All Yours

"Architect Alcantara, the head, is calling you to the office," my co-officemate said. I quickly stood up and went to Mrs. Diaz's office is our Head of Architecture. My heart was beating fast and I was wondering if I had done something wrong. Until I reached the door of her office, I knocked before entering. "Good afternoon, are you calling me?" I answered modestly. "Are you done with your plates?" he said flatly and raised one eyebrow. "Yes ma'am, I'm almost done, I'm just fixing something" I can't face her, it's scary to look at. "Good you had better have it done by today because you are taking a vacation, right? Do it today so that you can present it to the client tomorrow. Do you understand?" She said. "Yes ma'am," I said. "Okay, you may leave," she said. I bowed and left her office. And when I got out I immediately breathed a sigh of relief. I thought I had done something wrong. I texted Bea to join me for lunch. I have missed her for almost a month. When I last saw her she was very busy at the hospital. I got in my car and drove to the restaurant near the hospital because he said he couldn't go far because he might be called to the ER. "Bea!" I hugged her tight when I saw her sitting in a restaurant waiting for me. "I waited for you for so long". She taps my shoulder. "Hey! My ride is so far, isn't it" I said to her, then I sat down in front of her. We ordered food right away because the break time is only 2 hours. "How are you? You don't seem busy? I thought you had a project in Mandaluyong?" she said while taking a bite. "Yeah, but I'm almost done designing their house and I'm really rushing up because I'm taking a leave for one week," I said. "Oh, so you're going home to Tarlac? Let's go together!" she said excitedly. "Sure! When is your vacation leave? I'm glad you were able to leave?" I asked her. "Well, my mother is going to disown me if I don't come home," she said jokingly. "The question is, can you go home? I mean what if I see you, don't you?" She would tease her even more. I blinked twice and looked away. After all these years, I haven't moved on in our relationship. "Then we meet. I think he already has a wife" I said jokingly, but to be honest I was nervous. "What if there isn't? I heard he's a famous engineer in Tarlac. Mateo told me" he was surprised when he said Mateo's name. "So you and Mateo still have communication?" I raised one of my eyebrows, then I crossed my arm over my chest. "Ow, I'm sorry, I didn't have time to tell you that Mateo and I are together again," she said shyly. I stop eating, then I look at her angrily. "I'm sorry I'm just really busy," she said even more cutely. "Okay, I know we are both busy, but at least!" I was about to say something when suddenly his cellphone rang. " OK, doc, I'm on my way..." "I have to go, they say there was an accident with a bus that was very critical! I'm sorry, let's go home together. I dropped myself off at the condo on Monday." I pouted but there was nothing I could do. "Okay... Take care!" I only said to her while waving my hands I finished my food and we left. *** Time flies so fast. It's Monday soon. This is the day I will go home to Tarlac again. It's been almost 6 years since I have come home. "Will you use your car?" I asked Bea while she was busy packing her things. "Yes, we're leaving together, but we're not going to be together in the same car," she said, then zipped up his suitcase. We arrived at Concepcion Tarlac at 5 pm because we left Manila at noon. We ate McDo and after that, we parted ways to go home. "Coleen, it's good to be home?" My mom hugged me tightly. "Yeah, I thought we had a family reunion? And it's almost Fiesta mom, so I want to relax and watch the concert", I, excited, I told him. "Yes, I'm sure you miss that," My mom said. I went to my room. I miss this place. It's almost 6 years ago since I was here. I take a shower before I sleep. I woke up at four in the morning. I went down to have breakfast. When I saw them in the dining area, I smiled. We were happy having breakfast because we were complete. After that, I took a shower and arranged my things, then suddenly Bea called (Let's go to the Coleen food park later. I miss it!) (Okay..) We are now in the food park. My heart is beating so fast. All our memories are flashing back. This is how we started here when we first met. Our place is witness to our love. "Hey! Coleen, let's go... Don't worry, you won't see her. He's in Cebu right now, Mateo said to me earlier." "I didn't say anything", I quickly told him. My voice is still demanding. "Gosh, what were you talking about earlier? Can't you move on?" she said in a sarcastic way. I looked away and bought food. I wish I hadn't seen him here again. I'm not yet ready to see him. It still hurts.