A Crossroad ✔

Chapter 40: Sweet

[Quin]

"Hello Lawrence?" Bandang alas-dies na ng umaga nang bumaba ako upang humanap ng maiinom sa may pantry. Kakukuha ko lang ng isang soymilk nang tumawag ang magaling na si Lawrence. At mukha'ng alam ko na kung ano'ng sadya ng lalaking 'to.

"Don't talk to me with that tone woman. I'm not calling to ask anything about you and your love. Understand?" Or not. Wala sa sariling napailing ako.

"So, what do you want?" Inilagay ko sa bulsa ng coat ko ang kamay habang papunta'ng elevator dahil wala naman akong balak na tumambay ro'n. I don't want to... talk to anybody because I know what topic they will raise as soon as possible.

Idagdag pa na wala akong hilig makipag-usap.

The company is a little crowded but not messy. I heard there were new employees and they are under trainings. Sana naman at hindi na incompetent dahil masakit sila sa ulo. Kapag nasesermonan, tayo pa ang ginagawang masama kung para naman 'yon sa ikabubuti nila.

"I want to tell you that I'm coming over sooner than expected! We booked a flight for next week because eight months of long distance relationship is so long, Quinnie. Excited?" The goofiness in his tone spiced up the instant cartwheel of my damn heart!

Hindi ko mapigilang mapangiti sa sinabi niya. Thank God! Sobra'ng tagal ng walong buwang hindi namin pagkikita.

Kahit naman sabihin kong masaya ako dahil nandito naman ang manliligaw ko para punan ang pagkukulang ng baliw kong kaibigan, iba pa rin kapag ang mahalagang taong matagal nang nawalay sa'yo ang personal na makikita mo.

And although Raven is trying to make things easier between our schedules... Lets just say he isn't that successful. Alam ko. May trabaho siya at gano'n din ako. We can't live always by being together. That is not living. It is imprisoning yourself to something not necessary and to a life that is not life itself.

Kaakibat naman ng isang relasiyon ang kalayaan. Hindi ibig sabihin na masaya kayo sa isa't isa ay do'n lang ninyo mahahanap 'yon. There are so many things happiness can be found. Not just around someone you have mutual feelings with.

That is childish.

"I can't wait, you brute. I'll be waiting for you and Anne." Pinindot ko ang button ng elevator habang nasa tainga pa rin ang cellphone. I waited for it to open.

"Good. I'm off now, Quinnie dear. See you soon, mwah!" Napairap ako sa hangin pero nakangiti naman. Lawrence is always that childish asshole I met, aside from Raven, of course.

"Bye," simpleng paalam ko sa kan'ya. Hindi ko pa man naibababa ang cellphone ay bumukas na ang pintuan ng elevator. My eyes immediately settled on it.

"Hi." Halos napasinghap pa ako sa gulat nang makilala ang lulan no'n. The same man who exclusively courted me for months! The dark gray background of the elevator's wall and the grayish fabric of his striped coat was charming.

"Ano'ng..." Nakita kong ngumiti lang siya kahit halos hindi na makita ang kan'yang buong pagmumukha sa sumbrero at sunglasses na suot. Paano na naman kaya 'to nakalusot gayong sa pagkakaalala ko ay may contract signing siya ngayon?

He is starting to learn the ways of his father. Investing on different companies and making theirs grow. Mabuti naman... Para din 'yon sa pamilya niya.

"The usual." Mukhang nabasa na niya ang nais kong sabihin. Tsk. Hinila niya pa ako papasok na parang hindi kasama sa plano ko ang pumasok. Raven and his obsession for always being one step ahead of my decisions.

"Flowers for you, Binibini." Nag-iinit ang pisnging tinanggap ko ang bulaklak na iniabot niya. Tulips and red roses with a sweet fragrance engraved on my system, enough to chill out all of me. Hindi rin nakatatakas sa kaalaman ko ang katotohanang gumagastos naman siya para dito.