Astig II (The Promise)

Chapter 51 - Making Things Right

Kinabukasan bandang ika-sampu ng umaga ng makarating si Jaybee sa R&J Building.  Hindi katulad ng dati na taas noo itong pumapasok sa building.  Sa pagkakataong yon, tahimik at nakayuko ito ng lumapit sa receptionist.

Receptionist:  Good Morning Sir!

Jaybee: I have an appointment with...

Receptionist:  Sir Jaybee Ramirez right?

Napatango si Jaybee... saka tumingin sa babaeng nakangiti sa kanya.

Receptionist:  Pasensya na kayo sir nagstart po akong magwork dito nakasick-leave po kayo kaya ngayon ko lang po kayo nakita in person pero kilala ko po kayo kasi nasa chapel po ang litrato ninyo at kasali po kayo sa ipinagdarasal namin after ng Angelus.   Mabuti naman po dininig ng Diyos ang dasal namin at magaling na kayo.  Nasa conference room po ang mga Big Bosses at hinihintay ang pagdating ninyo.

Nagulat si Jaybee sa narinig at hindi napigil na mateary-eyed.

Jaybee:  Thanks for your prayers then.

Receptionist:  You deserve all the prayers and love Sir. Sabi nga ni Sir Ricardo, isa kayo sa patuloy na nagpapalaki ng kumpanyang ito. Kaya po masaya kaming magaling na kayo at nakabalik na kayo.

Muling ngumiti si Jaybee at dumeretso na sa elevator  kasunod si Enrico na bitbit ang atache' case niaa Jaybee at ang isang mineral water.

Enrico:  Sabi ko na this bottled water will come in handy eh.  Sige na Sir, lumunok ka na at pahiran ang luha mo tapos daanin mo sa inom ng tubig.  Palagay ko kailangan mong iready yan kasi mukhang marami pang ganong reaksyon ang mangyayari.

Hindi na lang umimik si Jaybee at sinunod si Enrico at saka huminga ng malalim at pinakawalan iyon. Pero nawala ang kaba niya ng mabungaran si Mandie pagbukas ng pinto ng elevator.

Kusa itong napangiti at sinalubong ng yakap ang dalaga.

Jaybee:  Hello there!

Mandie:  Hi, am glad you're here. I need to talk to you before you go in kasi baka magulat ka eh.

Jaybee:  Why?

Mandie:  Well, Jonas called Lolo last night and he was so happy telling him that we came  home together and you know how Lolo Daddy is.   Number one fan ng love team natin yon and he's an over thinker.  So  he sounded like he has already planned our whole life.  I want you to know I didn't have anything to do with it and whatever he will say, you can always say no okay?!  Please don't get mad at me I didn't know that this will happen eh.

Jaybee:  Calm down,  ang bilis mo magsalita buti na lang mostly english.   Breathe Luv... Breathe.

Huminga naman ng malalim si Mandie at niyakap na lang ito ng kasintahan.

Jaybee:  Okay now continue...

Mandie:  So, yun na nga.  Sabi ni Tatay, ayaw tanggapin ni Lolo ang resignation mo.  Pero sinabi na ni Tatay yung situation about Nanay so naintindihan naman ni Lolo that you cannot work together kasi nga masama pa ang loob ni Nanay.   Ang Ending may naisip si Lolo na way to still keep you with the company without you working here.

Jaybee:  and what is that?

Mandie:  That is why I am worried Luv, kase I really have no idea.

Jaybee:  Okay, don't worry too much.  We both know how much your Lolo loves you... so kung ano man yon am sure it would be for our own good.

Mandie:  You also know that my Lolo thinks we are betrothed Sebastian.  I am not here because of the promise you made. As far as I am concern, if I don't love you I will be somewhere else living a happy life with the man I love.  I am here because I do love you, not for anything but just because you are you.