Reverso

Chapter 14

"Here are your orders. Please do enjoy your evening, ma'am and sir. If you're still willing to stay with us till 9pm, you'll be able to see our monthly stargazing event. Thank you for choosing to dine with us."

Binaba ng waitress ang mga pagkain namin sa lamesa. Burrito steak at quesadilla para sa akin at grilled chicken and salad naman ang sa kanya. Dinaig pa akong babae. Nag-bow lang ang waitress bago umalis at nginitian din namin sya ni Adrian.

Dinala ako ni Adrian sa isang rooftop restaurant just 40 minutes away from the chapel. Sobrang relaxing ng scenery. Hindi mo aakalain na sa baba ay magulo ang mundo roon, kung tatanawin mo lang kasi ay parang sobrang ganda at payapa.

"Kumusta naman yung event kahapon? Hindi ba nakakapagod?"
He opened up a conversation.

"Tama lang naman, smooth naman yung pangyayari at hindi nagka-aberya."

"Sorry hindi ako nakapunta, may ensemble kasi kami kahapon." paliwanag nya.

"Okay lang, ano ka ba. Wala naman sa akin kung makapunta ka o hindi."

Sinuklian nya ako ng ngiti at hinalikan ang likod ng aking kamay.

"Masaya ako kapiling ka, Theresa."

Panandalian lamang ito.

"Sana wala na lang hanggan ang gabing ito." dagdag pa nya.

Nginitian ko lamang sya at hinayaan mag-nilay nilay habang hawak pa rin ang kamay ko. Sino nga ba ako para ipagkait sa kanya ang panandalian kasiyahan kung babawiin ko lang din ang ito sa madaling panahon. Hindi ko naiwasang magbuntong-hininga.

"May problema ba?" nagaalalang tanong nya.

"Wala naman." umiling ako "ang ganda lang ng langit." pinilit ko ngumiti.

"Sabe ko na nga ba at magugustuhan mo dito. Do you wanna stay to stargaze?" tanong nya.

Napakurap ako sa sinabi nya. 9pm pa yon, hindi naman ako hahanapin ni Mama pero hindi ko na kayang masaktan dito. Baka pag tumagal pa ako, lumuha ako sa kanya.

"Kailangan ko kasi umuwi agad para matapos ko yung mga aasikasuhin para sa acquaintance ball this coming Friday. Sorry." I tried to be as sincere as possible.

"It's okay, spending this night with you is enough. But before anything else, I'd like to give you something."

May kinuha sya sa bag nya at inurong palapit sa akin ang isang peach glossy envelope. Binuksan ko ito at nakita ang isang ticket sa acquaintance ball. I looked up to him in confusion.

"I know you can get as many tickets as you please, you're always strong, you're always independent. But I'd like to take this chance with you... Miss Caldez, will you be my date this year's ball?"

I smiled ever so sweetly to him and nodded.

---

Lumipas nang matulin ang linggo at lunes na naman pero hindi pa rin ako nakakapagpahinga. Malapit na ang acquaintance ball at hindi pwedeng magrelax-relax lang. Dapat by Wednesday nabili na lahat ng kailangan para sa theme. Naayos naman na lahat ng kailangan, such as catering and announcements pero gusto namin maging surprise at personally sentimental sa bawat individuality ng estudyante ang essence ng event.

Pagpasok ko pa lang ng campus ay dumiretso na ako sa office. Nahanda na ni Melody ang coat na susuotin ko at ang kape na inorder ko.

"Erin, please forward all schedules ng interview with Mr. Prima sa email ko. I want the interview to be done today para mabigyan na ng conclusion by tomorrow, understood?"

"Yes, ma'am, but before anything else po, I'd like to inform you that the Dean is waiting for you at her office."

"Erin, I don't have the time to chit-chat."

"It's marked as urgent, ma'am."

I groaned in frustration. Ano na naman ba? Sermon na naman? Padabog kong kinuha ang handbag ko at nagmadaling pumunta sa kabilang building. I knocked first then entered.

"Good to see you, my dear. How was your weekend?" panimula nya.

"With all due respect miss, I don't have time to exchange pleasantries. I have a ball to plan."

"Straight to business, as usual. You still got it, I really did raise you well." humigop muna sya ng kape bago nagsalita ulit.

"Pinapunta kita dito because I want you to step down on being in-charge of the ball."

Nag-pantig ang mga sinabi nya sa tainga ko. Step down? Anong step down? I've always been the leader, the chairman. Ano nangyayari?

"Don't take it so personally, dear. I just feel like it's the student's council to handle that and not your organizational. Plus, I think you need time to rest and catch up on your academics. This is the only time this is happening." she reassured me.

Hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala.

"But –"

"Whether you like it or not, I've made up my mind." she cut me off "this is for the greater good. Dismissed."