Parallel Intersection

Chapter 32

Nanigas ako sa aking kinauupuan nang umupo si Joe sa aking harapan. Ilang buwan na ba kaming hindi nag-uusap? Six months? I think almost seven.

"First, I would like to formally greet everyone, good morning!" Itinuon ko na lamang ang aking atensyon kay Miss Ty na abot-langit ang ngiti sa harapan.

We were with six people. There were two men, who I think were both on their fifties, wearing a tuxedo, and four women, two of them looks young, while the two were like same age with Miss Ty. All very formal.

Buti na lang dahil nakasuot naman ako ng dark blue slacks paired with my tucked white tank top, revealing my belt, covered with dark blue blazer and a three-inches black stiletto.

"I am here with my secretary, Era." She pointed out her secretary who's sitting beside me. "And two of our in-demand models, Joe, and Jam." She added, looking at us.

I smiled at everyone. Nahagip ng aking tingin si Joe ngunit hindi niya man lang ako tinapunan ng tingin. Wow, ganon ba siya ka-loyal kay Glaiza?

"We would like to grab this opportunity to thank you for choosing to work with us. My models and I haven't talked about this offer but I guess, they would agree right away." I opened the folders in front of me. Iyon ata ang kontrata for this project.

"Regatta's known to be one of the leading clothing style here in the Philippines. It is our honor to take part in your project."

Marami pang sinabi si Miss Ty patungkol sa proyekto kasama ang Regatta. Most were words of praises about the said company. Ngunit isa lamang ang nag sink-in sa aking utak.

I'll get to fucking work with Joe after a fucking seven months of not seeing him, or him totally ignoring me.

It would be a three-day shoot at Las Casas. Parang kailan lamang ay panay ang shared posts ko tungkol sa resort na iyon. Who would've thought my modelling career would actually serve as my travel key?

Hindi ko nga lang alam kung dapat ko ba iyong ikatuwa. Sure, I can have a lot of instagrammable photos, but I must not forget the fact that I'll be with Joe! Baka mamatay ako sa kaba!

"Oh!" Mabilis akong tumayo nang maramdaman ang mahinang paniniko ni Era sa akin.

Tapos na pala ang meeting ngunit heto ako, lutang na lutang. I stood up to greet those big people of Regatta.

"It's actually an honor to have the two of you. We personally picked the both of you." Puri sa amin ng isa sa mga big bosses ng nasabing clothing line.

"Thank you!" I played with my tongue as we both said it in unison.

'Wag ka ngang assumera, Jam! Kaya umaasa e. I composed myself and shook my hands with them. Hinatid sila ni Era palabas.

"I'm sorry about this sudden project." Miss Ty gave us an apologetic smile.

"When would it be again?" Lagi na lang akong napapalunok tuwing naririnig ang boses ni Joe.

"It's on Friday pa naman, Joe. You'll go there early in the morning and leave on Sunday evening." Paliwanag ni Miss Ty habang binabaling din ang tingin sa akin. "Do you have work on that, Jam?"

Halos mapatalon ako sa aking kinauupuan. I shook my head. "Wala naman. I'll just file a leave on Friday." Paliwanag ko sa kanya.

Pagkatapos nito ay magiging abala ulit ako para sa fashion week sa New York by Christmas. It's my first time to spend it without my family.

"How about you, Joe? Are you busy with PBA?" Palihim kong tiningnan si Joe na hanggang ngayon ay hindi man lang ako tinatapunan ng tingin.

"I'll just inform my coach. I'm sure they'll understand it."

Oh! So he have a game on Friday?

"Don't they have second option?" Mabilis kong tinikom ang aking bibig nang maisip na sumobra na naman ang aking bibig.

Miss Ty sighed. "Oh! They actually have. If you can't come, I can inform Stell about it."

My mouth formed an 'o' upon hearing Stell's name. Hindi ko iyon masyadong nakikita dahil masyadong busy sila sa kanilang worldwide concert tour.

"That's great! Well, at least, Joe can still-"

"We're workmates, Miss Quin." He said, sounding annoyed.

Wala sa sarili akong tumango. "Yeah. We are. As your workmate, I am just concerned that your teammates might need you to ace the game." Dire-diretso kong paliwanag sa kanila. Nararamdaman ko na rin ang panlalamig ng aking mga kamay.

He shifted on his seat and looked at me in the eye. He was looking at me as if he's trying to looked through my soul.

"Really? Or you're just itching to work with him?" Tinaasan ko ito ng kilay. "Sorry, but I won't let you." Masungit nitong saad bago muling binalingan si Miss Ty. "I'll be there on Friday." He said before dismissing us.

I let out a deep breath. Kanina pa pala ako hindi humihinga habang kausap si Joe. Miss Ty coughed.

"What did I miss?" She innocently asked me.

Mabilis akong umiling at saka tumayo na rin. "He's just overreacting." I said before storming out of the office, annoyed.

Tahimik kong pinagdasal na sana ay bumagal ang oras. Ngunit hindi naman ito sa akin nakisama dahil paggising ko ay Huwebes na.

"Putangina!" Impit kong tili matapos ipasa ang aking leave para bukas.

Sana naman kahit ngayon lang, bumagal ang oras. Ayoko pa talagang mag biyernes. Kaso wala e. I needed to go there tonight. Alam kong hindi ako makakagising ng maaga.

"Ingat ka!" Yohan said, teasing me. I rolled my eyes.

"Lagi naman." I defensively said while she let out a loud bark of laughter.

"Mali mali naman kasi 'to si Yohan magpa-alala e!" John hissed. Ang sarap kutusan ng mga kaibigan kong 'to. "Ingatan ang puso. Baka atakehin sa sobrang pag-assume!"

I fisted my hands and showed it to John. Nagtawanan naman ang tatlo. Mga walang-hiya 'to.

"Mali kayo. Dapat si Joe pinag-iingat natin kay Jam e!" Dagdag pa ni Aries na mas ikinatuwa ng dalawang loko.

"Pm ko kaya 'yon! Sabihan ko mag-ingat siya!" Namilog ang aking mga mata habang hinahanap ni Yohan ang kanyang cellphone.

"Tumigil ka nga!" Protesta ko sa kanya. She only winked at me.

"Better safe than sorry!" Pakanta pa nitong tugon bago ni-lock ang kwarto namin.

Tangina!

"Tara na po, Ma'am!" Kukulitin ko pa sana si Yohan kaya lang ay dumating na si Manong.

Masama kong tiningnan ang dalawa kong kaibigan. "Wala kayong pasalubong sa akin!" Singhal ko bago tuluyang umalis na.

I asked Manong kung kumain na ba siya and he said yes. Si Manong ay isa sa mga personal driver ni Miss Ty. Binibigyan ko rin ito ng tip dahil may mga anak pa itong pinag-aaral.

We reached Las Casas around eleven in the evening. Traffic kasi kaya ganoon. Inagahan na nga namin ang biyahe ngunit ginabi pa rin kami.

Sasagutin ng Regatta lahat dito ngunit dahil biglaan ang desisyon kong tumulak ng maaga, sinabi ko sa kanila na ako na lang ang gagastos sa stay namin ni Manong ngayong gabi.

I did my night routine and opened the  old classic window. Makaluma kasi ang style ng buong resort. Pakiramdam ko tuloy ako si Maria Clara. Kahit ganoon ang ayos ng kanilang hotel ay air-conditioned pa rin naman ang mga silid.

Tahimik kong pinagmasdan ang payapang kalangitan. The place is screaming of tranquility. I could get lost in this ambience.

Sana ganito rin ka-payapa ang aking isipan. I looked at the stars who are brightly shining. I know one of them is Carly.

I stretched my hand, trying to get a hold of it. I smiled when I realized how unreachable it was.

Daya naman. Wala naman sa kalangitan si Joe ngunit pakiramdam ko ang layo-layo ko sa kanya. Ang hirap niyang abutin.