The Day He Said Goodbye

Prologue

Disclaimer:

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, settings, events, and situations are either the product of the author's imagination or used in fictitious manner, unless otherwise stated. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, establishments, and actual events are purely coincidental.

Note: I used some events that are actually happening in Cebu, such as Sinulog celebration and stuff, where the story is being set. However, specific incidents in the story are just purely fictional.

This is the first story that I posted. Mostly lagi kasing nasa drafts lang ng laptop ko lahat ng kwentong ginagawa ko. Katuwaan lang talaga ang mga sinusulat ko. For this one I decided ma-try nga magpost. Feeling matapang hahaha. Anyway, you will most likely see errors and stuff kasi unedited pa po. Pagbigyan po. Will get back to them later. And yes po hindi po ako legit na tagalog speaker, so please bear with me.

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I was rummaging through different designs na nakalatag sa table ko. Ngayon kasi darating yung client ng firm namin. Sobrang pressure binigay sa akin ni Mr. Cruz kasi apparently kamag-anak ng in-law niya yung client. I'm grateful though sa boss ko, 2 years pa lang kasi ako sa firm pero binigyan nya na ako ng big break. 

Well aside sa grumaduate naman ako na Summa Cum Laude, napabilang din ako sa Top 10 nung Archi Board Exam, kaya siguro may tiwala si boss sa akin. I was filing all the designs I will be presenting nang may kumatok sa wall ng cubicle ko.

"Gab, in 10 minutes dapat andun na daw tayo sa conference room" paalala sa kin ni Arden.

"Sige I'll just do a final check if may kulang then will proceed right away" I assured him.

"Congrats in advance. Celebrate tayo later" He said in assuring voice.

"Oh no wala pa ngang approval ni client eh. Nang-jijinx ka bah?"

Sobrang kaba ko na sa estado ko ngayon feeling ko susuka ako during presentation. I've done lots of presentation pero ngayon lang talaga na ako ang main na hahawak sa project and I feel like lalamunin na ako ng lupa sa sobrang kaba plus the pressure na sobrang important ito kay boss.

Napansin guro ni Arden yung kaba ko kaya pumasok siya. He patted slightly my shoulder.

"Hey. I know you'll do great" I smiled. Arden really knows how to calm me. He's in the finance department. Kasabayan ko rin siya dito sa firm. As in nagkasundo kami agad from the day of orientation kasi sobrang chill lang talaga niya and we came from the same university.

Arden and I were already seated sa conference room ng biglang pumasok si boss kasabay ng client namin. Tumayo kami para I-greet sila. The client seems someone who is nice naman. She was like in her early 50's and she looked very sophisticated. Halatang napapabilang sa mataas na antas ng lipunan.

"So shall we we begin?" Panimula ng boss ko.

Huminga ako ng malalim bago pa man pumunta sa harapan. Nakita ko rin si Arden na nag-two thumbs up pa. Ngumiti ako at sinimulan ang presentation. Mariin nakatitig sa akin ang client na nakilala kong si Madam Leonor Irene Arellano.

First time ko pa na meet ang client kasi kakadating pa lang nya from a business trip abroad. Kilala siya bilang isang real estate mogul. She is known for establishing and investing in major establishments dito man sa Pinas or abroad. For this project, nagbigay lang ng ideas ang boss ko sa gusto ipatayo ng client. I ended up making 3 designs to present to her. This project is apparently different from all her other projects since this will be something personal. She wanted a private own resort somewhere in Badian, situated in southern part of Cebu. 

As per boss, this project is somehow sentimental for her since this will be dedicated to her late husband. Hindi ko maiwasang mainggit. Imagine creating a masterpiece for your beloved one and everyday you get to be honored by the mere existence of that property. I remembered someone who used to promise something like that. But things happened and next thing I knew I was reminded that promises are meant to be broken.

Di ko matantya kung anong iniisip ni Madam Arellano pero ayaw ko madistract kaya patuloy ako sa pagpresent until I was on my third design, which actually was inspired by our used to be family rest house in Daanbantayan. It was the pride of our family, especially Papa, until it was sold off when he got sick. It was really one of the darkest days in my life. 

Though na sustentohan namin ang medical needs ni Papa, his body really surrendered in the end. I promised Papa on the day sa libing niya that someday I'll get it back for him. Kaya naman todo kayod ko kasi last time I heard it is out for sale kasi mag-mamigrate na yung owner. Oh I just wished madami akong projects to earn enough to get it back.

Back to my presentation, napansin ko na mukhang interesado si Madam Arellano sa pangatlo kong design and I can't help but feel a little relieved na at last isa sa designs ko ang kumuha ng atensyon niya.

"I am very pleased with all the designs Ms. Reyes, but I can't help but get amazed with the one you last presented. It's exactly how I envisioned my dream project" Mas lalong lumuwag ang dibdib ko knowing she liked it. I can't help but noticed also yung proud na mukha ni Boss at Arden with my design.

"Well Mrs. Arellano, Ms. Reyes is one of the outstanding Architects we have in this firm. She never really disappoints me, not even once." Pagmamalaki ng boss ko. He was like a father who can't help but be proud of his daughter.

"Then I feel assured that this will be a successful one. I can't wait to start the project" I looked at Madam Arellano and gaved her my warmest smile.

"I am very honored po for this project. I will make sure to satisfy you po". I assured her.

Nilapitan ako ni Arden who secretly gave me a high five.

" I told you so" sabi ni Arden habing tinitigan niya ako with proud eyes. I can't help but smile widely.

"By the way, I told Mr. Cruz here na this would be a joint project since I'll be acquiring the engineering service from another firm" sabi ni Madam habang inaabot sa akin ang isang folder.

I was browsing through the files in the folder regarding the engineering firm that we will be working with. Hindi naman ito ang unang beses na nakig-collaborate kami with other engineering firm. Sa dami na rin ng projects ng company namin, it's really a help na makigcollaborate with other firm and mostly naman magkakilanlan kami within the industry. 

I was almost at the last page nang parang nanglabo yung paningin ko for a second when I came across the name of someone. Someone I am trying my best to forget all these years. Someone who up to this day I can't seem to move on from. Why? It's been 6 years already. I keep telling myself na I don't need a closure to move one, but here I am just got easily shaken by his name printed on this paper. Damn that name! Even in my dreams it keeps hunting me.

Engr. Calixto Ike Gonzaga. Project Head Engineer

"Okay ka lang ba?" Arden noticed my shift of mood. Napaangat ako ng ulo ko at tipid ko siyang nginitian nang biglang may kumatok sa pinto.

"Ah baka andito na yung sa engineering firm". Sabi ni Madam at tumayo habang hinihintay ang pagbukas ng pinto. Bigla akong namutla hoping ibang tao ang darating. God please not him. I'm not yet ready. Di man lang ako nakapaglipstick ng red para tipong I'm not bothered ang peg ko if this would be the day na magkikita kami ulit. Suddenly I became conscious. Damn nakapag-push up bra ba ako ngayon? Shocks buhaghag ba yung buhok ko. Gosh I don't want to look awful right now. 

Nanlalamig na ang kamay ko at parang natatae na yung mukha ko sa sobrang kaba. Mas kabado pa ako kay sa presentation ko kanina lang.

Nang bumukas ang pinto ramdam ko parang binuhusan ako ng malamig na tubig. No scratch that. Feeling ko nag ice bucket challenge ako because there he is standing in front of me, still giving me the chills he gave me the first time we met. 

Damn 6 years, and he's still giving me that look, that stare, those eyes that still affect me even after the day he said goodbye.