RETURN TO ME (Completed)

Chapter Eight

Mataman siya nitong tiningnan, mukhang hindi nito inaasahan ang tanong. “Kung makapagtanong ka, para namang kaya mo ngang gawin sakali mang may hilingin ako.” he shook his head. “You can't even trust me enough with your plans, your decisions, your dreams... paano mo aasahang maniniwala ako sa anumang sasabihin mo ngayon? Sa anumang ipapangako mo pa?” he said bitterly.

Tiningnan lang ito ni Tori. Tama naman ang mga sinabi nito. At alam niyang kahit ngayon, wala siyang konkretong maipapangako. But she has to try, maybe... maybe she can still do something. “Just tell me, Rui. Anything.” she swallowed after saying that.

Mataman siya nitong tiningnan. Tila nag-iisip ito.  A few more seconds passed at napabuntunghininga ito, bago bumaling sa staff nito na noon ay inililigpit na ang pagkain. “Linisin lang muna ninyo iyang mesa. I just have to discuss something with Attorney Ferrrer.” inalis nito ang kamay niya sa braso nito. “Follow me.” sabi ni Rui bago tinalikuran siya at nagsimulang maglakad papunta sa private office marahil nito. Noon tumayo si Belle at sumunod rin dito.

“Rui! Wait! Hindi ba may meeting pa?” tanong ng babae dito, bago tiningnan siya ng matalim.

Saglit itong hinarap ni Rui. “That can wait.” kunot-noong sabi nito.

“And you're bringing this woman into your office now? Hindi ba at siya ang nang-iwan  sa iyo dati? You said you didn't want to have anything to do with her anymore, why are you even allowing her to work for your team now?” sunud-sunod na tanong ng babae. Nakita ni Tori na nagkatinginan lang ang staff ni Rui dahil doon.

“Wala kang karapatang kuwestyunin ang mga gusto kong gawin, Belle. You said you wanted to help, then go ahead. Hindi kita pinipigilan. It's the same thing with Attorney Ferrer. Don't think I should consult you with anything.” prangkang sabi dito ni Rui, na ikinatahimik ng babae.

“Excuse me.” sabi niya dito dahil nakaharang ito sa daraanan niya.

“Don't think I don't know what you're up to, Miss Ferrer. I'm sure pareho lang tayo ng gustong gawin, so you better play your cards right.” taas noong paalala ni Belle bago binigyang daan siya.

Napahinga lang ng malalim si Tori, bago dumiretso na sa opisina ni Rui.

Rui's office was spacious and sparsely furnished. But it looked classy nonetheless. Isang landscape painting lang ang dekorasyon doon. The tinted bay window with Roman blinds half-drawn aside had a view of the nearby school's soccer field.

The same soccer field that brought back lots of memories, especially that of the night when he told her he loved her.

“Naaalala mo ba yang soccer field na yan, Viktoria?” tanong ni Rui.

Tumango lang siya, tumingin ng direcho dito. He was standing beside her. “Yes, of course.”

He sighed. “That was the happiest night of my life.”

Muli siyang tumango. “It was the happiest night of my life, too.”
Iniiwas nito ang tingin, he looked straight ahead at the vast sports field. “I wanted it to last forever... I honestly thought it would. I wanted to... and tried to...”

Pakiramdam ni Tori ay nadudurog ang puso niya sa naririnig. She could literally feel the pain in the way he spoke. It was as if he was  reliving that night he tried to make things last forever between them, but failed.
Because she didn't want to... because she said goodbye. “I wanted it as well, Rui.”

“Clearly not as much as I did.” napailing ito. Bago muling tumingin sa kanya. “Hindi ko alam kung bakit nandito ka uli. Kung bakit nagbalik ka pa. I may have ideas, I may know a few things but thinking about them just... hurts all the more.” he sighed.