What Went Wrong

Ikalabing-isa (Disappointments)

I admit I was excited about the thought of seeing him again. Kaya ganun na lang ako ka-disappointed nang di ko sya nakita sa labas ng company namin tonight. Then I realized, how could he be here? First, he's in the province, so imposibleng masundo nya ako. At saka, he doesn't even know where I work. What am I so expectant?

Napansin ata ni Yen na napasimangot ako kaya napatingin sya sa'kin.

"Okay ka lang?"

"Huh? Yeah! I'm okay," sagot ko.

"Are you expecting someone?" Tanong nya ulit na may halong pang-iintriga.

"Wala noh!"

Sabay kaming napatingin sa humintong sasakyan sa harap namin. It's Liam's car.

"Are you guys going home?" Tanong nya.

"Yes, Mr. Ford," sagot ni Yen.

"Why don't we have dinner first?" Alok nito.

Nagkatinginan kami ni Yen.

"Gusto ka lang nyan makasama eh," bulong ni Yen na natatawa.

"Shh! Nakakaintindi yan ng Tagalog," bulong ko.

"Let's go?" Tanong ni Liam.

Wala kaming nagawa kundi um-oo na lang. After all, he's our superior.

Liam and Yen are talking while I was thinking of Matt. Hindi pa sya nagmemessage. Okay lang kaya sya?

"What do you think, Toni?" Napalingon ako kay Liam.

"Huh?" Ano raw? Ano bang pinag-uusapan nila?

"Don't you think it's a good idea to move the company outing this month? We have a lot of projects coming next month, so it might not happen anymore," salo sa'kin ni Yen. Alam nyang nasa malayo ang isip ko.

"Uh, y-yeah. I think we should have it this month. After all, it's not gonna be so hectic yet. Plus, the staff would be more motivated to work after de-stressing," sagot ko.

"Then it's settled. I'll arrange everything tomorrow, so we could have it soon," sagot ni Liam before he excused himself when he received a call.

"Alam mo, excuse lang nya lang yun to be with you," napapailing na sabi ni Yen.

"Ma-intriga ka masyado. Malay mo naman iniisip nya lang talaga welfare ng employees nya," sagot ko.

Natawa sya. "Are you defending him now?"

"Di noh! Sa'yo na sya!" Natatawang sagot ko.

"Why not? Kung sa'kin sya nagpapapansin, ay naku, after this dinner, we might go get a room and-"

I cover my ears.

Natawa sya nang malakas. The people beside us are looking. Malakas pa naman tumawa si Yen.

Nagkatinginan kami sabay mahinang natawa.

"Joke lang! Ayoko sa foreign men. Mas masarap pa rin ang mga pinoy," sagot nya.

Napamaang ako sa kanya.

"If you know what I mean," kinindatan nya pa ako.

"Ewan ko sa'yo!"

Liam offered to give us both a ride home pero pareho kaming tumanggi. He might take it the wrong way. Mahirap na.

I'm already in bed when Matt called.

"Hi, were you already sleeping?" Tanong nya.

"Not yet."

"Are you mad at me?"

"Bakit naman ako magagalit sa'yo?"

"I told you I'll see you tonight, but I didn't," sagot nya.

"Well, I know it's not gonna happen. Ni hindi mo nga alam saan ako nagtatatrabaho, so how would you show up in front of the office, right?"

"I know where you work, though."

Napabangon ako bigla.

"You do?

"You work at FEMSA, right?"

"Pa'no mo nalaman?"

"I asked tita Beth."

I chuckled. "Nakiki-tita ka na ngayon ha?"

I heard him laugh. "Well, she said I should call her that way."

There was silence after that. I wanna ask him if he would really come see me kaso I don't want to sound like I'm SO excited to see him. I still have pride in me.

I heard some honking cars in his background. Do they have cars in that island? Parang wala akong nakita noong nandun ako.

"I'm sorry if you feel disappointed tonight, Toni," I heard him say maya-maya.

"I was, I admit. But it's not as though you'd really come here dahil lang sinabi ko. We're not even in a relationship-"

He cut me short.

"Not yet," sabi nya.

I smiled. "Do you think we would be?"

"I still remember how you kissed me, so I think I have a chance."

He's teasing me. I know he is, and it's making me blush. Buti na lang sa phone lang kami nag-uusap. It would be so embarrassing in person.

"I'm not gonna hold you up for long. You need to rest. Good night, Toni," sabi nya.

Ayoko pa sana matapos yung pag-uusap namin...

"Good night,"

...but I might really fall for him if we would talk more.

I saw a bouquet of flowers on my table the next day. Walang card, so I thought it's not for me. I remember may naligaw din na bouquet sa office ko noon. It turned out it was for another "Antoinette" from the Marketing Department. I remember how embarrassing that was.

"Karla, kanino galing 'to?" Tanong ko sa assistant ko.

"Inabot lang ni Kuya guard kanina eh," sagot nya.

I went back to my office and called the guards' office.

"Di po sinabi pangalan, Ma'am eh. Pero sorry raw po kung na-disappoint nya kayo."

Wait. What?

Matt was here?