NATALIA'S POV
I was resting after signing piles of documents when my phone suddenly rang. Seeing that it was my best friend Andrea, I picked it up right away.
[Hey, Andrea. What's up?] bati ko.
[Hello, Natalia. Uhm... do you have time today? Can we go out for lunch? I miss you.] sabi niya.
Napangiti ako. [Sure! Clear naman ang schedule ko this afternoon. Just send me the location, okay?]
[Okay, see you!] sagot niya bago ibaba ang tawag.
I checked my reflection using my phone screen. Medyo worn off na ang makeup ko, so I retouched it and tied my hair in a high ponytail.
I was wearing an MK poplin belted halter dress paired with beige JC Lang 100 patent-leather sandals.
Before heading out, I checked Andrea's message for the meet-up place. I drove to the Italian restaurant she mentioned and immediately spotted her sitting by a table near the glass window.
Tumayo siya nang makita akong papalapit. We hugged, and she kissed me on the cheek before we sat down.
"Miss me, huh?" biro ko.
Tumawa siya. "Of course."
Lumapit ang waiter para kuhanin ang aming mga order. We ordered the same food and drinks. Pagkaalis niya, biglang tumingin si Andrea nang diretso sa akin.
"How have you been?" tanong niya, may ngiti.
I rolled my eyes playfully "Stressed. Sobrang daming meetings lately. Good thing free ang afternoon ko today. I was actually just resting when you called."
"How are you and Christian?" tanong niya.
"We're okay." sagot ko. "Hindi lang talaga kami masyadong nagkikita lately. Busy kami pareho. Wala pa rin dito ang dad niya—nasa abroad pa handling company issues. Since Christian's the eldest and also the COO, siya ang in charge ngayon. We just talk over the phone. Every time he calls, he says he misses me. I miss him too, pero... wala talaga kaming magagawa for now."
"Kailan nga ulit ang wedding?" tanong niya.
Napakunot ang noo ko. "Next year. March 15. Remember, sinabi ko sa'yo a week after he proposed na tatapusin ko muna ang ten years ko sa company. After that, I'll step down as CEO and pass the position to Axel. December 10 ang last day ko. I'll rest, travel, do things I couldn't do while I was CEO. By January, saka kami mag-start mag-plan ng wedding. Christian's okay with it."
Tumango lang siya, pero hindi na nagsalita.
Dumating ang pagkain at nagsimula na kaming kumain. Pero habang abala siya sa pagkain, napansin kong parang may mali. Malayo ang tingin niya—parang may mabigat siyang iniisip.
"Andrea." tawag ko, catching her attention. "You look... bothered. Did I say something wrong? Or may problema ba?"
Hindi siya agad sumagot. Tinitigan niya lang ako, parang nagdadalawang-isip. Maya-maya, marahan niyang ibinaba ang kutsilyo at tinidor.
"Natalia..." pauna niya. "May kailangan akong sabihin sa'yo. Ito talaga ang dahilan kung bakit kita inaya today. Pero please... promise me you'll stay calm. Huwag ka munang mag-conclude."
Biglang bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko. Hindi ko alam kung bakit, pero kinabahan ako.
Ngumiti ako nang bahagya para itago ang kaba. "Yeah, sure. Ano 'yon?"
BINABASA MO ANG
Stupidly In Love Again
RomansaShe loved him once - quietly, completely, and without question. But timing was never on their side. Years later, fate dances them back into the same orbit, where old emotions stir and unspoken memories rise. She told herself she wouldn't fall again...
