"Anak, aalis kana? Magtataxi ka nalang ba papunta don?" My mom asked habang pababa ako ng hagdanan.
Malapit nang mag 6 PM and I should go to the office now. I shouldn't make my boss wait for me.
"Opo, ma" I said then kiss her on cheeks. My father stood up and kissed me on my forehead.
"Take care" he said before going back on his seat. "Sige na, Venice. You should go. Baka ma-late ka pa" my mom said kaya hindi na ko nag atubiling maglakad palabas ng bahay.
I was about to call a taxi when I noticed a black ferreri parked not so far from our house. And the door suddenly opened and the driver stepped outside.
"Sir?" Gulat na sabi ko. Naglakad naman sya papunta sakin and he smiled.
"You look good wearing that dress" he said then I already felt my cheeks burning.
"Thank you" I answered. His smile remains on his face as silence surrounded us. Naputol lang
The whole venue screams elegance and richness. Halata palang sa gate ng venue and the red carpet. Huminto kami to atleast let the media takes photo of us. Medyo hindi padin ako sanay sa ganito. Back then, when we were still rich, my mom and dad lang ang pumupunta sa mga ganitong event at halos araw araw silang nasa newspaper. Business news kumbaga. Ako, bilang lang sa kamay kung ilang beses ako umattend sa mga ganito. This isn't my forte. I prefer to stay at home and spend time with him. "Jerwin! Venice! You're finally here!" I saw Jerwin's mom approaching us. Nasa likod nya ang isang lalaki na tingin ko ay asawa nya. "Hi Mom. Hi Dad" Jerwin greeted then kissed his mom on her cheeks at niyakap nya ang kanyang ama. But, bakit di rin nya kamukha yung tatay nya? Naputol ang trains of thoughts ko when his father approached me. "Hi iha. You're my son's s
My eyes widen. I know, normal question lang naman yung tinanong nya but I think, I should be the one asking him that, right? I came here as his secretary so, I should assist him. I heard Yohan whistles playfully pero wala samin ang tumingin sakanya. "Venice?" Jerwin's voice snapped me out of my trance. I immediately keep my phone and noticed na nagkakainan na pala yung ibang guests. Some waiters roaming around to give drinks. And some people, walking to the line where the catering is. "Uhh sir. What would you like to eat? I'll get it for you" sabi ko saka tumayo. Sya naman ngayon ang nagulat. He cleared his throat again and shift to his seat at umiwas ng tingin. I patiently waiting for him to say something. He sighed then look at me. "Just get what food you want" he said before shifting his attention towards the people. I heard Yohan's chuckle pero hindi ko na niling
Friday morning. It's my third day working here. Maaga akong pumasok dahil hindi rin naman ako ganung nakatulog dahil sa kagabi. I started doing my work nang marinig kong magbukas ang elevator. My heart suddenly beats fast dahil alam ko kung sino yun. "Morning" I heard him greeted kaya huminga ako ng malalim at itinigil ang pagta type ko saka tumayo. "Goodmorning, sir" I flashed a smile before sitting down again. Mabuti at hindi ako nautal. He entered his office kaya mas naging focus ako sa pagtatrabaho. Hinihintay ko na utusan nya ko pero wala pa naman. "Excuse me!" I heard a harsh voice and a slam on my table. Nag angat ako ng tingin then I saw the woman again. Lira. "Yes? Do you need anything?" I asked at agad binalik ang tingin ko sa computer. I heard her breathe harshly before slamming the table again. "Hey you! Wag ka ngang ba
"You found each other again, congrats" Those words lingers in my mind hanggang pag uwi ko sa bahay at paggising ko kinabukasan. Dumiretso ako sa banyo ko at agad nagbihis nang pambahay at bumaba. Naabutan ko si Mommy sa sala. Wala nanaman si Daddy. I wonder kung saan sya nagpupunta? At sinong mga kinikita nya? Sabi ni mommy, dating business partner nya ang kinikita nya. Ewan ko na. "Venice, iha" I heard my mom said kaya napaangat ako ng tingin at dumiretso sa tabi nya. "Good evening, Mommy" sabi ko then kissed her cheeks. She's watching television kaya naupo ako sa tabi nya at nanood naden. "How's your work, anak?" I heard my Mom asked habang nakatutok sa television ang paningin nya. Isinandal ko ang ulo ko sa sofa. "It's fine, Mom. Maayos naman ang trato saken ng boss ko" he even hugged me without asking kung bat ako umiiyak. "Your boss.." I heard
Dressed in a black dress and white heels, ready nakong umalis. Simpleng off shoulder black dress ang suot ko. May beads ito sa shoulder parts at may naka attached na belt sa waist part. Tinernuhan ko nang dirty white heels na hindi ganon kataas. Inilagay ko sa likod ang nakalugay at kinulot na buhok ko. Yung dulo lang ang bahagya kong kinulot. There, I'm done. Kinuha ko ang purse ko na naglalaman ng essentials ko. Cellphone, tissue, wallet at others. Lumabas ako ng kwarto ko at naabutan si Mommy at Daddy na mukhang may pinag uusapang seryoso pero napaangat ang tingin sakin. Napatayo si Mommy at lumapit saken. "Wow, anak. You look great even in that simple dress" she said and gently pats my cheeks. "Umuwi ka before midnight, ha?" Napatawa naman ako sa sinabi nya. "Mom, don't worry. Bat may curfew padin ako?" Natatawang tanong ko. She smiled at me. "Sige, wala nang cur
I didn't know how long I stared at him. We're holding each other's gazes for a minute. Kahit ang magfiance na kasama namin sa table ay tahimik lang na nakaupo sa kanilang upuan. I tried my best to remembered where I've seen those eyes. I tried to decipher the emotions that eyes are holding. And I realized.. his eyes, it looks like his. Looks like Jefferson's. After four years, I finally manage to say his name. Sa nagdaang taon, ayokong nababanggit ang pangalan nya kahit sa isip ko dahil pinupuno ako ng guiltiness, ng sakit, ng pangungulila but now, I manage to say his name on my mind and I expect to feel guiltiness pero, wala. I felt sting of pain pero agad ding nawala. And as I look into Jerwin's eyes, naalala ko lahat ng alaala ko with Jefferson. Pakiramdam ko, sya ang nasa harapan ko. Sya ang tinititigan ko. "Goodevening! Ladies
Ramdam ko ang init ng palad nya habang papasok kami sa loob. Naabutan namin na nagkakainan na ang mga tao at nakita ko din si Reishell sa may table namin. Palinga linga sya, hinahanap siguro kami. "Hey" Jerwin said kaya napalingon sila samin. Reishell stood up and went towards me and hugs me bago bumaba ang tingin nya sa magkahawak na kamay namin. "Saan kayo galing?" She even smirked while asking. Ramdam kong binitawan ni Jerwin ang kamay ko saka hinila ang inuupuan ko kanina at sinenyasan akong maupo kaya naupo muna ako. Agad namang sumunod si Reishell. "Honey, sa labas lang kami ni Jerwin hmm? We'll just talk about the deal" Yuan said. Reishell stood up and kissed his cheeks bago naglakad papalayo sila Jerwin at Yuan. "So, Veren. Anong meron? Why may holding hands?" She asked while grinning. Agad ko namang inirapan. "Wala yon. Lumabas kasi sya kaya sinundan ko then
The ride is dead silent. Gaya kanina, walang nagsalita samin pero, mas naramdaman ko ang awkwardness at embarrassment ngayon. After I blurted that words, tinanggal ni Jerwin ang kamay nya na nasa pisngi ko at tumingin nalang sa harapan. The rest of the party, nanahimik sya hanggang sa matapos. Hindi ko pa nga alam kung sasabay ba ako but when he opened the passenger seat's door, wala nakong nagawa kundi sumakay. And, here we are. Surrounded by awkwardness. Bakit ba ang careless ko? Nakakahiya na ganun ang inakto ko kanina sa harapan nya. Sa harapan ng boss ko! Hindi ko naman magawang magsalita dahil may bumabara sa lalamunan ko. "Kahit di ka pumasok ng maaga bukas, it's fine. I understand since we both went to a party. Wala din namang meeting tomorrow morning, tama ba?" He broke the silence. Agad ko namang inisip kung may schedule ba sya ng meeting bukas pero naalala kong wala.