Kabanata 10
1275 Words
Keeyan
I quietly took photos of Rachel while she's talking to the foreman. The crease between her brows was enough proof that she's getting irritated. But knowing this heaven-sent kind of woman, I know she will try her hardest not to show even the slightest attitude.
"Opo, kuya. Naiintindihan ko naman po. Pero kailangan pong sundin kung ano po ang nasa blueprint," she said for the nth time but the foreman isn't taking her seriously.
Naiirita na rin ako. Bakit ba hindi nito siniseryoso si Rachel? Is it because she's a woman? Maliit ba masyado? I know she's small and cute but damn it. Kung ako ang utusan at pagsabihan ng babaeng 'yan ay nakangisi pa akong magpapaalila.
I mean, look at her? Look at that angelic face? Even with her nostrils flaring, Rachel still looks like the personification of the holy mother. Kung 'yan ba ang magiging ina ng mga anak ko, wala kayang magiging matigas ang ulo?
I sighed and just took another photo of her before my mind takes me somewhere else. Baka kung makita ko siya sa isip kong naghehele ng bata, hindi ko mapanindigan ang sinabi kong maghihintay ako.
Sabi nga ni Daddy, huwag daw idaraan ang babae sa sampung paspasan. Masama raw 'yon. He even gave me courting tips that worked on Mom.
Of course, I don't entirely believe him. Minsan kasi titigan pa lang siya ni Mommy para na siyang nawawala sa sarili. I don't think he ever had the guts to do all of the things he said he did though, but maybe it'll work on Rachel once I finally graduate from the friend category.
I saw Rachel massaged her temples. Mukhang nauubusan na ng pasensya. Hindi na ako nakatiis. Lumapit na ako at tumayo sa tabi niya.
"Sir," nakangiting bati ng foreman. Parang mas gusto pa akong respetuhin kaysa kay Rachel. Kanina ay puro lang siya ngisi kay Rachel. Parang walang pakialam kahit si Rachel ang arkitekto ng project sa Hotel Khallisa.
I nearly sighed. I really hate people like this. Pinipili ang inirerespetong tao.
I jerked my head. "Everything good here?"
Ngumisi ang foreman. "Ay, oo Sir ayos naman. Si architect kasi hindi nakikinig, eh kami 'tong ilang taon na sa trabahong ganito--"
"And what exactly does that suppose to mean, hmm?" naiinis kong putol sa sinasabi niya.
"Keeyan," may pag-alalang tawag ni Rachel. Halatang naramdaman niya rin na napikon ako sa kausap namin.
"No, Chel. Let him explain what he meant by what he said." My jaw clenched as I kept my gaze on the foreman. "Go on."
Alanganing ngumiti ang foreman. "Ang ibig ko lang hong sabihin, Sir ay alam ho namin ang ginagawa namin. Kung may mabago man ho kami nang kaunti, eh para lang naman ho sa ikabubuti ng kalalabasan."
My expression turned sour. Binigyan ko na ng pagkakataong bawiin ang sinabi, pinanindigan pa rin.
"Rachel worked so hard for the design. She studied several years and took the board exam just to get here. Just because you've been in the industry longer than she does, doesn't mean your ideas are better than her--"
"Keeyan, tama na," Rachel cut me off but I didn't listen. Pinanatili ko ang titig sa foreman at ipinagpatuloy ang sinasabi ko.
"She didn't spend long hours and several revisions just for you to make her think that you know better--"
"Sabing tama na, Keeyan!"
Doon lang ako napabaling ng tining kay Rachel. Her eyes are now bloodshot with a hint of anger as if she's so upset with me. At bago pa man tumulo ang mga luha niya ay tinalikuran na niya kami upang umalis.
I gave the foreman one final glance before I took my steps to catch her. Sinubukan ko siyang hawakan sa braso pero binawi niya kaagad. Parang ayaw akong pahawakin sa kanya.
"Chel, please. Let's talk," I begged but she just pursed her lips and walked faster with her head low.
Nanikip ang dibdib ko no'ng nasilip kong basa na ng luha ang magkabila niyang pisngi. Damn it, ako ba? Ako ba ang nagpaiyak?
Nakalabas na kami ng hotel at akmang tatawag na siya ng taxi nang hinatak ko siya patungo sa sasakyan ko. I made her sit in the shotgun seat before I immediately went towards the other side.
Rachel kept her head low. Her shoulders quaked to the slightest sobs she makes. At ang sakit-sakit marinig no'ng mga hikbing 'yon dahil alam ko kung gaano niya kaayaw na umiiyak siya nang ganito.
I sighed. "Chel, talk to me, please . . ." halos magmakaawa kong sabi habang sinasalat ang kamay niya.
She tilted her head to look at me with her bloodshot eyes. "Bakit mo naman ginawa 'yon? Sabi ko tigil na pero . . ." Her lower lip trembled. "Pero hindi mo ako pinakinggan."
My eyes softened as guilt clawed my heart. "I'm sorry. I just hate it when someone belittles you that way."
She sniffed. "Pero sa ginawa mo, para mo na rin kasi akong minaliit. Para mong pinakita kay foreman na hindi ko kayang ipagtanggol ang sarili ko. Keeyan, ang lakas-lakas ko. Ang lakas-lakas ng tingin ng pamilya ko sa akin. Kaya ko naman 'yon, eh. Sana hinayaan mo ko."
"Chel . . ."
"I will never earn their respect if you will save me and stand up for me every time they will do that to me. Kailangan nilang makita na kaya kong panindigan ang pinasok kong propesyon, kasi kung gagawin mo 'yong ginawa mo, para mo nang ipinakita na hindi ko kaya. They will think of me as a joke who needs someone to speak up for her."
"That's not my intention. God, I'm sorry . . ." I wiped her cheeks and pulled her for a hug. "I'm really sorry. It's just so hard to watch someone do that to you. Kasi, tangina ako, hangang-hanga ako sa'yo . . ."
She sobbed. "I can do it, Keeyan. I'm strong, right? I . . . I have to prove that I am here in Cebu because I'm good at what I do . . . n-not just because the man my ex loves threw me here so I can move on . . ."
I shut my eyes the moment Rachel cried harder after saying those last words. Hindi ko alam na iniisip niya palang itinapon lang siya ni Kali rito. God, this woman is so precious. She doesn't deserve to feel this way.
Damn it, I feel like an asshole. Mukhang ako pa yata ang naka-trigger sa iniisip niyang ibinato lang siya rito nang maka-move on siya kay Eldritch. Hindi naman gano'n. Mahusay si Rachel. She may be new in the industry but she's really good, and she deserves this chance. Hindi 'to pampalubag-loob lang.
I swallowed the lump forming in my throat. "I'm sorry," I said under my breath.
Rachel slightly pushed me away. "U-Uuwi na ako, Keeyan."
"I'll take you home--"
"M-Magta-taxi na lang ako." She looked at me with her teary eyes. "P-Please?" Her lower lip trembled. "A-Ayaw kong magtampo sa'yo kaya p-please, hayaan mo muna ako this time."
Kumirot ang dibdib ko habang pinagmamasdan ko siya. She's really hurt, and I hate myself for making her feel this way. Hindi ko man intensyong ganito ang maramdaman niya, nasaktan pa rin siya at 'yon ang dapat kong isipin.
My shoulders dropped as I felt my chest tightened. "I understand. I'm sorry--"
Hindi na niya ako pinatapos. Lumabas na siya ng sasakyan ko at nagmamadaling sumakay sa nakaparadang taxi.
Naisandal ko na lang ang ulo ko sa headrest ng upuan saka ako nagpakawala ng malalim na buntonghininga.
God, what have I done?
- Writer
