Broken Promises (Epitome Series #2)

Kabanata 28

I went back to my office after that break. Panay naman ang labas-pasok ni Althea sa opisina ko. I also take some phone calls.

"We have a VIP guest reservation later this evening, Miss President"untag ni Althea kaya napatango lang ako habang hindi inaalis ang tingin sa ginagawa.

And oh! A sudden change of how she address me.

"Give me some details"sambit ko.

Umayos ito sa pagtayo at binuksan ang hawak niyang portfolio.

"He's Congressman Benedict Sy. He's with his mother and they will be here for three days"

Halos natigilan pa ako sa ginagawa. Kunot-noo ko siyang binalingan. Binaba ko ang hawak na pen at pinagsalikop ang mga daliri.

"Benedict Sy?"

Nataranta naman ito na para bang may mali siyang nasabi kaya muli niyang binalingan ang hawak na memo bago kinakabahang napatango sa akin.

Nagtiim-bagang naman ako. Why's he here? And he's with his mom? Dinala pa talaga? I thought everything between us is clear? Nagkapatawaran na kami. Ano na naman ito at bakit sila nandito? Guguluhin na naman ba nila ako?

"When did they made a reservation?"

"This morning lang po, Miss President"aniya kaya napatango lang ako.

"Prepare the presidential suite and call for Tita Amanda. I want to talk to her"untag ko kaya mabilis itong tumango bago lumabas.

Malalim naman akong bumuntong-hinga. Tumayo ako at lumapit sa tray at binuksan ang champagne para salinan ang aking flute. Dumungaw ako sa aking bintana. Nabitin naman sa ere ang hawak kong flute nang matanaw mula sa malayo si Chester na may kasamang babae. Naglalakad sila mula sa lobby papasok ng hallway. Napakunot naman ang noo ko. They both looked like they have known each other for a very long time. Halata iyon sa paraan nang paghawak ng babae sa braso ng lalaki. He also smiled habang iminuwestra ang daanan. Napairap naman ako sa kawalan at nilagok na ang aking champagne.

That asshole!

Hindi ko alam kung para kanimo ang murang iyan. Para ba sa kababalitang pagpunta rito at pagta-try na pag-stay ni Benedict kasama ang Mama niya? O para sa lalaking mukhang tuwang-tuwa habang nakahawak sa kanyang braso ang hindi ko kilalang babae?

And fuck! Whatever! Why do I even care about them? Sino ba sila?

Napasinghap lang ako at muling nagsalin sa baso. Pinagmasdan ko pa nang mabuti ang champagne na nasa flute. Tinaas ko iyon at hinayaang masikatan ng araw na tumatama sa aking bintana. This is the only thing that's beautiful in my eyes. Its color, its scent, its bubbles, its taste, and the way it relieves and relaxes my muscles. This has been my companion for the last six years, I guess? When I was all alone in a dim room, watching the busy city from my twentieth floor apartment in France. It doesn't disappoints me.

Tumikhim lang ako bago muling bumalik sa ginagawa. After that, I also spent my time researching about Benedict. It's been years. After that incident in school, lumipas pa ang isang taon bago siya muling nagpakita. He knows about us. He knows about our breakup and he offers to stay with me but I didn't allow him. Ilang beses ko siyang sinabihan na maayos ako kahit hindi na niya ako tulungan. He respects my decision but a year after again, I was already in France and he went there too. Sinundan niya ako at hindi tinigilan sa gusto nitong panliligaw. After rejecting him several times, mukhang hindi talaga nadadala dahil muling sumubok, sumubok ulit, at ulit at ulit. But maybe after three years of pursuing me, naintindihan niya rin na hindi niya talaga ako makukuha. He then respect me and stop. After that, he went back to the Philippines and weeks after, narinig ko nalang na mayroon na siyang girlfriend and they were engaged a few months after too. Pagkatapos nun, hindi na ako muling nakarinig mula sa kanya. And this will be the time I'll get to see him again.