"Wag mo sanang papabayaan si Roya. Wag mo sana siyang saktan, kasi alam kong patung patong na sakit na yung dinaramdam niya pero nagagawa niya pa ring tumawa. Sana sa pagkakataong kailangan ka niya, sana naroon ka sa tabi."
Paulit-ulit na sumasagi sa isip ko ang sinabi ni Chaya bago pa man mag umpisa ang kasal namin ni Roya.
I don't know but it hits me.
Kanina pa ako hindi mapakali sa swivel chair, I don't know. Ngayon lang naman ako nakaramdam ng ganito.
I loosen my neck tie to breath.
"Sir, Mr. Silverio is here." napatingin ako sa intercom. That's my secretary.
"Send him in." I replied.
"So this is how you celebrate your honeymoon." He said while having his grand entrance.
"How was it?" he added.
"Uncle, will you please." Awat ko sa kanya.
"Fuck it Raphael! Don't act as if you are a virgin." Then he chuckled.
"I don't want to think about it uncle." I just gave him a peck smile.
"Did you tell your mom and dad? They'll get shock. Knowing my Sister, maybe she'll have a mini heart attack."
"I'll tell them soon. Nag hihintay lang ako ng tiyempo." I replied.
"Can I ask you a favor?" in just a blink of an eye, he changed his expression into a very serious one.
"What?" knowing Uncle having that face right now, it's really serious.
"Can you get Chaya's number from your wife?" then he smile.
"Please." He added.
"For Christ sake Uncle, she's the same age as Roya! She's too young for you." sabi ko sa kanya.
"Come on Raphael, age is just numbers." Saka siya nag kibit balikat.
"Chaya has a very strong personality Uncle. She's Roya's complete opposite, can you tame her?" then a flash back of Roya's face appeared.
"Yeah. Also my dear nephew. Roya is not bad. So if you ever fall in love with her. It's a win-win situation."
"Oh please uncle. That won't happen." I gave him a smirk.
"You'll never tell."
"Just please give me Chaya's number. I am desperate." Sabi niya.
"I'll send it to you tomorrow, need to ask Roya first." I replied.
My uncle is giving me so much headache today.
"Wala ka bang meeting ngayon?" muli niyang tanong.
"Nakakapag taka ata." Dagdag pa niya.
"Wala ngayon, but tomorrow probably." Patuloy ko pa rin nilalaro ang ballpen na kanina ko pa hawak bago siya pumasok ng opisina ko.
"Isang kapirasong lupa nalang. Matatapos na lahat." Mahina kong sabi.
"Malay mo, kung kailan matatapos lahat. Doon mag uumpisa ang pag usbong ng pagmamahal mo sa kanya." Muling sabi ni uncle.
"Oh please uncle." Then I rolled my eyes.
We are on the middle of conversation when my phone rung.
It's her.
[hello?]
[Hi Babe, Na istorbo ba kita? Sorry.]
It was her sweet voice that makes me weak somehow.
[I'm quite busy, what is it?]
I said.
[A-no, lalabas sana ako with Chaya. Okay lang ba?]
Her voice is trembling. Bakit niya ba kailangang mag paalam. The hell I care.
[Yeah, it's fine.]
Yeah, I sound so cold.
[B-aka gabihin din ako.]
Much better tho.
[Okay. Oh, may I ask for Chaya's number by the way. Just in case.] I looked at my uncle. Yung ngiti niya ngayon, abot hanggang tenga.
She dictated the number.
[Okay, thanks. Be careful.]
Then I ended up the call.
"That was so cold, but thanks for this." When I handed him the piece of paper.
"She's not special. She's just a piece of paper."
.................................................................. "is she?"
BINABASA MO ANG
Galleria
RomanceFor Roya painting is an expression. Each of her paintings has different techniques and strokes but they always have the same color. A color that only depicts sadness, loneliness, and sorrow. How can a simple encounter on a bright sunny morning chang...
