Encounter (Onze Series #1)

21

"Ano 'yon compensation?! Gago ba siya?!"

Kanina pa ako nagrereklamo dito sa loob ng sasakyan ni Claire. Ano ba naman kasi ang gagawin ko roon sa yogurt na 'yon?

"Kalmahan mo lang girl." Komento naman ni Claire.

Padabog kong ibinagsak ang likod sa backrest at pinagkrus ang mga braso.

Lessen the pain? How can a yogurt lessen the damn pain that he brought to me years ago?! I don't understand him sometimes! He sure has a bipolar disorder.

"Baka mamaya niyan di na siya mawala sa isip mo, tapos crush mo na ulit."

Gulat akong napaharap kay Claire bago siya samaan ng tingin.

"Seriously, Claire?" Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay kaya napatawa siya ng malakas.

"Makikita mo pa siya mamaya, baka ma-inlove ka na niyan, Val." Pang-aasar pa rin niya. Hindi ko na lang siya pinansin dahil aasar-asarin niya pa ako.

Bumalik nanaman ang inis ko nang maalalang papunta pala kami ni Claire sa dinner na in-arrange ni Mommy para mai-welcome namin formally si Jared sa company.

"Kailangan pa talagang pumunta ro'n?" I asked after the very long deafening silence.  "Ibaba mo nalang ako d'yan," sambit ko at tinuro pa ang isang Mall na madadaanan namin.

"Wala ka talagang etiquette, 'no?" Mataray na sagot niya saakin. Hindi na niya ako pinansin at patuloy lang sa pagdadrive. Tahimik lang kaming dalawa ni Claire hanggang makarating sa restaurant.

Nag-away pa kami ni Claire dahil ayoko ngang pumasok pa. Pero napilit niya pa rin ako kaya wala akong choice kung hindi ay sumama.

I pursed my lips when we reached the reserved table. There were three very long tables and almost everyone is already here.

"Arch. Fortes! Dito," Isla, also an architect, called us and pointed the seat beside her. I was about to walk towards her when I realized that Jared was sitting in front of the seat that she pointed!

I remained standing, wondering if I should still sit on that. Gosh, ayoko namang umayaw kay Isla dahil nakakahiya. She's a close colleague, baka mag-overthink siya t kung anong isipin kapag inignore ko siya.

"Ano? Tayuan contest?" I snapped back to reality when Claire grabbed my hand. I have no choice but to sit in front of him.

The others greeted me while the waiters started serving foods. As soon as they finished, we started eating already. And they started to ask tons of questions to Jared. I just remained silent dahil halos lahat naman ng tinatanong nila 'e alam ko. Except for one.

"Engineer Vasquez, do you have a girlfriend?"

That question almost choked me. I got curious tuloy kung may girlfriend ba siya ngayon. He don't look like he do have one. Or baka tinatago niya?

Tumingin ang iba sa kanya, pati na ang ibang babae sa kabilang tables. I saw how Isla gulped when that question was asked. Oh no, does she like him?

"I don't." I looked up only to see him looking at me intently! "I'm waiting for someone but I showed up too late." He added, still looking at me.

I again had the chance to stare back. His eyes are screaming sadness and disappointment. Damn. I don't want to precede what he said, maybe he wasn't pertaining to me. Assuming lang ako.