Our Universe

Twenty

Twenty

Looking at these frames in front of my desk and I only realized that I've been spacing out for like how many years already. Kung di pa tumunog yung intercom sa loob ng opisina ko, hindi ako mababalik sa realidad.

"Good morning Ma'am Nadine." Bati nung nasa kabilang linya.

"Good morning."

"Ma'am sorry po pero pinapasabi po ni Sir Bret na umuwi daw po kayo kaagad sa bahay po kasi po si Sir James-"

Hindi ko na pinatapos ang sasabihin ng secretary at kaagad na akong tumayo at lumabas ng opisina. I immediately searched for my car keys at my purse and noticed that my phone is already dead.

"Shit."

I muttered a curse and right away started the engine of my car. Nagmamadali akong umuwi ng bahay dahil di ko alam kung ano ang nangyari sa asawa ko. What happened? Shit!

Hindi ko alam kung ilang minuto akong nagmaneho pero alam kong sobrang bilis ng takbo ko. Pagkapasok ko palang sa loob ng mansyon ay agad akong nakarinig ng tawanan sa may sala.

"I swear bro you wouldn't believe it."

"Bret?!"

Halos hingal kong tinawag si Bret na masaya at tumatawang kausap si James habang nasa may couch sila. Hindi ko maintindihan kung anong ibig sabihin ng nadatnan ko.

"Nadz what happened to you? You look like you've been to a battle field. What's with the rush?"

Lumapit kaagad ako sa kanya at hinampas ng unan. Hindi niya ba alam kung gaano ako nag-alala kasi akala ko kung ano ng nangyari sa asawa ko. Bwisit na Bret 'to!

"Aray ko Nadine! Para saan ba ang lahat ng yan ha?! Aray!"

"Nadine, stop that."

Napatigil ako nung lumapit si James sa amin at hinawakan ang kamay ko. Napatingin ako kay James at mukhang maayos naman siya.

"The secretary called me telling that I should go home now kasi si James-"

"Kasi si James hinahanap ka so syempre tinawagan kita pero patay yung phone mo and so I decided to call the secretary instead."

Para akong nabunutan ng tinik nung narinig ko ang rason ni Bret. Bwisit kasi kung bakit hindi nalang inayos nung sekretarya!

"I'm sorry if I disturbed your work at the office."

James spoke and apologized for what happened. Napatingin ako sa kanya at ngumiti siya sa akin.

"Okay so as I felt the sudden change of the wind here at the Casa, may I excuse myself because I want to exclude myself into this narrative. Alis na ako guys."

Bret smiled foolishly at iniwan na nga kaming dalawa ni James sa sala. An awkward silence first enveloped the wholeness of our living room not until when James started to talk.

"So, uhm did I interrupted your work?"

Nagulat ako dahil first time niyang naunang magtanong tungkol sa akin. I find it hard to answer kasi nga naninibago ako.

"H-ha? H-hindi. I mean wala naman akong masyadong ginagawa sa opisina."

Tumango siya at ngumiti sa akin. It is actually my first time to see him smile again after how many years and it's refreshing for me to see him like that. Hindi ko tuloy maiwasang mapangiti dahil doon.

"I told Bret not to call you since I know how busy you are and it's not that urgent pero matigas ang ulo kaya ka niya tinawagan. I'm sorry."

"N-no no actually it's okay. I wasn't able to answer his calls since my phone died and the secretary called me pero ayos lang."