SAUDADE: Loving Eye of Catastrophe (BS8)

Epilogo

Epilogue

"Don't worry, I'm on the way."

The traffic of Manila made me irritated the whole day. I hold the steel wheel much tighter due to frustration. Niluwagan ko ang pagkakatali ng necktie ko. Hindi ko alam kung ilang minuto nang nakakunot ang noo ko sa tagal kong nasa usad pagong na trapiko. Kung hindi lamang ikakasal si Madrid ay hindi na ako mag-aabalang bumyahe ngayon. Ang buong akala ko ay saglit lamang ang magiging byahe kaya hindi ko na tinangkang mag book ng plane ticket.

Nagpakawala ako ng malalim na buntong hininga. Ang dapat isang oras na byahe ko ay inabot ng tatlo, mabuti na lamang ay umalis ako ng mas maaga sa condo.

"Muntik ka nang maging maaga, Pre." Asar sa'kin ng dati naming batchmate ni Madrid.

I shake my head while looking at him, "Excuse me, I need to answer a call." I calmly said when I noticed my phone was ringing.

The call was from my secretary at the time. I see no reason for her to call but maybe it is an urgent thing that I need to take care of. I am not sure though why she is calling me. But I instruct them not to call unless its not emergency or urgent matter.

"Kyl!"

Nagawi ang tingin ko sa kanan na direksyon nang maamoy ko ang Vanilla scent na pabango. The woman beside me stood with her stunning plain blue dress, it is simple yet indeed elegant.

She laughs to the woman who called her earlier. Kitang kita ko kung gaano kaputi ang mga ngipin nito. Ang maitim at mahaba niyang buhok na bumabagay sa kulay ng balat niya.

She holds the wall to keep her balance. Tawang tawa ito. "Me, tama na..." she laughs again, "ayoko magpakasal... ayoko, baka masalo ko pa 'yung bulaklak."

My eyebrows furrowed. Sinong babae ang ayaw pakasalan? This woman seems to be well in life. It's strange for a woman not wanting to settle. It's either she is hyper independent and very goal oriented ... or she is ugly. But in this woman's case, there is no angle she could be the latter. 

Her laughs look attractive. 

"Sir, are you still there?"

Mariin akong napapapikit, "yah." Marahan kong hinilot ang sintido ko.

"Since when Amanda is there?" Napasandal na lamang ako sa pader na nasa gilid ko. Hindi ako makapaniwala sa inaasta ng babaeng 'yun nitong mga nakaraang araw. "Tell her to leave, don't make scene at my work place. I'll deal with her when I get home."

Pinatay ko na ang tawag matapos ang bagay na 'yun.

Hanggang ngayon ay hindi ko pa din lubusang maintindihan kung bakit kailangan kong manatili sa babaeng 'yun. She is after our money, my parents are aware of it. For sure. Pero ang lubos na nakakapagtaka ay hinahayaan lamang nila ang bagay na 'yun.

I pulled myself together. I have a lot of time to figure it out. A lot of time to do things. I step out the corner I am pinning myself. I walked on the wedding ceremony. Mahaba ang naging palitan ng vows ng mag-iisang dibdib. They're words were heart felt. I never heard my friend states those chessy lines. Kung sa ibang araw lamang, marahil ay wala nang pag lagyan ang pagtawa ko sa kaniya. Pero hindi sa oras na 'to. I am genuinely happy for my homeboy.

"I know you've been through a lot, and I adore you... I adore you so much. To the point that I want to be involved on every battle you will face. Because it is no longer you alone... I promise to be at your team. To be at your side as long as my life will last."

Napayuko ako nang makita ko na naluluha na ang kaibigan ko. Those tears are just proof that he finally found the rest of his soul.

I genuinely happy for him.