001: Intersecting

Lara's POV (present time)

"I'm going ahead, Attorney!" Napaangat ang tingin ko sa pintuan kung saan nakasilip ang kalahating katawan ni Ella.

Masigla ang mga mata niyang nakatingin sa akin na para bang hindi siya napagod kakatrabaho magdamag. "Alas siyete na po Attorney, umuwi po kaya muna kayo?"

Tinignan ko ang orasan sa mesa at napasandal sa swivel chair nang makitang alas siyete na nga. Tinanggal ko ang salamin ko at inabot ang sentido para hilutin. "What a day.."

"Attorney," tawag ni Ella. "May hearing po kayo bukas ng alas otso."

"Hmm yes, Ella," ani ko at bumuntong-hininga. "I'll be home later, don't worry. You can go ahead and thank you for today."

Ngumiti si Ella bago isinara ang pintuan. I watched her vanish from my sight. Bumaba ang tingin ko sa binabasang libro at inabot ko ang kape sa gilid.

I was about to sip from it, but I felt the cold mug. "Nice, it's gone cold," I whispered sarcastically.

Tumayo ako habang bitbit ang tasa at dumiretso sa pantry sa labas ng opisina ko.

It took me minutes to brew my coffee and held on it tightly as I walked on the silent hallways and cubicles. Binuksan ko ang pinto gamit ang isang kamay at maingat na buhat naman ng isa kong kamay ang tasa.

I sat on my chair and sighed out of relief. Hinayaan kong manlanta ang katawan ko sa upuan.

"Miss Lara."

Halos mapatalon ako sa gulat nang marinig ang isang mababang boses mula sa aking kanan.

"Kuya Arnel!" Napahilot ako sa sentido ko nang matagpuan ang isang matandang naka-polo at may hawak na baston. Tumatawa ito habang naglalakad patungong sofa.

"Kuya, you scared the shit out of me!" singhal ko at napahilamos sa mukha gamit ang dalawang kamay.

Dahan-dahan siyang naupo habang tumatawa pa rin sa sofa sa harap ng mesa ko. Tumingin siya sa pinanggalingan niya at tinuro ito. Napalingon din ako. "Hindi ko alam kung gaano na kalayo ang narating mo hanggang sa nakita ko ang mga iyan."

Pinagmasdan ko ang mga nakasabit na certificates at kung ano sa pader. Ibinalik ko ang tingin sa kaniya.

"Hindi ko rin alam na nasa loob ka ng opisina ko hanggang sa nakita kita diyan."

He chuckled.

"Paano ka nakapasok?" tanong ko at humigop sa kape.

"Sa pintuan—"

"You can't fool me, old man. Paano ka nakapasok?" ani ko at ibinaba ang tasa.

"Uhm," he trailed off. "Kilala ko yung guard." Nagkibit-balikat siya.

I rolled my eyes and slightly made a grin. "Of course, you know everybody." My mouth emphasize the last two words.

Kuya Arnel chuckled more and I noticed the wrinkles in his face. They're becoming more and more each year. Naalala ko pa noong bata pa ako at siya ang lagi kong kasama tuwing wala sina Mama at Papa.

"Kumusta ka na, Miss Lara?" His voice was very low and rusty.

Sumandal ako sa upuan at tumingin sa kisame upang ipagkibit-balikat ang iniisip kanina. "Well, I am better."

With the faint light coming from the fluorescent lamp beside my table, I saw a little smile appeared on his lips.

"Why are you here anyway?" pag-iiba ko sa usapan at paikot-ikot na pinadausdos ng aking hintuturo ang bukana ng tasa.

"Next week," wika nito. Hinagilap ko ang kalendaryo sa mesa at nakitang puno ang mga plano at schedule ko. "Birthday na niya."

My sipping on the coffee was interrupted. I stopped and put the cup down.

"It's your father's birthday, Miss Lara." He tried to please me after seeing my nasty reaction. "Baka naman pwede kang—"

"No, I am not attending it." My words cut him off. "I'm not attending it."

Napahilamos ako sa mukha at narinig ko naman ang buntong-hininga niya. Memories came attacking me and my eyes moistened.

"Lara," tawag niya. "Alam ko kung gaano kasakit ang mga nakaraan mo, pero hindi ka aabante kapag nakakulong ka diyan at hindi nagpapatawad."

"Umaabante ako, Kuya." My voice thundered a bit and I took my hands off my face.

"Oo," aniya. "Umaabante habang nakatingin sa likod."

Natahimik ako at tumayo naman siya mula sa sofa. Inabot niya ang tungkod niya. "Kilala kita, Miss Lara. Nandoon ako noong ipinangak ka at nandito pa rin ako para gabayan ka."

"Who says I need guidance?"

"Sino ang hindi mangangailangan nito?" Itinagilid niya ang kaniyang ulo at malumanay akong pinagmasdan.

"Even the smartest person in this world will need guidance, Miss. Everyone needs it as much as you do."

Kuya Arnel was my chaperone since I was a kid. He is 20 years older than me. Alam ng ama kong hindi ko kayang tumanggi kay Kuya kaya siya ang inutusan nitong mag-imbita sa akin.

"It's been years, Miss. Hindi mo pa—"

"Yes, it's been years," puna ko at tinignan siya nang diretso. "It's been years and everything feels like it just happened yesterday. The pain is still sitting here even after years, kuya. Even after years! Hindi nawala!"

Itinagilid ko ang ulo ko. "I just learned how to live with it," mahinang ani ko.

I felt my cheeks turning red and my eyes glistening of unshed tears.

Napayuko si Kuya Arnel at sandaling umubo. His coughs went louder until I deducted that he may have a condition. Is he really aging and becoming weak?

Pasimple kong inabot ang isang bote ng tubig mula sa table ko. Agad naman siyang nagpasalamat at uminom dito.

It's really hard saying no to him, I swear, now that he's looking old and weak. And I hate how he takes advantage of that right now.

"Saan gaganapin?" My voice was low.

Ngumiti siya sa akin at isinara niya ang bote ng tubig. "En La Magnificencia. Sharp seven in the evening, Miss."

"I can't promise that I'd come."

Kuya Arnel looked straight at me and sighed. Nagsimula na siyang maglakad palabas ngunit nilingon niya muna ako bago isara ang pinto. "Isuot mo ang coat mo, Miss Lara. Maginaw na."

The door closed. I pursed my lips and leaned my back. Tinitigan ko ang kaarawan ni Papa sa calendar. "Monday, huh."

I took a large sigh before standing up and I grabbed my beige trench coat. Kinuha ko ang mga susi ko bago sinara ang opisina ko.

I tried to call my driver while riding the elevator but he wasn't answering. Annoyed, my steps sounded heavy as I marched on the building's ground floor.

"Good evening, Attorney!" bati ng babaeng nasa lobby desk at sandali pa itong yumuko.

"Hello, have you seen my driver?" I asked her when I got near her.

"Uh, Sir Arnel left with him po," aniya at medyo napaatras. "Sabi niya po kasi sa Driver niyo, emergency daw po eh. Nanghabilin po siyang sabihin sayo na maghintay sa lobby kasama si Attorney Barrientos."

She pointed her index finger past me where the lobby is. Nilingon ko ito at nakita si Attorney Barrientos. She looked like she is also waiting for somebody.

My eyebrows were creasing when I looked back at the receptionist. She, however, was looking down, obviously avoiding my dagger looks.

"Nevermind," ani ko at nagsimulang maglakad palabas. "I'll take a cob."

I took my path towards the large doorway. Wala nang nagawa ang receptionist. I was surprised to see it out here, raining so hard. My brows furrowed more as I looked from my left to right. There was no single vehicle on the streets which even stressed me out.

Dinilaan ko ang pang-ibabang labi ko at lumingon sa lobby area. Sinara ni Attorney ang kaniyang phone at napaangat ng tingin sa akin. Sandali pa kaming nagkatitigan hanggang sa magdesisyon akong tumabi na lang sa kaniya.

I sighed and just walked towards her while putting my cold hands inside of my trench coat.

"Attorney," bungad ko. I grinned, still worried, as I sat next to the sofa she is sitting at.

"Good evening, Attorney." She smiled widely. She is 30 years older than me or maybe even older. She was in this law firm way before me yet, she's still so dedicated working here.

I smiled back. "May hinihintay po kayo?"

"I'm still waiting for my car service."

Oh right, she doesn't drive. Napatikhim ako at umayos sa upo.

"I heard tomorrow is the first hearing of your case with the Lopez," aniya na nagpataas sa tingin ko.

"Uh yes, you heard it right." Inayos ko ang isang takas ng buhok ko sa likod ng aking tainga. "I took an overtime because of that."

Tumango tango siya. "Best of luck for tomorrow, then."

I grinned. "Thank you."

"Hindi ka pa ba uuwi?" she asked again.

"I was about to, but my driver isn't here yet." My brows furrowed. Those men!

"Mine's gonna be here any second now. You wanna hop in?"

Sandali akong napatitig sa kaniya nang diretso. I mean, isn't that a bit shameless? "Uh no, attorney." I smiled. "Thank you, though."

Napatingin siya sa cellphone niyang tumunog at sandali pa bago niya akong tignan ulit.

"Are you sure? He's here already. Malalagpasan lang naman namin yung condo mo." Tumayo siya at kinuha ang makapal na portfolio sa gilid niya.

"It's okay po. It's really okay lang."

She pursed her lips and sooner nodded gently. "Good night," aniya bago naglakad palayo.

My eyes followed her through the hallways and all I ever saw was my jacuzzi. The steam from the hot water, and a bottle of champagne... arghh!

Agad akong tumayo para habulin siya at binuksan ang pinto bago pa niya ito mahawakan. "Uhm, I changed my mind—"

"Yes." Ngumiti siya at tumango. "My invitation is not yet expired."

Ngumiwi ako para sa sarili. "Thank you."

Nauna siyang lumabas at nakasunod naman ako. The cold breeze slammed us and my legs were exposed which gave me a shiver. Napakuyom sa lamig ang palad ko at ipinasok sa bulsa ng coat ko.

Natawa naman si Attorney Cortes nang marinig akong bumahing nang dalawang beses.

"Halika na, Attorney," tawag niya. Nauna siyang pumasok sa passenger seat ng black ford ranger na nakaparada.

I walked towards her as I started to familiarize the silhouette of the man from the driver's seat. My knees shivered and I didn't know if it's because of the breeze or the fact that I know who's behind the car's steering wheel.

Pumasok ako sa sasakyan, katabi si Attorney Barrientos at isinara ang pinto bago bumahing ulit. "Excuse me."

Attorney Barrientos chuckled. "You really can't stand coldness huh, bata ka pa no'n."

"Uh, yeah," sagot ko at ngumiti na para bang natatae habang hinahagilap ang driver mula sa rearview mirror.

"Sienna Condo?" tanong ng isang lalaki sa mababang tono.

Shit.

"Yes," tuliro kong sagot. "Yes, Sienna Condo, it is."

I pursed my lips and leaned on my back in discomfort . My sight was stuck on the rearview mirror as I looked for his eyes.

I remember everything.

"You live there alone?" tanong niya at sinulyapan ako mula sa salamin.

His dark hooded eyes met mine and I froze for a second.

These eyes used to look at me as if I was the only star along the bright sky. Those were the brown chocolate eyes that I used to stare at and I'd completely lose myself within this very messy reality.

His stare went back to the driveway as I bothered myself into looking outside the non–tinted window.

"Yes," I answered.

This man in front of us loved me...

Hell, that stare felt like the longest five seconds in my life. It's been what, Lucas? 10 years?

"Who lives in Lizeda Condo?" He talked casually as if he has forgotten everything that he did to me. As if he did nothing at all.

...embraced me...

"I also live there," I answered without looking at him. I felt his eyes bore onto me. I shifted in my seat and just crossed my legs.

Napalunok ako bago ko sinulyapan si Attorney Barrientos na ngayon ay nakapikit lang at isinasandal ang ulo mula sa head restraint.

Napukol ang tingin ko sa kay Lucas na nakatitig pa rin sa akin hanggang ngayon.

...and betrayed me.