To My Knight in Distress

Page 3

To My Knight in Distress

PAGE THREE

'Hi,' you greeted from the other line. That was your first call and I immediately knew it was you. You were registered as an unknown caller but I'm not even surprised how you got my number.

Handa na akong ibaba ang tawag pero bigla kang nagsalita.

'Please let me explain what happened. If you're free today, please let me talk to you. Please?'

Wala naman talaga tayong dapat pag-usapan. I decided to move on from what happened. Nakakababa ng moralidad ang ginawang pagkaladkad ng babaeng 'yon sa 'kin at hindi naman nakakatulong kung iisipin ko pa 'to dahil dadagdag lang sa mga problema ko.

Pero hindi ibig sabihin no'n na pinapatawad ko na siya... kayong dalawa. That morning, I walked out of that unit with unruly hair, unfriendly and crying face, without even a fare money.

Dahil may dignidad ako, hindi ako bumalik sa bahay mo para sa mga naiwan kong gamit. I had to walk for straight two hours para lang makauwi. Hanggang ngayon kahit magaling na ang mga sugat ko sa paa, ramdam ko pa rin ang hapdi nito tuwing naaalala ko ang araw na 'yon.

You don't need to explain, but yes, maybe I deserve a proper apology.

'5:10, Café Milano,' I said then hang up.

At that time, I didn't know if it was a good or terrible choice. Now I realized... it's one of the best decisions I've ever made.

I arrived an hour later and saw you sitting at the far side of the café, near the grand piano with two untouched coffee cups in front of you.

With a beating heart, I slowly walked up to you.

Tumayo ka nang makita ako at mukhang hindi mapakali.

You greeted me first with an extended hand. 'Hi.'

Hindi ako sumagot at hindi ko rin kinuha ang kamay mo. Diretso akong umupo sa katapat na upuan. Napansin ko ang pagkadismaya mo pero masyado akong naiinis sa mukha mo para kaawaan ka.

'Just get straight to the point, Sylvester Chen.'

'I'm really sorry about what happened the other day,' you said while fidgeting at your coffee cup. Iniangat mo ang ulo at tumingin sa 'kin. 'I should have followed you at hindi dapat kita hinayaang umuwi ng gano'n. Everything that has happened was my fault and I'm sincerely sorry.'

Mula sa ilalim ay ipinatong mo ang paper bag sa ibabaw ng lamesa at marahan 'tong itinulak palapit sa 'kin. 'Ito ang mga naiwan mong gamit.'

You apologized but it just made me angrier. You know what, Sylvester Chen? Wala ka namang ginawang masama eh, pero bakit ikaw ang humihingi ng tawad? Ang tanging kinagagalit ko lang naman sa 'yo ay nakita mo akong nagmukhang kawawa.

Galit ako sa babaeng 'yon na hindi ko kilala pero bakit sinasalo mo ang dapat na responsibilidad niya?

'May isa lang po akong hiling.'

Naaalala ko pa kung paano kang tumingin sa 'kin at naghintay sa susunod kong sasabihin.

'Alam kong isa lang akong hamak na empleyado sa kompanya ninyo, pero sana ito na po ang huling pagkikita natin.'

You were just a disaster. A visiting storm that ruined my day, tainted my ego and hurt me with an intense pain.

Tumayo ako at kinuha ang paper bag na binigay mo. Nakalabas na ako ng café nang tawagin mo ako sa pangalan ko.

'Robin!'

Not many people call me by that name. Most of them call me Lee, my second name.

'To compensate for what happened, let me be your genie. I'll grant you three wishes. After that, I'll promise we will never meet each other again.'

You sounded desperate and it actually convinced me that you were indeed sincere. That wasn't so bad, honestly. It took me seconds to agree but I had to act as if I'm having a hard time considering your offer.

We shook hands and made the deal.

A deal I didn't know that can change my life.

°•✮•°

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