Blind Shot (ON-HOLD)

FOURTEEN

Zach pulled over his car in his office building's parking space. For the third time.

Oo, tatlong beses na siyang nagpaikot-ikot sa lugar sa loob ng mahigit apat na oras.

Bumaling siya kay Gabrielle na noo'y mahimbing na natutulog sa passenger's seat.

Naiiling na lang si Zach. He couldn't believe that he was actually doing this. Una, hindi niya sinipot ang client niya kanina. Pangalawa, heto siya't tatlong beses nang nagpaikot-ikot sa lugar dahil hindi niya ito magawang gisingin.

This is crazy.

He looked at her again. She looked like she hadn't slept for days. She looked dead tired that it's only understandable why he couldn't bring himself to wake her up. Nakakaawa naman kasi.

He suddenly remembered the scene at the coffee shop earlier. Bigla niyang naramdaman ang paggalaw ng sariling mga panga.

Now he knew why she tried to kill herself. Her fiancé cheated on her and actually got someone else pregnant.

That bastard!

Nagpakawala siya ng isang malalim na hininga upang pakalmahin ang sarili. Hindi niya alam kung bakit but yes, he was affected.

Humanity, dude. Humanity.

Yes, that must be it. What else could it be?

Naramdaman niyang nag-vibrate ang kanyang cellphone. It was Kareen, his assistant. She had been calling him for countless times now, which he didn't answer.

Nagpakawala muna siya ng isang malalim na hininga bago ito sinagot.

"Ohmigod, Architect Zach!" Kareen shrieked from the other end of the line. "Thank God, you're fine! Akala ko napano ka na. Kanina pa kita tinatawagan."

"I'm sorry about that but yes, I'm fine," aniya sa mahinang boses. He didn't want to wake Gabrielle up.

"Kanina pa po pabalik balik sina Architect Oli dito sa office, hinahanap kayo. Ba't 'di n'yo daw sinipot 'yong client kanina?"

"I had an emergency. But I already texted the client. I already said sorry. Na-resched ko na din 'yong meeting bukas," he explained.

"Asan ba kayo ngayon, Architect? Ba't 'di pa po kayo nakakabalik dito sa office? I need you to sign something. Saka may meeting po kayo later at five."

He checked his wrist watch, it's almost two in the afternoon.

"Don't worry, I'll be there," aniya dito.

He just ended the call nang maramdaman niya ang paggalaw ni Gabrielle. Nag-unat-unat ito at saka dahan-dahang nagbukas ng mga mata. She looked around his car like she was confused on where she was.

Nang magtama ang kanilang mga mata ay saka pa lang ito tila nahimasmasan. Biglang nanlaki ang mga mata nito nang ma-realize ang nangyari.

"Ohmigod!" She checked the time on her watch. "Hala, mag-a-alas dos na?!" baling nito sa kanya. "Ba't 'di mo ako ginising?!"

"You looked so tired," aniya.

"Kahit na," anito bago bumaling sa labas. "Where are we?"

"Nasa parking lot ng office building ko."

"Kanina pa tayo dito?" baling nito sa kanya.

"Not exactly. I drove around the area for like three times already."

"Ohmigod!" Bigla itong nagtakip ng mukha. She looked embarrassed. "Bakit hindi mo ako ginising?"

"You looked too tired," pag-uulit niya.