Beautiful Scars

Chapter 2 - Vague Memories

RAILE

7:12 AM

"The presentation should be done within two hours..." discuss ko sa team ko habang binibigyan sila ng instruction bawat isa. Umagang-umaga boses ko na naman ang maririnig sa conference room. Natapos kami bandang alas nuwebe y medya at nagsimulang trabahuin ang dapat naming gawin. Dahil suweldo na, busy kami ng team ko lalo na at kami ang assign sa pay roll.

Nakarinig ako ng katok at hinintay kong sino ito.

"Ms. Raile, may naghahanap sa'yo."

"I'll come."sabi ko pagkatapos pirmahan ang pinakahuling papel. Lumabas ako at nakita ang baklang gunggong na yun. Kasama nito ang supervisor namin.

"This is Mr. Chunder Tobias Madrigal, the one who's assigned for Humpher Co.'s new project so he'll stay with you temporarily, so be nice. And also, treat him as your boss." pagpapakilala ni Mr. Aguilar.

Umalis ito at naiwan si Chen.

"Nabokot ako sa mister ah." pagbibinakla niya na ikinagulat ng workmates ko. "Call me Sir Chen nga pala, wag Chunder tumitindig balahibo ko. Wag rin Mr. Madrigal? G?"

Napairap nalang ako sa kawalan at bumalik sa opisina ko.

"Hey! Raile!" tawag nito sa akin.

"We're at work. I'm Ms. Saavedra and you're Mr. Madrigal." pagtatama ko sa kanya nang hindi man lang ito linilingon.

"Sungit nito, labas tayo."

"I don't go out."

"Sige na, ikaw naman unang kaibigan k---"

"I don't have friends here, so go away."

"Sungit---"

"You're my boss but when it's not about work, don't talk to me." sabi ko dito at sinirado ang pinto ng opisina ko.

I hate people being nice at you then'll working to gain your trust but in the end will leave and just don't care at you at all. I'm tired with that thing.

Sakto namang pagpasok ko ay ang pagring ng cellphone ko.

Kaye calling...

Sinagot ko ito. If there's someone who stayed, it was her.

"Yes?"

"Busy ka ba? Feel ko malungkot ka..."

"I am." pabulong kong sabi.

"We really do have twin hearts. Feel na feel ko eh. Let's go out?"

"Tatapusin ko lang ang work ko, I'll be there."

"Same time."

"Same place."

Pinatay ko ang tawag at pasalampak na umupo sa swivel chair at pinaglaruan ito. Pinaikot-ikot ko ang sarili ko habang nakapikit. Then, a tear escaped my eye. Pinunasan ko ito at agad na isinubsob ang sarili ko sa trabaho.

6:15 PM

"Tomorrow, we'll go to the location and do some inspections. Then later on, we'll talk about the budget. The workers and the supplies. The next day will be for purchasing the items and we'll conduct the hiring of workers since there's no one who'll be free that day except us." sabi ko sa boss kong bakla na nakikinig naman sakin or tinitingnan lang ako. "Do you have any complaints about the schedule?"

Sa lagay ko ngayon, nagmumukha akong secretary niya. Sinabihan na rin ako ng CEO na kailangan daw palagi akong sumunod sa kanya at ang office ko eh sa labas na ng office niya.

"Can we do it one at a time?" tanong niya.

"Okay. It'll take 4 days or 5. Day 1 will be the inspection of the location. Day 2, budget discussion. Day 3, items to purchase. Day 4, hiring of workers. And Day 5, can be for the continuation of unfinished business from the previous days."

Seryoso lang itong nakatitig sakin.

"Bakit wala kang kaibigan? I ask them, you barely talk daw, you don't go in team dinners, you barely smile, not fond of saying Yes, No or Thank You. And you only do chit chats with Ms. Coco Lazaro."

"I guess, the schedule is okay for you. Goodbye Mr. Madrigal, my work here is done. See you tomorrow."

6:30 PM

Pumunta ako sa opisina ko at dinatnan ang sangkatutak na folders. Dagli ko itong linagyan ng stamp. Head accountant s***h instant secretary ng baklang gunggong is not paradise.

9:30 PM

Inayos ko pa ang ibang folder na may mali, do some photo copies at i-finalize ang presentation. I was really piled up with work.

Paglabas ko eh ako nalang ang tao kaya nagmamadali akong lumabas at pinuntahan ang bar na napag-usapan namin ni Kaye.

Pagdating ko dun ay kokonti lang ang tao, Lunes ngayon so people are really busy.

"Hey! Dito!"

Nakita ko namang kumaway ang isang pamilyar na babae at nagulat ako nang makilala ito.

"Kaye! I missed you!" sabi ko dito at agad siyang yinakap.

"I deserve the hug, 3 hours kaya akong bumiyahe para lang makita ka." sabi nito. Nginitian ko nalang siya. "So what's bothering you?"

"Another gay? Hahahaha!" sabay tawa kong sabi.

"Inlove ka na naman?"

"And why would I? It's that, he's trying to enter in my life. And I won't let that happen."

Um-order ako ng beer at agad itong tinungga na halos mangalahati na.

"Hey, it's been 8 years. Let yourself be happy. I miss the old bubbly Rae."

"I miss her too." sabi ko dito at napayuko. "Nah, just kidding. I won't let her live again. I killed her years ago."

"Will you never open your heart again?"

"No. I will never do it again. Old Rae's dead. New Raile is now bulletproof." nakangisi kong sabi. "May magnet yata ako sa bakla..."

"I think so too." sang-ayon nito.

"And I hate them too, hahahaha! My boss' a gay."

"Oh, you mean yung maghahandle ng new project ng company mo? Really? Pang-ilan ba siya? Pangatlo?"

Napairap nalang ako. Now she's starting to insult me.

"Yes, pangatlo."

"Pa'no ba yan? Aalis ka ba sa trabaho mo?"

"I'm not that immature. And Old Rae's dead, remember?"

"Natatawa ako kay Yesha..."

"Oh, my workmate? Yung pinsan mo?"

"Yeah. Ang cold mo daw, hirap mong i-approach, minsan nga kahit may tanong siya di nalang daw siya nagsasalita kasi baka daw sumigaw ka sa harap niya at ipahiya siya but you never did. Imagination niya pang daw talaga kasi ang bait mo." napangiti nalang ako sa sinabi ni Kaye. "You barely smile, mas madalas daw smirk yung makikita sa mukha mo. But then, matatawa nalang ako sa mga kuwento niya sabay isip nang... If you only knew Rae years ago I'm sure you'll be surprised."

"Rae was the dumbest human figure ever, hahahahaha!" sabi ko dito sabay halakhak.

"Di naman."

Sabi nito at nakipagcheers sakin sabay tungga at sabay kaming humalakhak.

"But seriously... Is he forgiven?"