Rebirth Of Gifflet

Chapter 20

"Ito ba lahat 'yung mga tinanggap mo?" Tignignan ko ang mga papel bago tinignan si Beam.

"Yes, doc. 'Yan na po lahat."

I was busy checking the applications when one application caught my attention. Tinignan ko ito ng maigi at ilang beses ko pang binasa ang pangalan.

I don't know what to react but it made me smirk devilishly. He applied, huh. It's been months. I wonder how are they.

Richard Wilson.

"Sir Whitlock? Doc Gifflet!"

Doon lang nakuha ang atensyon ko sa malakas na boses ni Beam. "Are you with me, Sir?"

"Hindi yata, Beam. Hindi kita kasama."

Napakamot siya ng ulo. "Para kasing hindi ka nakikinig, doc e. Kanina pa kita tinatawag."

I chuckled. I'm glad he doesn't hate me that much. Wala naman siyang reklamo kapag nagtatanong ako sa kanya at humihingi ng tulong.

Hindi ko namam siya inuutusan at maliit lang na mga trabaho ang binibigay ko sa kanya since Ley was there who is willing to help me. Matulungin din ang isang 'yon, 'no?

"Ano ba 'yon?"

"Hindi mo ba sila titignan, doc?"

"Ba't ko sila titignan?" Napakamot ulit siya ng ulo at parang naguguluhan na.

"Like what you're doing before."

"Huwag na. Ang dami ko pang gagawin. Look at those papers." Tinuro ko ang mga papel sa lamesa ko at nastress lang ako nang makita ang mga iyon.

"Pwede mo namang ipagawa sa mga directors 'yan, doc ha."

"No. Never. I can do that. I don't need their help."

"Sabi mo, e. Alis na ako doc. I still have an operation."

"Alright. Kailan ba magsisimula ang mga ito?"

"Bukas, doc."

"Okay. Good luck to your operation."

Ngumiti siya at umalis na ng opisina ko. Napabuntong ako ng hininga. Araw-araw na lang puro papel ang kinahaharap ko. Wala pa akong naoperahan.

I stretched my body and started my work.

"F, may celebration kami ng mga katrabaho ko. Can I go out with them?"

Humarap ako kay Adrienne na nagtutupi ng mga damit namin. "Sure. Why not?"

"Really?"

"Oo naman. Saan ba niyo icecelebrate?"

"A club around here."

"What? No," agad kong tutol. She stopped then looked at me.

"You said yes earlier."

"That's when you didn't tell me where." Umupo siya sa kama at napaisip. Disappointment was visible on her face.

I sighed problematic and fully faced her. I moved my chair. "Come here."

Tumayo siya at nakasimangot na lumapit sa akin. Inabot ko ang mga kamay niya at hinila palapit sa'kin. I placed her between my legs at tilted my head to looked at her face since I was sitting.

"What time?" I raised her hand I was holding and kissed the back of it. She was watching me while giving soft kisses on the back of her hands.

"After our work. Basically, it will be after six."

Tumigil ako kakahalik sa kamay niya at tinignan ang mukha niya. It's not that I'm taking her freedom away. It's a f*****g club. Maraming mga bagay ang posibleng mangyari.

"Susunduin kita, okay? Just text me. Kailan ba?"

"Tomorrow?"

"Agad? What are you celebrating for by the way?"

"Our successful project."

Doon lang ako napangiti ulit. My woman is really great. I'm so proud of her.

"Don't forgot to text me, okay? Tell me if something happens."

Tumango siya bilang tugon.

I was walking in the hallway when someone bumped with me. Napaatras ako sa lakas nito.

"Hey! Look where you going!"

Napangisi ako sa pamilyar na boses. Nga naman. Ang aga, a. I looked up at him.

Richard. Hindi pa rin siya nagbabago. Still the thick face Richard? This actually excites me, huh.

Wala pa akong plano kung paano ko sila gantihan and here he is. Standing in front of me glaring.

"You actually bumped into me. Shouldn't you say sorry? Naglalakad ako sa gilid at ikaw ang bumangga sa'kin," malamig at walang emosyon kong saad pero sa loob-loob ko ay sobra ang ngisi ko.

Am I crazy if I tell him I missed him? Siguro nga nababaliw na ako. He was my best friend before after all. Gusto kong humalakhak sa iniisip ko. Why would I miss him? Is he worth for?

Tumawa siya ng pagak at dahan-dahang palapit sa'kin. I was a little bit taller than him like when I was still in my original body.

Hindi man siya ang direktang pumatay sa'kin but I'm considering them that they killed me. Hindi man kamay niya ang gumawa pero sila pa rin ang kinokonsidera kong pumatay sa akin.

"Do you know who I am? I am the son of one of the directors here and you don't have the rights talk to me like that," saad niya bago tumawa ng sarkastiko.

Oh. He's one of the directors son? Why didn't I know? I know all the directors but didn't see anyone the same with his surname. At kung anak nga siya, ba't kailangan niyang mag-apply? Knowing that the director is a high position. He doesn't need to apply.

"Who?" walang emosyon kong tanong. Nakita kong bumalatay ang inis sa mukha niya. That pleases me honestly. Am I that evil if I say I'm pleased?

He was about to talk when someone shouted my name.

"Gifflet my friend! Nandiyan ka lang pala." Lumapit si Ley sa'kin na ikinarolyo ng mga mata ko.

Wrong time. Gusto ko pa sanang kausap si Richard but Ley ruined it. What the f**k?

Walang hiya niyang sinampal ang likod ko na ikinatalim ng mga mata ko. "Late ka ulit, a? Hinatid mo ang asawa mo?"

"What do you think?"

Tumawa siya. "Nagbago ka na talaga, Gifflet my friend."

Inis kong tinabig ang kamay niya. He looked at Richard who was staring at us. "Oh, hi! I'm his friend by the way. And you are?" He stupidly extended his hand for a hand shake but I slapped it away. Baka malipat sa kanya ang ugali ni Richard.

Kahit gano'n ang trato ko sa kanya ay natatakot akong gawin niya ang ginawa ni Richard sa akin. As well as with Adrienne. Natatakot akong traydurin nila ako.

Sinamaan ako ng tingin ni Ley. "What?"

"Madudumihan," tipid kong sagot.

"Naghugas naman ako ng kamay, a."

"I'm not telling that it's your hand," pagkasabi ay umalis na ako sa harap nila.

"Pasensya ka na sa kaibigan ko, ha. Gano'n talaga 'yon," rinig ko pang sabi ni Ley.

Inis akong humarap sa kanila. "Why the f**k you're saying sorry?"

"Pare, pagsabihan mo 'yang kaibigan mo. Ang yabang."

Biglang natahimik si Ley at kita kong nawala ang mapaglarong ngiti niya. "Tara na, Ley."

Ley tsked and walk away from Richard. Sumabay siya ng lakad sa'kin at panay ang bulong ng mga mura.

"Hindi ba niya tayo kilala? Siya 'yung mayabang, e. Though mayabang ka naman pero noon lang."

"He's an evil person. You don't know? I heard he killed a person."

Napasinghap siya sa sinabi ko. "Seryoso? Paano mo alam?"

"I just know." I shrugged and left him hanging there.

"F! Hintayin mo ako!" I didn't listen to him.

Pumantay ulit siya sa'kin at panay ang tanong. Hindi ko na lang siya pinansin.

"So he was the step son of Mr. Arellano. Step son lang naman pala, ba't ang yabang?"

"Aba malay ko. He thinks so highly of himself."

Ba't hindi ko 'yon nakita? May step father mga pala itong si Richard. Hindi ko lang kilala dahil hindi siya nagkukwento sa akin noon.

"Well, yeah. Ganyan naman talaga ang mga tao, e. Nakaangat lang pakiramdam nila diyos na sila," umiiling niyang saad. "Parang ikaw pero noon lang."

Tinaliman ko siya ng tingin. He keeps saying that. Sasabihin niyang parang ako pero sasabihing noon lang.

"Ba't nandito ka na naman? Wala kang operasyon? Walang check ups?"

"Nandito ba ako ngayon kung wala?"

I looked at him. "Kailan pa nabakantehan ang doctor? Maliban nga lang kung hindi ka magaling sa trabaho mo."

"Hoy! Iba na 'yan, a! Grabi ka talaga sa'kin, 'no? Saan na ba si An? Buti pa 'yung asawa mo, ang bait."

"Oh yeah?"

—

"Pinapatawag niyo raw ako, doc?"

"Oh, yeah. I want to meet the new applicants actually."

"Sabi mo, doc huwag na."

"Nagbago isip ko, e." I was smiling ear to ear. Sabik akong makita si Richard. He has been my friend before. Why not congratulate him?