Chapter 18

Almost

“Good morning, Roxanne. What can I do for you?” Heather gave her a very fake smile the moment she turned her chair around.

“You can’t do anything for me but you could definitely do something for Primo.” Umuklo siya para magpantay ang tingin nila saka nagbabantang nagsalita, “Stay away from him. I know you’re just using him as a passing fancy dahil hindi kayo magkaayos ng boyfriend mo. That, or namamangka ka sa dalawang ilog,” nang-aakusa nitong turan.

“What the hell are you talking about?” Naguguluhan at natatawa si Heather sa mga pinagsasasabi nito.

“Oh, don’t use that innocent face on me. That’s never going to work.” Dinuro siya nito. “Alam ko ang kilos ng mga gaya mo—“

“You mean…gaya mo?” pagtatama niya rito.

Roxanne’s eyes flamed as she gritted her teeth. “Gaya mo. Alam ko ang mga galawan ng mga babaeng kagaya mo, Heather. And I suggest you leave Primo alone. Wala kang mabuting naidudulot sa kaniya. Ginagawa mo pa siyang kabit!” Napataas ang boses nito dahilan para makakuha nila ang atensiyon ng ibang empleyado.

Seeing the judgemental stares, tumayo si Heather para ipagtanggol ang sarili.

“Kahit kalian, hindi ko ginawang kabit si Primo. He’s just a friend trying to help me with my problems. Ano ba ang mga pinapanood mong series that you came into that conclusion? I never had a romantic relationship with Primo and I love my boyfriend so much, I would never cheat on him!” nanggagalaiti niyang wika. “And how proud are you to say that in front of my face. You don’t know me, Roxanne. You don’t know shit about my life kaya huwag kang magmarunong! Alam mo, matagal na kitang pinagpapasensiyahan eh. And if there’s a scandalous woman around here, it’s not me. It’s definitely you kasi ikaw lang naman ang harap-harapang nang-aagaw ng boyfriend ng may boyfriend.”

Roxanne froze at her statement making Heather smirk.

“You bitch!” Umangat ang kamay ni Roxanne para sana sampalin si Heather nang may isang braso na pumigil rito.

Instead of bothering on looking to the person who saved her, Heather took advantage of the opportunity of Roxanne’s shock expression. Her anger was so intense that she wanted to hurt someone.

So she did.

Hinablot niya ang maikli nitong buhok saka malakas na hinila. Ibinuhos ni Heather lahat ng galit na nararamdaman niya sa pamamagitan ng pagsabunot kay Roxanne. Napatili ito sa sakit as she tries to reach Heather’s hair too. Si Primo naman ay pilit na pinaghihiwalay ang dalawa.

A guy helped Primo in breaking the two apart. Niyakap niya sa likod si Roxanne at hinila ito paatras habang si Primo ay hinuhuli ang mga kamay ni Heather.

“Heather, stop!” pigil niya sa dalaga na nanlilisik ang mga matang nakatingin kay Roxanne. Primo already got a hold of her arm. Pinapagitnaan nito si Heather at si Roxanne na parehong habol ang hininga.

“Enough!” A loud thunderous voice echoed the whole building. Nanigas si Roxanne samantalang si Heather ay nagtataka dahil hindi pamilyar ang boses na iyon sa kaniya.

All the employees went back to their posts silently as they couldn’t look at the man who shouted. Inayos naman ni Heather ang sarili habang sina Roxanne, Primo, at ang isa pang lalaki ay hinarap ang lalaking sumigaw.

“S-Sir…”

“Sir Ran.”

“Sir Ran.”

Sabay-sabay na wika ng tatlo.

Raniel Hiecarus Cortez, the owner of Limelight Publishing was the owner of the voice. He has this stoic face as he looks at the four people who caused chaos in his building.

“In my ofiice. Now.”

Ang mga katagang ‘yon ang nagpabalik kay Heather sa ulirat. All her actions dawned on her at namimilog ang mga matang bumaling siya kay Primo.

“P-Primo…” kinakabahang tawag niya sa kaibigan.

“Sumunod na lang tayo,” bulong nito habang hindi siya tinitingnan. Walang imik na sumunod si Heather nang marahang hinila siya ni Primo sa pulsuhan patungo sa opisina ng boss nila. She felt ashamed for herself, gusto na lang niyang magpalamon sa lupa.

Habang si Primo naman ay tahimik lang na naksunod sa boss nila. Sa tatoo lang, he was dumbstruck by Heather’s sudden aggressiveness. Ngayon niya lang ito nakitang ganoon. That was what Heather was talking about the other day. Her condition.

“I’m sorry,” Heather mumbled with so much contrition. Parang pinipiga ang puso ni Primo nang marinig ang pinaghalong lungkot at pagsisisi sa boses niya.

His grip on Heather’s wrist loosen. Mula sa pagkakahawak niya sa pulsuhan ni Heather, napunta ito sa kamay ng dalaga at maingat na hinatak ito palapit sa kaniya. Then, he wounded his arm on her shoulder.

“I won’t say it’s okay but please don’t cry,” he whispered near her ear. Suminghot-singhot si Heather habang tumatango. Pinalis nito ang luha sa mga mata at huminga ng malalim.

“My company is not a university wherein I will be the councilor, the one to discipline you. You are old enough to be professional. Nandito kayo upang magtrabaho. Hindi para makipag-chismisan…” Raniel glanced at Roxanne whose eyes were fixed on the floor. “At mas lalong hindi para makipagsabunutan.” Tiningnan niya si Heather.

“Sir Ran, it was that woman who pulled my hair first,” Roxanne said with so much hostility. Halata sa mga nito na galit siya at gusto niyang gumanti.

“Hindi kita sasabunutan kung wala kang balak na saktan ako.”

“Pero hindi natuloy!” Roxanne retaliated. “Primo already stopped me. Meaning, ayaw na niya ng mas malaki pang gulo. But what did you do? You pulled my hair!”

“Why does it seems like I’m the one at fault? This wouldn’t have happened if you did not pester me in the first place!” Heather scowled.

“Wala naman akong binabanggit na pangalan ah? Kasalanan ko ba’ng natamaan ka?” her voice sounds innocent but Heather knows. She knows that this woman was taunting her. Natutuwa itong makita ang iritado niyang hitsura.

“You—“

“Stop.” Raniel’s calm and chilly voice made the two women in the office stop talking. Kasama ng mga ito ang dalawa pang lalaki na umawat sa kanila. Si Theo at si Primo. Kaagad namang itinikom ni Roxanne ang bibig habang si Heather ay nagbaba ng tingin.

“Kasasabi ko lang na ayaw ko ng away. And isn’t it clear for every employee here in my building that I don’t want to hear gossips? You are all hired to work under my company. Lalo na kayong dalawa. You are both secretaries. Kung gusto niyo naman palang magkalat ng balita, eh ‘di sana, writer ang in-apply-an niyong trabaho at hindi sekretarya.”

Raniel’s calm but intimidating demeanor was getting into Heather’s system. She grew up in a place where people often scold each other—scolds her, and she deems it scary. But seeing her big boss right now, napagtanto niyang mas nakakatakot pala ang pagiging kalmado sa gitna ng isang gulo.

Kumuyom ang mga kamao ni Heather para roon kumuha ng lakas magsalita. She’s trying to be independent right? And in order to survive alone, isa sa mga dapat niyang gawin ay magpakumbaba. Para maiwasan ang madalas na pangyayari ng mga ganitong klase ng away.

“Sir Raniel, gusto ko pong humingi ng tawad.” Heather saw in the corner of her eye how Roxanne gaped at her, together with Theo. Hindi niya kita ang reaksiyon ni Primo dahil nasa likuran niya ito.

“It was true that I pulled Roxanne’s hair first. And it is also true that Roxanne was pestering me at that time. Nagkakalat siya ng maling balita tungkol sa ‘kin at kay Primo. Even though she did not mention a name on her allegations, it is clear that she was pertaining to me. Tumigil siya sa likuran ko habang nagsasalita na para bang ako ang tinutukoy niya. Of course, I will be enraged.” Kinagat niya ang pang-ibabang labi habang sinasalubong ang tingin ng boss. “And I felt disrespected and annoyed which trigger my ahm…m-my—“

“Heather,” saway ni Primo sa kaniya para pigilan ito.

“I was full of negative emotions that it triggered my condition, Sir. I’m so sorry.” Tumingin siya kay Roxanne, nanghihingi ng dispensa ang mga mata. “I’m sorry.”

Ngunit imbes na lumambot at patawarin si Heather, Roxanne stood up while pointing at her.

“I will never forgive you. And it’s not just because of what you did. May araw ka rin sa ‘kin, Heather,” pagbabanta nito bago umalis. Theo followed her leaving her, Primo and Raniel behind.

Humarap siya sa boss. “Sir, sobrang sorry po talaga. I will do everything that I can para magkabati kami ni Roxanne—“

“Don’t bother.”

She froze. “P-Po?”

Sumandal ito sa swivel chair at pinaglaruan ang ballpen na hawak. His mysterious eyes looked more evident to Heather now that she has calmed down. At ngayon, kitang-kita na niya ang kakisigan at kagwapuhan nito. And if she is not mistaken, kaedad lang nito si Aidan o ‘di kaya ay si Primo.

“You can’t force a person to forgive you lalo na’t mukhang may pinaghuhugutan si Roxanne sa ‘yo,” aniya habang pinaiikot-ikot ang ballpen sa mga daliri.

“But I never did anything to her.”

Umayos ito ng upo at pinagsalikop ang mga kamay. Heather sat straight when Raniel actually leaned on her.

“Heather, can I ask if you’re in a relationship?” he asked casually, gone the intimidating aura.

“Y-Yes.”

Napatango-tango ito. “If someone, gets close to your boyfriend—that someone was a very beautiful woman…won’t you feel jealous and threatened?”

Heather instantly imagined Calista. “Yes.”

“So you now understand why Roxanne’s like that?”

“Primo and Roxanne are not in a relationship.”

“But that does not mean she doesn’t feel anything special for him. Label does not give you the right to feel jealous. As long as you feel it, that feeling is valid. Gaya ni Primo.” Raniel looked up to where Primo was standing. He gave him a knowing look.

Napa-angat rin ng tingin si Heather sa kaibigan na madilim ang mukhang sinasalubong ang tinngin ni Raniel.

“Huh? What do you mean, Sir?” naguguluhang tanong ni Heather.

“Heather, halika na. May mga kailangan ka pang tapusin, ‘di ba?”

“Wait, I want to know what he meant—teka, galit ka ba?”

“Remember what I told you, Primo. Don’t be too attached, delikado ‘yan,” pahabol pang turan ni Raniel bago tuluyang makalabas ang dalawa. He shook his head while having a small smile in his lips.

“Oh, Saavedra. You are in big trouble,” he muttered to himself as he look at the office’s door.

“Primo, teka lang. Primo, stop, nasasaktan na ako—Primo!” Napatigil si Primo sa paglalakad nang narinig niya ang pagtawag ni Heather.

“Yeah?”

Inagaw nito ang braso. “Bakit mo ba ako hinahatak, ha? Tsaka bakit tayo papunta ng parking? Hindi pa tapos ang shift natin pareho.”

He leaned onto the nearest wall. “I just want some air.”

“Is that so?” Humalukipkip si Heather. “Maybe later, after our work.”

He looked up to her. “Sasamahan mo ako?”

“Oo naman. Sinamahan mo ako du’n kanina eh. And it’s not like I have a choice,” she joked.

Naiiling na natawa si Primo. “Ang lakas ng mood swing mo. Parang kanina lang, galit na galit ka ah.”

“Sorry.” Kinagat niya ang pang-ibabang labi. “Sabi ko naman sa ‘yo, I have a condition, ‘di ba.”

“So that’s what you look like when you throw fits. That was scary as fuck.”

Pinagtaasaan siya ni Heather ng kilay. “Natakot ka?” Parang hindi naman.

“Have you seen your eyes earlier? It’s like you’re out for blood. Kahit ang mga katrabaho natin natakot sa hitsura mo kanina.”

Bumagsak ang balikat ni Heather. “I didn’t mean to.”

Umalis si Primo sa pagkakasandal sa dingding saka dinaluhan si Heather. “Hey, I didn’t mean to make you feel bad.”

“They’re probably scared of me now. Baka kung ano-ano ang isipin nila sa akin.”

“Heather, hey.” He held her face. “You should not care about what people thinks about you. Just do everything that makes you happy and contented—while not hurting anybody,” wika niya.

Primo sighed. He’s feeling bad. Maayos na ang pakiramdam ni Heather kanina pero ngayon malungkot na naman ito dahil sa sinabi niya.

“Come on.” Hinawakan niya ito sa kamay saka hinila patungong parking lot.

“Huh? Where are we going?”

“Magpapahangin.”

“But I told you, may trabaho pa tayo!” giit ni Heather.

“Hayaan mo na ‘yon. Ako na ang bahalang kumausap kay Georgia.” Georgia was Miss Lemin’s first name.

“Alam mo, napapaisip na ako kung sa Finance ka ba talaga. I feel like your position is way higher. Kaibigan mo ang mga nasa taas tapos kilala ka pa ng lahat,” sabi ni Heather habang nagpapatianod sa hila ni Primo.

“Why are we here?” Heather asked as she looked around.

Not so many people are walking. May iilang nakaupo sa sementong harang na naghihiwalay sa dagat at sa lupa. Kulay kahel na ang langit dahil papalubog na ang araw. Heather sat on the pavement as she stares at the water.

“For fresh air,” dinig niyang sabi ni Primo kasabay ng pagtunog ng isang camera.

Mabilis niyang ibinaling ang tingin at nakita niya si Primo na may hawak-hawak na camea.

“I didn’t know you take pictures…” she drawled.

“Well, it’s my hobby.” He chuckled. “What’s with that face? Parang takot ka sa camera.”

“Hindi naman. I just don’t like taking pictures.” Heather’s social media accounts don’t have any pictures of her. The account she’s using was private at wala siyang ni isang kaibigan doon. It’s her own way of protecting her privacy. Tsaka malinaw na ipinagbibilin ni Aidan sa kaniya na huwag basta-bastang magpost ng kung ano-ano.

And she only opens her accounts when she wants to know the latest news about Aidan.

Sunod-sunod na pagtunong ng camera ang narinig ni Heather. She laughed when she saw Primo taking multiple photos of her. She covered her face with both of her palms.

“Stop it,” natatawa niyang wika.

“Bakit ayaw mo ng picture? Ang ganda-ganda mo kaya. Lalo na kapag nakangiti ka.”

Heather looked away to hide her blushing face. “Ayaw ko lang.” Nagkibit-balikat siya.

“I have something to say…about your condition. Kanina pa kasi ako nababagabag eh.”

“Hmm?”

“Dapat hindi mo sinasanay ang sarili mong gawing alibi ang kondisyon mo. Dapat nga, dahil mas aware ka, mas pinipigilan mo ‘yon. Aside from being scare a bit earlier, I was also worried about you. Paano kung wala kang mapagbuntunan ng galit mo? Paano kung mag-isa ka lang? you might hurt yourself. Hurting others is bad but hurting yourself is the worst. Kaya kung may kaya man akong gawin para tulungan ka, do not hesitate to tell me. Kasi ayaw kong nagagalit o nalulungkot ka. I want you to always be happy. If you feel so suffocated, sabihin mo sa ‘kin. I can be your emotional punching bag. I don’t want to see you hurting anyone like that ever again. It’s worrysome.”

Heather looked into Primo’s eyes. She was looking for that emotion she used to see from her Mom and sister. The look of judgement. She was also seeking for the emotions her Dad always makes her feel. Sympathy. Pero wala siyang nakita ni isa sa mga ‘yon. It’s just pure, genuine worry.

At masaya siyang makita iyon. Hindi siya nagkamaling kaibiganin si Primo. Kahit kalian, hindi siya nito hinusgahan o kinaawaan. When he offered to let her stay in his apartment, wala siyang ibang nakita rito kun’di pagmamalasakit. He was nothing but a good friend to her.

“Thank you,” she whispered as she look at him.

“F-For what?” he stuttered.

“For being you. I’m thankful to have a person like you in my life. Hindi mo alam pero sobra-sobra na ang naitulong mo sa akin.”

It was the second time Heather looked at Primo like that but today’s different. She sees him as him. Wala itong ibang iniisip kun’di siya. And that thought made Primo’s heart skip a beat.

“I would always do everything for you. I’m willing to do anything for you, Heather. Ganoon ka ka-importante sa ‘kin,” bulong niya at isinukbit sa tainga nito ang buhok na tumatabing sa mukha ni Heather dahil sa hangin.

He looked at Heather’s tantalizing almond-shaped eyes. Those angelic eyes of hers is what caught his attention at first. His sight dropped on her nose, down to her lips that looks so tender. He couldn’t stop himself. His heart is full of all kinds of emotion—emotion that he solely feels for Heather. And he wanted Heather to feel that. So he leaned in, closed his eyes, and waited for their lips to touch.

But instead of Heather’s lips against his, Primo felt a strong force pushing him away. And as he open his eyes, dread consumed him as he look at Heather’s shocked expression.

“Heather, I’m sorry—“ Natigil siya sa pagsasalita nang iharap nito ang palad sa kaniya na parang pinapatigil siya sa kung ano mang balak gawin, saka tumayo at tumakbo palayo.

Primo released a frustrated breath and messed his own hair.

He should have known. He should have known that this wouls happen. Dapat pinigilan niya ang sarili niya. But it’s too late to regret now. He almost kissed her and Heather surely did not like it.