ONE SHOT [025]
"How are you?" As I heard those words from him, I couldn't help but smile. Every time na may oras siya ay tumatawag siya sa'kin.
Inayos ko muna ang salaming suot ko bago umayos ng upo. I'm here inside my office. I'm a worker here, but then I have my own office.
"Ayos naman, medyo napagod lang kanina dahil sa dami ng papeles na dapat asikasuhin. Ikaw?"
I heard him sigh. "I'm also tired after doing some music videos." I heard him chuckle after. "But then, after hearing your voice, I think I am fully charged now."
Napatawa rin tuloy ako. "Loko."
After some small talks, ay pinatay ko na ang tawag. I know he has a lot of work to do. Masiyado siyang busy dahil sunod-sunod ang pag-offer sa kaniya ng mga iba't-ibang agencies, and as an understanding girlfriend, yes, girlfriend. Inuunawa ko siya lalo na sa mga kaunting, oras niyang nalalaan para sa'kin. He's so successful that I can't even climb his world, but then siya na mismo ang bumaba para sa'kin.
We are now already in relationship in 3 years. Just like other couples, we may mga pinag-aawayan rin kami sometimes, but we still manage to fix it.
Napaangat ang tingin ko ng pumasok ang isa sa mga sekretarya ni Ms. Sarsuela.
"Good afternoon, po." Yumuko ito sa'kin. I am just an ordinary employee here, but they treated me like I was one of the bosses just because I have my own office. Makailang ulit ko na silang sinabihan na tratuhin lamang ako na parang ordinaryong employee lamang kagaya nila, but they tend to treat me like one of their boss.
I sigh. "What's the schedule?" I prepared my pen and book to write down the schedules.
"Mamayang 2:30 po hanggang 4:00 ay mag-uusap kayo ni Mr. Hernando about po sa pagbebenta ng isa sa mga hacienda nila. Sa café po kayo magkikita." Napataas ang kilay ko after makitang hindi na niya ito nadugtungan pa.
"That's all?"
Ngumiti ito. "Yes po. You're free na po pagkatapos sabi ni Ms. Sarsuela." Tumango ako sa kaniya kaya lumabas na ito.
Napatingin ako sa relo ko. I guess I still have 3 minutes to prepare myself.
Agad akong lumabas pagkatapos ayusan ang sarili. Napatingin ako sa phone ko ng umilaw ito. I smiled when I saw his name appear on it.
Luke:
-Baby, I'll be late for our dinner date. Can you wait for me, hmm?
Natawa ako sa message niya at nagtipa ng reply.
Mill:
-It's okay. I have a meeting, so baka hindi rin masyadong matagal ang paghihintay ko sayo dahil baka matagalan ako.
Pumara ako ng taxi. Pumasok muna ako sa loob bago ko siya replyan.
Luke:
-Okay. See you later, baby.
Mill:
-See yah!
After arriving at the café, nakita ko na kaagad si Mr. Hernando na prenteng nakaupo. I walk toward him and smile.
"I'm sorry for the 1 minute lateness, Mr. Hernando." Napatingjn ito sakin.
Umiling ito. "It's okay. Let's get to business now. I'll be having our meeting in just a minute. I have two more meetings to attend after this."
"Sure, Mr. Hernando."
We started talking about business, and just like he said, Mabilis lang itong natapos. We say goodbye before going.
On my way out of the café, I was about to call Luke when I saw him. . . . with a girl.
Iisipin ko nalang sanang kaibigan o katrabaho niya lamang ito ng makita ko silang naghahalikan. Anger fills up my whole system. Out of cue, sinugod ko sila at hinila ang buhok ng babae.
Gulat silang dalawang napatingin sakin. 'Tama yan! Magulat kayo dahil nahuli ko kayo sa akto. At talagang sa labas pa ng café.'
"What the hell is this, Luke? Ang sabi mo sa'kin ay mal-late ka. Is she the reason kung bakit?!" I know my voice was raising up, but who cares?!
"No, baby, you got it wro-"
"Stop your nonsense! Ano? Mas magaling bang humalik sa'kin to't dito niyo pa naisipang maghalikan? In a public place? Really?" Tinaasan ko sila ng kilay.
"Baby, please. Calm down for a moment. I'll explain later after I finish this." Puno ng pagmamakaawa ang mukha nito.
"Wow, just wow, Luke! Pagkatapos ng nakita ko sasabihan mo akong calm down?! At anong 'I'll explain later after I finish this?!' So hindi pa tapos? Naman Luke!" Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin pati ang babae na hanggang ngayon ay gulat parin.
"Lets go, Luke! Iuuwi na kita. Sa bahay tayo mag-usap." I was about to grab him when someone asked.
"May selosa ka palang girlfriend, Luke?" Out of nowhere, ay lumabas ang isang lalaking naka cap at jacket na may dalang camera. Nagsilabasan rin ang iba pa nitong mga kasama.
Nang makita ko sila ay nakaramdam ako ng hiya.
'Does that mean? . . . '
I heard Luke chuckle. "I know what you're thinking. Yes, we are filming for my music video, baby." Nilingon ko ito. "Sa biglaang pagsugod mo, hindi mo napansing ang maliit na piraso ng papel na kumawala." I look at his shoes, kung nasaan ang papel na sinasabi niya. Nakita ko ito sa paanan niya mismo at may red lipstick pa.
Napayuko ako dahil sa hiya. They're all eyeing me. I can't lift my head up because of embarrassment.
I felt someone hug me and hide me from them. I know of his presence. He kissed my hair.
"Hush, baby. Don't worry, hindi kita ipagpapalit. You know how much I love you, and I'll do everything for you. Nobody can replace you, 'cause for me, you are you. You are the best version of yourself. Don't be jealous again; I'll assure you that you're the only one I love until my last breath. I love you. Let's talk later, hmm. . ." As he whispered those words,. Dahan-dahan akong tumango sa kaniya.
Now I realize that if a man truly loves you, he'll make time even if he's busy, and he'll assure you that you're the one.
*****
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•Plagiarism is a crime.
•open to criticism
