Undying Flame (Nathan Kyle & Jhauztine Chloe Story)

Chapter 11

"Mama, naalala mo 'yong batang lalake na lagi kong kalaro? 'Yong bumibisita sa US kada-bakasyon dito sa Pilipinas?"

Mama continued plating rice on my lunch container before handing me my cup of coffee. I've been meaning to tell her this last night, kaso tulog na siya pagkauwi ko.

"Si Ric? 'Yong ang pamilya ng puro doctor?"

Napatango ako, "Opo. Ang weird kasi sabi ko nang una familiar 'yong surname, tapos hindi niya rin naman ako kilala na Chloe Salces. Nagkagulatan na lang kaming dalawa nang pumasok ako sa opisina niya."

"Ilang taon na rin, buti nakilala ka niya? Mga bata pa kayo no'n."

"Wala namang nagbago sa kanya, ma. Gumwapo pa nga ng husto si Ric. Puberty did hit him well."

I saw my mother giving me a quirky smile, I waved my hand in crazy directions when I realized when she mistook what I said. "Mama! Alam mo naman na little sister ang tingin sakin no'n at kuya-kuyahan ko rin siya."

"Bakit? Wala naman akong ibang sinabi." She said in attempt to act innocent.

I rolled my eyes at her and finished my breakfast before I hurriedly bid her goodbye.

Totoo naman kasi. I can never look at Ric that way. Parang magkapatid lang kami, simula noon at hanggang ngayon. Kaya nga hindi ako na-awkward nang kausap ko siya kahapon. Saka sigurado rin akong ganoon din siya sa akin. At saka, nakita niya ba ang taong 'yon? He's like an out of this world creation of God. Hindi 'yon magkakagusto sa'kin.

Saktong pagkarating ko sa opisina ay nadatnan ko ang sekretarya ni bossing

na hinahanap ako.

"Present!" bati ko sa kanya sabay kaway.

Dumaan si Kuya Kiks sa harap ko, na mukhang galing pantry na nagtimpla ng kape, basing from the smell coming from the cup he's holding.

"Hala, bunso. Lagot. May kasalanan ka." Panloloko niya.

I stuck my tongue out but before I can even talk, Nadya was there to back me up. "Ikaw kaya isumbong ko kay Sir Anton, hindi mo pa na-ru-run 'yong mga bigay ng dev sa'yo."

Namula si Kuya Kiks at bahagyang natahimik. "Eto na nga, gagawin ko na." sambit niya sabay peace sign sa'kin.

Not reall a boring day in the office, I thought to myself.

I stride my way towards Sir Anton's office, meeting the urgent case head on. But I think this has something to do with Ric yesterday, kaya siguro hindi rin ako kinakabahan.

"Sir, good morning po."

He gestured me to sit, "Good morning, Chloe. Kumusta ang meeting niyo ni Mr. Orfiano kahapon?"

"Okay naman po. Bakit po?"

Saka siya napangiti, minsan talaga mahilig ng suspense itong si Sir Anton. "I was quite surprise to receive an email regarding a request of your deployment. You did a really great job impressing Mr. Orfiano."

I gulped and laughed nervously dapat ko bang sabihin na magkakilala na kami dati pa?

"T-thank you, Sir."

"I guess, we'll not be seeing each other for a long time. Since, next week doon na ang bago mong opisina."

"P-po?" 'yon lang ang nasagot ko. Kahit alam kong mangyayari na ito, hindi ko pa ring maiwasang magulat.

"We'll be transfering you there and relieving you of your other projects. May mga engineers din kasi na bagong hire, kaya mas maplaplantsa na distributions."

Napatango ako, not knowing what to say. I suddenly felt glum. Ric requesting my full attention to his business means I have to let go the project that involves Kyle's company.

"Lahat po ng limang projects ko? Ibibigay na sa iba?" paglilinaw ko, hindi pa ako handang paniwalaan.

"Yes, like I said, may mga bagong mapapadala rito from HQ na engineers. Don't look so sad, Chloe. Alam kong ayaw mong iwan ang mga kaibigan mo rito, pero hindi ka naman ma-de-deploy mag-isa. Pito kayo. And we'll still see you during all-hands-meeting so there's nothing to worry about."

Pinilit kong ngumiti. He misunderstood the sudden shift of emotions, but I rather not to correct him. Ayoko namang malaman ni bossing ang ugat kung bakit bigla akong napasimangot.

Pagkatapos no'n, pinatawag na ni Sir Anton ang anim pa na kasama ko na ipapatapon kila Ric. Ipinaliwanag sa aming mabuti ang mga target dates, mga memos, mga vision na napagkasunduan ng dalawang panig.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit feeling ko drained na drained ako nang dumating ang lunch time. Bumalik ako sa mesa ko para kunin ang packed lunch ko nang mapansin kong may tatlong missed calls at apat na text si Kyle sa'kin.

Nakalimutan ko agad ang pagod ko.

My fingers were shaking when I was able to swipe open his messeges.

Kyle: Clo, lunch tayo together?

Kyle: I really want to talk to you.

Kyle: Sorry, for calling three times.

Kyle: I'll wait for you at the same place.

Gusto kong magtatatalon sa tuwa. The idea of Reena haunted me but I quickly set it aside. Saka ko na haharapin ang katotohanan kapag nagkausap na kami.

Me: Hi, Kyle. Sorry, I was caught in a meeting. Pero pababa na ako."

Again, he was waiting in the same table during our first lunch out. He waved at me, and I tried to smile even though I was filled with anxiety.

"Nag-order na ako. I hope you don't mind. I ordered the same Ramen you picked from the last time."

"So, anong nangyari?" I initiated the conversation. Tapos na akong magpanggap na kunwari gusto niya talaga akong makita. at wala nang iba pang rason.

"I was right. Hinatid nga siya ng boss niya."

"Are you angry?"

Sandali siyang napaisip. "Hindi ko alam. Gusto ko pero wala naman akong karapatan sa kanya."

I felt a pang hitting in my chest because he hit the nail straight on it's head. It's the samw for me, hindi ko rin kayang magalit dahil wala rin ako sa tamang posisyon.

Natahimik kaming parehas ng dumating ang mga order namin. He let me start with my entrée before he continued speaking.

"Alam mo ba lagi kong tinatanong ang sarili ko kung kailan ba dapat susuko ang isang tao at kung kailan siya patuloy na lalaban. Ikaw ba alam mo ba?"

Napatigil ako sa paghalo na pagkain ko at napataas ng tingin sa kanya. A flicker of hope lit in my heart. Is he planning of giving up Reena? I bit my lip and think. If I ever influence his decisions, can I stomach the thought of it?

"Hindi ko alam. But if you're thinking of giving up, just remember all the things you did for her and why you did it. 'Diba m-mahal. . .na mahal mo siya? Ang pagmamahal dapat hindi 'yon sinusuko."

He stared at me for a moment, ad if taking everything I said, "Hindi ko naman naisip sumuko, hindi ako susuko hangga't si Reena ang nagsasabi na tumigil na ako." Paglilinaw niya. "But what you said is right, I also believe in that too, that love is worth fighting for."

I swallowed the lump on my throat that's triggering my tears.

"I never asked you, may boyfriend ka na ba?"

I stilled but decided not to look him in the eyes. Ayokong makita niya ang pamumula ko. Lalo na't naiiyak na rin ako.

"W-wala. . ." because you're the only one I loved all these years.

"Suwerte magiging boyfriend mo in the future. Sobrang, understanding mo sa lahat." He casually commented while devouring his meal.

I stole a glance at him, calming my frantic heart. Hindi niya lang alam na wala akong ibang hiniling na maging siya ang taong swerte na sinasabi niya.