Take Care Of My Heart

Chapter IX

Aran's POV

Nang pumanhik ako sa stage,my heart beats so fast again. Nakikita ko siyang nakangiti na nakatingin sa mga kasamahan ko sa trabaho.
Pareho kami ng kulay ng polo. Nakatitig ito sa akin parang nagugulat. She is very beautiful. Tama talaga ang desisyon ko na inaway ko ito. Umupo na ako matapos batiin ang mom at dad ko.
"Do women drool already?" Tanong ko sa kanya. Naalala ko ang sinabi nito sa tuwing sinusuklay niya ako.
"No" Hayy,wala ba talagang maibang sasagot ito. Just like:
Yeah,I'm drooling now. -- you're so handsome.
Napangiti ako.

The ceremony went on hanggang tinawag na yung pangalan ko para magbigay ng short speech. Tumingin siya sa akin na halatang na-amaze sa akin. Nagsasalita na ako. Sometimes I tried to look at her with my peripheral vision. She was smiling at me.

Pagkatapos ay bumalik na ako sa upuan namin. She is still smiling. 
"Someone is drooling now." sabi ko sa kanya.

Everyone is going to their respective places. Students went back to their classes too. Pumasok na rin ito sa opisina. Bumabayad kami ng speaker para sa seminar na iyon.  Pumasok na ako sa function hall.
"Aran"
"Dad"
"This is a very good activity you have for your employees. Congratulations, hijo."
"Thank you dad."
"I think you should have find yourself now."
"Dad,I get married when I want to."
"Yeah I know. Let's get started."

Pumasok na kami sa loob ng function hall. 
The seminar went on. Whole day iyon at pack lunch ang pagkain nila. Nang tanghalian na ay pinuntahan ko ang babae.  Naabutan ko siyang nagbabasa ng documents.
"Can I come in?" tanong ko sa kanya.
"You're already inside do I still have a choice?"
"How are you?"
"You're asking me as if we are in good terms now."
"I'm sorry about before. " mahina kong sabi. Umupo ako sa tapat ng mesa nito.
"I forgave you already. Don't worry."
"Really?" Tanong ko.
"How are you?"
Hayy,mabuti naman at tinanong din ako sa wakas.
Naalala ko nang umalis ito sa pamamahay ko. She didn't even bid me good bye. She got lost like the wind.
Simula ng araw na iyon,I tried to walk with my own feet. I didn't have any caregiver. I didn't hire physical therapist. I washed my plates. I cooked my own food and watered the plants just the way she did to me before. And now,after two months I was able to get what I truly deserved--to walk and stand in front of her.
I asked my mom to let her work in my mom's school. I never heard bad remarks from my mom regarding her performance at work. I really wanted to see her before but my mind keep on telling me to walk first.
Then I started working after a month she left in my company. I was able to find the culprit and put him in jail.

"Do you have anything to say?" tanong nito. Napatingin ako sa kanya.
"I'm sorry,I just can't imagine to see you today."
Tumayo ito at tinungo ang pinto. She's changed. She oozed with feminity and confidence. I remembered when I said no one would look at her because she doesn't have glamorous, gorgeous and attractive body.
"Mr. Aran,I'm busy,my door is widely open for you now. I don't have time to entertain you."
Tumayo na ako. Pinalayas na ako ng babaeng to.
"Okay,bye. See you around."
Umalis na ako. Nakasalubong ko ang mommy ko. Napangiti ito ng makita akong lumabas mula sa opisina ng babaeng yun.
"Hi,son,I think the seminar is already started." Wika nito.
"Yeah,I'm going there mom."
"I believed you already met. How was it? I told she's fine right?"
I nodded my head. Yeah, She's fine. But I'm not sure if it's really true.
"Mom,is Julyenne alright?"
"Why do you say that?"
"Is she angry with me?"
"Probably but she never told me about that. C'mon,don't think that she's upset. You hurt her before so bare with it!"
"Mom" I whine at her. Natawa ito sa sinabi ko.

Natapos din ang seminar na iyon at umuwi na kami. Bandang alas otso na natapos iyon. Nadaanan namin ang opisina niya. She's still there. Kinatok ko iyon at nag-angat ito ng mukha.
"Good evening,aren't you going home?"tanong ko. Ngumiti ito sa akin. Napawi ang pagod ko ng makita iyon. At iyon din ang dahilan kung bakit ako gumaling nang napakabilis.
" I'm almost done." Mahina nitong sabi. Pumasok ako at umupo sa sofa nandon.
" I just live nearby. Maybe 15minutes drive." wika nito.
"What are you doing?"
"Just paperworks. "
Tiningnan ko siya. Her forehead sometimes wrinkled while reading.
" You go home first."
"Let's go together."
Ipinikit ko na ang aking mga mata habang hinihintay siya. Umikot pa ng sampung beses ang orasan nito nang sinabi na nito na aalis na ito. Tumayo na ako.
"You should not wait for me. You don't have any reason to wait for me. You're my boss,you pay me."
Nauna na akong lumabas at ini-lock nito ang pinto.
"Not anymore today. We are strangers now." nakangiti kong sabi sa kanya. Dumiretso ito sa sakayan ng taxi.
"I'll send you."
"No need."
"C'mon Julyenne, if you forgave me already,please let me send you to your house."
Natawa ito..
"Really? Do you need some proofs? Please stay away from my life now. I want to live peacefully."
"Julyenne"
Nauna itong tumalikod. I was left dumbfounded. I couldn't find anymore words. She just said it with her own mouth. I should stay away from here. I watched her opening the taxi door and left.

I hurt her before. I would do the same if I were her.
Binalikan ko ang kotse at umalis na.
I went home. My staff is already sleeping. I immediately went to my room and there, memories flooded in my mind again.

I am a COO. I should not stumble with just this simple heartache. But my heart suddenly became weak when I see her. I realized back then that my heart aches for her. I want to see her everyday and be with me all the times. I want to wake up looking at her face and see the sun through her eyes. I want to be with her. I long for her touch when she combed my hair and took a shower. I love her more than my life now. I love her very much. But what should I do?
She doesn't want to see my face just like what I did before.

I changed because of her but she will never see it now. It's useless.