Chapter 5

"AN ACCIDENT?" 

I don't know what to say and react sa lahat ng nalaman ko kaya pala he told me at the exhibit nait was the first time he saw me because he couldn't remember me. Desmond got into an accident and forgot about me. I don't know what to feel. I feel numb.

"He got into a car accident. It is said that he forgot the recent years of his memories that day." Allyson said and looked directly into my eyes. Reading my emotions kung magpapatuloy ba siya.

  "Their family didn't elaborate on the information about what happened, but the only thing I know is that he doesn't remember that two years you two are married." She continued. 

"I don't know if I will be happy or what." I awkwardly laugh. "If he forgot about me then I don't have to worry anymore about Yandrich." But there is something inside me telling me something different. 

"But, why didn't you tell me?" Wala sa wisyo kong tanong. I'm buried on my thoughts and feelings. Naguguluhan ako sa nararamdaman ko.

"We don't want to stress you that time, dahil maselan ang pagbubuntis mo, that's the best decision during that time. We saw how you suffered because of him, Von. We hated him for what his done to you. I'm sorry."

Allyson hugged me tightly kaya naman ang maga luhang kanina ko pa pinipigilang tumulo ay nag uunhang pumatak sa mata ko. I hugged Ally back and cried even more.

"Thank you for what you and Nick did." Halos pabulong ko ng sabi dahil sa pag-iyak.

"I should be happy right? but why do I feel sad, Ally? I can't understand." I unconsciously said while resting my head on Allyson's shoulder. "The way he looked at Yandrich earlier, I saw different emotions I can't name."  Nakatulala kong sabi, Ally squished my hands to calm me. 

" I feel stupid and confused, Ally. I knew I moved on but why do I feel this way?"

"Because there is still part of you who loves him." Hindi ako makapagsalita dahil alam ko sa sarili na tama siya. Kahit anong pilit ko sa sarili ko na nakalimutan ko na siya ay may parte sa puso ko na hinahanap ang Desmond na minahal ko. 

"I don't want to feel this anymore." I said and closed my eyes. "Let's not talk about him anymore. I want to forget about him too."

"Sana hindi na ulit pagtagpuin ang landas namin."

WEEKS passed after what happened ay sa kabutihang palad ay hindi na ulit kami nagkita pa. I don't want our paths to cross again since he can't now remember me, I think that's favoarable for us. After Allyson tells me about Desmond's accident  ay inilaan ko na lang ang oras ko sa pagtra-trabaho. I'm working as an architect for the past 5 years at inilipat muna nila ako dito sa international branch nila sa Pilipinas. Sa halos tatlong buwan ko na rito sa Pilipinas ay umikot ang mundo ko sa anak ko at trabaho, kung minsan ay nagtuturo akong magpaint sa mga bata sa bahay-ampunan.

Patapos na rin ang trabho ko ngayong araw, isang importanteng kliente na lang ang kailangan kong makilala ngayon. He is a VIP costumer ng firm kaya ng ibigay sa akin ang offer ang project tinanggap ko na agad, dahil wala naman akong masyadong kinukuhang kliente ngayon. Buti na iyong isa lang dahil hindi naman kami magtatagal dito sa pilipinas and VIP clients pays well. 

"Good afternoon, ma'am!" Bati sa akin ng receptionist ng restaurant kung saan ako nagpareserve para sa meeting ko ngayon. 

"Good afternoon. I have a reservation, Yvonne Ramirez." They assisted me and guided me to my seat. Dahil maaga akong dumating sa pinag-usapan naming oras ay wala pa ang kliente ko ng dumating ako sa table namin.

Mabait naman ang client ko, madali siyang kausap. We already met several times to discuss the project at ngayon ay pipirma na siya ng kontrata. Mr.Montez is always early everytime we met at ngayon lang siya na late, buti n alang at nag message siya sa akin kanina para sabihing nasa biyahe na siya kaya lang traffic daw. Ilang segundo pa ang lumipas ng may bilang nagsalita sa likod ko. A very familiar voice.

"I'm sorry I'm late. Traffic" Sabi ng lalaki sa harap ko at umupo sa harapan ko. Halos malaglag ang panga ko sa inawa niya. Why is he here?

"Excuse me, Mr. Velasquez. I'm waiting for my client. Nagkamali ka ng table." Sabi ko at akmang tatawagain na yung waiter when he stop me.

"I'm your client." Maikli ngunit may ddig sabi nito. Napakunot ang aking noo at tinaasan siya ng kilay.

"My client's name is Mr. Gerald Montez, not Damian Kyle Velasquez!" 

"He's my secretary, I had a business I attended last week so I asked him to meet with you." He confidently said. Habang ako hindi alam kung ano ang gagawin, after I heard about his accident ay hindi ko alam pero parang magnagbago sa tingin ko sa kanya and I hate it so much.

"I'm here to sign the contact, right?" Patuloy niya pa.

Should I just give him sa ibang architect? I can't work with them. For pete's sake I can't design Samantha and Desmonds house! Pero paano kung makaapekto ito sa career ko? This is my first big project here in the Philippines at baka maka apekto ito sa record ko. 

I looked at him, he's waiting for my answer so I just simply said "yes." Maghahanap akong magaling na architect na pwedeng sumalo ng project na ito. Bahala na si Batman, basta ayokong magtrabaho kay Desmond. But I will make sure to make him sign the contact, he's a big client of the firm after all.

"Let's eat first." Sabi niya ng iaabot ko na sana  yung konrata when the food arrived. 

While eating nag-iisip na ako kung kanino ko ibibigay ang project na ito. Kahit na gustuhin ko man na umalis na agad ay hindi ko magawa. I'll look unprofessional and affected if I do that. And as soon ay we finished eating he signed the contact right away, buti naman dahil ayaw ko ng tumagal pa ang minutong magkasama kami. 

I really can't understand kung bakit naka-unfair sa akin ng buhay, I wished for us to not meet again pero ito ako ngayon kliente ang isang Desmond Kyle Velasquez. 

"It's late, hatid na kita."