Best Mistake

Chapter 25

Pinagmasdan ko ang bulaklak sa gitna ng aking desk.

And who's doing is this?

I pursed my lips and just decided to put the flowers aside.

There was a note. Sorry.

Right. White flowers from a sorry person.

Magkagalit ba kami kagabi?

I mean, of course, we were complicated yesterday, but we parted nice . . . I don't think there's a need of it.

Ilang mga mata ang nakatunghay. Ilan naman pasilip-silip. Ang ilan nangingiti.

Pero isa ang bukod tangi.

"Tss."

Napabuga ako ng hininga sa katabi ko.

Maybe I could do something about my spot? Nakakahiya naman kasi at parang ang laki-laki kong sakit ng ulo sa kaniya?

Hindi ko na pinansin ang suplado kong katabi at nagpatuloy na lang sa ginagawa.

May mga naiwan pa kahapon pero madali na lang iyon. At hindi naman karamihan ang aasikasuhin ko ngayon kaya talagang maayos na ako.

Things were that stable already until I heared some faint noises.

Voices of men. Talking. Approaching.

Napatayo ako nang makita sa harap ko ang boss ko. Kasama si Sebastiane.

Dahan-dahan naman ang pag-tayo ko, pero ang kabog ng dibdib ko ay walang kasing lakas.

"Good morning, Miss Zamora."

Nakaramdam ako ng hiya nang siya pa ang unang bumati sa akin.

Persephone, ikaw ang empleyado.

"Good morning, Mr. Lagdameo." Bahagya akong tumango. "I didn't mean to act unpleasant yesterday, so I ask pardon—"

"No, no, no. No worries, iha. I do understand Zamoras have such temper." Tumawa siya nang magaan at pinagmasdan ako. Tila ba nakatutuwa ako masiyado para magalit siya sa kabastusan ko kahapon. "You surely got your might from your tirant of a father, Marco. It's alright. I wouldn't risk angering any of Maleah's bloodline. And by the way, galing pala siya kahapon dito."

Nagsalubong ang mga kilay ko.

Granny? She was here yesterday? Anong ginawa niya rito?

Natawa ang boss ko nang makita yata ang mga katanungan ko sa mukha.

"Oh, she was just checking on you. Kung maayos ba ang lagay mo rito. Kaya nga nahiya ako, Maleah's a stock holder, and a close friend of mine, and here is her heiress, working on a cubicle. My apologies. Kaya inasikaso ko na agad ang opisina mo— "

"Oh. No." Pinutol ko siya dahil hindi na ako natutuwa.

This is not cool anymore.

Ano ba'ng gustong patunayan ng lola? Is she that worried about her reputation that she'll go up until this extent? Para lang palabasing ayos kami? Gayong ang totoo ay nakabukod ako, hindi dahil gusto kong tumayo mag-isa, kundi dahil sumama ako sa Mama at kapatid ko nang itapon niya sila palabas.

I never liked playing the filths of using the ties, just because I came from a 'powerful' family. I'm no playing with power.

"That is so kind of you, Mr. Lagdameo, but I can not just get my self to accept something I know I shouldn't. It does not suit my position—"

"Oh no, dear, technically, whatever's in the name of your Dad and your Granny is yours. Sa'yo lang naman lahat pupunta. And I'm not a sadist to let you be in —"

Hindi ko na siya pinakinggan.

I don't know how I'm doing it, but I just shut him down in my head.

Wala akong magagawa kung ipipilit niya iyan. After all, his gestures were in favor of me. But I know what my grandmother is doing. She's meddling with my things again in order to get on my way.

"With all due respect, Mister. My granny's still alive. So things aren't yet valid. I don't own anything. I appreciate the gesture but I would love it more if you're gonna be considerate enough to weigh my decisions too."

Hindi ko na alam kung saan ito patungo, pero sandali lamang na natigilan ang boss ko bago muling natawa.

"If . . . that's what you want. But still, the office was already prepared and there's no way I'll be revoking it. Just feel free to have which ever." Iyon lang at malapag ang ngiting tumango siya sa akin at nag-paalam kay Sebastiane.

Naupo ako ng dahan-dahan.

Is he that afraid of my Grandmother? That he can't say no to her requests?

Umiling na lang ako at iwinalit ang mga iyon.

Eyes were still on me I know that.

But I am not in the trance to think of their eyes anymore.

My grandmother is seriously getting on my nerves.

Gustong-gusto niya akong panatilihin sa puder niya gayong pilit niyang sinisira ang Mama at si Matheus.

I can't even put in to words how that of a devil she is. Her filths and her dirty mischiefs.

I can not just do anything but to hate and hate her even more.

Ipinipilit niyang sa akin ipasa lahat, gayong nariyan ang mga uhaw kong Tita. Nakaabang sa kaniya. Sunod-sunuran. Just because they were all after the biggest treasure the family has.

But I  am no near what they are.

I swore never to be such, and I won't just swallow any of it. I know I might be the rightful owner of it, but I'm just afraid my grandmother might use it all against me as well. I'm afraid she's just after my side, to completely get rid of my real family. Mama and Matheus.

Hindi ko namalayang wala pa pala akong nagagawa uli.

I was in a deep thought I was not able to realize I was wasting time.

Agad kong ginalaw ang mga papel ko sa lamesa at nagpasiyang asikasuhin sila.

Pero napansin ko rin na may mga matang nakatuon sa bandang likod ko .

Kahit ang katabi kong wala dapat pakialam sa mundo ay paminsan minsang lumilingon sa likod ko, o di kaya'y sa akin.

That's when I remembered him!

Sebastiane!

He was behind me all the time!

Nilingon ko ang mga bulaklak.

Napapikit ako. Dumilat.

Nilingon ang ibang tao sa paligid. Hindi na ako magtataka kung babagsak ang kompanya gayong kami na lang yata ang inatupag ng lahat ng empleyado. They were all busy watching us as if we're way more significant than their works.

Ano na lang ang iniisip ng mga ito?

That there's something between us?

Wait . . . what's in between us anyway?