Loving Your Soul

Kabanata 3

Kabanata 3

Architect

Peter sent me the schedule via email. Other than that, he never said anything shaky. After reviewing the contract, I immediately signed it. Magtatrabaho pa rin naman ako sa kompanya. I guess I cannot do anything about working at ASTRA. I am a professional architectural drafter. I've suffered before achieving my dreams. I studied that course for four years, and I have been doing my job for three years. I don't think there's enough room for whining.

Ngunit naisip ko si Peter. He doesn't want me to interact with Archer. So why did he tell me to work for ASTRA? Kung ano man ang dahilan, gusto kong malaman iyon. Peter will never betray me. We have been friends for eight years.

If Archer is the one who's behind this, he'll regret it. I admitted years ago that I loved him, and I felt the pain that he felt while grieving. But if he is doing this to come after me, I'll continue what I was plotting years ago. I have been living silently for eight years. I have been breathing silently for eight years. He shouldn't meddle with my life now. Napagtanto man na mahal ko nga siya noon; hindi naman maaalis no'n ang mga bakas ng sugat na iniwan niya sa akin. Na hanggang ngayon, hindi ko alam ang lunas. I will admit that I am still affected and bitter. I blamed myself for Tita Alicia's death, and I wanted to live quietly, but he is doing his act now.

Alam ko kung bakit niya ginagawa ito. I know he wants to punish me. Kung guguluhin niya ang buhay ko sa naiisip kong paraan, ganoon ang ibabalik ko sa kanya.

I prepared myself for work. And after doing my routine, I called Cella. I apologized for not going to the mall. I rescheduled our meeting, and she said it was fine.

"I also had an agenda, so it doesn't matter. I will just call you when I am free," she said, and ended the call.

Agad akong nag-ayos at bumaba na. Nang marating ang lobby, nakita ko ang driver ni Peter. I sighed and quickly rolled my eyes. I can commute. Lagi na lang ang driver niya ang nagsusundo sa akin. He never fetched me or let me in his car when we became friends. Pa minsan-minsan siguro kapag may emergency, pero madalas, ayaw niya.

The driver opened the car door for me. Nang makapasok na, inayos ko muna ang maliit na purse na dala. My architectural materials and other important things were already moved into ASTRA. Hindi ko alam kung kailan pinaayos iyon ni Peter, pero mabilis ang kilos na gusto niya. May mga natira pa rin namang gamit sa kompanya na pinapasukan ko. Pero dahil mas dadalas sa ASTRA, tingin ko m-in-ove na nila lahat ng importante roon.

"Ayos na po ba lahat, Ma'am Tania? Nabanggit po ni Sir Peter, na hindi raw po kayo puwedeng ma-late kahit isang minuto."

I smiled and nodded. Isang minuto? Why would I be late? That dumbass. He must be enjoying this. Siguro, gusto niya rin akong makatrabaho. He's always meddling with my schedule when I go to work. If he were my boss, he would have made me arrive at work two hours early. I hated that the time that was indicated in my schedule was ten a.m. He really wants to punish me.

I arrived earlier than expected. I didn't roam around. I don't want to, and I will never roam around their company. I will focus only on my drafts and my work. Wala sa pangarap at sa plano ko ang magtrabaho sa ASTRA. I never wanted to work here. I don't even want the atmosphere. I hate to be here.

I didn't ask the front desk because I was here last time. Hindi katulad noon; hindi ako nanginginig ngayon. I didn't even roam around last time. Hindi ko gustong usisain at hangaan kung gaano kaganda ang interior design ng kompanya nila. Even though I am in love with ceiling plans, I never dared to look up.

Ilang beses akong napataray nang makita ang text ni Peter. Sunod-sunod ang text na iyon. Tinatanong kung nasaan na ako at kung pupunta ba ako. Sa huling text, sinabi niya kung anong palapag ako dapat pumunta kahit na ilang beses niya naman nang nasabi iyon.