Reckless

Chapter 48

”If that’s what you want.”

“Do you want to eat anything?”

“No, I’m full. Thank you though.” I smiled.

Wala talaga akong gana kumain, I was just shy to refuse him and of course I need to eat.

”No meetings for today, Gio?” I asked.

“No. No meeting this week.” That’s weird. I’ve been gone for days so I’m sure I have a lot of missed meetings. I can’t check my schedule dahil si Gio lang ang may hawak noon.

”Are you sure? Can I see my schedule?”

“I fixed it. I moved your meetings and you will start next week.”

That’s why. It was already sketchy. I’m a busy person and I have a lot of meetings even before something happened to me.

Hindi na ako nagsalita dahil alam ko naman na gingaawa lang ni Gio ang trabaho niya at kung ano ang makakabuti sa’kin. After we had lunch, Gio didn’t came back. I didn’t see him outside my office too.

His office is there. Maybe he went outside. I’m really tired and sleepy now. I sat on the sofa and lay down.

-

Nagising ako at may kumot na naka patong sa’kin. I looked around and no one is here. It must be Gio. I stretched out my arms and sat straight. God, I want to go home and sleep on my comfy bed.

What time is it?

I looked at my watch and it’s already six in the evening. What? Six? I stood up and fixed my papers. Gusto ko man umuwi ay wala din naman akong gagawin doon.

Brion’s not there. Nag text sa’kin kanina si lola na kinuha niya na si Brion sa bahay. I need a week so that my feelings won’t affect my son. Kanina nga ay napansin niya kaagad na malungkot ako.

I looked at my phone since it’s vibrating. Who might this be? Tinignan ko ang cellphone ko at si lola ‘yon. Why does she want to face time with me?

“Lola,” I said as I answered.

Natapos ang loading ng screen at bumungad sa’kin ang mukha ni Brion.

“He wants to call you.” She said and chuckled.

I smiled. My son looks so happy. He looks happier when he’s with his lola.

Nakikita ko lang si Brion kapag pinupuntahan ko siya. Hindi ko alam kung masaya ba siya kung wala ako, but I guess he is. Since ate Reah plays with him.

It’s just… it’s not a joy that a family gives him. Let’s see what will happen after one week. Bibisitahin ko pa din naman si Brion ‘cause he clearly misses me.

“Hello my baby…” I said.

”Mamaaa, fun here, you go here,” Sabi niya at natatawa tawa pa dahil kinikiliti siya ni lola.

“I will, soon, mama’s just busy. Look, I’m currently in my office.” Sabi ko at inikot ang cellphone para makita niya ang paligid ko.

“Your office is pretty mama, can I go there someday?”

apatigil ako. I can’t bring him here. A lot of people will see me. Hindi pa naman mapigilan si Brion at sisigaw yan ng mama sa’kin. Everyone would know.

“S-sure, someday.” Sabi ko.

Alam ko naman na darating din ang araw na kailangan ko siyang ipakilala sa lahat, but not just yet. I’m young and I’m sure a lot of gossips will spread if they knew about this. Hindi nila ito papalagpasin.

I don’t want to tarnish the company’s name, not when it’s doing great. I don’t think I can handle it if anything happens.

Kung itong issue pa nga lang na nangyari recently, nahihirapan na ako. Paano pa pag nadadagdagan nanaman ng isa? I should be really careful from now on.

“Hija, hanggang kailan siya puwede dito?” Tanong ni lola.

“Hanggang next week po, Lola. I’ll be really busy and I think mas masaya siya dyan kumpara sa bahay kapag wala ako.” Sabi ko naman.

Nakita ko naman ang saya sa mukha ni lola. She really does love her grandson.

“Mama won’t come tonight?” Tanong ni Brion.

May kumatok sa pintuan kaya naman bigla akong nag panic. Oh s**t.

“No baby, I’m sorry I need to go now, okay? Be good to grandma.” Sabi ko.

Pinatay ko na agad ang call dahil unti unti na bumubukas ang pintuan. Akala siguro ni Gio tulog pa rin ako.

“Oh, I’m sorry, I thought you were asleep. Gisisingin sana kita dahil mag didinner na.” Sabi ni Gio.

“I-It’s fine.” Sabi ko. Tinago ko ang phone ko sa likuran ko at ngumti.

“You’re talking with someone? I can just go out and--”

“Ayos lang. Tapos naman na kami mag-usap. So… dinner?”

Ngumiti ito at tumango. Parang hindi ko na rin kaya I-tuloy itong ginagawa ko. Lumabas kami ng opisina ko at kita ko kung paano ako tignan ng mga empleyado. I’m sure they’re really curious of what happened at kung ano ang nangyari sa’kin.

Those wounds is not visible. Yung sugat ko sa braso ay natatakpan ng jacket. But the wound that I feel emotionally is worst than what I feel physically.

“Let’s go?” Sabi ni Gio. Tumingin si Gio sa mga empleyado at agad naman silang umiwas ng tingin. Pinauna ako maglakad ni Gio papuntang elevator.

“May mga tao pa ba sa labas ng building?”

“Madami. We can’t go out there and we must be careful in basement parking too. Mahigpit ang security, pero may iilan daw na nakapasok. Hinahanap pa din nila hanggang ngayon.” Sabi niya.

I sighed. Why can’t the reporters respect that I don’t wan to speak about it? Hindi pa ba halata ‘yon na hindi ako nagpapakita sakanila? God.

Bumukas ang pintuan ng elevator at bumungad sa’min ang dalawang reporter. Ang isa may dala pa na camera.

“Excuse me, Miss Valerio, Can we know what triggered Mr. Garcia to kidnap you? May alitan po ba sainyong dalawa?” Tanong nito.

“For what?” Sabi ko.

If they give me a valid reason, then I’ll release a statement about it, pero kung wala naman kwenta ang dahilan nila which I know wala naman talaga, hindi ako magsasalita about sa issue.

“Everyone wants to know-”

“They want to know because?”