FINDING NEMA

Chapter 17

Nema

I swear to god parang pinipiga ang puso habang tinitingnan ko si Angelo.

The sadness in his eyes

I really hate it when he is treating me this way.

Cold and distant.

Nakatayo kaming dalawa sa harap ng gate ng apartment hinihintay kong daanan siya ng School Van.

Lumuhod ako at pumantay sa kanya hinawakan ko ang magkabilang pisngi niya.

"Look at me Baby, I'm so sorry, I didn't make it yesterday afternoon..Mommy will comeback home early today and we will cook together the spaghettie"

Ngumiti ako at hinalikan siya sa magkabilang pisngi at pinisil ang ilong nito..

I want to hit my self for being such a stupid and selfish mother.

Inuna ko pang inatupag ang kalandian ko kesa anak ko..

Ginabi na ako ng makauwi kagabi..

When Andrie drop me at Puregold

Sinabi kong iwanan na ako.

Di naman ito nagpumilit.

Kaya ng umuwi ako tsinek ko muna siya sa parking lot bago ako tumawag ng trysikel para magpahatid pauwi para akong kriminal na nagtatago at nag iingat na masundan..

And to my dismay..

Angelo was already sleeping

Naawa ako sa anak ko

Aunt Arlene said,

he was so sad at disappointed last night

"Hey give me your smile please just one"

But he is looking at me with the sadness on his color grey eyes.

Napapikit ako dahil pakiramdam ko nakatingin lng ako sa mata ng daddy nito..magkaparehas sila ng mata, Abuhin.

May lungkot pero nang uusig kasi ang tingin nito sa akin..

"So whats with the sad face handsome boy?"

Napalingon ako sa babaeng nakatayo sa likod ko.

She's wearing wide smile while looking at us.

Tumayo ako at ngumiti sa kanya.

"Hi I'm Jenica.."

Inabot nito abg kanang kamay sa akin..

Ngumiti ako at nakipag kamay sa kanya..

"Nemalyn here..you must be the new tenant?"

Inginuso ko ang kabilang pintuan sa tabi ng inuukopa namin..

"Yes I'am"

"It's nice to meet you Jen.."

Ngumiti ito at tumingin kay Angelo at ngumiti..

"And what is the name of the owner of that sad face?"

Ngumiti ako sa anak ko at ginulo ang buhok niya..

"Say hi to our new friend here Angelo"

Tumingala ito sa babaeng sa tanya ko nasa mid 30's na ang edad..

"Hi Miss Jenica..My name is Michael Angelo Sandoval and I am four years old"

Nakita ko ang pangingislap ng mata ni Jenica..

Napatawa din ako..

Gusto kong mapahagalpak ng tawa..

Dahil sa kumpletong introduction ng anak ko.

"So what's with the sad face little boy?"

Bumuntong hininga ako at ngumiti sa bago naming kapitbahay..

"Nagtatampo siya yesterday I came late back home naka promise akong ipagluluto ko siya ng spaghettie but due to certain circumtances late na akong nakauwi kaya hayan galit siya kay Mommy"

Ngumiti si Jenica at ginulo ang buhok ni Angelo..

"If you want I can cook you that spaghettie little boy, trust me I'm the best cook in town"

"Really Miss Jenica?"

"Yes of course but promise me,talk to your mom"

Tumingin sa akin si Angelo.

Ngumiti ako sa kanya at binuhat ko kahit sobrang bigat na niya..l

"Mom It's ok miss Jenica will cook for us that spaghettie?"

"But of course baby"

Humalik ako sa kanya at ibinaba na ito.

The school van just stop by kaya pinasakay ko na ito.

He wave his left hand to us.

Ngumiti ako kay Jenica at nagpasalamat..

"As much as i want to talk to you, I'm getting late maybe after work Jen we can get along"

Ngumiti ito sa akin..

"Nah its Ok Nemalyn..just go ahead..we still have a lot of time..we are neighbors right?

Napatawa ako at nagpaalam na sa kanya..

I wave her goodbye..

Masaya ako dahil kahit papaano nagkaroon kami ng kaibigan..

I'm still couping for the new life here in Philippines..

Nahigit ko ang hininga ko

Masisira ang deadline na itinalaga ko sa sarili ko para sa trabaho ko..

I need to work double time..gagahulin ako ng oras sa preparation ko sa Presentation sa monday..

Napasapo ako sa noo ko..

Sa tuwing naalala ko ang nangyari kahapon sa Penthouse ni Andrie parang gusto kong magpalamon na lng sa lupa.

Ano pa ang pagmumukhang ihaharap ko sa kanya after what happen..

Napakahina ko at napakarupok.

Di ko kayang pigilan ang dikta ng puso ko at katawan..

For pete's sake!

We almost had s*x yesterday..

Kundi lang tumawag ang anak ko gamit ang phone ni Anti arlene..

Naalala ko naman ang eksena kahapon kaya halos umakyat na naman ang boung dugo sa mukha ko..

Nagulat ako ng pagpasok ko sa opisina inabutan ko si Cassandra..

Mabilis niya akong nilapitanan at niyakap..

"Hi Nems..how are you? How's the project "

Ngumiti ako at hinalikan siya sa pisngi..

Cassandra is just like a sister.. I'd never had..

I really like her..

"It almost done Cass I want to show you so if you want to suggest something then i can change it or add on it..by the way kailan kapa dumating?"

"Yesterday afternoon" she replied..

Binuksan ko ang laptop ko..

Humaklak ito at tinapik tapik ako sa braso ko..

"Come on Nems..You are an epitome of that baddass lady architect..And I don't think so you need any suggestions .I saw your previous works and it's phenomenal"

Tumawa ako ng malakas sa sinabi niya..

Umupo ako at ipinakita sa kanya ang mga designs ko..

It's amazing when the simple sketches with the help of the modern technology..

We can able to bring into realistic

And real life...







Matamang tinitingna ni Cass bawat designs.

The project is consisting of 4 modern villas and 20 cottages along the seashore of Andrie's Private island in Palawan..

Cass just clap her hand while looking at me with her wide smile..l

"What can Ibsay your work is such a perfection Nems, How to be you Miss Sandoval"

Napatawa ako ng malakas.

Nahihiya ako sa compliment niya..l

"Just don't add anything this is just perfect designs Nems,So when would be your Presentation?

"Next week probably Monday kinakabahan nga ako Cass what if I couldn't meet their expectations?"

Tinapik nito ang balikat ko at pinisil

Bilang suporta.

"Trust me with the good presentation delivery CassYour work will gonna be a Bomb"

I gave her my geniune smile..

I murnmured "Thank You"

"So how about lunch? My treat We will call it as a simple celebration for both of us..

"Sure.." I replied with a smile from my lips..

"Timothy emailed me the day before Yesterday"

Napatingin ako sa kanya..

Damn! I totally forgot Tim..

Di ako nakapag return call sa kanya dahil sa sobrang busy ko..may mga email din siya sa akin..napasapo ako sa ulo ko..

"So what's with that Man"

Curious kong tanong..

"He is coming back home..Finally..malubha na kasi ang sakit ng Mother niya..He should be here before it's too late"

Nalito ako..

When I met Timothy back in Ohio..

He told me he was an Orphan..

"I though Timothy was an orphan?"

"What? No His mother is still alive and currently in critical condition in Saint Lukes Hospital and Trust me,

I met her several times in New York when Tim and I was still an student at NYU.

"So he lied to me?"

Cassandra just shrugged her shoulders.

"Are you familiar with Monica O'brien?

Umiling ako wala akong idea

What can I say Ako ang klase ng taong walang social life.

At di ako mahilig makisagap ng balita sa buhay ng ibang tao.

"Really? Monica O'brien is popular Filipina Fashion Designer and she is Timothy's famous and wealthy mother"

"But why on earth Tim lied to me and even hide her relationship to her own mother"?

Cass shrugged her shoulder again.

"I dont know Nems, I don't know"

Ibinalik ko mga mata ko monitor ng desktop computer sa harapan ko.

Nagulat pa ako ng biglang mag ring ang phone sa desk ko..

Nag excuse ako kay Cass para sagutin.

"Architect Nemalyn Sandoval..Hello"

"Miss Sandoval this is Casey from Executive office Mr.Lorenzo want to see you at his Penthouse immidiately Can you come?

For a while di ako makasagot

Nanlamig ang boung sistema ko.

Penthouse Again!

A warning came into my senses!

"Hello Miss Sandoval Are you still there"

I took a very deep breathe and clear my throat..

"Yes. Miss Casey..I am"

"Miss Sandova the CEO is expecting you at his Penthouse, Can you come?"

Wala sa sariling napa Oo ako.

"Thank you Miss Sandova Just go directly to his Penthouse"

Nawala na ito sa linya.

Now what?

Working on Andrie's Company was a bad decision and even not healthy.

"Who was it?

Nakalimutan kong nasa likod ko pa pla si Cassandra..

"Penthouse"

Mahina kong sagot kay Cass..

"What Penthouse?"

Tanong niyang naguguluhan..

"I'm going to Mr.lorenzo's Penthouse and It's an order Cass"

"What??

Oh My God Nems you're sweating and look so pale! There is something you want to share with me?

She is looking at me with a million dollar question on her face.

Umiling ako.

pilit akong ngumiti sa kanya at dahan dahan akong tumayo nilimas ko ang mga gamit ko sa mesa ko.

"I'll talk to you Cass..Promise I'll tell you over lunch"

Tumango ito at pinisil ang mga kamay ko..

"Go ahead Nems..Lakasan mo lang ang depensa mo..As I've said don't let him intimidate you or else he will eat you alive"

Ngumiti ito at pilyang kumindat sa akin.

Bago ako pumasok sa elevator

Huminga ako ng malalim.

Pinuno ko ng hangin ang baga ko and

I warned my self

"Dont let your self fall to his charm and wrath Nemalyn..He is marrying another woman and definitely not you"

❤❤❤