My Goodbye Girl

Chapter 5

As soon as Dylan made up her mind that she will go back to her love for art, she began to feel like everything is falling into their proper places again. Nang pumasok sya sa kanyang studio ay hindi na niya naikubli sa sarili kung gaano nya na-miss ang pagpipinta. Her hand lingered to her brushes, she held onto them like a long lost friend. Napaka-cheesy ng moment na ito para kay Dylan at hindi niya napigilan ang matawa sa sarili.

"Look at me, I am being this nostalgic with my brushes and canvas, I must be a hell of an incomplete soul." Hindi na naman niya maiwasang isipin kung kailan nga ba nya makikilala ang kanyang soul mate. Yes, Dylan may not look like that kind now – with her red hair, grunge-inspired clothes and a tongue piercing, but deep inside, she's still the same girl who grew up watching fairy tales and desperately believing that she would still have her happy ending.

And in one fine stroke of her brush, all the wonderful things she has in her mind emerge into a nice piece of art. December is back.

"Babe, I missed you. You're not returning my calls. Hindi mo na rin ako sinusundo sa office. May problema ba tayo?"

Nagulat si Ricky nang marinig ang boses ng babae. He knew her voice, as well as several women he tried and successfully ran away from. Ngayon, kung paano nakapasok ang babaeng ito sa kanyang office ay hindi niya alam. Mahigpit ang bilin niya sa kanyang sekretarya na wag magpapasok ng kahit sino sa kanyang office ng hindi niya alam, lalo na kung babae. He shakes his head while he turns his swivel chair to face her.

"Alice! Babe, what a pleasant surprise!" He boyishly grinned, activating his charm.

Kitang kita niya ang pagkunot ng noo ng magandang babae. Sabay lapit sa kanya at sinampal sya.

"Pleasant surprise your face! Sinong Alice? My name's Carla!!" Hysterical ang babaeng ito, at sa pagkarinig nya ng pangalan nito ay naalala ni Ricky kung sino ito. Napangiwi sya.

"Oh. Right. Carla. Sa sobrang dami ng ginagawa ko, my brain's betraying me na. Of course, Carla.. Carla.. How could I forget?" Tuloy pa rin siya sa pambobola.

"Cut it, Ricky. Mas lalo mo lang na-prove na tinataguan mo ako. One week mo na akong hindi kinakausap!" Hindi talaga mapakalma si Carla, at naguumpisa nang mainis si Ricky dito.

"Look." Mahina pero mariin na wika ni Ricky, "Wag kang gumawa ng eskandalo sa opisina ko. Nakakahiya."

"Nahihiya ka sa mga tauhan mo? Bakit, ayaw mong malaman nila kung gaano ka ka-pabling?" God, he hated that word.

"Carla, Akala ko malinaw na sa'yo na wala kang dapat asahan sa'kin? Ikaw pa ang may sabing 'Let us just enjoy the moment'. Ano 'to ngayon?"

"Look at all the works that are piled on my desk right now." Turo niya sa isang bunton ng papel na naghihintay sa kanya. "And later, pupunta pa ako sa site. I have so many works to do. I am a busy man. I can't do commitments. I suck at relationships. And most importantly, I don't have time for your drama." Malamig na pagtapos nya sa kanyang litanya. That was harsh, he knows. Pero ayaw nya talaga ng pressure. Lalo na kung magmumula sa isang relasyon.

Gulat na gulat si Carla sa narinig. How could this sexy, attractive man be so cold and harsh? "So now, you're dropping me like a hot potato? Yes you're a busy man, Ricky. I know that. But what I didn't know is how bastard you are. And upon all this, you're a lonely man." Tumalikod na ang babae bago pa ito mapaluha. She headed for the door.

Well. So much for my flavor of the month. Ricky thought.