CATCH and FALL

Chapter 8

Luke got back to his hotel room from a very important meeting. He tossed his things to the bed and lay down beside it.

Tumitig sa kisame ng kanyang hotel room si Luke, he's exhausted. Parang na drain ata ang energy niya. His been very busy lately tapos kinailangan pa niya bigla lumipad papunta dito sa US after a very tiring day.

He closed his eyes and Isabel's image flashed to his mind. Hindi niya nasilayan ang mala anghel nitong mukha ngayong araw like he is used to this past few weeks. He misses her.....

He suddenly sit up and open his laptop. Binuksan ang facebook and search for Isabel's name. He browses through her facebook timeline. Hindi pala siya pala post na di tulad ng iba na buong buhay ata ay naka broadcast sa social media. Most of her photos are with friends and family.

He scroll down her profile and found an old post tagged to her with a caption 'My Love'.

Napakunot siya ng nuo at nakaramdam ng inis.

Isabel is wearing school uniform while the guy is in casual. Looks like they are walking while holdings each others hand when someone took their photo.
They are also staring with each other full of love in theirr eyes.

Nakaramdam siya ng selos at inggit dahil hindi siya ganun tingnan ni Isabel. At palagi pa siya nitong iniiwasan.

Naalala niya ng makasalubong niya si Isabel with her friends. He's jogging that time at ganun din sila.

"Good morning ladies!" Masayang bati niya sa mga ito tsaka tumitig kay Isabel. Ni hindi man lang ito ngumiti. Umiiwas pa ito ng tingin.

"Good morning Luke. Hindi mo kasama si Matthew?" Tanong ni Danica. Kaya nabaling ang tingin niya dito.

"No. He left earlier, going back to Manila. " Nalungkot ang mukha ni Danica sa sagot niya.

"Don't be sad Dans...,  You'll see him more often...." Nakangiti niyang sabi dito.

"What do you mean?"

"You'll see.... "

Ibinaling niyang muli ang paningin Isabel at agad naman itong nag iwas ng tingin. Kaya ibinaling niyang mulu anh tingin kay Danica na naka pout padin.

"Trust me. You'll see him soon and more often." He guaranteed. Tsaka tumingin muli kay Isabel. This time their eyes meet. "C'mon, breakfast muna tayo sa resto, My treat." Aya niya.

Kita niya ang pagkagulat sa mga mata nito. Kita rin nito na parang bigla itong di mapakali at gusto na lamang umalis dun.

"A.... Thanks, but we can't. Nasabi ko na sa kanila kanina pa na magluluto ako ng breakfast for us girls. " Mabilis na sagot nito.

"Did you?" Takang tanong ni Danica. Kaya napatingin siya dito at napakunot nuo.  'Its obvious— umiiwas siya', well kasalanan naman din siguro niya. Maybe it's because of what he tried to do yesterday—the almost kiss.

"Yes. Kaya tara na." Sagot ni Isabel kay Danica. Tsaka nito hinila sa kamay si Camill at Danica palayo— sa kanya.

At di lang yun. Nakasalubong din niya ang mga ito sa may stable. He ask kung mangangabayo silang muli and if they want he can help again. Pero agad naka isip ng dahila si Isabel ara makaiwas sa kanya.

'A,  Dans, di ba sabi mo marami prutas dito na pwede tayong mamitas? Can we try that?"

Naglambing pa ito kay Danica kaya wala na itong nagawa kundi pagbigyan si Isabel. At iyon, naiwan na naman siya.