CRISANTA
GUSTO kong kabahan kaso umaatras talaga. How could I not, when Sir Fausto is being so ridiculous? Syempre tatawag pa rin akong Sir kahit pa sinabi niyang wag na.
“Will you please get the hell out of my sight, Fausto? You're behaving differently again, now that we have someone else in the room. Kinulang ka ba sa aruga noong bata ka pa?” Pagkuwan ay dinig kong iritang sambit ng sa tingin ko ay mainipin talagang CEO ng kumpanyang ito.
Oo, dinig talaga because even now, I still can't look at him straight in the eye. I don't know, it's like I'm also waiting for Sir Fausto's permission kung pwede na ba since siya naman nagsabi sa akin kanina na wag tingnan sa mata ang boss niya.
“Ehem, sorry my Lord---este Sir. Laking Pinas po kasi ako kaya ganon talaga pag may bisita dapat medyo papansin ka hahahaha—cough, cough.”
Biglang tumigil sa kakahirit ng joke itong si Sir Fausto nang mapalingon ito sa gawi ng CEO. Sa malamang ay seryoso pa sa seryoso na ngayon ang pagmumukha niyon.
“Sorry, Sir. I'll go now. Please excuse me.” And with that ay mabilis na nawala sa silid si Sir Fausto.
Napakurap na lamang ako sa bilis ng mga pangyayari.
“And you?!” The CEO suddenly turned to me.
“Po?” Awtomatiko akong napalingon sa gawi niya na mabilis ko ring nabawi at yumuko.
Arghh! Bakit naman ganon ang naging sagot at reaksyon ko? Kasalanan to ni Sir Fausto, huhu.
“What’s your problem?” He asked.
“Po?” Ay tanga, paulit-ulit?
At dahil medyo nataranta ako ay awtomatiko ulit akong napalingon sa gawi niya and this time, hindi ko na ito nagawang ibaba pa.
H-He wasn't wearing glasses anymore. I could see his face clearly at bigla kong pinagsisisihan iyon.
“N-No. This can't be possible!” My mind raced, searching for an escape, a way to conceal the torrent of emotions raging within me.
“Why do you keep on avoiding my gazsdfghjkl----
Napapikit ako ng mariin. Pahina nang pahina ang boses niya hanggang sa wala na kong maintindihan. Walang pumapasok sa utak ko kasi isa lang ang nasa isip ko ngayon. One thing that I hope I'm wrong about.
"Y-You---" I interrupted him, but I couldn't even finish what I am about to say. I almost stared blankly at him while trying to make sure if what's on my mind is right. I need to be very sure about this.
"You dare to interrupt me, huh?" He raised his eyebrow.
Alam ko yun. Gets ko naman, eh. Sino ba naman kasing normal na applicant ang bigla nalang puputulin ang sinasabi ng employer niya habang seryoso itong nagsasalita? Ang kaso hindi ko na rin alam kung kaya ko pa bang maging normal sa mga oras na ito at alam kong gulong gulo na rin sa akin ang lalaking nasa harapan ko.
Lalaking hindi ko kailan man pinangarap na muli pang makita. Is he really right in front of me now?
I froze. I don't think I am ready to confront the reality standing before me. I-It was him. It was definitely h-him. The man who took my innocence. The one I never wanted to face again!
The air grew heavy with unspoken tension, his gaze piercing through my soul. Fear is what I feel right in the moment with the silence between us. My hands began trembling as I struggled to find the right words. This wasn't how it was supposed to be. Not like this.
And then something suddenly came to my mind.
Why am I the only one feeling this? Uneasy and afraid of the situation I am currently in. It was as if he doesn't even remember who I am.
Or baka ganon nga talaga. Now, it hits me. What will I expect when life is full of real shit like this?
Clearly, he doesn't remember me. He doesn't even know my existence at all, and I bet that he already moved on right at that moment when it happened three years ago.
Halos maikuyom ko ng mariin ang aking mga palad. A sudden pain rushed through me. It was unfair! I can't even see any remorse from him when that incident almost took half of my life.
Since this already happened, I have decided to hide it forever.
“I can't see you as the father of my child,” I spoke to myself at the back of my mind.
And with that, I inhaled deeply as I faced him again. I am now determined to enter this company for anyway possible.
As long as I'm alive, life will not be easy for you, Mr. Alfano. I promise!
To be continued...
©Makireimi
