To-get-her Again

Chapter 3: Past

I was stunned after the meeting. I couldn't say another word when they got back from the presentation. Hindi na rin ako nakipagkuwentuhan kina Vince at Angieline kahit na kinukulit nila ako.

"Yana, okay ka lang ba? Pagkatapos ng meeting naging gan'yan ka na," nag-aalalang tanong ni Angieline sa akin.

My lips were set in a hard line. I can't answer that. Ayos nga lang ba ako? I saw him again. What would be my reaction? Happy? Excited?

"Oo nga. Na-stunned ka pa kanina sa harap ni Papa Theo? Ang guwapo niya, 'no?" sambit ni Vince.

Umirit silang dalawa sa harap ko. I don't want to hear his name again. I'll never tell them anything about my past because I didn't intend to reminisce about it. I intend to forget it. Should I resign? I don't want to see him. We're done ever since that day.

"Yana?"

Napatingin ako sa lalaking lumapit sa akin. Nagulat pa ako when I saw Joseph smiling at me. I licked my lips and nodded. "Yes?"

"Can I talk to you for a minute?"

I creased my forehead. Tahimik na ngayon ang dalawa sa tabi ko, kumakain. It's our lunch break but I don't have any appetite.

"Okay. Excuse me," I mumbled before going with Joseph.

"I'll return this muna," paalam ko kay Joseph.

Sabay kaming naglakad patungo sa counter. Ibababa ko na sana ang plato ko nang makitang ibaba na rin ng lalaking hindi ko mapangalanan ang kanya.

I can see in my peripheral vision that he's eyeing me while I stopped walking, and instead, I looked at the floor. We're both standing and waiting for each other. But I'm not going to talk to him nor look at him. There's no point in me doing that.

I must admit, my heart is beating too fast. It's my first time to be this close with him again. Kung kailan nakalimutan ko na siya at hindi ko na siya mahal, saka siya dumating.

"Hey, Yana?" Joseph interrupted my thoughts.

Kumurap ako. Without a second thought, I gave Joseph my plate and leave.

I sighed deeply when I entered the comfort room. I looked at myself in the reflection. My eyes were red and my lips were trembling a bit.

I realized that we're both so different now. We definitely changed, that's why I'm determined to look forward. I'm not going to be that Yana again who got her heart broken because of the petty word called love.

"Yana, ayos ka lang ba talaga?" nag-aalalang tanong ni Angieline nang makita ko siyang pumasok sa CR.

I glanced at her. I faced her, hugging myself. I pursed my lips.

"I have to ask you about something," I chatted.

Tumigil si Angieline sa harap ko. I hemmed and readied myself to ask for her advice.

"What if someone in your past suddenly popped up out of nowhere and messed your life again? What would you do?"

Nagseryoso ang mukha niya. She eyed me suspiciously but let herself think for a second.

"Are we talking about a person in the past? Nagpakita ulit sa present after a long time?" she asked.

I bit my lip and nodded.

"Kung bumalik si past sa present, magugulo talaga ang lahat. Well, may iba't ibang ibig sabihin...like, gusto niyang bumalik sa buhay mo o gusto ng closure, hindi pa nakakapag-move on, o hindi naman kaya gusto ng another chance."