TUMAWA ako sa sinabi ng isang stockholder ng MRV nang matapos ang meeting. Tinapik niya ako sa balikat bago siya umalis. I was about to go out of the meeting room when someone called me.
“Architect.”
Lumingon ako at nakita ang magkapatid na Ysmael at Fleury Salvatorre. They both smiled at me.
“My family is planning to build a rest house in Tagaytay,” panimula ni Ysmael. “Matagal pa naman, but I just want to let you know that we’re planning to get you as our architect.”
“Oh.” My mouth turned O. “Well, it’s an honor. Feel free to contact me when everything’s settled.”
“Thank you, Architect.” Fleury sweetly smiled at me.
Paglabas ko ng meeting room ay binati ako ng iilang mga nakakakilala sa akin sa MRV. I was talking to Attorney Velleres and his wife, Yrinah Velleres when my eyes caught Ciello looking at me. She immediately avoided my gaze and pretended that she was busy listening to someone she was talking.
“Oh, there’s your sister, Cire,” Yrinah called Attorney Velleres’ attention.
Nilingon ni Cire si Ciello at tinawag. Tumikhim ako at napahinga nang malalim.
“Y-Yes, Kuya?” si Ciello nang makalapit.
“I was just asking Quillon if he knows where you were for the past days. Hindi ka namin ma-contact, saan ka ba nagpupupunta?”
“Uh… I just went to a short vacation.”
Tumaas ang kilay ko habang nakatitig sa kaniya. Nag-iwas siya ng tingin.
“Vacation? Summer ba?” pambabara ng kapatid niya.
Natawa nang bahagya si Yrinah habang si Ciello ay napanguso.
“I needed to unwind, Kuya!”
“Why? Are you okay? Do you have a problem?” nag-aalalang tanong ng kapatid niya.
I bit the insides of my cheek while staring at her, still feeling guilty of what happened to us. Sandali siyang napatingin sa akin kaya napatingin din tuloy sa akin si Yrinah.
“W-Wala, Kuya. I’m just… stressed at work.”
Tumango si Cire at mukhang naniwala naman.
“Maybe you should visit our parents sometimes to talk about your problems at work. Palagi ka na lang nasa condo mo.”
Tumango si Ciello.
“We’ll go now. We just went here to visit Bryle and the others. You take care, okay? Don’t stress yourself too much.” Cire kissed her forehead before he turned to me. “It’s nice to see you again, Architect.”
Tumango ako at ngumiti. Nang makaalis ang dalawa ay naiwan kami ni Ciello. She was awkward around me, probably still because of what happened to us a week ago. Ngayon na lang ulit kami nagkita. Iniiwasan niya yata ako.
“Kumain ka na ba?” magaan kong tanong matapos ng isang malalim na buntong hininga.
Nag-angat siya ng tingin sa akin, mukhang nagulat pa na kinausap ko siya.
“U-Uhm, hindi pa.”
My lips twisted. I sighed again and wet my lips.
“Do you want to have lunch with me?”
Napakurap-kurap siya. Tumingin muna siya sa ibang direksyon na parang nag-iisip bago ibinalik sa akin ang tingin.
“Uh… o-okay.”
BINABASA MO ANG
The Death of Solace
General Fiction[NOW AN ACTUAL BOOK. Published under Immac Printing and Publishing House] A soothing world was what Quillon Marqueza has been aiming to have. His life has always been chaotic ever since he was born. Soulless. Dull. Disarray. But when he met Solace...
