Whatever We Had

Thirty-three

#WWH33

33

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Stalker

"Sa tingin mo ba handa na si Ari na kausapin ako?" I asked Russ who's busy roaming his eyes around the furniture. 

Namimili kami ng mga furniture na babagay sa design nung interior designer ng bahay nila ni Cleo sa Afttrieth. May disenyo na iyon at sinisimulan na rin ang construction. Paminsan minsan ay dumadaan ako to check on my workers. I am the head engineer of that project ngunit abala rin ako sa VDC kaya hindi masyadong natututukan. Ayos lang iyon dahil may karelyebo naman ako doon na galing din sa VDC.

Tumingin siya sa akin at ngumiti nang malungkot. "I don't know, Wraia. She doesn't want to hear a thing from you." I frowned at that. "Ni hindi niya nga alam na kasama ka namin umuwi kasi di ko na binanggit. I bet she doesn't want to hear it, too."

Tumango naman ako doon. "Naiintindihan ko naman kung ayaw niya pa." Gusto ko na rin naman kasing makausap si Ari. Mahigit dalawang linggo na kami dito ngunit hindi pa ako gumagawa ng hakbang para ireach out siya. I don't know if I'm just giving her more time or I'm really just acting like a coward.

"I miss my best friend," ani ko.

Sure, I gained friends when I was in Caldiverg ngunit kailanman walang humigit kay Ari. 

"Carrie misses you too, I'm sure. Nagtatampo lang 'yon. She's not that hard to please, you know?"

"I know that. Nahihiya lang rin kasi ako," pag amin ko.

"Want me to help you out?" He offered.

"Eh..." His offer is tempting. However, I want to do this on my own. Ako naman ang nang iwan nang walang paalam. Nadamay lang naman si Russ. It's a good thing that Ari was rational enough and didn't include Russ in her resentment against me.

Mapaglaro niya akong inakbayan. "C'mon, Wraia. I know how to make her talk to you," pangungumbinsi niya at nagtaas baba pa ang kilay. "Di mo na ba ko kailangan ngayon?" Madrama niya pang tanong nang titigan ko lang siya.

"It's fine, Russ, really," I convinced him. Sinamahan ko iyon ng malapad na ngiti para mas kapani-paniwala. "I'll talk to her on my day off or something. Can I have her number instead?"

After placing our orders, we went back to pick up Cleo at the mall's play area which is located at the top floor. This establishment is newly constructed here in Foretrieth. Nang paalis na ako noon patungong Caldiverg ay pinaplano pa lang ang mall na ito, according to what my dad heard. 

"Mommy, Daddy!" Cleo shouted which gave us the spotlight we didn't ask for. Cleo's still inside the play area and is happily jumping in those small plastic balls. 

"Your kid's too loud," I commented as we walked near the counter.

Russ pulled off a defensive stance. "Ano? She didn't get that from me. Tahimik kaya ako."

"I didn't say anything." Wala naman akong sinabing sa kan'ya nagmana. Napakadefensive.

When Monday came, I was already determined to pick up where I left off. Yung mga bagay na naiwan ko, susubukan kong kuhain iyon pabalik. 

I looked up to see the hotel's facade while comparing it to the picture I have in my phone. I drove in this high-end hotel where I would meet the business woman who bought Amiss. Binigay lang sa akin ni Khris ang details ng meet up at kung sino ang imemeet. I didn't research on this woman. I just know she's named Kaith, and is probably on her early 50s.