RETURN TO ME (Completed)

Chapter Two

“Please don't bother. I have plans to get something after this. Hintayin lang natin saglit ang kasama ko dahil nasa kanya ang ibang papeles.” pormal na sabi nito, walang ka-emo-emosyon. Pagkuwa'y inilabas nito ang cellphone at nagsimulang mag-tap doon.

Marahang tumango siya. “Okay.” she sat behind her desk. “This is about the deeds of transfer for the new residents of Gabriella Village in Baranggay Rosal, right?”

Nag-angat ito ng tingin mula sa ginagawa, bahagyang nangunot ang noo. “Yes. Nasa kasama ko ang documents, parating na siya.”

Napakurap siya, hindi rin masyadong halatang ayaw siya nitong kausapin hangga't hindi dumarating ang kasama nito. That's rather cruel, but she dserved that. She was the reason why they're strangers now. Professional na lamang ang maaring maging interaction nila. And Rui seems determined to keep it that way. But, she can still try, can't she? “Kumusta ka na, Rui?”

Tiningnan muli siya nito. He looked bored. “I've been well. Thank you for asking.” simpleng sagot ng binata bago ibinalik sa cellphone ang atensyon.

Gusto nang mainis ni Tori. Granted that they had not parted well seven years ago, but can't he at lest be more civil? Oh, right. He is civil. Pero hindi siya sanay na ganito ang trato sa kanya ni Rui. Sanay siyang lagi itong may nakalaang ngiti, laging naglalambing, at kung tingnan siya ay parang siya lang ang karapat-dapat pagtuunan ng atensyon.

That was Rui from a long time ago. Matapos niya itong iwan noong gabi ng fifth anniversary nila ay hindi na siya gaanong nakabalik pa sa San Diego. She became busy with law school, and work. Then the bar exams, and when she passed, she had to deal with more work.

Sa tuwing magkakaroon siya ng pagkakataong bumalik sa loob ng nakaraang mga taon ay ni hindi siya nagkalakas-loob na tanungin ang kahit sino at kumustahin ito. Her guilt got the best of her. Nalaman na lang niya isang araw na nasa UK na si Rui dahil nakakuha ng scholarship grant upang kumuha ng masters degree sa Public Policy and Administration sa London School of Economics. The next thing she knew, he's already this hotshot social entrepreneur who's busy changing the world, one town at a time.

“It's really nice to see you again, Rui.” muling sabi niya. Gusto niyang manahimik na lang sana pero hindi niya kinakaya ang katahimikan.

Rui sighed, bago mataman siya nitong tiningnan. Those intense eyes seem to see right through her. “Oh, I'm sure, Attorney. Of course you would say that.” saad nito bago tumingin sa relo.

What? Ano daw? She could detect sarcasm in his tone, and she's not sure why. “Matagal pa ba iyong kasama mo? It's almost two-thirty and we---”
Noon sila may narinig na marahang pagkatok sa pinto. Halos sabay pa silang nagsabi ni Rui ng “Come in!”. That made her smile, habang si Rui ay halatang hindi nagustuhan ang nangyari.

Marahang bumukas ang pinto, at pumasok ang isang matangkad na babaeng maikli ang maalong buhok at may suot na salamin. May dala din itong malaking bag na marahil ay naglalaman ng papeles. Maingat nitong isinara ang pinto bago tumingin kay Tori.

“I'm sorry I'm late. May mga humabol kasing beneficiaries na nagpasa ng iba pang requirements at inayos ko muna ang pag-recieve.” sinserong paghingi nito ng paumanhin.
Usually, Tori eould be irritated because the woman is almost thirty minutes late, but she couldn't bring herself to. She seemed nice. Mukhang nahihiya talaga ito sa nangyari.

“She's our administrative supervisor at the FDI.” sabi ni Rui. Tumayo ito agad at tinulungan ang babae sa dala nitong bag. He also pulled a chair for her and was very attentive. Nakita niyang tiningnan ito nang makahulugan ng babae at marahang tinapik sa braso.

Who is this woman? Sino ito sa buhay ng ex niya?

The woman held out her hand. “I'm Laya. It's nice to meet you, Attorney Ferrer. We're really happy that you could help us with this.”

Tori smiled and shook hands with Laya. Mabuti pa ang babaeng ito, friendly.  Samantalang ang kasama nito ay tila napipilitan lang sa pagpunta doon.

“Alright, can we proceed with the meeting now? I saw people waiting putside at nakakahiya naman kung paghihintayin natin sila ng matagal.” biglang sabi ni Rui na mukhang naiinip na.

Tiningnan lang ito ni Tori. Hindi niya alam kung matatawa o lalong maiinis. Sa halip ay  inumpisahan na niya ang pagtatanong tungkol sa ilang mga detalyeng dapat ayusin. While she was explaining things to Laya, she could feel Rui looking at her. Hindi niya alam kung bakit pakiramdam niya ay sinusubukan siya nito, at parang hinihintay siyang magkamali.

True enough, she found herself committing a few legal blunders na mabuti na lang at hindi gaanong napansin ng dalawa. 

She wanted to squirm and bury herself under the table. Hindi siya ang tipong nagkakamali sa legalities niya. Ngunit isang tingin lang ng Rui na ito ay nara-rattle na siya. It was not even the kind of look that could weaken her knees. It was more of something that could shake her resolve.

Parang sa tinging iyon ay sinasabi nito kung anuman ang binabalak niya, ay hindi siya magtatagumpay.
Makalipas ang mahigit isang oras ay naayos din nila ang lahat. Ibinigay ni Laya ang kopya ng mga dokumentong kailangan niya. Napansin niyang naunang tumayo si Rui. Natatawang mahinang hinampas ito ni Laya sa braso. “Well, Attorney, maraming salamat talaga. Pasensya na at nagmamadali itong kasama ko. Gutom na yata.” then she looked at Rui, then back at her. “Hey, why don't you join us for a quick snack? Diyan lang naman kami sa labas.”

Nangunot agad ang noo ni Rui. “May pila ng mga kokonsulta sa labas, Laya. Kanina pa naghihintay ang mga iyon. And besides, there's something that I want to talk to you about.”

Laya raised a brow at him. “There is?”
Pinanlakihan ito ng mata ni Rui. “Yes. Well, next time na lang siguro siya sasama sa atin kung sakali.”

Matamang pinanood lang ni Tori ang interaksyon ng dalawa. It felt weird seeing Rui being chummy with another woman. Seven years ago, it has always been her.

Things surely have changed. “You guys go ahead and enjoy. Ayos lang ako dito.”

But Laya was insistent to take her along. “Pero sa plaza kami kakain. You haven't been here in years, right? Hindi mo ba nami-miss ang palabok na may bagnet chips, o empanada...”

Napakurap si Tori sa babae. “Paano mong nalamang gusto ko ng palabok at empanada?”

Ngumiti lang si Laya. “I didn't know that. Pero karamihan kasi ng mga dati nang tagarito, iyon ang favorite combo kapag nagme-merienda.”

“Oh...” napatango lang si Tori, bago matamang minasdan ang babae. “Do I know you from somewhere? I have this feeling i've already seen you before. Hindi ko lang maalala. Ang bait mo kasi sa akin.” sumulyap siya kay Rui, na dedma lang.

Ngumiti lang ang babae. “Sa San Diego Academy din ako nag-highschool. One year ahead lang kayo ni Rui. Bestfriend ko si Reg, yung sister nya.”

“Okay, now I remember.” sabi niya, bago nangingiting minasdan ang babae. Laya was a scrawny, awkward kid then. It's nice to know she grew up to be a lovely, healthy, accomplished young woman. “Well, I wouldn't keep you. Kokontakin ko na lang kayo kung ready na ang mga deeds of transfer, o kaya dadalhin ko na lang sa office nyo.” she saw Rui visibly heave a sigh of relief. “Enjoy na lang. It was nice meeting you.” sabi niya kay Laya, na ngumiti lang sa kanya. “Nice seeing you again, Rui.”

Tinanguan  lang siya ng binata, bago maliksing ipinagbukas nito ng pinto si Laya. Nakaalalay din ito sa likod ng dalaga habang palabas ang mga ito. Hindi maiwasang malungkot ni Tori sa nakikita.

Things definitely have changed. Rui clearly doesn't want to have anything to do with her anymore.