(S.P.U. Series #2) Lost Steps (COMPLETED)

Chapter 34

Chapter 34

"Maiwan ko na kayong dalawa, ha?" sabi ni Cassy kaya naputol ang titigan naming dalawa ni Cia. "Usap well!" sigaw niya bago tuluyang naka-layo ang kanyang sasakyan.

Cia cleared her throat which made me look at her. Hawak ko pa rin 'yung doorknob hanggang ngayon. I exhaled a sigh.

Binabawi ko na 'yung sinabi kong nag-mature na si Cassy.

God, I can't believe what was happening. I'm not yet ready to face the only person who made me laugh and cry at the same time!

She cleared her throat once again. "Can I ask for a ten minutes of your day?" she asked.

"Ah—" I was about to speak but then, my phone inside my pocket suddenly vibrated. I awkwardly raised my phone and shook it in front of her. "I'll just take this," I said, awkwardly smiling.

She nodded. "Okay," she replied before looking down to her intertwined hands.

Pumasok ako ng kaunti sa loob ng apartment saka sinagot 'yung kung sino man ang tumatawag. "Val?"

"Gab, uy! Busy ka?" bungad na tanong niya.

I scratched my nape. "Hindi naman. Why?"

"Kasi 'yung kapatid ng jowa ko, bumili ng bagong condo tapos naghahanap siya ng magde-design ng interior. So, nabanggit niya sa akin tapos ikaw kaagad 'yung naisip ko!" mabilis at sunod-sunod niyang sagot.

Agad namang nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa sinabi niya. "Sure, pwede ako."

"Nandito nga kami ngayon sa isang coffee shop sa mall. Kaya kung 'di ka naman busy, punta ka na dito tapos usap na lang kayong dalawa," Val replied, and then I heard the barista calling her name. "Punta ka na lang ha!" she loudly said from her line before hanging up the call.

Mabilis kong ibinaba ang phone saka ako lumabas ng apartment. Mukhang nabuhayan si Cia nung makita niya ulit ako. I looked at her eyes and saw her eagerness to talk to me.

For the nth time, I exhaled a sigh.

There was an opportunity waiting for me out there. And I know what to do first. I know my priorities... and unfortunately, she became the last on my priority list.

Ano ba 'yan. Paano ko ba 'to sasabihin?

I fought the urge to scratch my nape in front of her. It's not as if gustong gusto ko siyang maka-usap. Hindi pa nga ako ready para doon, e.

"Ah, about what you said earlier, I..." I trailed off, I was suddenly distracted with her eyes. Parang napakaraming emosyon 'yung naipon dun. "I can't make it. I'm busy today. Hope you understand." I tried my fucking best to show off a smile.

She smiled back to me. But it wasn't really looked like a smile. Kasi 'yung mga labi niya lang 'yung naka-ngiti, hindi kasama 'yung mga mata niya. "O-Okay. I'm sorry for disturbing you. I'll just go now," she said, noticeably stuttering.

I merely nodded. "O-Okay," I responded before watching her retreating back got further away from me.

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I was extremely nervous... however, I managed to pull my first project off. Kinakabahan ako kasi ito 'yung unang client ko! I needed to exert way too much of my time and effort with this—which what I will probably do in all of my clients. Impressions may not last forever, but they were still important. Especially in the field of my career.