PAUBAYA

CHAPTER 3

VON'S POV

"Sir, did you get it? Clear po ba lahat, Sir?"

My secretary caught my attention, na nagpabalik sa'kin sa katinuan.

"Oh! Sorry, what is it again?" I asked him patiently.

"Ang meetings n'yo po with the investors, ipinapaalala ko po kung anong oras... Ahm, Sir, mukhang wala po kayo sa sarili." Napakamot siya sa ulo.

"I'm just tired. Paki-notes na lang. Titingnan ko na lang mamaya." Sumandal ako sa swivel chair na kinauupuan ko.

Sinunod niya naman ang utos ko bago lumabas sa opisina ko.

I opened my laptop and start my works to be done. Pero nawawala talaga ako sa huwisyo kaya sinara ko na lang ulit ang laptop. I closed my eyes and gently massage my temple. At sa pagpikit ng mga mata ko ay naalala ko na naman ang naging tagpo namin ni Eliza sa mall.

I can't focused on my works and I had sleepless nights after that encounter.

May kakaibang saya akong naramdaman nang araw na 'yon. But I also felt hatred, bigla akong nagalit dahil hindi niya mapagbigyan ang sariling anak. Parang may mabigat sa dibdib akong naramdaman lalo na nang pagtalikod nila, I saw the sadness in her daughter's eyes, na mas lalong nagparamdam sa'kin ng kalungkutan.

I felt a strange feeling when I saw the sadness of that kid before she leaned on the shoulder of her mother.

I really wanted to follow them that time, may kung ano kasing humihila sa'kin papunta sa kanila. But Yesha wants to buy that doll, natagalan pa kami dahil binayaran pa namin 'yon at mahaba ang pila sa counter kaya gustuhin ko man na habulin sila ay nawala na sila sa paningin ko.

I opened my eyes when the telephone on my table rings.

"Hello, Sir!" My secretary is on the other line.

"What is it?"

"The receptionist called awhile ago to informed me that there's someone wants to talk to you. Importante raw po."

"Please ask the name of that someone."

"Tinanong ko na po kanina. She's Eliza Rodriguez. She has no appointment with you, Sir. But she badly needs to talk to you. Is it okay with you, Sir?"

I paused a second because of the name I heard.

"Sir?"

"Okay, okay! Please let her in, papuntahin mo rito sa office ko."

I should talk to her, para na rin malinawan ang isip ko.

Few minutes passed when someone knocked on my office door. I'm sure that it was her.

"Come in!"

I loosened my tie and adjusted it to look presentable.

Pagkapasok niya pa lang ay nagsalubong agad ang tingin namin. I noticed that her eyes were swollen. Huwag niyang sabihin na umiiyak siya dahil sinasaktan siya ng asawa niya?

"Have a seat!" I pointed the chair infront of my office table.

"T-thank you," she said as she seated.

"What brings you here?" I asked her in a calm voice.

"V-Von, kailangan kita ngayon." Yumuko siya at pinahiran ang luhang tumulo. "Kakapalan ko na ang mukha ko, kailangan na kailangan ko kasi talaga ang tulong mo."

"What kind of help?"

"Tulong para sa anak ko."

"Again! Where's the father of your child?"