'Still in the house?' I texted.
'Yes. You? '
'Ofc.'
'Have a productive day.'
''You too.'
Nakangiting ibinulsa ang aking cellphone. I took a deep breath and crossed my arms. I watched quietly the condominium in Annapolis street through the glass wall of the office. Dustin is currently staying there because he allowed Camilla to stay in his previous place near the restaurant. Ipinaalam niya sa akin na may kondisyon sila ni Camilla na mananatili itong kasosyo sa restaurant. The business means a lot to her too. She sacrificed her job in Italy and invested her savings for the business. As a businesswoman myself, I must understand the situation. I wanted to buy her share pero ayokong manguna at sagasaan ang pride ng boyfriend ko . Mula nang maging kami ni Dustin, hindi pa kami nagkita o nag-usap man lang ni Camilla. Maybe one of these days, I'll visit Osteria Romana to talk to her sincerely.
"Ma'am do you want a tea or a cup of coffee?" Helen asked. It's nine int the morning and I just arrived at the office.
"A cup of coffee," I replied without wiping the eyes off the building I was looking at.
I felt Helen's presence beside me. "Tuluyan na po palang binili ni Sir Dustin ang unit diyan sa gusaling madalas niyong tinatanaw."
I calmly smiled. "Yes. He lives there now. Hmmm....I wonder what he's doing right now? Maybe he's cooking breakfast or maybe peacefully drinking coffee with its awakening aroma filling the entire unit." I'm imagining how handsome he looks while cooking or how manly he is in plain T-shirt with a cup of coffee in his hand.
"Mukhang namimiss niyo na si Sir Dustin. Mabuti naman ho at nagkabati na kayo. Akala namin ay tuluyan na kayong magkakahiwalay. Natutuwa kaming lahat na napapasyal na ulit si Sir Dustin dito sa DKM."
Bahagyang natawa ako sa isipan. The entire office still believes our relationship has been true since the beginning. To make things less complicated, hinayaan ko na lang sila sa kung ano ang kanilang nalalaman.
"Yes I miss him ... and I miss my coffee too," kunway istriktang sabi ko.
"Ay oo nga po pala! Magtitimpla na po ako!" she exclaimed.
Pagbalik niya ay kasabay niyang pumasok si Ethan.
"Oh Ethan you're here," natutuwang wika ko. I gladly sat on my desk and took a sip of the coffee that Helen brought.
"Good morning Tita Deany."
"Yes napadalaw ka? Are you here to show me your grades?" excited na sabi ko.
"Hindi po. M- May ipagpapaalam lang po sana ako."
"Ano yun?"
Inabot niya sa akin ang isang folder. Binuksan ko yun at nakita ang madami-daming forms na laman nito. Mabilisan kong tiningnan isa-isa. "Para saan tong mga to?"
Nahihiyang kumamot siya sa ulo.
"Come on don't be shy tell me," I gladly said.
"Meron po akong inapplyan na scholarship sa Australia four months ago. Nagbakasali lang naman ho ako at hindi umasang makakapasa. Pero kahapon po nakatanggap ng sulat ang University Department namin na natanggap daw po ako. Gusto ko lang ho sanang hingin ang pahintulot niyo pero kung di po kayo papayag okay lang din po."
Napanganga ako nang ilang sandali. I'm hearing something I never thought would happen. I didn't know what to feel, kung malulungkot ba o matutuwa. Pinilit kong ngumiti kahit nakakaramdam nang kaunting lungkot. "Y-You're going to study abroad?" di pa rin makapaniwalang bigkas ko nang may malalaking mga mata.
BINABASA MO ANG
MAGICALLY YOURS,
RomanceDeanery Mortel was a single woman with fat pocket. But despite of wealth and success, she was secretly empty inside because of a man she let go. Her life was full of 'what ifs'. One day, she died and the next day she opened her eyes living in her pa...
