Chapter 11

WAJE

Napabuntong hininga ako nang pumasok si Samuel at Fash sa opisina.

"Didn't I tell you not to go outside? You can play here if you want!". Madiin kung sabi dito. Tumungo naman ang bata at di tumingin sakin.

"I was bored, Im sorry papa—

"You wouldn't believe who I saw today Waje!". Agaw naman ni Sam na malaki ang ngiti. I smirked at him. May target chick nanaman siguro ito. Napailing ako.

"Oh! Please.. Don't do it in  my company". Naiiling kung sagot dito. 

"No.. It's Paige!". Sabi nito sa gitna nag nakakalokong ngiti. Who's?

"Paige Madrigal! What is she doing here??". Gulat kung tanong dito. Shit! Why's my heart beating so fast!

"She's your employee and Tyler likes her, a looot! Tooooo". Tatango tangong saad ni Sam di maalis ang nakakalokong ngiti nito. 

"No way!". Bulong ko halos di makapaniwala.

Almost 6 years ago... I still remember it clearly, how I am truly annoyed every time I saw her crying in front of me. Her big round sad eyes haunt me sometimes at night. She keeps on telling me that were engaged! The heck! I didn't know! I can't remember anything about her... not until I accidentally opened my old phone, two years ago. Which bomb with our photos and videos. My lost memories. I tried to look for her but no sign. Tapos ngayon nasa kompanya ko pala. Nakapag move on na kaya ito? Napailing ako. Why would this bothered me? Is she here to follow me again? 

Iba din mag laro ang tadhana. Napailing ako. 

"Terry, could you give me some files?". Tawag ko sa secretarya ko. "New employees, please". 

"Right away Sir". Sagot naman nito. 

"Can you call Gerald, in CCTV monitoring team? I have something to discuss with him". Dagdag ko dito.

"Yes Sir!". Agap na sagot nito.

Napa sandal ako sa upuan. It's been a long time since I last saw her...tsk! Napailing nalang ako. Hindi ko siya maalala pero may kung ano saking isip na gusto kung malaman. Gusto siyang hanapin.  Napabuntong hininga nalang ako.

Paige.. Paige... Paige...

I massage my temple when the phone rang.

"Sir, Gerald is in line two". Saad ng aking sekretarya.

"Okay thank you!". Binabaa ko ang isang telepono at bumaling sa isa.

"Mr. Eleazar? Sir?". Bungad nito.

"Will.. Gerald can you please send me a cctv footage earlier... About 12 noon, in... Um.. Pantry 10 area".

"No problem, Sir. May I ask the reason Sir? Are we alright? Or we missed something? Anything that we should worry about?". Sunod sunod nitong tanong.

"Oh! No.. No.. No..". Umiling ako. "Tyler was their earlier, I just want to check... Don't worry!". Pag sisiguro ko dito.

"Copy, Sir!". Agarang sagot nito. "I'll send it directly to your email, Sir".

"Yes please.. Thank you!".

Why my heart beats so fast?

Napagitla ako ng tumunog ang notification tone ng laptop ko.. Agad ko naman itong binuksan at nakita ko ang higit 1 hour video footage. I press the bottom to play.

Tyler is standing besides the door, may sinisilip ito. Maya-maya pa ay pumasok ang isang babae. Because the camera was facing Tyler di ko masyadong makita ang mukha nito. She is wearing white fitted dress with black cardigan. May dala itong malapad na tingin ko ay pagkain. Kumunot ang nuo ko? Why would she bring food? They don't have to pay right away for their lunch. Tsk! Tsk! That's girl.. Napailing ako.

She's now talking with my son,which shocked me because Tyler is a snob kid. Hindi ito nakikipag usap basta-basta kahit na mga associate ko. I saw him smile. Mmmmmm... I got curious what they are talking about. Slowly she opens her lunch box which Tyler describes earlier.She's pointing the food, I guess she's trying to explain to my son what are those. What shocks me more is that... When she give Tyler food, he voluntary eat it.

They are talking and laughing while she's feeding my child. Unbelievable! Fash Tyler!

Habang pauwi ako di parin maalis sa isip ang mga nakita ko. Maybe Samuel is right. She can tamed even the wildest beast in the forest. Napailing at napabuntong hininga ulit ako. 

"Mom?". Sigaw ko dahil sa gulat. I was in the hospital. All I remembered was that... Samuel, Jerome and I are excited! We finally made to be part of school varsity. Uhaw na uhaw ako. I saw Mom and Dad rushing over me. Mom is crying. 

"Clark, darling.. Thank you—I thought I lost you! My God!... Thank you!.. Honey see—he's alright!". Saad ni Mommy sa gitna ng pag iyak. 

"What happened?". I ask between my breathe. My head is spinning. 

"Hijo, you've been in coma for the past month. We are so worried. A drunk truck driver hit your car last month. You were critical, but... Here you are!". Nakangiting saad ni dad. Biglang bumukas ang pinto at pumasok si Amanda. Kita ko ang gulat sa kanyang mukha. 

" Babe? ". Tawag ko dito. Lalong Kumunot ang nuo ko nang makita ko ang pag tataka sa mga mata nito. Napatingin sakin ang aking mga magulang na may halong pag tataka. 

"What?". 

"Waje, I'm sorry". Saad ni Amanda na ngayon ay tuloyan nang umiyak. Naawa naman ako dito. 

"Come here baby! I missed you. Weren't you in a class field trip?". Tanong ko dito at nang makalapit ito ay hinila ko para mayakap. Hindi ko alam pero para bang wala akong naramdamang pananabik o ano man. Maybe because my head is still spinning. Binaliwala ko nalang ito. Baka sa aksidente. 

"Waje!". Tumayo ang nagulat na si Mama. Napabaling ang tingin ko dito. Habang si Amanda naman ay naka awang ang mga labi. 

What's wrong with this people!  They are acting weird. 

"Don't you remember Paige?".  Matigas na tanong ni dad. Nag isip ako. 

"Paige who?". Kunot-nuo ko. Natutup naman ni mama ang bibig nito habang umiiling. 

"Call the doctor, right away! Clarkson!". Sigaw nito kay dad. Napagitla naman si dad. 

"What year is today, Mr. Eleazar?". Tanong ng doctor. 

"2009!,this is ridiculous..." Tiningnan ko ang aking mga magulang. I saw mom is starting to get emotional again. Napailing ang doctor. 

"It's 2013, Waje!". Sabat naman ni Amanda na nag pabigla sakin. Umikot bigla ang paningin ko. What? 2013? 

"Aren't we still in first year college? Last thing I remember is that.. You were in a 2 days field trip to palawan and we finally made it to varsity team! My first game was yesterday, right??". I ask them. My voice is now trembling. 

"Graduating na tayo, week from now! It's been 3 years since—". Umiiling na sagot ni Amanda. 

Ilang sandali akong natulala. 

"Doc,what happened?". My dad is now facing the doctor. 

"Can we talk privately?". Sagot naman ng doctor. I saw my mom worried eyes before they followed the doctor. 

"What happened, babe?". I ask Amanda. Umiling lang ito. 

"Nothing to worry". Pag sisiguro naman nito at mahigpit akong niyakap. 

"I missed you". Bulong nito. 

"Yeah, me too". Nag aalinlangan kung sagot. Pilit kung iniisip kung ano ba ang nangyari pero walang lumalabas sa utak ko. What is happening to me? 

Temporary amnesia? It's a normal case sabi ng doctor sa mga pasyenteng na coma lalo na sa kaso ko dahil malakas ang pagkakabagok ng ulo ko sa aksidente. 

I was holding Amanda's arms when someone opened the door, it was Sam and Jerome with a girl whom I saw for the first time. She's smiling sweetly at me. Kinabahan ako. Do I know her? Lito akong napatingin kay Sam at Jerome. She's quite pretty... Like a doll. I think she's 5'3, she's wearing sun dress and a doll shoes. Her chicks and nose were red, her round and beautiful eyes is a bet swollen,it is because she's crying. 

I eyed Jerome. He avoided me. 

I ask her who is is. Instead of answering she begun to cry! This girl is killing me. Seeing her sad eyes bothers me. Why? I don't even know her! But her voice... Those voice I know.. When I was in my deepest dreams, that voice guide me to the light. But.. 

Surprisingly mom and dad knows her. 

And She's my girlfriend! What??? 

I give her an engagement ring? What the—I'm engaged with Amanda. Christ! 

I get furious because my two best friends were siding her. 

"Pabayaan na muna natin siya". I heard Mom said. 

"Naintindihan ko po tita". It's Samuel. He is a resident doctor now. 

What did I missed? 

Every time I'm alone I keep thinking... But it's blank! Blur and black. My head hurts. 

I tried to avoid Paige even though I always felt helpless whenever she's around. 

That time I want to be alone. I felt like I was a stranger in front of the people whom I dearly loves.

Many things surprised me. Mom and dad expanded our business which... According to them, I personally suggested and monitored. Samuel is a doctor. Jerome is an actor and a model. Lastly, Amanda is not my girlfriend anymore. 

I keep asking my self! What happened? Why is this happening to me? Did I do something wrong to feel this way? 

After graduation... which I know it is not a great idea attending to it. I can't even remember all my classmates. Surprisingly when it comes to work. I felt like I been there for a whole time. I understand all the terms, plans and projects that they lay in front of me. 

Paige is so persistent. Everyday. I saw her waiting for me. But like others I avoided her. I'm afraid when she's near me. I'm afraid to hurt her or see her hurting. 

After our talk in my favorite restaurant as she claimed. I didn't saw her. I never ask Jerome or Samuel about her and they didn't try to bring her up to me. 

"What do you think Waje, in going to America? Magpatingin ka doon anak". My mom said to me between our dinner. 

"I'm completely fine Ma". I answered without looking at her. 

Dad drop his knife. "Ang sa amin lang naman, second opinion from the experts Clark". Madiin nitong saad. 

"Come on—I'm not a kid anymore". 

"But you are my son... You've been—" umiling si mama bago magpatuloy-"It's like we don't know you anymore—you avoided everyone... You buried yourself by working —This is not you a months ago with—

Nag angat ako ng tingin para salubungin ang titing nito. 

" Okay! I'll be having a second opinion—paano kung wala parin? It will lead us to a bigger disappointment —I'm fine now! Completely —but because you guys keep on bugging me about this... okay.. I-I'll book our tickets tomorrow". Mahinahon kung saad. 

6 months in US still no answers. 

"Don't worry mom, I'll make another memory". Isang araw saad ko sakanya. I know she's sad and hurt. I don't want my parents to be upset. So I enjoy living here and enrolled for my masters. 

Amanda often visits me as well as Jerome and Samuel. We became normal friends after all we are truly friends. 

After 1 year we learned that Amanda has a brain cancer and she's pregnant with my child. It was a mistake... We were drinking one night and it was an accident. We were both drunk. When I learned that she's having my baby I let here live in my place. We became civil. 

She's sick and now she insisted on having our baby. It is not that I don't want the baby. But it will kill her. After she give birth to Tyler she told me everything that for the first time I wish she'd never had. 

We broke up according to her because I caught her with Leo. A soccer team captain. Making out in his locker room. I ignored her for two years until I found Paige. She told me, she's jealous of her because I never looked at her exactly how I looked at Paige. 

Week after, Amanda died. 

I've been in a middle of nowhere... While holding my son in my arms. Thinking about the past which I forgot. I am longing for something that even my self don't know what is it. 

My family and friends were all here supporting me. I give my name to my son and focus my attention to him and build my own empire. 

I decided to bring here back home for I know this is the best for him. Surrounded my the people who loved him. Fash Tyler Eleazar. 

"Dad did you talk to the little lady?". Bungad ng anak ko when I checked him. 

"No son,why should I?" takang tanong ko dito. So sudden. 

"Why? I like her". Bulong nito. My heart skip a beat. 

"Will, I don't know her". Tipid kung sagot. 

"She's in your building dad! It's easy to know her". Giit nito. 

"Fash I have a thousand employees, how would I know them all?". 

"Then, can I go tomorrow? Promise I won't disturb her—I just want to see her". 

"Will see—sleep". At hinalikan ko na ito sa nuo. Kita ko ang lungkot sa mga mata nito. He grows up without his mom, although his grandmama is always around. I know he wants to have his own mom like he always requested when he is just 4 years old. 

"Should I be worried?".