ACCOUNTANCY SERIES #1 - CHASE YOU NEVER

12

"Ikaw?" I almost walked out nang makita ko ang pagmumukha ni Austin sa meeting place namin. S'ya pala ang predecessor auditor. I wonder why he left his job.

"Nice meeting you again, Cleir Isobel." He smiled. He offered his hand but I refused to hold it. I need to set boundaries and isa pa, the nerve of this person na mag-act like he did not broke my heart three years ago. Huling beses ko s'yang nakita noong first day of work ko sa SVG. But now, it has been a year.

"So, why did you withdraw from the company? I want to remind you that you have to fully respond to my questions since the permission was given to me by the management." Tinitignan n'ya lang ako at tumango lang s'ya.

"Yes, madam auditor." He loosened his necktie so I sit properly. He's still the same person na nakakaintimidate,

"I actually withdrew because of several reasons. First, I have to focus on academe since this is my calling. Second, I found some misstatements which I required them to revise but they didn't. Those were material and pervasive to FS mind you. SO, technically, the reputation of the company was quire unimpressive, you see." I listed down all this answers and comments that bears the integrity of the client. Of course, his opinion matters here since he was the one who audited before me. But, I also have to do my thing which is to perform risk assessment to be sure that this job shouldn't be accepted.

"Can I ask questions too?"

"Go on." I said without even looking at him. I'm busy with my notes since I have to decide if I will accept this engagement.

"I'm sorry for what happened three years ago."

"That's not even a question, Mr. Rivera. By the way, it's okay. It's already done,"

"It's not yet done for me..."

"Please, listen to me first for my explanation. I think you need to hear it first." Kapal naman ng mukha nito. Bakit ba ako napadpad dito! Pamilyadong tao bakit ang kulit pa 'rin!

"I really did love you." Para akong naestatwa sa sinabi n'ya. I don't find it so consoling to hear right now since the damage has been done.

"It's all in the past, Austin. Move on na." I said, while fixing my things. I'm ready to go. I don't want to hear anymore lies fromt his person.

"I'm so tired of being your mission. You made me believe with all the lies you fed me.You married my bestfriend. You had a child. What do you expect, huh? I will still unconditionally love you with all of my heart? Tanga mo. Tax nga palaging nagbabago. Tao pa kaya." I walked out and went to the veranda near our table.

"Alam, sobrang sure ko na noon sa'yo." I laughed remembering how much I love this bastard back then.

"I'm one hell of a stupid kolehiyala, right?" I wiped my tears with the realization.

"Sure, you are. I'm sorry. Wala talaga akong choice and my family is the most important thing to me. Remember dad, your stepmom was his ex-wife. I think, he was blaming me when he lost his family. Bata pa lang kasi ako noong naulila ako. We're about to go to vacation pero naambush kami. Namatay ang mga magulang ko on then spot while his son, Karlson tried to survive but he died few day after. He adopted me. He made me his own. He made me live a life full of privileges even though I'm not used to it. He sent me to the best school he could afford. Kaya lang naman s'ya naging ganyan when his wife cheated on him with your dad. Business partner n'ya ang Dad mo." Now, I understand why. E kasalanan naman pala ng mga magulang ko. Bakit ako ang nagbabayad sa kasalanan nila? Tangina naman!

But that doesn't justify the fact that he had Cielo.

"Cielo, is technically not my cousin. His parents were dad's friends. We treat each other like magpinsan but we're not. Until, we fell in love back when we were in high school. Believe me, I really did love you. It's just that, I have to choose her over you. I feel so indebted with my Dad like I'm obligated to follow everything that he likes me to do."

"Sorry, but don't you have your own brain to think? Just because you were adopted doesn't mean your life should always depend on his discretions. My goodness, you were not smarter than I thought you were."

"Just let me finish my talking first!" He combed his hair using his fingers due to frustrations. Mukhang naiirita na sa akin ang loko. The nerve! After making me suffer for years, mabuti lang sa kanya 'yan..

"The day I passed the board exam, she told me that she is pregnant. But, it wasn't mine. I was so busy with my review period, right? I don't even have the time to talk to my girlfriend, what more to flirt and make babies right?" Sasagot pa sana ako pero narealized kong tama naman s'ya. Hindi n'ya talaga ako kinakausap noon dahil goal n'ya talagang maging topnotcher kaya hinayaan ko nalang.

"Her parents would be angry if they learn that the father of her child was Joven, the President of our organization. Her parents would surely disown her kaya naman she asked me to be the father of her child. Joven was a scholar.It's just that, he will never meet her father's expectations kasi simula palang ako na 'yung gusto nilang pakasalan ng anak nila."

"Gago ka pala. Mabuting tao si Joven! He's your batchmate right? You should know better!" I exclaimed with gritted teeth, I also want to punch this stupid asshole infront of me.

"I know! I tried to talk to him but he denied the child. What would I do? Kahit ayaw ko, pinakasalan ko pa rin s'ya. All I wanted was to marry you that time. But, that would just be a dream, but, you turned out to be my best foregone opportunity, opportunity cost."

Hindi ako naiiyak habang nag-uusap kami. Siguro, naging manhid na ako sa lahat ng nangyari sa amin.

"Gusto ko lang naman dating malaman bakit mo ako pinaglaruan. Akala mo ba madali ang pinagdaanan ko? I lost myself in the process of loving you. I lost my mother and my father. My whole world crumbled down. Nadelay pa akong maggraduate dahil nadepressed pa ako sa mga nangyari. Sobrang sinira n'yo ang buhay ko. Kayo ng tatay mo."

"Please, let me make it up to you." He said while caressing my face. My tears are still streaming like river.

"Gusto ko nalang mawala ang galit sa puso ko. Sobrang sama ng loob ko sa'yo kaya kahit gusto ko nang umusad, hindi ako makausad. You made me live in the shadows of the past. 'Ni hindi ko nagawang buksan ulit ang puso ko para maging masaya ulit dahil sa takot na maulit na naman ang ginawa mo. Tanga nalang ako kung babalik pa ako sa'yo 'no." Hinila n'ya ako papunta sa madilim na parte ng veranda at doon n'ya ako hinalikan. I didn't felt anything, unlike before na nagwawala ang buong sistema ko dahil sa kanya. I broke the kiss and immediately slapped him on his face! Fucking stupid!

"Ano ba, Austin!" I shouted. Buti nalang wala nang gaanong tao sa loob kaya wala makakainig sa amin.

"I'm just doing you a favor here! Ano, mahal mo pa ako?" He asked. Of course, I was enlightened. Oo nga naman, that kissed really determined if I love him still or not.

"Tanga mo talaga! Ingatan mo ang pamilya mo, especially ang mga anak mo. Huwag mong iparanas sa kanila ang mga pinaranas mo sa akin." I told him. He'd make a good father. But, being a father entails a lot of thing that what we thought we know.

"I wish you a happy life." He said and then we parted ways. This tim, in good terms and for real.