"Sorry ma'am, but Miss Maraguinot is currently on a 2 weeks leave since Monday."
The women at the reception desk said after asking if I could talk to Jho.
Napakunot noo ako.
"Leave?"
"Yes ma'am. Do you have an appointment with Miss Maraguinot today? We can make adjustments with the schedule if that's okay with you."
Napabuntong hininga ako.
It's been 3 days since that fiasco happened at the cafe, and today, kasalukuyan akong nasa company kung saan nagtatrabaho si Jho, nagbabakasakaling makita at makausap ko siya ulit. But I think luck is not on my side today.
"Uh miss, can I ask for her address instead?"
Napangiwi yung babae. "Sorry ma'am, but we are not allowed to give out personal informations of our employees."
Of course I know that. Why did I even tried asking.
I nodded in dismay. "Okay. Thank you."
Disappointed akong lumabas at bumalik sa kotse.
2 weeks leave? Bakit naman siya hindi papasok sa work ng 2 weeks? May nangyari ba? May pinuntahan ba siya?
I sighed deeply.
Hindi ko na alam ang gagawin ko. Simula nung pag uusap na nangyari sa cafe nung nakaraan parang nawawalan na ako ng pag asa.
Hindi ko na kasi siya maintindihan eh. Did I do something for her to act that way? Is this all about that kiss in Batanes? Pero impossible yon because maayos naman siyang umalis that time. Or so I thought.
I squeezed my eyes shut at madiin na sinandal ang ulo ko sa sandalan.
Hindi ko talaga alam kung matatawa ba ako or kung maiinis sa nangyayari. I already found her, but now I don't know where to find her again. It's like running back in circle. I can't wait for 2 weeks para makausap siya ulit. That's too tagal pa! And hindi ko rin naman alam kung saan siya nakatira. What would I do? Isa isahan lahat ng residential buildings dito?
Jho, anong meron ka at bakit nagkakaganto ako sayo?
Napahagod ako sa buhok at natawa ng kaunti.
Siguro nga nababaliw kana, Beatriz. Sino ba naman ang magkakaganto sa isang taong nakasama lang nila ng sobrang ikling oras?
Maybe Ponggay's right.
Maybe she was just that girl in my memory that I wanted to store in a bottle inside my head. Maybe it was all just a fleeting feeling because I got to be with her like no other. And now that she's acting so different from how I knew her then, baka hindi ko lang matanggap yung totoo na hindi ko nga talaga siya kilala kaya ako nagkakaganto.
She's just a stranger, Bea. Just a stranger.
---------
"Ayos ka lang, Bei?"
Napabalik ako sa wisyo ng hawakan ni Jules ang braso ko.
"Yeah. I'm fine."
"Wag mo na muna guluhin yan Jules." Ponggay suddenly said. "She's probably thinking about Jhoana again."
Napakunot noo ako sa kanila at mas piniling abutin sa kamay nya yung chips at tahimik na kumain.
It's been 3 days since I went to Jho's workplace only to find out that she was on a 2 weeks leave. 3 days also ng pag eeffort to stop myself from going out para hanapin siya. And 3 days of trying so hard not to think about her, which I'm failing miserably.
