Could Have Been Better (Crush Series #2)

Chapter 38

CHAPTER 38 — Unregistered Number

Parusa sa akin ang makatabi si Conrad. Even though he's not doing anything that could hurt me, his mere presence torments me. The fact that he's not doing anything was the most painful for me. Kasi ibig sabihin nito ay wala na talaga siyang pakealam kahit pa ako ang nasa tabi niya.

I remained quiet. Wala rin namang nagsalita kahit sila Celine at Vans. The music was on and it's the only thing that could be heard inside the car.

Nagpasalamat akong hindi muna ako kinausap ni Celine. If Conrad's not here, I'm sure that we'd be talking about a lot of things. Hindi naman kasi siya nawawalan ng mga kwento para sa akin. Siguradong kahit ang tahimik na si Vans ay makikipag-usap din sa akin.

I played with my fingers. Tiningnan ko ang aking bag kung nasaan ang aking phone at naisip na mag-text na lang kayla mommy. I forgot to tell them the good news. Siguradong matutuwa silang dalawa ni daddy kapag nalaman nilang natanggap ako sa trabaho.

I took out my phone and texted them. Napapangiti pa ako habang tinitipa ang magandang balita sa kanila. They'd be proud of me, I'm sure. Sobrang nakatulong din ang sinamahan nila ako kanina para magkaroon ako ng sapat na lakas ng loob. They were very supportive and it really inspired me.

I also informed them that I would be visiting Celine's family and they didn't have to wait for me for dinner. Malapit nang lumubog ang araw at siguradong hapunan na ang dadatnan namin kayla Celine.

Pagkatapos i-send ang text ay itinago ko itong muli. I sent the message to the both of them, though I was not sure if they were still busy. Baka mamaya pa nila mabasa ang text.

The situation I'm in right now won't do good to me. So tnstead of dwelling on it, I chose to think of what I could do for my work. Napangisi akong muli nang maalalang may trabaho na talaga ako at magsisimula na ako bukas.

Hindi naman siguro ako mahihirapan dahil ito naman ang tinapos ko sa aking pag-aaral. The field where I decided to work for was also related to what I love to do and that is writing. Siguro ay kung may mahirap man dito ay ang pagod at hirap na kaya nitong idulot sa akin. But if I love my work, why would I be stressed and tired, right?

Naisip kong bigla si Constantine. I'm still wondering what kind of boss he is. Kanina ay ipinaliwanag na niya ang mga pamantayan niya sa kaniyang mga tauhan ngunit hindi sapat iyon upang makilala ko siya bilang amo. He's my superior that I need to impress because if not, there's a chance that I'd lose my job.

Malinaw ang ipinaliwanag nila sa akin. Sa kontratang pipirmahan ko bukas ay siguradong nakalagda iyon. I should work hard to prove myself to them. Hindi ako maaaring magmukhang baguhan sa aking mga gagawin. I should give all of me in the future projects that I would do.

I was so consumed at the thought of my new job until I heard harsh sounds. Malalim na paghinga ang narinig ko sa aking tabi. Kusang lumingon ang ulo ko upang balingan si Conrad na nakatingin pala sa akin.

Nahigit ko ang aking paghinga at nawala ang ngiti sa aking labi. So much of not dwelling in the situation, Elaine. Nandito naman talaga ako sa tabi niya at paano ko iiwasan ito?

He stared at me for a few more seconds before he averted his eyes in front.

Doon lang may lumabas na hangin sa aking bibig. Hindi na pala ako humihinga noong mga segundong nakamasid siya sa akin na parang may maling nangyayari. The way he looked at me wasn't like before. His eyes weren't as soft as how he used to look at me and there's no passion in it.

Ibang iba na siya na Conrad ko noon.

Ipinilig ko ang aking ulo nang magsimula na namang bumaha ng alaala sa aking isip.