I fell in love

Chapter 16

It's been eight long days since I last saw Althea. Eight days, and each one feels heavier than the last.

I know she's been tied up, looking after her cousin and her baby. It's a lot for anyone to handle, and I get that. Because on top of it, she goes to her gigs too. 

We've exchanged texts, a few calls here and there, but it's never enough. There are moments when she doesn't reply, and other times when I call and the phone rings, unanswered.

I know she's busy, but each missed reply, each unanswered call, sends a quiet sting through me. It's not that I expect her to drop everything for me, but it's hard not to feel the distance between us, especially when I'm left wondering if she's still thinking of me.

I won't lie. It saddens me.

I miss her in a way that makes my chest ache. I long for the way we used to be, the connection we shared when time didn't pull us in different directions.

Kanina, tumawag siya, dumating na raw, finally, dito sa Pilipinas yung Daddy nung baby ni Mabel, pinsan niya.

"Hay, buhay," isang buntong hininga na malalim ang pinakawalan ko.

I miss her.

Pinilit kong bumangon at ihanda yung mga susuotin ko. Sa office na lang ako kakain. Tinatamad akong kumain ngayon.

Nag text kagabi si Jane, saying that I wont see her today. Emergency daw.

Sus. Emergency my ass. Paniguradong may gala iyon na ayaw ipaalam. Mabuti na lang talaga at wala akong gagawin kung hindi ang pumasok ngayon.

Walang gana akong pumasok at bumati sa mga tao dito sa loob ng resto. As usual, dahil kabubukas lang, wala pang customer. Mamayang lunch, paniguradong lahat kami dito may gagawin.

Ako

Busy ka?

Umabot ng tatlong minuto at wala pa rin siyang reply.

Ako

Asan ka?

Still, wala pa ring reply. Busy siguro 'to.

"My coffee, please." Saad ko kay Rizza bago ko buksan yung pinto ng office ko.

"Sure, maam. Anything else?" Magalang niyang tanong. "Ako na lang po pipili ng breakfast niyo, ma'am. Mukha pong wala kayong gana pero pipili ako ng pagkain na hindi nakakaumay."

"Thank you," I smiled. "Brown—"

"Brown rice, coffee without sugar, pero may creamer," nakangiti niyang putol sa sasabihin ko sana.

Hindi ko napigilan yung ngiti sa labi ko. Nagutom ako bigla.

"Yes," napatawa pa ako nang mahina. "Pasuyo nalang ako." Dagdag ko at tuluyan nang pumasok.

I ate my breakfast peacefully. Lumabas ako sa office pagkatapos non bitbit yung mga pinagkainan ko.

"Ma'am!" Napatayo si Joven nang makita ako.

"Tulungan niyo si Ma'am," agad na sabat ni Rizza habang kinukuha ang order ng customer. "I'm sorry, what is it again, sir?"

"It's okay, ako na." Sagot ko kay Joven na kukunin sa kamay ko yung tray. "Kaya ko naman," I smiled.

"Nakakahiya naman po, ma'am." Si Kevin, kalalapit lang, nagkakamot ng batok.

"It's fine. Maraming customer, sila na lang ang asikasuhin niyo." Nakangiti kong saad.