Kabanata 14
"Thank you for accepting the offer Rachel, I really thought you weren't going to accept it lalo na't buntis ka." anito habang taimtim na nakatingin sa akin.
Nginitian ko ito, "It was a tough decision to make lalo na't kasama din dito ang magiging buhay ng anak ko. But Jay was persistent and kept telling me to accept the promotion." pagpapaliwanag ko.
Tumango-tango ito, "Well then, I'm grateful for that." anito at may kinuha sa drawer. It was a brown envelope and inside it was a file, "Inside this are some basic information you need to know about the project you will be working on and your schedule. The company will shoulder your living expenses and your plane ticket will be given on the day of your flight. My secretary will be waiting for you, along with your co-worker there." anito tsaka iniabot sa akin ang envelope.
Agad kong binuksan 'yun at binasa. It was indeed a very big project.
Habang binabasa, napakunot na lang ang noo ko nang makita ang petsa ng pag-alis ko. Iniangat ko ang tingin sa kanya, "I though the flight will be two months from now?"
He heaved a sigh, "Well as you can see they need people in their company as soon as possible. Kailangan mabilisan makapunta doon para matapos agad ang training niyo. They're really desprate at this point lalo na't may nakuha silang malaking project para sa isang resort, the more they need the help of an interior designer to design each rooms they will have." aniya, he then leaned on his table, "You won't back out now won't you?"
The document clearly states that the flight will be two weeks from now. Kaunting panahon lang 'yon para makapaghanda. Though, I don't have that much friends or family to bid my goodbyes to, but I also need to prepare myself mentally.
"I won't Sir." saad ko at ngumiti.
"Everything's settled then." sabi nito nang nakangiti at saka tumayo, "Thank you for accepting our invite Ms. Cruz, I know this is not an easy decision to make but we promise to guide you every step of the way."
Tumayo na rin ako at inilahad ang kamay, "Thank you for trusting in me Sir."
I bid my goodbye before heading out of his office.
I glanced at my watch to look at the time－quarter to twelve. Napag-usapan kasi namin nina Cindy at Jay na mag meet-up para pag-usapan ang darating na despedida ni Cindy.
I entered the elevater and was about to close it when a hand stopped it from closing, sa taranta mabilis kong pinindot ang open button para hindi maipit ang lalake.
"Are you okay? I'm sorry I didn't notice you coming." natatarantang saad ko rito.
Pumasok muna ito bago magsalita, "No, it's okay" sabi nito at tinapunan ako ng tingin.
I creased my forehead, remembering the person in front of me.
"Jacob?" I called.
Nanlaki rin ang mga mata nito at isang ngiti ang nabuo sa labi nito, "Rachel! It's so good to see you!" Ani nito at lumapit para yakapin ako.
Jacob was my office mate before. Same department lang kami kaya madalas kami magkita. We're not that close but we're civil.
Humiwalay naman ako sa yakap at tinignan siya, "How are you? Ang tagal natin hindi nagkita."
Nagkibit balikat ito, "Busy with work as usual," aniya "I heard you're pregnant, congratulations on your baby!" sabi nito at tinuro ang aking tiyan. "How far along are you? Mukhang malaki na rin."
"Going on seventh month." I chuckled "Excited na nga akong makita siya 'e, I don't want this pregnancy to end because I'm enjoying all the changes but at the same time I want to see my baby." pagkukwento ko.
"Same with my sister, gusto niya ang atensyon na binibigay sa kanya ng mga tao niya dahil buntis siya." aniya.
We talked for a while, and it seems like it was a long elevator ride sa dinami-rami ng mga napagkuwentuhan namin.
"Babalik ka na ba sa work?" he asked as we walked towards the exit.
Tumango ako, "I just talked to Sir Ray about my flight to New York. Isa ako sa mga napiling pumunta doon para sa trabaho."
"Really? What a coincidence, pupunta rin ako sa New York para mag-training."
"That's good! Buti na lang at may isa na akong kakilala pagdating ko roon."
We both chuckled, "Well I have to go, may kikitain pa ako after nito."
He nodded, pero bago umalis, lumapit ito sa akin at inilagay sa likod ng aking tenga ang tumakas na buhok dahil sa hangin. "See you in New York Rachel."
Nang makapagpaalam, agad ako naglakad papunta sa restaurant na pagkikitaan namin, hindi naman malayo 'yun kaya nilakad ko na lang.
I was glad to know that Jacob will also be in New York. That short talk felt like I missed someone for a year. Magaan ang loob ko kay Jacob kaya natutuwa ako at kasama ko siya, I feel like I won't feel left out since I have someone I know with me.
"BAKIT KA late ngayon huh?" bungad sa'kin ni Cindy nang makapasok ako ng restaurant.
Nginitian ko lang ito at saka umupo.
"May kinausap lang ako after ko makipagkita kay Sir Ray. Isa sa mga makakasama ko sa New York." pagkukwento ko at kinuha ang menu para tumingin ng order.
"I heard lima lang kayong napili. Sino yung nakausap mo?" tanong ni Jay habang iniinom ang kanyang mango juice.
"Jacob."
"Oh," Jay said changing the tone of his voice. He then placed his palm on his chin and looked at me teasingly. "Is this the cute guy from our department? the guy everyone ships you with? Is this THE guy?"
Kumunot naman ang noo ko at mahinang pinalo sa kanya ang hawak kong menu, inirapan ko ito at umiling, "Spare me with your bullshits Jay, I'm a mother now, I don't have time for men." sabi ko rito at binalik ang tingin sa menu.
Habang naghahanap ng pagkain, narinig ko ang mahinang tawa ni Cindy sa kabila ko. "Well technically you're single, and you and Joven are just working things out, puwede pa iyon matigil. Bakit hindi na lang si Jacob?" she chuckled, at sa sobrang katuwaan nila ay nag-apir pa ang dalawa.
And for the nth time, I just shook my head. "Can you guys stop? No offense but dating isn't on my list right now. Ang focus ko ngayon ay ang trabaho ko at sa anak ko." I shrugged.
"If you say so my in-denial friend." Jay said.
Inirapan ko ito at nagtawag ng waiter para kunin ang order ko. I'm really craving for some pasta, good thing they have good ones here.
".. Where do you think is a good place to go for my last night of being single?" Cindy asked. Tinapunan ko ito ng tingin at nakita kung paano ito mamula sa kilig. You can tell that she's really excited about her wedding and all.
"Ano ba'ng gusto mong gawin sa despedida mo?" Jay asked.
"Hm, well now that you asked me, I want my despedida to be fun and loud." she chuckled "Ayaw ko naman mag-bar kasi hindi naman ako masyado umiinom ng alak. Gusto ko bonding lang talaga, tayong magkakaibigan, and I want Travis to come with us." pag kukwento nito.
I creased my forehead, "That's unusual, ayaw mo bang tayo-tayo na lang? Parang girl's night out lang." I asked.
She shrugged her shoulders, "Kaya nga gusto ko maiba naman." she chuckled, "May suggestion ba kayo?" she asked.
Now that I thought about it, there's a place where I wanted to go. I've seen it in articles being featured and some blogs of known celebrities. At sa mga nakikita kong pictures and videos, sa tingin ko maganda nga itong puntahan.
"How about Amanpulo?"
