hemming and hawing

Chapter 16

Today will be the last day of our collaboration task, our team decided to have some get to together to celebrate.

Sir, sama ka po mamaya ha! Judy Said

Sorry guys, you know how tight my schedule is for this month. Bawi na lang ako next time. Justine said

Pero sir, minsan lang naman po, bonding na rin po natin. Ikaw po Miss Leila, sama ka na po sa amin. Loisa said,

Oo naman, I told them as I smile

I also want to celebrate success. Ilang buwan din namin pinaghirapan at pinagpuyatan namin ito. Hindi rin kami sigurado Kung sa sususnod na collaboration Kung kami kami pa ron ba ang mapipili as a team. I want to have a bond with them outside work, kahit sandali lang.

You'll join them? He asked

Yes, it's Friday okay lang mapuyat. Tara, sama tayo?

Go na sir, Kung ako inaya ni Miss Leila di talaga ko tatanggi! Loisa said

Yes na yan sir! Judy added with a teasing smile

Sorry guys, I really have something important to do. Enjoy the night with Miss Leila, minsan lang yan sumama.

Yun nga Sir, minsan Lang kaya dapat jumoin ka rin! The more the merrier! Loisa said may grand hand gestures pa

Next time, I promise.

It's okay, ayaw niyo ba kapag ako lang? Grabe kayo sa akin ah. I dramatically said

Hala Miss Leila, syempre po happy kami na sure na kasama ka. Mas happy lang syempre kapag complete yung mga boss. Judy said

Hayaan na natin Sir Justine, magpictures tayo ng marami para mainggit siya. I said

Agree! Tapos ipost natin sa Facebook at Instagram tapos itag natin siya! Loisa said which makes everyone laugh

After our work we go straight to Up, a bar near or our office where we can drink, chill and have fun. Justine really did not join us. He just sent me a chat that he will go ahead and I should have fun with the team.

Around 11pm when we all decided to go home, I tried to call him if he will pick me up but he is not answering his phone so I just took a grab.

I thought he is already asleep kaya hindi niya nasagot ang mga tawag ko pero wala siya sa condo pagdating ko. I tried to text, chat and call him and he was not answering. Hindi ako makatulog, hindi ko alam kung nasaan siya. I did my night routine and went to the kitchen and made some coffee.

It's past 2am when I heard our door open, I can say that he was surprised to see me waiting for him.

Kanina ka pa? He asked

Yup, saan ka galing?

I told you I need to do something important

Something important like?

He did not answer me and just sat on the couch and remove is shoes

Justine walang meeting na inaabot ng alasdos ng umaga, kahit gaano pa yan kahalaga. Kung overseas meeting I understand, is it the time difference? Kaya ngayon lang kayo natapos? Kung overseas it would be an online meeting, pwedeng dito ka lang sa condo. So tell me? Anong meeting ba yang pinanggalingan mo?

Please Lei, pagod ako. Can we just talk about this tomorrow? I promise to tell you everything just please not now.

I did not sleep beside him that night, I stayed in our living area while he's in the bedroom, I couldn't stand to sleep beside him knowing he is hiding something from me. Is he cheating on me? Hindi ko maisip. Hindi ko na alam ang iisipin.

I woke up with a blanket around me, siguradong siya ang naglagay nito sakin dahil wala naman ibang tao rito bukod sa aming dalawa. But when I looked for him around the condo he is not here. Umalis na naman siya. Hindi ko na naman alam kung saan siya nagpunta. Hindi ko alam kung sino ang kasama niya.

I tried to busied myself with laundry and going out to buy some groceries.

I bumped into Judy at the supermarket.

Miss Leila! Ikaw po pala talaga yan, akala ko nagkamali lang ako. Nakita ko kasi kayo ni Sir Justine kanina eh.

Ha? Kami? Saan?

Po? Sa parking sa Starbucks? Nasa loob ka na po ng sasakyan tapos si Sir Justine pasakay pa lang, ngumiti pa nga po Sir Justine sa akin. Hindi lang ako nakalapit kasi nga paalis na kayo. Dito rin pala kayo pupunta Sana pala nakisabay ako.

I wasn't with him. I was alone at home. I drove here alone. Sino yung kasama niya. I am trying to think pero wala, does it mean he is really cheating on me? I was too clouded with thoughts when I heard Judy called my name again

Miss Leila, are you okay po? Nasaan na po pala si Sir Justine?

Ha? Ah oo.. oo okay lang ako. Uhm, he.. he was just there may kinuha lang. Ah sige Judy, I go ahead. See you at work!

I said and started to walk away from her, ang bilis pa rin ng tibok ng puso ko. Hindi ko na natapos ang grocery at binayaran ko na lang yung kung ano man ang mga nakuha ko. When I reached my car, I tried to call him but he was not answering my calls. I still managed to drive home kahit na parang may nakadagan sa dibdib ko. How can he cheat on me? Paano? Bakit?  But I could be wrong right? I know he has an explanation for this and I need to hear it. We must talk.