Chapter 6

"Sa wakas!"

Rinig ko pang sigaw ni Sam nang maka labas na ng room at nginitian ko lang din ito. Kakatapos lang din kasi ng finals namin ngayong umaga.

"Tara mag tea. My treat!"

Excited pa nitong saad.

"Woah, akala ko ay kukulitin mo na naman ako na ililibre kita and we both know I hate tea."

Tawa ko pang tugon and she just chuckle.

"Not now, since kakatapos lang natin sa finals at may isang tao dito na nag-iipon ngayong taon. Tiyaka masarap ang tea. "

I watched her smiling as she waves her hand sa mga taong nakaka salamuha papuntang gate.

"Yea."

maikli kong reply nang tatawid na kami sa kabilang kalsada.

Nang makatawid ay tiyaka ko lang napansin na nag ri-ring ang dala-dala kong cellphone sa kamay at agad ko naman itong sinagot nang malaman kung sino ang tumatawag.

"Hello?"

bumungad kaagad sa akin ang baritono niyang boses at napangiti ako doon.

"Bakit?"

pinipigilan ko ang sarili na ngumiti nang papasok na kami ni Sam sa loob ng cafeteria.

"Ahh I'm--"

"Ayon si Grey Mira oh!"

Tinignan ko naman dali-dali kung saan nanggaling ang hintuturo ni Sam.

At sakto namang pagkapasok ko ay nagtama ang mata namin ni Grey.

He's wearing their uniform with its combination color of red and black.

Their department had its overall unique uniform. They really look like a successful lawyer kung titigan mo lang sila sa kanilang mga tindig at awra. Ang uniform naman namin had its combination color of red and white.

Kung tutuosin ay ang kikay ng dating sa uniform namin sa CAS dahil mala fashion ang dating nito at palda naman ang sa aming mga babae.

I blinked and gulped as I meet his glance.

I looked at his eyes once again... His eyes..

Parang may ipinaparating ito sa akin na dapat ay hindi ko malaman kung ano man iyon.

It's so evident..

Parang may mali...

I am taken aback when I realized that Sam were calling me.

"Is everything okay?"

She tap my shoulder worriedly and I just nod as a response. Nilinga ko uli kung nasaan ang gawi ni Grey at wala na ito roon at nakita ko na lamang ito na nag o-order na.

Saktong pagka upo naman namin ni Sam ay siyang pagdating ni Grey na agad namang umupo sa harap ko. Instead of saying hello, I just looked away.

"Magkagalit?"

Sam chuckles at pinandilatan ko lang ito ng mata.

Narinig kong tumikhim si Grey at luminga ako sa gawi niya. Hindi gaya kanina ay nahihimigan ko ang saya nito, acting like nothing's going on a minute ago.

I sighed.

Ganoon nga ba talaga ang pinaparating ng mga mata ni Grey kanina? Hays.

Guni-guni ko lang talaga siguro iyon..

"Do you have plans today?"

si Sam, na naka tuon sa gawi naming dalawa ni Grey.

"Not that much."

ikli pang tugon ng lalaki at naagaw ang atensyon ko nang nag vibrate ang cellphone kong dala.

"Ikaw Mira?"

Sam looked at me hoping that I will say yes.

"Speaking of, meron. Nag text si Miko."

sabay iniharap ko sa kanya ang cellphone that says we will have a meeting by 1:00 pm.

"So matic na 'yan na hindi ka sasama sa akin Grey?"

She chuckled.

"Ano ba sana ang plano mo ngayon?"

I asked while sipping the chocolate coffee laying on the left side of the table.

"Karaoke lang sana. Wala naman akong gagawin sa bahay."

She sighed as she plays the cup of tea on his hands and with that, I smell its odor again that made my hands places it to my nose.

"Ayoko ng tea Sam."

I furrowed my brows while looking at her.

"I know. Sayang at hindi ako ang nag order, tea sana ang iyo."

She winked at me teasingly.

"Maamoy ko lang 'yan ay parang masusuka na ako."

I said frustratingly.

"Hindi ka pa ba nasasanay Mira? Hello? It's already been 3 years since we've met at sa tatlong taon na iyon palagi kitang pinapainom ng ganyan, because why not? Masarap naman kasi."

She defended.

"At sa tatlong taon din iyon Sam, I always ended up puking."

Tinawanan lang ako ng babae at uminom nalang din ako ng kape.

"A-ah, Mira?"

I turned my gaze from where I heard the person who just approach me.

Na mumukhaan ko ito at iniisip kung saan ko nga ba siya nakita dati.

"Yes?"

pormal ko pang tugon dito.

"Y-you're, a-ano.."

He said nervously. Nakita ko kung paano niya nilunok ang sariling laway. kumikibot-kibot ang dulo ng labi nito ngunit wala man lang ni isang salita ang lumabas mula dito.

"Ano.. A-ang ganda mo."

natameme lang ako sa sinabi niya.

"P-pardon?"

kahit pa man narinig ko iyon but I needed to confirm dahil baka ay guni-guni ko lang ang nasabi ng lalaking kaharap ko.

"You heard it right Mira, you're beautiful."

He smiled genuinely that made his two dimples visible.

"A-aah. Thank you?"

this is making me uncomfortable.

"Would you mind if I give you this?"

Kinuha niya ang kamay sa likod at may white roses na itong hinahawakan.

Tumingin muna ako kay Sam bago ito tanggapin at nag 'go' signal lang ito. Tinignan ko naman si Grey upang makuha ang reaksyon niya ngunit lumihis lang ang mga mata nito sa ibang direksyon at hindi ako tinignan.

"T-thank you, hindi ka na sana nag abala pa."

Kinuha ko ang roses para hindi siya mapahiya. He's making a lot of crowd here. Kung kanina ay walang may pakialam sa amin, ngayon ay halos lahat ng mata ay nasa amin na.

"And, can I ask for your number?"

tila nabingi ako sa sinabi niya at hindi ko na namalayan na naka tayo na pala si Grey ngayon. He's blocking my sight to that man.

"Would you also mind if I tell you that you're making Almira uncomfortable?"

Grey said calmly.

"Oh? Did I?"

the man looked at me but Grey blocked him to even take a glance on me.

lumapit si Grey sa lalaki at may kung anong ibinulong na sila lang din dalawa ang nakakarinig.

Nakita ko kung paano lumunok ang lalaki, kasabay nito ang pag kuha ni Grey sa roses na nasa kamay ko at ibinalik ito sa lalaking kaharap. Hindi rin nag tagal ay wala itong pasabing umalis sa loob ng cafeteria.

"Anong nangyari do'n?"

I asked out of nowhere and take my eyes to Grey's side.

"Anong ginawa mo?"

matigas kong sabi sa kanya.

"Tinakot. Tss duwag."

He shrugged his shoulders while sipping his black coffee.

"Tss, bakod kamo Grey."

Sam sniffed while smiling looking at her phone.

"Bakit mo tinakot?"

I pouted habang tinatanaw ang pinto kung saan lumabas ang lalaki kanina.

"'Yon na sana eh! May nagbigay na sa'kin ng roses Grey. May lalaki na rin na sinabihan akong maganda. At may naka pansin na din sa ganda ko!"

I pouted once again while hanging my hands in the air at ang hintuturo ay naka tapat sa sarili.

"Ayaw mo no'n may manliligaw na sa akin kung ganoon?"

I calmed myself and just drink.

"Naiingit lang kasi 'yan si Grey Mira."

Sam chuckles and looked at Grey differently. She's teasing us again!

"Stop that stare Sam."

Grey looked away.

"Wala na 'yong roses."

I said in disbelief. Hindi ko alam pero I have this feeling na dapat ay hindi na lang kinuha ni Grey sa akin iyon.

He knows na wala talagang nagbibigay sa akin ng ganoon kaya nang may lumapit sa akin kanina at bigyan ako ng bulaklak, it somehow flattered my heart, even the guy is making me uncomfortable but it's just because it's my first time.

"Do you want flowers? I can also give that to you Mira."

Grey mumbled out of nowhere.

"H-ha?"

I asked in confusion.

"What did you say Grey?"

hindi ko masyadong narinig ang sinabi niya kaya't kunot noo ko itong tinignan.

"You're beautiful. No. You're Gorgeous..Mira."

"You don't need someone to say that to you. I can remind you on that everyday encase you forget. You don't need other guys to buy you flowers, I can spoil you kahit araw-araw pa."

He looked at me intently in the eyes that made me run out of breath.

I am taken aback of what he just said. Narinig ko ang lahat ng sinabi niya, walang labis at walang kulang ngunit para na akong mabibingi sa lakas ng kalabog ng puso ko! If it would be explode, I think this is the right time to be!

"I--I mean kaming d-dalawa ni Sam! You don't need other people to give you such things dahil kaya naman namin iparamdam at ibigay sa'yo ang lahat ng mga bagay na iyon."

He looked away after saying such things.

"A--aahh hindi na muna ako sasama sa lunch. I have something to do with my mind."

He said nervously, nakita niya kung paano kumunot ang noo naming dalawa ni Sam sa nasabi kaya't minadali nitong klaruhin ang ano mang lumabas sa bibig nito.

"I-I mean.. I have something urgent to do. I'll go ahead."

We watch him as he began to walk away.

Minutes passed, napahawak na lang ako sa d****b ko at huminga ng malalim.

"W-what was that?"

I said out of nowhere.

"I didn't know Grey would be that straight forward huh? So he really changed his strategy."

nakatungangang sambit pa ni Sam at may kung anong salita pa itong ibinulong sa hangin na siya lang din ang nakakarinig.

----

"Ms. Sarmento?"

"Mira?"

"Ms. ALMIRA SARMENTO!"

Napatalon ako nang mapagtantong I was called many times by our manager.

"Y-yes Ma'am?"

I asked in realization that our manager is really calling me now.

"What's going on with you?"

Mataray pa niyang tanong.

"Nothing ma'am."

I bite my lips while turning down my gaze to the floor.

"Hmm, can you still do your work? If hindi, you can just leave here anytime. The door is always at ready for that."

She raised her left eyebrow to make herself more intimidating.

"Yes ma'am. I'm sorry for not taking my responsibility. Hindi na po ito mauulit."

I sincerely looked at her and she just rolled her eyes.

"Good."

Agad niya naman din akong tinalikuran at pumunta na sa kanyang office.

I sighed.

Sa lahat ba naman kasi ng lugar na pwede akong tumunganga lang bakit dito pa sa trabaho ko.

Our manager is really that strict pagdating sa trabaho. Especially kapag oras ng work namin, she believed that time is really gold to waste it. Actually she's really friendly outside, sa mga kakilala niya nga lang of course. Napaka professional niya lang talaga na kahit kaibigan pa niya ay handa itong pagalitan kapag nasa oras ng trabaho.

"First ever in history ata na napagalitan girl ah?"

Bulong pa ng katabi kong si Christine. Paniguradong hindi pa din ito nakaka tanggap ng tawag kaya sumilip na sa akin dito.

"Truu, buti nga't iyan lang ang napala mo. Kahapon ang mas malala."

Singit pa ng baklang katabi ko rin.

"Bakit?"

I asked out of curiosity.

"Ay hindi dumating sa'yo ang balita?"

si Christine, and I just shake my head. Pagkatapos kasi ng duty ko, palagi akong nagmamadaling umuwi kasi wala ng halos masakyan pauwi niyan.

"Remember Justine?"

si Paul.

"Of course. Anong meron?"

I asked while roaming my glance around. Baka kasi ay makita pa kami ng manager dito.

"He got fired."

Paul added and the news shocked me.

"Ha? Bakit? I mean, paano?"

It's impossible kasi, Justine is our manager's secretary and they've been together in this company for almost 9 years.

"Hindi namin alam ang buong nangyari pero ang alam lang namin pagkatapos ng duty natin ay nag-aaway ang dalawa. I overheard them arguing with something. Kasama ko pa nga si Christine nang mangyari 'yan kagabi. That's even the first time that we heard Justine fought back. Kasi 'diba, hello? Ang bait kaya niya. In fact, on my 5 years in serving here, never ko pang narinig 'yan na sigawan si Ma'am. Kahit araw-araw nakaka rindi talaga ang mga sermon niya sa kanya."

Paul added. Nahihimigan kong he really felt bad for Justine.

"Hays, kawawang Justine. May sakit pa naman ang mga magulang niyan. Kaya kahit anong sama ni Ma'am sa kanya tinitiis niya para lamang may maipagamot sa magulang at matulungan ang mga kapatid. Ang hirap talaga kapag breadwinner ka. Wala ng halos itira sa sarili mo dahil may mga magulang at mga kapatid kang pinapakain araw-araw. I felt bad for Justine, kahit ako nga may trabaho ngayon pero kulang pa din sa amin ang sweldo ko, paano na kaya siya na nawalan pa ng trabaho?"

Christine added.

Narinig kong may tumunog sa ibang linya, means that Christine and Paul received a call and they bid for a while.

With the news I heard today, it made me feel really bad.

I sighed.

Breadwinner...

Kahit hindi man ako 'yan sa pamilya pero I felt really the same with Justine.

If he felt that he's alone.

I am too..

If he felt that no one's gonna take his side, It also hurts me a lot..

But comparing my situation to Justine, mine was just nothing to feel about. He must be really suffering, like a lot.

I'm still grateful that my family has their own money. And I still have the reasons to be thankful for. Comparing sa lahat ng tao na walang-wala talagang makakaya sa buhay. I have nothing to feel about my situation dahil may mga bagay pa din na mayroon ako na hindi kayang abutin ng ibang tao. May mga bagay pa din na kaya kong bilhin na hindi kaya ng iba. Kaya I have no right to feel this way.

With that thoughts, I close my eyes and prayed in silence for Justine's stability in life. I wish for his life to be more meaningful and wishing him the biggest reason to live in this life.

Even the life itself is digging us into our own grave..