The Waiting Game

20.

5 YEARS LATER...

            "FINALLY, you're officially back here," rinig ni Exequiel na komento ni Alexander nang makapasok siya sa opisina nito. He just came back to the Philippines yesterday from his business meeting in Japan and a short stay in Moscow. He had to stay in Japan for four months for technological advancement reasons. He also had to visit Moscow for a client.

            "Hindi ka na aalis?" tanong ni Red kay Exequiel.

            "Unless I have business meetings," sagot lang ni Exequiel bago maupo sa couch sa opisina ni Alexander. "I didn't have that much rest in Japan and Moscow," sabi ni Exequiel.

            "It's not like you really had rest in the past five years," natatawang sagot ni Alexander. "Nasa'n na ba sila Oliver? Ba't parang ang tagal no'ng mga 'yun?" komento ni Alexander pagkatapos tingnan ang orasan sa kanyang opisina.

            That's true. For the past five years, most of Exequiel's clients are far away from the Philippines and they require him to stay for months with them. Exequiel's glad that he has to focus on work though. It keeps his mind off certain things—things from the past; from her.

            "May gagawin ka ba sa Sunday?" tanong ni Red kay Exequiel.

            "Bakit?" tanong ni Exequiel bago isandal ang kanyang ulo sa sandalan ng couch na inuupuan. Bakit parang kulang na kulang ata siya sa tulog eh halos labing-dalawang oras nga siyang tulog kagabi?

            "Just devil stuff," nakangising sagot ni Red kay Exequiel.

            Exequiel chuckled and said, "Himala't you've changed. Hindi ka na tamad. I have to visit someone on that day. Sa susunod na lang ako."

             "I love our world," komento ni Red bago ilagay ang dalawa niyang kamay sa likod ng kanyang ulo. "Who are you going to visit anyway?" tanong ni Red.

            "Hindi ka ba magtratrabaho ngayon?" tanong naman ni Alexander kay Exequiel.

            "I cleared my schedule for today and tomorrow," sagot ni Exequiel. "I have to have some kind of rest," dagdag ni Exequiel.

            "Who was your client in Norway?" tanong ni Red kay Exequiel.

            "Ba't ka pa nagtanong? You know that Exequiel doesn't share that much regarding his clients," sabi ni Alexander kay Red. "Minsan nga 'yung utak mo 'wag masyadong nakabaon sa puwet. Ilagay mo rin sa ulo."

            "Fuck you, Congressman," mura ni Red kay Alexander.

            "Did you really date that model?" tanong ni Alexander kay Exequiel. "Ano nga bang pangalan no'n?"

            "Arielle," sagot ni Red kay Alexander. "How can you forget her name? Her name's in almost every magazine and billboard out there," dagdag ni Red.

            "Hindi kasi ako nagbabasa ng magazines and I don't pay much attention on billboards," asar na sagot ni Alexander kay Red. "Plus, she's not even that pretty. Nakakasawa siyang tingnan."

            "No. I didn't date her. I was just doing my job," sagot ni Exequiel sa tanong sa kanya ni Alexander.

            "Doing your job or doing her?" nakangising tanong ni Red.

            "Shut your mouth, Red," asar na sagot ni Exequiel kay Red.

            INILABAS ni Blaire mula sa oven ang bagong luto niyang Lasagna. Tiningnan niya ang oras sa suot-suot niyang relo bago ipatong ang tray sa ibabaw ng kitchen counter. It's her 30th birthday tomorrow at napagpasiyahan niyang magluto ng Lasagna para sa mga empleyado niya.