Regrets are Always at the End

Kabanata 26

   It was already Monday. The day na magsisimula yung parusa ko mula sa taas. Lord, tulungan mo po ako makalabas ng buhay mamayang hapon. As soon as I stepped on the elevator, narinig kong may tumatawag sa'kin. I turned around, only to see my 3 closest friends dito sa kompanya.

"Hi guys!" bati ko sa kanila. They all stepped into the elevator at saka ako nikayap. "Group hug agad?"

"Eh wala namang ibang tao dito eh so group hug!" sabi ni Jamie at nag group hug ulit kami. "Mamimiss ka namin, Mich."

"Oo nga, Mich. Ba't ba kasi kailangan mo pang lumipat ng ibang opisina?" dagdag pa ni Mike. "Eh pwede naman na nandun ka lang sa work station natin. Tapos dun mo gagawin yung project mo. Diba, Fred?"

Tumango lang si Fred. For sure nahihiya na naman siya kasi inaasar kasi nila Mike si Fred about liking me. Oo, gusto ako ni Fred. His confession was kind of on the spot setting kasi inaasar siya ni Mike that time. And unfortunately, I was passing by when he admitted. At first awkward, pero naging okay naman kami. May iba na siyang nililigawan ngayon and mas bagay sila kesa saming dalawa. Ang sabihin mo Michelle, gusto mo kayo ni PJ ang magkatuluyan, sabi ng bad conscience ko.

"Basta sabay pa rin tayo maglulunch, okay guys? Itetext ko na lang kayo if saan," sabi ko sa kanila to lighten up their mood.

They all agreed to my suggestion at unfortunately, kailangan na nilang bumaba sa floor nila. Ako naman, I was alone during the whole ride papunta sa 18th floor. Pagkabukas ng elevator, I saw Philip standing.

"Hey, M," bati niya sa'kin. Nginitian ko lang siya at naglakad ng deretso. Nilagpasan ko siya kasi I wasn't in the mood to talk to him yet. "Look, I'm sorry about last Thursday night. I really didn't mean to leave you hanging."

"It's okay, Philip. Wala ka namang obligasyon sa'kin na dapat mo ako ihatid pauwi that night," sabi ko. Okay that's a lie. He DID have an obligation, pero ako lang ang nakakaalam nun. "At tsaka, family always comes first."

May sasabihin pa sana siya pero hindi na ako nakinig. I continued walking papunta sa opisina namin at pumasok sa malalaking glass doors. I went to the table where I saw my stuff at dumiretsong naupo.

"May meeting tayo with Mr. Gokongwei today," sabi niya sa'kin as he sat on his swivel chair. "Para malaman natin kung ano yung gusto niya sa design."

I just nodded at his update. Hinanda ko ang mga kakailanganin ko for the meeting. For sure I need a pen and a piece of paper, or mas maganda notebook na lang.

"Wala pa ba tayong ibang makakasama?" I asked him. I remember kasi Mr. Bernardo mentioning about a team. "Para naman we can more options when it comes to the design and details."

"Dad is still picking from the lists of architects in the company," he replied. Inikot niya yung swivel chair para humarap sa'kin. "You've got any suggestions on who to pick? Personal choice, perhaps?"

"Wala naman," I said. "Mas maganda if si Mr. Paiton na ang papipiliin. This is, of course, his company. I don't want to become the reason na bumagsak ito just because I had a personal choice of who to choose."

He just nodded and started playing with his chair. Paikot ikot lang siya, wala kasing magawa. Well, ako rin naman walang magawa. So I just started to doodle on the notebook.

"What time is the meeting?" I asked, habang nagdodoodle.

"Mamaya pang 1 pm," sagot niya. Nagulat ako kasi di ko man lang napansin na nasa likod ko na pala siya. "So what are you doodling?"

Tinakpan ko agad yung doodles ko gamit ng aking mga kamay. "Wala. I was just bored so nagdoodle ako."

Tumango lang siya at bumalik sa upuan niya. I continued my doodles at hindi na pinansin yung mga nasa paligig ko. That's how I am when I draw or doodle. Napupunta ako sa sarili kong mundo, where no one can disturb me. Pero sa totoo lang, bored na bored na ako. He could have just said na 1 pm pa pala yung meeting. Natutulog pa sana ako hanggang ngayon.

"Wanna hang out muna, M?" alok ni Philip sa'kin ng gala. "Since 1 pm pa naman yung meeting, wanna watch a movie or food trip?"

His offer was tempting. I mean, who doesn't want to go on a food trip kasama yung crush mo diba? Oo, crush ko na si Philip. Kahapon ko lang na realize yung kasi grabe yung ginawang ritual ni beshie sa'kin. Pero shh lang kayo. Atin atin lang to, okay?

"Okay lang naman. Pero the malls are still closed, right?" I asked. I wanted to watch Logan kasi. "Food trip na lang siguro muna tayo. I'm starving."

"Great!" he enthusiastically said and stood up from his chair. He grabbed his keys at naglakad na palabas ng office. "Let's go now, milady."

I chuckled at kinuha na yung bag ko. I placed my notebook and pen sa loob, tapos sumunod na sa kanya palabas ng office. Sumakay kami sa elevator at dumiretso na sa parking level. Sana naman hindi na masira itong second date namin. I really want to get to know Philip deeper.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Please don't forget to COMMENT, VOTE, and FOLLOW me for more updates! Thank you, love lots 💕💕

- Ikish 🦄