Kabanata 32

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Kabanata 32: Event Organizer

"I mean, I saw her at your wife's interview. Hi I'm Joseph Markus Llameda and you can call me Markus." As he said while looking at me with his serious eyes and he extend his hand for a handshake.

Nagpakilala ito ulit sa akin at parang natuklaw na ako ng ahas, iyong kaba ko ay hindi ko na mawari. Hindi ko alam kung matutuwa ba ako o hindi sa sinabi niya, kita ko ang pagkunot ng noo ni Mayor habang pinapanood pa rin kami. Nagdadalawang isip pa akong abutin ang kamay nito ngunit ng mapansin ko na si Mayor na nagtataka na sa amin at nakatingin na sa kamay ni Markus na nakalahad pa din ay nagmadali na akong inabot ito.

Shaking hands with him makes me feel and remember the old times, Markus squeezes my hand like feeling it and sending his warning. His hand is warm yet his gaze is deadly. Napalunok na ako at mabilis ko ng binawi ang kamay ko dito. I feel so lost, I'm afraid and at the same time ashamed of him. I don't know if he really comes here for work or he just want to revenge on me. Pero para saan pa, wala na ang aming anak at isa pa tama lamang ang ginawa kong pag-alis noon para mabilis na maresolba ang problema niya sa kompaniya nila. Staying with him might bring chaos to himself, to his family and to his company and I know in no time he will regret protecting me.

"Hi, welcome to our province." salita ko naman habang napapaisip ako kung ano ba talaga ang ginagawa ko dito, bakit ako ang kailangang sumama sa team nito? Halos mamula din ang mukha ko dahil sa pagsisinungaling. Acting normal and showing to Mayor Fuentes that I didnt know Markus makes me feel guilty. 

"Well then, Engineer Llameda wants your company and I hope you don't mind Ms. De Torres." Salita ni Mayor na nagpakunot ng noo naman sa akin.

Did he just plan for this arrangement? I want to protest but seeing Mayor Fuentes smiling at us makes me shut up. Paano ako tatanggi at ano ang maari kung idahilan dito, isa pa nabanggit niya na ito kagabi. I know Mayor Fuentes will expect something from me, if I protest going with Markus this would be so awkward for all of us here in the office.

Kita ko na ang titig ni Markus sa akin na para bang nag-aabang sa aking isasagot. Alam kung hindi ito madali ngunit sa tingin ko wala na nga akong kawala pa sa ngayon. Maybe this is the right time to apologize, atlast for now I can properly say goodbye to him.

"Yes Mayor, okay lang po. It's an honor to lead Engineer Llameda's team here in our province." Walang kagatul-gatol ko ng sagot kay Mayor.

Mayor Fuentes smiled at me and nodded at Markus, when we are settled he called for a driver. My goal today is to guide them at the surveying area, I think showing him around especially with his time will be an easy task for me. If ever Markus confront me with the past then I don't have a choice but to ask forgiveness and just apologize. But if Markus just focus on their works here then it would be best for me to forget everything about my past then, so I need to act normal with him.

As we headed out and say goodbye to Mayor Fuentes, I can feel my legs are shaking. I never thought Markus will be so bold, right now my mind is so haywired that I'm so shook and speechless at him. Telling Mayor Fuentes that before we start he wanted a breakfast with me and it almost chocked me. Mayor just laughed at my reaction though and in the end he approved on whatever Markus request.

Habang palabas na kami ng opisina ni Mayor ay kita ko kung gaano kalagkit ng mga tingin ng staff kay Markus at pagbaling sa akin ay napapakunot noo na lamang sila. Ipinagwalang bahala ko na ito at ng makalabas na kami ay nakita ko na ang driver na itinawag ni Mayor para sa amin ngayong araw.

"Mang Kanor magandang umaga po, mag-aalmusal po muna si Engineer bago po magsimula ang pagsu-survey." Panimula ko na ng makalapit kami dito.

"Sige po Ma'am, saan po ba kakain? Kayo lang po ba?" tanong ni Mang Kanor habang sa likod ko nakatingin.

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