"Meeting adjourned," Editor Silverio stated and got out first.
My co-workers let out a resigned sigh before gathering their things and got out of the conference, mumbling about this sort of CEO we had to work on in.
Slowly, I picked my pen and notepad from the table, my head wrapping around what just happened.
"Claire, usap lang kami ni Tate," I heard Magnus say.
Nag-angat ako ng tingin at nakitang tumango si Claire kay Magnus na malapit na sa amin. I knew what we'd be talking about.
"Pero be quick, ha," Claire answered while standing up. "Ma'am Madriaga might call us for an another meeting."
Magnus nodded, his serious eyes were on me. Unti-unti akong tumayo habang lumabas na si Claire. Kaming dalawa na lang ni Magnus dito.
"You okay?" he asked and went closer to me.
Hindi ako nakasagot. Nakatitig lang ako sa kanya habang malalim ang iniisip. 'Di pa rin ako makapaniwala sa mga narinig ko. Successful na siya ngayon at maraming mga media platfroms ang humahabol sa kanya—kasama na kami.
At ang section pa namin ang in-assign para sa kanya.
"Hey," Magnus nudged and I sighed, trying to brush my thoughts away but I couldn't.
"Magnus, si..." sabi ko pero hindi natuloy. I couldn't even say his name.
Paano kung magkita kami? He was surely mad at me. I knew the consequences of what I had done four years ago and that certainly included his rage to me.
I hurt him.
Kaya hangga't kaya ko, nanatili akong malayo sa kanya... sa kanilang lahat. Mahirap pero ayoko na kasing magkita ulit kami. The least I could do for him was to stay away. I shouldn't get in his way again and shouldn't be part of his life again.
He probably moved on and I owed him his peace of mind. Ayoko nang makagulo.
Pero lumiliit na naman ang mundo namin.
"What are your plans now?" Magnus asked and I stared at him.
"I don't know," I answered. This wasn't something I could run from. This was work.
"Don't let this ruin you again, please." Lumapit lalo sa 'kin si Magnus at hinawakan ang magkabilang siko ko, ang mga mata niya ay hinahanap ang akin. "You've been through enough already. Halos kababangon mo lang."
Tinitigan ko siya nang matagal. His eyes were pleading. Magnus was the only witness—aside from my family, of what I'd gone through the past years. Nakita niya akong lugmok na lugmok at kung paanong naiwala ko ang sarili ko noon kaya ngayon ay halos magmaka-awa siya na huwag akong bumalik doon.
BINABASA MO ANG
Apart but Chained
RomanceTate Arisse Zacarias came from a simple family and decided to take up Journalism at one of the best universities in the country. She left her family in the province to live her dream and to be of help to them someday―after her graduation. Then, she...
