nd flr lang? Di ba tayo sa conference room?”, tanong ko.
“Nope. Sa dormitories magsstart ang renovations. We have to visit it first. Nandun na yung ibang board.”

When we got there, the group of board members were in a hurdle looking at a blueprint.

“Architect.”, pagbabati ni Theo sa isang lalaki.

Nakipagkamay naman siya kaya ako na rin.

“This is Ms. Kim Soyi. She’s the daughter of Mr. Limuel Kim.”, pagpapakilala sakin ni Theo.
“Ahh! It’s so nice to finally meet you Ms. Kim. Mr. Ramisses told me here that you will be hands on on the girls department. I look forward to working with you ma’am.”

Tumingin naman ako kay Theo. I just didn’t expect he was already embracing the idea na iincorporate nga ang St. Dominique sa WAR. But hearing from the architect that he has told him about me, I was a bit surprised.
Inexplain naman ni architect ang gagawing changes sa dormitories. The basic furnitures would be changed pati na din ang interior design nito. Theo was keen on every detail kaya he was intently listening to what the architect was explaining.

Napadaan naman kami sa dating room ni Theo. Hindi pwedeng di ko maalala yan. It was where we first met. At jusko, I saw him half naked then.

“Ms. Kim?”, tawag ni Theo.
“Po???”
“Are you okay? Masyado na bang mainit?”, tanong niya.
“H-ha?? Okay lang ako sige lang!”

Jusko, nagbblush ba ko??? Hinawakan ko nga yung mukha ko, medyo mainit nga.
Maliban pa dun, I had too many memories in the dormitories. Halos 2 yrs ng buhay ko, dito ba naman ako tumira eh. Who could have thought na kaya ko makasurvive sa puro lalaki ang kasama ko. Thinking about it, I’m quite lucky thay they were all kind.

Some were actually…too kind.

We also visited the Carthaginians dormitories. While they were discussing something about sa magiging renovations on the design, di ko napigilan na magikot ikot muna.
I saw our room. Yung room namin ni Brent. Buti na lang bukas yung pinto, pumasok naman ako agad.
I can’t help but to be nostalgic. Hay grabe, lahat ng mga panahong nagkukulitan kami ni Brent at kumakain kami ng ramen na baon niya….parang ang sarap lang balikan.

“Soyi?”
“Ha??”
“We’re going. Let’s go.”, pagsasabi sakin ni Theo.

We wrapped up the day at nagpaalam na nga sila architect samin. Nagkaroon lang ng konting discussions regarding sa girls dormitories, which would be my responsibility. I was scheduled to have a meeting again next week.
When we were parting ways, I realized that the place was familiar. This stairway is too familiar…
Ahh oo!!! This was the exact place kung san….kung san…..