Basta't Kasama Kita

3

A week after he arrived in the Philippines ay bumisita na s’ya sa opisina ng matalik na kaibigang si Fred. When he walked inside the office, which was occupying one floor of a building in the Ortigas area, he went straight to the receptionist and asked for his friend. In no time, he was directed to Fred’s office. Habang naglalakad ay pasimple n’yang tinitignan ang bawat madadaanang mesa at maliit na opisina para makita kung nandoon ba si Sandra.

Two offices away from Fred’s ay napansin ni Greg ang babaeng matagal na n’yang hinihintay makita. May kausap ito sa telepono. At kahit side view lang ang kanyang nakikita ay na-iimagine n’ya ang nakagandang ngiti nito. Hindi n’ya namalayang nakatitig na pala s’ya hanggang may tumapik sa kanya.

“Bro, first day mo pa lang dito eh gan’yan ka na makatitig. Sige ka, baka di mo namamalayan ay natunaw na pala s’ya,” ang bulong ni Fred sa kanya. “Let’s go to my office first.”

Naunang naglakad si Greg papunta sa isang kwarto. Si Fred naman ay dumungaw muna sa opisina ni Sandra. Nang makuha ang atensyon nito ay sumenyas s’ya na pumunta rin sa opisina n’ya.

In the middle of Greg and Fred’s conversation, they heard a soft knock on the door. Tinignan ito ni Fred at nakitang si Sandra ang nasa pinto. The visitor’s chair was situated right in front Fred’s big office desk kaya Greg had his back to the door at dahil hindi s’ya lumingon ay hindi agad nakita ni Sandra that it was him.

“Sandra, come in.”

Naglakad si Sandra palapit sa desk ni Fred at tumigil just before she reached the visitor’s chair.

“Sandra, there is a new member of our team that I want you to work closely with. I hope you still remember Greg Antonio.”

This is the time Greg stood up and faced her. And the moment she saw him, her face lit up. She hurriedly walked in front of him and gave him a quick hug.

“Of course I remember Greg. So nagkabalikan na pala ang dynamic duo,” she excitedly said.

Parang panandaliang nawala sa sarili si Greg dahil sa nangyari but he quickly recovered. “Ha… ha… ha! Hindi pa rin pala nawawala sa isip mo ‘yang pangalan na ‘yan.”

Naupo silang dalawa habang patuloy na nagkekwentuhan.

“I heard nasa Amerika ka daw ah. Kailan ka dumating?” she asked.

“Just a week ago.”