LOGINI was taken aback. Halos alisan ako ng kaluluwa dahil roon. I wasn't expecting this answer. Ang nasa isip ko ay baka hindi talaga iyon ang gusto niyang kurso o kung ano pa man kaya hindi na niya itinuloy."U-um..." I muttered some curses. "I'm sorry, Kallum. I shouldn't ask you that."Ngumiti siya. Which made me feel sorry for him even more. "It's fine. You were curious and I wanted to answer your question too. I failed the bar exam. That's it," aniya na tila hindi mabigat sabihin iyon para sa kaniya.I was about to speak again when the door slammed open and Dad who's furious, was exposed to me."Crecia!" He hissed. "I thought we already talked about this? Vianca, your sister just wants to help you dahil alam naming napapabayaan mo na ang sarili mo dahil sa trabaho! How could you do that to me in front of everyone?!" Hiyaw niya sa 'kin.That hurt not only my ears but even my heart. Ni hindi ako agad nakareact doon dahil inalala ko agad na nandito si Kallum ngayon at naririnig niya ang
I didn't even know how it all started. Noong una ko siyang nakita sa garden ng Rays of Life habang nagdidilig ng mga halaman, isa lang ang pumasok sa isip ko. He's out of the world. I mean, he has his own world na siya lang ang may kakayahang makaintindi. Hindi ko maiwasang isipin na baka hindi naman ito totoo dahil masyadong perpekto ang lahat."The bridge project of Mayor Bien Ruiz will start a week by now. As per our previous meeting regarding the supplies needed, everything else is settled except their manpower. Mr. Gascon here will come with me at the site visit next week." I looked at everyone, especially Dad. Ito ang unang beses na umattend siya ng meeting ngayong buwan. Kung kailan patapos na ang buwan."Well, I'm aware that this meeting isn't about that. The recent problem regarding the Sy-Tian Corporation was addressed with the press during their conference yesterday, and as you can see, the investment we have with them will probably be affected sooner or later. I'd like to
"I... W-wait for me there." I ended the call. Agad na tinakpan ko ang bibig ko at tahimik na humagulgol.Is this how it really feels? To be cared by someone? Matagal na panahon na mula nang huli ko itong naramdaman. Back when she was still alive. Siya lang ang nakakagawa nito sa akin. And now here, this man... My family didn't even check on me or ask me about my daily life. Kahit si Dad. Is this how it really feels? Kung para sa iba ay masarap na pakiramdam ito, bakit para sa akin ay hindi?Muli akong naghilamos matapos ang ginawa kong pag-iyak na iyon saka nagmadaling bumaba. Pagkabukas ko ng gate ay tumambad kaagad sa akin si Kallum na nakasandal sa motor niya habang nakayuko at tila problemado."Kallum."He immediately fixed his gaze on me. Napaatras ako nang makita ko na tila nais niya akong yakapin ngunit pinigilan niya ang kaniyang sarili at nanatiling nakatayo sa harap ko. With his worried expression. Tila nagsusumamo iyon."Totoo bang maayos ka? Hindi ka inatake o ano?" Tanong
Padarag kong ibinaba ang spoon and pork na hawak ko at uminom ng tubig. Tiningnan ko silang tatlo. I saw how Dad's expression hardened while glancing at me and his other daughter. Lumambot lang iyon nang magsalita si Tita Vicky, his wife."That's so rude of you, Via. Why don't you get the dessert in the kitchen, hija? Come on," malumanay niyang utos sa anak niya.Umirap ang babae. "Fine." And then she left the dining table.I heaved out a sigh. Fucking rude bitch."Pasensya ka na, Crecia. Kabisado mo naman na ang kapatid mo," ani Tita Vicky and looked at me softly. Iniwas ko ang tingin sa kaniya at pekeng ngumiti."It's fine, Tita," I trailed off and looked at Dad. "Ano po bang ididiscuss niyo, Dad? Tungkol saan? I'd like to stay longer and wait for Lolo and Aunty but I can't. May maaga akong meeting bukas."Tumikhim si Dad. Marahan niyang pinunasan ng panyo ang bibig niya at tumutok ang tingin sa 'kin. "We're planning to give Via all my shares in your company, anak."I was stunned fo
"You can leave now, Kallum. I'll set another meeting with Yna to discuss about your work," ani ko at tumayo na para sana kumuha ng kape ngunit nagulat ako nang hulihin niya ang wrist ko. Napatingin ako sa kaniya nang maramdaman ko ang kuryenteng dumaloy pataas sa braso ko patungo sa buong katawan ko.Tila nagulat din siya kaya agad na binitiwan ako."I'm sorry...""May sasabihin ka pa ba?""I just wanted to say that Lola wants you to eat dinner with us tonight, pero mukhang hindi puwede? Sasabihin ko na lang sa kaniya," aniya at tinalikuran na ako.Bago pa siya makalabas ay muli niya akong nilingon. Now, I could see worries in his eyes."I'll see you every week then." He then left my office.But that didn't happen. It's because I started visiting the Rays of Life more often. Hindi rin ako umuwi nang gabing 'yon at dumiretso sa bar ni Ruru and drowned myself with some vodka and beer.Tuwing gabi ay dumadaan ako sa orphanage para lang makita siya. The thought of him is giving me a kind
I glanced at him for a second. Hindi ko naitagal ang tingin sa kaniya dahil nahuli kaagad niya ang mga mata ko. His blank expression is irritating me. Wala ni isa akong makitang emosyon sa mga mata niya. Parang noong gabing nakita ko siya sa labas ng orphanage. Seriously? May iba ba siyang katauhan?"So, what do you say?" I muttered before closing the folder at hinayaang hawak iyon ng kamay ko.His eyes bore into mine. Na parang wala siyang interest sa mga sinabi ko kaya nairita na naman ako."Kung wala ka nang sasabihin, puwede ka nang umalis.""Bakit ikaw naman ngayon ang nagsusungit?" Tanong niya na ikinatigil ko. The heat that's coming from my coffee suddenly transported to my head."What?"He smiled. That smile. That exact smile he gave me that night before saying goodbye. Inangat niya sa table ko ang isang paper bag kaya tumapon ang tingin ko roon."Pinabibigay ni lola. She's still worried sick about you and your condition. I hope you don't mind, Ma'am," he casually said. Ni hin







