A Vidente

Chapter 27

Following their initial training, they were assigned to their respective tasks. She was assigned to the research team, Krizzy to content marketing, and Brian to marcom. In the coming week, an arts auction will be held and Lua Azul is one of the sponsors. The new launch brand of spirit of Lua Azul will serve at the event as part of the marketing strategy. They need to be there too to monitor guests' reaction to the new product, and they will make recommendations and provide launch strategies based on their analysis.

Muli silang sabay-sabay na nanghalian sa cafeteria ng mga bagong katrabaho. Mababait ang mga ito. Madaling pakisahaman. Nilinga niya ang mga katrabaho na nauna na sa mesa. Nahuli siya sa pagkuha ng pagkain. May tatlong lalaki na ang naroon na bago sa kanyang paningin. Tingin ay taga ibang departamento. Ang dalawa ay nakaupo sa kabilang bagahi ng mesa kung saan nakaupo si Krizzy at Brian habang ang isa naman ay nasa kabila rin, nakatalikod ito mula sa kanyang direksiyon.

"Ito na." She gazed back at the lady, taking the bottle of water from her and thanked her. She set it down on the tray before picking up the one holding a dish of adobo and a cup of rice. Two of the men at the thier table were looking at her as she walked up to it, but she didn't feel uncomfortable. Even then, she was accustomed to such circumstances.

"Iyan naman si Beatrix," si Krizzy nang makita ang pagdating niya.

"Super pretty ano?" Krizzy added. One man pushed the other to move sideward to make room for her.

"Dito ka na," alok nito.

She thanked him and moved to the side of the table where he was seated rather than declining. Beatrix turned to face her coworkers from the opposite direction, but froze on the spot when she noticed a familiar face on one of the people sitting there—the same she noticed earlier. When he caught sight of her, the man's grin abruptly vanished from his lips. She tightened her grip on the tray, but she had no idea how it had slipped. Everyone was shocked, including her coworkers and the other diners in the cafeteria from the scene.

"Beatrix, ayos ka lang ba?" Krizzy rushed over to her. She made her sit right away, thinking Beatrix wasn't feeling well.

"Nanghihina ka ba? Nahihilo?" Beatrix gently shook her head to dispel Krizzy's worry.

"Beatrix Naval? Ang liit talaga ng mundo. Akalain mong dito pa tayo magkikita."
She clenched her palms that rested on top of her thighs.

"Magkakilala pala kayo," si Brian.

"Oo naman. Mahirap kalimutan 'yan si Beatrix."
Her colleagues laughed, thinking those were romantic words. But it was nothing but rage and mockery.

"Siya kasi ang dahilan kung bakit nagkahiwalay kami ng girlfriend ko noon. She persuaded our classmates that she is capable of foreseeing people's futures at kapag may pumatol magpapabayad siya. Isa ang girlfriend ko sa nauto niya. Sinabi ba naman sa girlfriend ko na niloloko ko kaya ayon nakipag-break."

Mahabang "Oh!" ang sabay-sabay na nasabi ng karamihan sa kasamahan niya. Lahat ng tingin ay natuon sa kanya. Hindi umimik si Beatrix. Nakatingin lang siya sa lalaki. Naguguluhan. Paanong nangyaring buhay pa si Clyde? Natitiyak niyang napatay niya ito.   Ibinalita iyon sa national TV. Napatay niya nga ba? Nabago rin ba ang pangyayaring iyon?

"Kaya ingat kayo, magaling mang-uto ang taong iyan." Nanatili siyang tahimik pero magulo ang utak. Wala sa sinasabi ni Clyde ang isip niya kundi sa kung paanong nangyaring nabuhay ito.

"Tama na 'yan, pare," saway ng lalaking katabi niya nang mapagtantong seryoso si Clyde at may galit. Kahit ang mga kasamahan niya ay natahimik.

"Ikuha na lang kita ng bagong pagkain, Beatrix," alok ng lalaki. Noon naputol ang pagtitig niya kay Clyde at bumaling sa katabi.