On The Right Time

CHAPTER 25

"Hi, I missed you!" She jumped into me and hugged me so tightly.

Naiilang pa 'kong ilapat ang kamay ko sa likod niya pero sa huli ay ginawa ko pa rin. We stayed that way for a couple of seconds.

"Welcome back," I murmured. I forced a smile.

Damn! I'm so cruel sometimes - oh, not just sometimes but every fucking time!

"Hey, I said I missed you. Don't you miss me?" She pouted her lips. I was just there, standing quietly and just staring at her.

I'm still uncertain. I know, I've decided this clearly but I can't just leave her that way. Right away!

"I miss you, too, Ally." Urgh, stupid Scarlett!

"Are we alright?" Biglaan niyang tanong.

I scratched my nape out of confusion. "Yes? What made you ask?"

"You have a problem, Scarlett." She stated. "You don't even look happy that I'm here."

One thing that I've really known is I can't just lie to her. I don't know how, but she really knows me. She damn knows me!

"Ally -"

"Scarlett... if there's something wrong or bothering you just talk to me. Just tell me. I'm your fiancè and I should know it... you know it hurts me.. Nasasaktan ako tuwing hindi ako yung unang taong nagpapagaan sa nararamdaman mo tuwing kailangan mo."

I see the pain in her eyes, I stop and feel my throbbing heart. Why am I hurting like this? I'm supposed to feel... nothing.

I blink my eyes, several times. I forget them all. All of my thoughts and just think nothing but be happy. I smiled. I tried my best to show her the best smile I could give. I forced everything. I manipulate everything inside my head.

I reached her shoulder and gently caressed her there. "Ally," A soft and gentle voice came out from me. "I'm fine. I'm just really tired. 42 hours na akong naka-duty and I'm so drained and exhausted. I'm sorry if I made you feel that there was something wrong but I'm fine. Hundred percent fine." I gave her a reassuring smile.

Her face softened. Bigla na lang tumulo ang luha sa mata niya at sumubsob sa dibdib ko. Rinig na rinig ko ang mumunting hikbing nagmumula sa kanya. Marahan kong hinaplos-haplos ang buhok niya hanggang sa tuluyan na siyang kumalma.

But I guess she was wrong. Hindi ako yung bothered kundi siya. There was something wrong with her. She's not this sensitive at hindi siya basta-basta naiyak sa ganito kaliit na bagay.

"I'm so sorry. I overreacted." Kapag kuway sabi niya habang pinaglalaruan ang mga kamay niyang nakapatong sa hita niya.

Nakaupo na kami ngayon dito sa sofa ng office ko. I move closer. Hindi ako sanay sa ganito but if this the only way to make her feel at ease bakit hindi ko gawin, 'di ba?

"Ally, I really appreciate that you are really concerned about me. But sometimes.. you need to understand that I'm not used to communicating what I feel or what I'm thinking. Hindi ako sanay.. because that's how I was raised. My parents... they never asked me if I'm okay or I'm fine with something they want me to do. They never know what I'm feeling. I used to be silent because I'm not able to communicate my heart and mind. I'm bad at it, I'm always tripping on my own words. I don't know how to do it. But I'm trying, I hope you understand.."

I know that the main concern here or the main problem here is to end everything between us but here I am doing some explanation about my side so she can understand me dahil ito ang madalas niyang ikinagagalit. Yung hindi ko pagsabi sa kanya ng bumabagabag sa akin.

"I understand you. I always do. But I'm always saying, I'm here. You can share everything with me, every burden, every thought that you have. Kahit gaano mo pa kagulo sabihin yan alam mong pipilitin kong intindihin lahat ng salitang manggagaling sayo." There is always this thing that everytime I'm looking at her eyes, it always feels like I'm safe and sound. The feeling of calmness is always here.

Why is that?

I sighed and looked up to the ceiling. "I ruined this day." I utter and shut my eyes. "You're supposed to be happy today."

"You should too." I opened my eyes and looked at her.

"Let's go. Let's eat lunch." Tumayo ako at inayos ang suot. Hinubad ko na din ang lab coat ko na kanina ko pa talaga dapat nahubad.

I looked at her and saw her fixing herself too. "Let's go?" She glanced at me.

"A second or two, please,"

"Take your time." I watch her putting eye drops on her eyes. Medjo namaga kasi ang mata niya dulot ng pag-iyak niya kanina kaya ayan. "Ready?" Tumango naman ito.

Handa na sana kami sa paglabas ng bigla namang bumukas ang pintuan ng opisina ko. Iniluwa nito si Daddy, kasunod si Mommy.

"Dad," He looked at me and his eyes landed on the girl beside me.

"Oh, Allison. You're back." Plantyadong saad nito. Hindi mo man lang madidinggan ng galak o kahit na anong emosyon.

Allison smiled sweetly as she walked towards them. "Yes, tito. Kababik lang." Nagmano siya kay Daddy at niyakap naman si Mommy.

"Welcome back, hija," Nakangiting hayag ni Mommy.

"Thanks po." Matapos magbigay galang ni Allison sa mga magulang ko ay muli itong bumalik sa tabi ko.

"What brings you here, Dad?" Nagtatakang tanong ko. Ni-minsan hindi pa talaga ako niyan dinalaw rito pwera na lang talaga kung may kailangan siya.

"I taught you the right manner and proper conduct, right? What will you do if you have your visitors?" Marahas na napabuntong hininga ako sa nadinig.

"Dad, we're planning to go out and eat our lunch, if you don't want to discuss that right now, right here. Then, maybe we can discuss that some other time. We need to go." Ayos na ayos na ang postura nito pero mas inayos niya pa ng marinig ang sagot ko. He laughed without a humor, may kasama pang pag-iling.

"You are really my daughter." He stated. Siguro kung hindi sa ganitong sitwasyon, kahit pa gaano kalamig ang pagkakasabi niya nun matatouch ako kaso nagsisimula na 'kong mapikon sa puntong ito, e.

"Ian, just tell her. Anong oras na, oh. Malilipasan na naman ng gutom 'yang anak mo." Muntikan ko ng makalimutan ang presensya ni Mommy, dahil sa laki ng sakop ng presensya ni Daddy.

He let out a lungful sigh. "I'm planning to put you in the COO position." Hayag ni Daddy na nakapagpatigil sa akin.

A minute of silence. I was just there, trying to process what my father just said. While them, on the other hand, watching and waiting for my reaction.

"I guess, there's really something to celebrate!" Basag ni Allison sa katahimikan.

Everything was so fast! First, Allison is back. And now, this. I'm having a position and responsibilities I'm not ready for.