Art of Serendipity

57

Napa-irap na naman ako sa kawalan. "Ah, really? Napaso ka?"

"Hey, I'm serious! Bagay pa rin kayong dalawa, ha! Ikaw kaya, lalo kang naging sexy. Mas naging seductive kaya itsura mo. Well, thanks to me! I developed your sexiness!"

I almost chocked even if I am not eating anything. "What the hell are you saying, Ate? Are you even thinking? Bagay kami? Tanga ka ba? Walang bagay-bagay. Nakakadiri ka. Magtigil ka nga riyan."

"Sus. Admit it na kasi! You're still into him! The reason why you haven't got yourself a new boyfriend after him," she pointed out.

"I'm not, Ate Noreen. Paulit-ulit ka naman." Pagod akong bumaling sa mesa ko. "Isa pang ulit mo, isusumbong na kita kila lola. Pagagalotan ka no'ng mga 'yon, promise! Inaaway mo 'ko."

Isa lang naman ang dahilan at hindi iyon dahil hindi pa ako nakaka-move on. The reason is... I am scared. Siguro ito nga ang kinatatakutan ko simula pa noon kaya hindi ako nagmamahal bago at pagkatapos niya. Not letting myself be loved because I am too afraid of giving my everything to someone I might lose. Loving someone again is like the stupidest idea I could ever think that is why I can't. Especially, not now that I am very busy.

Pinasimulan ko na ang pag-kumpuni ng mga gustong ipabago sa mga hotels. I became busier because I also made sure that none of our clients are affected. Malalaki at kilalang mga tao ang naririto at nags-stay dito sa hotel namin so I am very hands-on in making them comfortable. I want to assue them that La Vegas is a safe place. Nagulat na ako dahil binati ako ng isang artista dahil ang bata ko pa raw pero naha-handle ko na ang mga ganitong trabaho. Daddy is helping me out too, so I don't feel alone in this.

Hindi ko na nga rin magawang magpahinga dahil hindi na kasya pa sa oras ko. Tatanda yata ako ng maaga dahil sa mga pinaggagagawa ko, e. Well, I'm just making an experience as a flight attendant. I might resign soon. Just like what I said back then, ang pangarap ay mananatiling pangarap kahit natupad mo na ito.

Immune na nga talaga ako sa trabaho dahil naging hectic na naman ang schedule ko after my day offs. It has been three weeks or more since I last saw him. I received an email the night before last night from Velez Art Gallery saying that they can bring the samples this day. I just told them the time now because I still have flight later. Ate Noreen is in her vacation and I don't want to disturb her and also,Dad so I said to the email that maybe in the late afternoon. Hindi ko naman inaasahang 6:00 pm pa pala kami matatapos kaya sigurado akong nandoon na 'yong mga sample designs. Sinabi ko kasi na if ever na wala ako, ipabigay na lang sa Secretary kong si Jeanete, Nanay Luz's daughter. Hindi ko alam kung bakit ngayon lang nila maibibigay 'yong samples pero sinabi ni Ate Noreen na ayos lang daw dahil hindi naman mache-check agad.

Tuloy, pagod na pagod akong sumakay sa sasakyan ko. Hilong-hilo ako dahil long-haul flight pa ang pinanggalingan ko and my feet, hindi ko na magalaw dahil sa sobrang sakit. Noon pa man na bata ako ay mabilis nang mag-paltos ang paa ko, lumalala ngayon na palagi na akong naghi-heels for work. Everytime I am doing a home remedy, it's just getting worse. Wala akong time na ipakita pa sa Doctor, maybe soon. Masakit kasi talaga.

Pagkarating sa Hotel ay hindi muna ako lumabas sa kotse. I am so tired. Pabagsak na 'y0ng katawan ko. Mabuti at wala na akong flight para bukas. Oh, I haven't even eaten anything yet! Pinapatay ko na nga siguro ang katawan ko.

I sighed before going out my car. Sumandal ako sa kotse saglit dahil hindi ko talaga maramdaman ang paa ko. I was just staring at our building. This is just a hotel building, iba pa 'to sa company talaga. Doon naman ang inaasikaso ni Daddy. I chose to stay here because it will be more convenient, kapag tapos kong magtrabaho ay diretso pahinga sa personal hotel room ko.

Ika-ika tuloy akong naglakad papasok sa Hotel. Since sa parking area ako dumaan, wala namang nakakakita sa akin masyado kaya diretso ako sa Office. Kukunin ko lang 'yong folder tapos magpapa-service na lang ako ng pagkain ko. I am too tired to even go down just to eat dinner.

Una kong pinasok ang luggage ko sa office bago ako pumasok, agad na tumalikod para isara ang pinto. Nang humarap naman ako ay muntik na akong mabuwal sa kinatatayuan ko dahil sa nakita ko.

"What the f**k?!" sigaw ko agad at napa-atras pa ng bahagya dahil sa gulat.

Levi is sitting so pretty and relaxed on the couch beside my window. Nakita ko ang pagtaas niya ng kilay dahil sa biglaan kong pagsigaw. He browsed my get-away today seriously before staring at my face. I did the same to him. He was just wearing a grey hoodie jacket and a Nike shorts, tapos naka-white rubbershoes pa. Wow? Ano 'to? Galing gym or nag-jogging? Anong oras na, ah? Sabagay, he used to go to gym late in the afternoon tapos hanggang gabi na 'yon. Dati… Ewan ko lang ngayon.

I composed myself a bit because he is not talking. I need explanation. Seryoso lang talaga ang mukha niya habang nakatingin din sa flight attendant luggage ko. I feel embarrassed tuloy. Hindi niya alam na tinuloy ko ang pagiging flight attendant ko, I did not assure him back then. He must be dazed because of it.

I inhaled a large amount of air before walking so weakly towards my table. I noticed that he stood up and approached me. My breathing almost hitched when he suddenly held my wrist and pulled me down to sit down on the couch. I anticipated his touch. Hindi ako maka-alma dahil sobrang seryoso talaga ng itsura niya. Baka bugahan pa ako nito ng apoy anytime, e.

Lumuhod siya sa harap ko at tinanggal ang heels ko. I was taken aback because of what he is doing. Nailayo ko bigla ang paa ko nang hawakan niya ito muli.

"What the hell are you doing? What brings you here?" I said coldly.

Pinatong niya sa tuhod niya ang braso niya bago tinaas ang tingin sa akin, he mirrored my cold expression. "I brought the sample designs."

"Should I say thank you for bringing the samples personally? Hindi ka na dapat pumunta pa rito." I looked away. What the hell is his employeees are doing? Boss pa talaga nila ang umaako sa kapabayaan nila. Tama pa ba 'yon?

He went here all by himself. Napaka-special naman namin para pagtuunan niya pa ng pansin. I am close to think that he did that because I am his d*mn ex-girlfriend and that is an advantage. Well, no thanks. I don't need this special treatment. Lalo na kapaag galing sa kaniya.

I was breathing so hoarsely because of his presence. I do not want him here. The last time he went here in my office is when... we oficially broke up. Sanay ba talaga siyang pahirapan ang mga tao sa paligid niya?

"I want to," he simply said.

"Then why are you touching me?" inis kong saad. "Stay away."

I saw his jaw moved aggressively. Like he was just forcing himself not to say anything. He is fighting along with his great restraint. Bakit? Bakit niya ba kasi ako hahawakan? I don't want to go near him from that day on, when I broke up with him, bakit na naman siya nandito sa harap ko?

Naglapag siya ng ointment at bandaid sa tabi ko bago tumayo. "The samples are already on your table. Paintings pa lang 'yan. I might see you again tomorrow for the samples of sculptures..." He pursed his lips a bit. "If you don't have flight," he added and I saw him hesitated to say the last sentence.

"Bakit ba kasi kailangan ikaw? 'Yong samples lang naman ang kailangan ko. We are not yet deciding on what design should we use in our Hotels. Don't bother yourself coming here. Aren't you busy?" pagalit ko pa ring ani.

"I am not busy tomorrow. Mas busy 'yong mga taong uutusan ko so I would rather go here by myself." He tilted his head at the side. "You? Are you free tomorrow?"

"No, I'm expensive," I sarcastically said and rolled my eyes. Huli ko na lang napagtanto kung anong sinabi ko. Sh*t! Sa kaniya ko pala natutunan 'yon. Sh*t! Sh*t talaga!

The side of his lips tugged upwards, realizing what I just said. "Uh-huh? You are?"

"Kung bakit ba naman kasi nandito kang hayop ka, e," bulong ko para hindi niya marinig. Para kaming tanga rito, promise.

"Pardon?" he asked, still smirking.

"Nothing, Mr. Velez." I stood up despite my aching feet. "Fine, I will see you tomorrow so if you mind..." I gestured the door, sign that I want him to go. "I will check the samples immediately so you can go now. Thanks for coming by the way."

He put his hands on his pocket, still smirking. "Okay, then. I will go now."

Nang maka-alis siya ay tsaka lang ako nakahinga ng maluwag. I glanced at the ointment and the bandaid he put beside me. Kinuha ko ito at pinakatitigan. Hindi ko man lang alam kung bakit may dala siyang ganito. I also have bandaid and was about to buy an ointment for my feet blisters. Well, dati pa naman na palagi siyang nagdadala ng ganito kapag maghi-heels ako dahil alam niyang nagpapaltos nga ang paa ko. I don't know that he is still doing that... even for no reason. He is so weird.

Buti na lang at hindi siya ang naglagay nito sa paa ko! Ayaw ko ngang magpahawak sa kaniya!

~~~