Camilla was even prettier up-close. Her prominent feature was her hazel brown eyes, pointed nose and cliff chin. She had a brunette hair and a fine skin. Hindi kaputian pero namumula-mula ang balat. Being in front of her, reminds me of a familiar feeling. It was like being in front of Mary-ann, Akhie and Gellie. Akala ko ay kakabahan ako nang husto sa paghaharap namin pero mukhang sanay pa rin ang dibdib kong humarap sa mga babaeng nauugnay kay Dustin.
I sipped my coffee and sighed to myself. I was being aware that my surreal experience was mixing into my reality again.
"Do you speak Filipino?" I casually asked Camilla.
"Yes. Dito ako lumaki. Twelve years old na ako nang tumira sa Italy. My mother died so my Italian Dad took me to his country."
Medyo may katotohanan naman ang description sa kanya ni Dustin. May class at pino ang galaw. Her eyes conveyed intellect and her gestures was of someone who had nice education too. Medyo nagiging maldita lang siguro kapag ako ang kaharap dahil sa selos. I guessed she was more or less five years younger than me sanhi para mas lalo akong hindi ma-intimidate.
I crossed my legs and leaned at the iron chair. Nakaupo kami kung saan ako eksaktong nakaupo nung naghihintay habang nagpo-photoshoot sila. I couldn't feel Dustin's presence marahil ay tinutupad niya ang usapan naming hindi na magkikita pang muli.
"Are you looking for him? He has meeting with suppliers," halata niya sa paglikot ng aking mga mata.
I looked at my watch as if I didn't hear what she said. "I only have thirty minutes to talk to you. May bibisitahin pa akong factory sa Laguna. Tell me what you have to say," diretsong sabi ko.
Ngumisi siya at tumitig nang mabuti sa aking mukha. Hinayaan ko siyang tumitig at hinintay ang magiging komento niya. She was younger, prettier and even sexier. Sana marealize niya na wala naman siyang dapat ika-insecure at tumigil na sa pang-iistorbo sa akin.
She shook her head after she was done staring at me. "Sabi ko na nga ba mali ang description sayo ng waiter namin. How could he say warm and kind woman when even my hot coffee easily turn cold in your presence. I really wonder why Dustin liked you for a long time with that personality of yours."
Napakunot ako ng noo at pagkuway bahagyang tumaas ang isa kong kilay matapos marinig ang huling linya niya. "Mukhang may mga alam ka na tungkol sa akin."
She chuckled. "Yes and you didn't change a lot. Kamukhang-kamukha mo pa rin ang litratong dating nakadisplay sa apartment ni Dustin."
I stopped in the middle of raising my cup. Napaawang ang aking bibig sa narinig. Natawa siya sa aking reaksiyon.
"Finally I saw an emotion from your eyes."
Lumunok ako at patay malisyang ininom ang kape. Binawi ang kung anumang emosyong nakita niya sa aking mga mata.
"Aren't you going to ask if what happened to that picture now?"
"It's gone and replaced by yours," diretsong sabi ko.
"You're really smart. I guess that's the charm you have," sarkastikong tumawa siya. "I heard a lot of things about you dahil dati walang ibang bukambibig si Dustin kundi ikaw. He was contented and happy by just talking about you without realizing that you were actually making his life look miserable. At umpisa noon ay wala na akong ginusto kundi ang mapalitan ang larawan mo hindi lamang sa apartment niya kundi pati na rin sa puso niya. A good man like him doesn't deserve to love a woman who doesn't even care about his existence."
Sa halip na ma-offend ay natatawa na lang ako. Ito ang dahilan kung bakit ayaw kong kausap ang mga emosyonal na tao. They were spouting words with full of convictions without even gathering few facts. They say things from their heart a logic can't even comprehend. How did I make Dustin miserable when I didn't even know that he had still lingering feelings for me? She made it sound like everything was my fault. How could she say also that I didn't care about his existence samantalang sa kabila ng pagiging abala kong tao ay si Dustin lamang ang kaisa-isang lalaking sumasagi sa aking isipan. I suffered from misery myself but I never blamed it to anyone else except to myself.
BINABASA MO ANG
MAGICALLY YOURS,
RomanceDeanery Mortel was a single woman with fat pocket. But despite of wealth and success, she was secretly empty inside because of a man she let go. Her life was full of 'what ifs'. One day, she died and the next day she opened her eyes living in her pa...
