✔ The Casanova's Angel (Filipino Novel)

Kabanata 18

Today is my first day at work. Ay, correction pala. Today is my first day back to work.

Kahapon, tinawagan ko si papa and I told him everything over the phone. Well, everything except the part where I slit my wrists. Syempre, filter filter din natin yun. Medyo kinakabahan nga ako kasi hindi pa talaga healed ang mga sugat pero I tried to put concealer over the gauze at nag thin blazer ako para hindi makita. The concealer is just my plan B, just in case umangat ang blazer ko. Hopefully, walang makahalata. Anyway, He was so angry at both Nina and Gerard. Well, mostly at Gerard. hindi parin kasi niya matanggap na magagawa yun ni Nina, considering he looks at her as if she's her daughter na rin.

And after I was done talking, he told me what I missed. Apparently, wala pa naman daw pinapakita sila Nina at Gerard na sila na. After the announcement na the wedding is off, Nina's been spending a lot of time in the restaurant unlike before. Maybe to earn goody points on both our dad's before dropping the bomb na sila na ni Gerard. The good thing about all of this is I know them well enough to see between the lines. Hindi na nila ako maloloko. And for the others? Madami din daw ang nagtaka sa nangyari and if I haven't said anything to dad, pati siya confused. We were perfect before - kami ni Gerard. We seldom fight. If ever we do, palaging naayos agad and everyone knew this. Kaya naman nagulat daw lahat kung bakit kami naghiwalay.

The wedding was supposed to be perfect. We already discussed the details - implementation nalang at date ang kulang. It was supposed to be held in a beach, in Zambales, my dream wedding place. But we all know that it wouldn't happen. You can plan things ahead of time pero if it isn't meant to be, wala din mangyayari.

So right now, I'm ready to face my demons with my new haircut and style. Pumunta ako sa kotse at nagdrive papuntang restaurant. Looking at the familiar streets, all I can think about is how peaceful it is back in Zambales - walang pollution, walang traffic, walang mga basura sa daan at most of all doon ko na experience ang company ng mga taong nagpasaya saakin, including Nickko and his group. But I need to remind myself that my life is here. I can always go back to Zambales but right now, I need to focus on the company and my career.

After 40 minutes of traffic ay nakarating din ako sa familiar structure ng Restaurant. Nakakapanibago, somehow. I used to go here everyday pero ang tagal pala nang one week of leave. Nakakamiss din. I checked the time, 8am. I still have plenty to check everything that happened while I was gone sa staffs. We open at around 10am but required ang mga employee na pumasok ng maaga to prepare everything - menu, place, plates, etc kaya naman pagpasok ko, andun na silang lahat.

"Hellooo." Ang bati ko sakanila.

Tatlong mahabang segundo silang nakatitig saakin bago lumapit isa isa at hinug ako.

"Welcome back ma'am!"

"Namiss ka po namin."

"Saan ka po pumunta?"

"Sayang ma'am wala ka po, alam mo ba"

Sabay sabay silang nagsalita. Kung hindi ako nakaconcentrate sakanila ay hindi ko maiintindihan ang sinabi nila.

"Ay nako, nakakaloka kayo wag niyo nga guluhin si ma'am. Kitang kakabalik lang oh. Tignan mo ang bongga ng buhok, pak. 10 over 10. Ganern. Oh tignan mo, style ni ma'am, pak! Hindi katulad nung isang chaka.." Yes, Carl, my bestfriend sa restaurant and also the manager.

"Huy, tama na." Ang sabi ko sakanya. Knowing him kasi, alam ko na walang filter ang bibig niya. He used to tell me before na hindi maayos na kaibigan si Nina. And ako naman, binabalewala ko lang. Pero yun nga, sabi nila, sometimes other people can see more than you can.

"Back to work na tayo at madami pang gagawin." Ang sabi ko. Bumalik sila sa trabaho except Carl. "So, ano ang balita nung wala ako?"

"Ay siz, alam mo..." Hindi siya natapos dahil sumingit ang boses na I was dreading all week.

"Angel?"

Nina.