MAGICALLY YOURS,

2- The Outcast

Abot tenga ang aking mga ngiti habang nakikipag kamay sa aking mga ka-meeting. I was secretly rejoicing inside already. I won the bidding at kami ang hahawak sa isa sa bagong provincial branch na itatayo ng SM Mall.

"I promise we won't disappoint you sir," sabi ko sa head contractor.

"I've checked your works and I was impressed. All of your clients have positive comments about your company," he replied.

"Salamat po sa pagtitiwala."

I've waited for them to enter the elevator and right after they were gone, I checked my surroundings. When no one was around, I screamed. "YES! YES!YES!" Another jackpot project for me.

Natigilan ako sa aking pagbubunyi nang maalala ko kung anong araw yun. Dali-dali ako tumingin sa relos. It was 5:30 pm and the get-together was at 6pm.

Mabilis akong sumakay sa elevator at nagtungo sa parking lot. Takang- takang sinalubong ako ni Manong Mario at kinuha ang dala kong briefcase.

"Manong you can go home now. Ako na ang magdadrive." I was panting as I gave him taxi fare.

"Sigurado kayo ma'am?" kunot noong wika niya.

"Yes. I'll be fine. Umuwi na kayo at magpahinga at siguradong gagabihin ako."

"Mag-iingat po kayo. Kung sakaling gusto niyong magpasundo, tawagan niyo na lang ako."

"Thank you."

Mabuti na lamang at ang camry ang nadala naming sasakyan. I have three cars. A montero, alphard and camry. Among the three, ang camry ang pinakakomportable akong imaneho.

Hangga't maari ay gusto kong maging simple lang sa harap ng aking mga kaklase. Madalas kasi nila akong hinihusgahan na napakalaki na ng pinagbago ko, na ang hirap ko ng abutin at nakakaasiwa nang kasama. A prejudices fostered out of bitterness by some shallow people.

Before I started driving, I checked myself in the mirror. Nagretouch ako ng make up. Bigla akong namroblema nang mapagtantong naka business attire pa ako.

I had no choice but to drop by the nearest boutique. I bought a knee length plain black dress with short sleeves and black flat sandals. Doon na rin ako nagpalit. Inayos ko ang pagkakatali ng lagpas balikat kong buhok. Simpleng puyod lang at wala ng arte pa.

I dropped by also in the nearest wine store. I must bring something out of courtesy. Yun na lamang dahil wala na akong time para maghanap pa ng iba. Though I was really planning to bring a basket of congratulatory flowers.

The restaurant was located in Fairview. Mula Rockwell kung saan ako naroroon tiyak na malilate na ako but at least I'd make it. Sinabi ko namang hahabol lang ako.

Although it was Saturday, I was thankful na hindi ako gaanong natraffic. Waze was a bit cooperative too, hindi ako niligaw at idinaan kung saan-daan. I didn't have a hard time finding the restaurant.

I arrived 6:50. Tinitigan ko muna ang lugar na aking pupuntahan. I was impressed by the look of it from the outside. A bricked restaurant with a beautiful landscape. Black lighted lanterns were hanging in a huge narra tree. But the full bloomed purple bougainvillea swarming in window grills was the one that I appreciated the most. It must be an old place renovated to give more feels of Italy.

Huminga muna ako nang malalim. I practiced a little on how to greet my classmates especially Dustin. I tried many phrases until I decided to just be myself.

Medyo kinakabahang bumaba ako ng kotse. Maingat akong naglakad patungo sa entrance ng restaurant. I was expecting many visitors. Like friends, classmates and relatives of the owner. But I was surprised when I only saw one long table filled with our classmates and the rest were empty. I didn't think it was a soft opening but rather a pre-opening celebration exclusive for our high school batch.