EL OCASO (Dapithapon)

kabanata 5 " Ang Ideya "

Philippines present time 2020

Aldren POV

" He said i have ptsd"
(Post-traumatic stress disorder)

"He said its a burnout syndrome
And i can get better if i relax"

I said while scanning those books for my research .

I fix my glass and saw deter fall on his feet. Napatayo agad ako kasi sumalampak siya sa upuan

I close my eyes in frustration ,seeing deter like this . Para sakin normal nalang naman itong mga sakit na nararamdaman ko. Kahit nagkakasunod sunod ang nararamdaman ko im still fine ,but to people beside me, puro pagaalala lang ang naiibibigay ko sa kanila.

" Deter !"

" You have PTSD? Did i make you stress , did i gave you a lot of work ? Is this my fault?"

He keep repeating asking himself ,i stared at him and sit on my chair .

" No its not about you or this work, He told me not to worry, so you too"

I silently say , he stare at me with a sad look , kaya iniwas ko agad ang tingin ko at tumitig sa libro .

"Huwag ka ng mag alala , this thing always happen to me ,but i recover in time , so dont you worry"

I heard him sigh , and touch his head .

" Ang sabihin sa taong huwag na siyang mas alala sa taong nagaalala ay parang nagsasabi na patigilin na sa paginom ang taong lulong na dito "

" Did something happen that trigger you ?"

" Nah, just dont mind me "

I said . Tumingin uli ako sa kaniya ng bigla akong may maalala.

" The meeting? What mr park do ?"

" He told me ,he will file a case if you didnt get in touch with him"

"And?"

" The project " he sigh between his words

"tuloy parin siya ! The producer want to have a meeting with you asap and mr park told me if you didnt gave him a story that will capture peoples attention , let start packing and leave "

" And? About the project?"
I ask

" i said yes !"

Napatigil ako sa pagsusulat sa sinabi niya napatingin agad ako sa kaniya at tumayo.

" What did you say ?"

" What do you expect me to do ? Say No ? Kapag hindi ako pumayag sa sinasabi ni mr park , alam mo ang kaya niyang gawin ipapasara niya talaga ang company , i just cant say No ,"

Nagagalaiti akong tumitig sa kaniya , pero tinititigan niya lang ako sa mata .

" I know you have something in your mind , i know you have an idea lets your idea be our weapon if we give him something . Then he will stop threatening us !"

" What ?"

" Lets do this uh? Huwag natin hayaan mapunta lang sa wala ang lahat ng ito?"

" DETER ! SHUT UP!"

I shouted , he stare at me

" I told you i cant do that project. We can pay for the penalties , and the company we can sti---

" Did you hear yourself aldren? Sa tingin moba okay sakin itong magdesisyon na hindi ka man lang tinatanong ,yeah lets say we refused it we pay for the penalties, kahit na siraan ka ni mr park you can still go back to your position , because you are aldren de castro but what about me ?and the other employees? And to those students Maiiwan ako, kami and i have nothing, to stand up again "