"You're finally back!" Hindi ko alam kung pagod ba si Jane o nasurpresa sa pag pasok ko.
"Goodmorning!" Pag bati ko na may kasamang ngiti bago humaik sa kanya.
"Goodmorning, Mariz." She hugged me for a bit before tapping both of my shoulders.
"Punta na ako sa office ko, ha?" Tango lang ang response niya kaya tumalikod na ako.
"Nga pala," She spoke midway.
Huminto ako nung hawak ko na yung doorknob ng office niya.
Hinarap ko siya at pinag taasan ng kilay.
"I forgot to invite you last night." Pumipikit pa ang isang mata niya nang sabihin niya 'yon.
"I mean, hindi talaga kita ininvite. I was with Althea last night. Nasa Pob kami."
"Makati?" Ano namang ginawa nila don? Nambabae? "Okay." Tumango ako at humakbang na palabas nang muli niya akong pigilan.
"She was with someone. Sabi niya katrabaho daw. Ewan. I just want to inform you."
"Nathalie ba pangalan?" Isinara ko ang pinto at muling lumapit sa kanya.
"Nope. Stella." She picked up the banana on her table and started removing its skin.
"Oh," hindi ko na alam ang idudugtong ko.
Ayaw kong mag mukhang may pakialam pa kay Althea ga'yong hindi ko siya pinag bigyang mag salita regarding sa news last month.
"Alis na ko." Tumalikod na ko ulit at nagsimulang maglakad.
"Didn't know she would recover that fast, tho." Her words stopped me from walking out. "Kinausap ko siya. She explained her side."
"Wala namang dapat ibigay na chance sa cheater. That was her ex, you know? Anong inexpect niya? Palakpakan ko siya?" Umirap ako at pinakatitigan siya.
I found myself slowly walking back to Jane, my steps heavier than I expected. I sat down quietly on the chair in front of her office table, not saying anything right away.
"Pinsan kita kaya mahal kita. But you really need to actually hear her side of the story. Alam mo naman ang media."
I was too caught up in the conversation we just had, too lost in the way her words lingered.
And even though I hate to admit it, something shifted in me when she mentioned Althea being with someone new.
A girl I’ve never heard of. Someone unfamiliar. It shouldn’t matter, I know that, but it still did.
It stirred something in my chest that I couldn’t quite name. Or maybe I could, but I didn’t want to.
It didn’t feel good. Not because I wanted her to be hurting. But because a part of me, the part that still holds onto pieces of her, didn’t expect her to be doing so okay.
"Whatever. Para saan pa? Okay na ako. Okay na okay na. Kung saan siya masaya, edi doon siya. Basta walang pakeelamanan. Bahala siya, bahala rin ako." Umirap pa ako dahil sa inis na nararamdaman ko.
Talagang ganon niya ako kabilis napalitan?
Papromise promise pa siyang ako lang ang mamahalin niya.
"Sabagay. Mukha naman ding okay na si Althea. She seems good last night. Inihatid pa 'yong kasama niya."
"Good for her..." imbis na galit o inis, katulad ng kanina. Iba ang nararamdaman ko ngayon.
"Sana kahit friends maayos niyo. By the way, sabi niya ilang araw na siya pabalik palik doon sa bar. I don't know. Nag babar hopping yata tapos palaging kasama yung doon sa Makati."
BINABASA MO ANG
I fell in love
Genel KurguHow can a few stolen moments ever be enough to last a lifetime? And if they are, would the ache they leave behind be worth it? This is a story of quiet love, heavy choices, and the kind of longing that never really lets go.
