Since umuwi ako ng Laguna at doon ako nanggagaling for almost a week already, si Agnes lang lagi yung naiiwan sa condo. Ewan ko nga kung anong kinakain nun eh. Malamang puro prito lang.
At sa totoo lang, feeling ko mas pagod ako dahil sa pabalik-balik na drive. Kailangan ko pa rin kasi magreport sa office. Pero somehow I am happy na umuwi ako ng Laguna kasi everyday, si Charlie ang kasabay kong pumapasok. I can't help but glance at her everytime na sabay kaming dalawa. Feeling ko things between us are starting to be normal again. Nakakapagkwentuhan na ulit kami and sometimes we would stay muna sa gas station for dinner and Charlie would often talk about how work was and all those things.
At dahil half-day lang ako sa office dahil bumabalik din akong Laguna, halos hindi kami nagkikita ni Agnes sa office. Naghiwalay na kasi kami ng project sa ngayon.
"Charlie."
"Yes?"
"Do you want anything for breakfast?"sabi ko sa kanya.
"Hindi na. Thank you. Si Agnes ba walang ipapabili today? Di ba nung past days nagpapasabay siya sayo?"sabi ni Charlie.
Hala. Oo nga pala. Since umuwi nga ako ng Laguna, kapag papasok kami, binibilhan ko na lang si Agnes ng food depende kung anong gusto niya. Kaya nagstop ako sandali bago ako nagmessage sa kanya.
Hey. On the way to work already. May gusto ka? •
Since hindi pa siya nagrereply, dumerecho na rin ako sa pagdrive. Maya maya narinig kong tumunog yung phone ko kaya sinilip ko yung reply niya.
• Ikaw
Sa sobrang gulat ko sa sinend ni Agnes bigla akong napatapak sa brake. At feeling ko nagulat si Charlie sa nangyari.
"O. Are you okay? Anong nangyari?"
"Wala akala ko lang may dumaang..."
"Dumaang?"
"Ah wala. Nevermind."sabi ko sa kanya. "Are you okay?"
"Yup. Ikaw?"
"Sorry. Pero wait lang."sabi ko kay Charlie sabay nireplyan ko si Agnes.
REOMA!!! •
• Sorry sorry! Naiwan yung question mark, I mean ikaw anong gusto mong kainin? Kasi I'll just eat whatever you are having.
HAY NAKO! •
• Anyway. Eyes on the road wifey. Ingat ka okay? I'll see you soon.
Nagdrive-thru lang din kami ni Charlie tapos dumerecho na kami sa office. Pagdating ko sa office, napansin ko na wala pa si Agnes. Natraffic siguro siya. Pero nagulat ako nung mapansin kong may sunflower sa mesa ko.
Pat,
I've always loved sunflowers kasi they symbolize so many things like optimism, happiness, and dedicated love. But beyond that, I've loved it because it faces and follows the sun. And that's exactly what you are. You are that ray of sunshine on a gloomy day so this flower will surely bloom in your presence. Don't you ever forget that. Don't get tired of all the hardwork you are doing. Smile for today wifey. You deserve it.
Agnes
Napangiti ako. I certainly deserve to smile today and Agnes is one of the best reasons to do so.
"Finally."
Paglingon ko, nakita ko na kakapasok lang ni Agnes at andun siya sa likod ko.
"Anong finally?"
"Finally, ngumiti ka rin. I missed seeing you smile."sabi niya. I blushed.
"You look so stressed over the past days kasi eh."dagdag niya.
"I'm honestly tired."sabi ko sa kanya.
Lumapit siya sa 'kin and for a split-second I saw hesitation on her face. Pinapanuod ko lang siya when she pulled me in closer to her and wrapped her arms around me. It happened too fast and more awkward than I thought but surprisingly, I liked it. Nung niyakap ako ni Agnes, I felt something different; a good different.
"Then recharge."
I felt Agnes's warmth. And her arms felt like protection. Her hug felt so much more. To be honest, I just wanted to stay there.
Whatever it is. Whatever all this is. I'll take this anyday.
