KABANATA 6
1375 Words
Mckenzie’s POV
“Kanina ka pa titig na titig sa resumé na ‘yan ah.” Rinig kong wika ni Elson sa may di kalayuan atsaka ako nilapitan.
He placed two sets of papers above my desk as he looked at me while slidding both of his hands inside his pockets.
“Hindi ba siya mukhang pamilyar sa’yo?” Tanong ko sa kanya ngunit ang aking paningin ay nanatiling nakatuon sa litrato ng resumé.
“Sino? Yung inutusan mong bumili ng kape? What’s her name again?”
“Mattea.”
“Ah yes, Mattea.”
Sumandal ako sa aking upuan ngunit hawak-hawak ko parin ang isang pirasong papel sa aking kamay.
This is weird.
Why am I feeling this? As if I already knew this girl. Pamilyar kasi ang mukha niya, parang nakita ko na ito noon.
“No, not at all. Baka kayo lang ang nagkita noon pero hindi mo na maalala kung saan at kailan. May mga kaso talagang ganyan eh. Nagkakaron tayo ng selective amnesia at normal na ‘yan lalo na sa mga taong katulad mo na ang dami-daming nakikilala araw-araw.”
Mahaba nitong saad bago ako tinalikuran atsaka umupo sa silya na nasa di kalayuan. He faced my chessboard and stared at it for a while before pointing it using his index finger.
“Wanna play chess?” He asked.
Tumayo ako atsaka tuluyan ng inilapag ang resumé ni Mattea sa ibabaw ng aking mesa bago ko nilapitan si Elson.
“You should be doing your job right now as my secretary, Elson.” Nakita kong napangisi ito bago inayos ang kanyang pagkakaupo sa aking tapat.
“Oh come on, tapos na ang working hours natin. I’m speaking with you right now as your childhood friend,” ani nito atsaka niya ginalaw ang pawn.
I move my horse and let him take the next move. While we were playing chess, Elson and I kept on talking about that girl.
“You like her, don’t you?” Tinignan ko ito gamit lamang ang aking mga mata bago nag-iwas ng tingin.
“No. I don’t.”
“You’re a bad liar.”
“I’m stating facts, Elson.”
“Hindi mo gagawin ang ginawa mo kanina kung hindi mo siya natipohan.” Nakangisi niyang sagot sa akin habang ako naman ay napailing.
“Alam mong ayaw kong magkaron ng utang na loob sa isang tao. I’m just giving her back the favor. That’s it.”
Elson shrugged his shoulders. Kinain niya ang isa kong pawn kaya kinuha ko rin yung kanya.
Habang naglalaro kami, lumilipad ang isang parte ng aking utak. Half of my mind were occupied about Mattea; trying to squeeze my brain in order to find answers that I needed.
Hindi ko talaga maalala kung saan ko siya unang nakita. But I am more certain that last night was not the first time I saw her.
I’m trying to recall her face, her gestures, the way she talk, she stares, and…
“Touch move.” I said out of nowhere which made Elson stiffened.
“What?! Nakita mo parin ‘yon?”
“I can see your dirty little tricks in the peripheral view of my eye, Elson Trinidad.” He groaned and moved the first chessboard piece he touched.
“Akala ko lutang ka na naman eh.”
“Don’t get deceived by something especially by me. I’m a good deceiver.” I said in a plain tone before moving my queen.
King is the most important piece of the game but I can’t let Elson take my queen. Losing the queen weakens my capturing ability.
And I won’t let that happen.
“Checkmate.”
“Oh come on! Kailan pa ba ako mananalo sa larong ‘to?” Reklamo ni Elson matapos ko siyang talunin.
“You can defeat me if you can take away my queen.” He snorted when I said that.
“As if you’ll let that happen.” Napangisi ako sa sinabi niya.
“Just try harder next time.”
I got my *ss up and walk towards my table before taking the set of papers Elson gave me earlier.
“I’ll check these first and put it on your desk before I leave. Pwede ka ng umuwi ngayon, Elson,” sabi ko sa kanya habang nakatalikod dito.
“Magtatagal ka pa rito sa loob?”
“Oo, ayokong umuwi na may maraming nakatenggang gawain dito sa opisina.”
Elson left the building after bidding his goodbye. Muli akong umupo sa aking pwesto atsaka binasa ang paper reports na ipinasa niya sa akin galing sa ibang department.
Nang matapos ko ng reviewhin ang lahat ng mga papeles. Itinabi ko ito sa gilid bago muling kinuha ang resumé ni Mattea.
Tumayo ako mula sa pagkakaupo atsaka tinungo ang bintana ng aking opisina rito. I stood up against this ceiling-to-floor window while staring at her picture.
A lightning struck outside my window and followed by a thunder.
Nasa kalagitnaan ako ng pag-iisip kung saan ko ba talaga siya unang nakita nang bigla na lang bumuhos ang malakas na ulan.
Water droplets are automatically shown against my glass window as I am trying my very best to recall something from the past.
Another set of lightnings are striking followed by a loud sound of a thunder.
Napatulala ako sa labas ng bintana nang bigla ko ng maalala ang kaganapan sa nakaraan.
I sucked a huge amount of air and tightened my grip against Mattea’s resumé.
“I knew it… I knew it…” paulit-ulit kong bulong sa sarili bago dali-daling kinuha ang aking telepono sa ibabaw ng aking mesa.
How could I ever forget her?
Kaagad kong tinignan ang petsa ngayon atsaka binilang kung ilang taon na ang nakakalipas mula nong una naming pagkikita.
“9 years… It’s been 9 years…”
Bakit ko nagawang kalimutan ang mukha niya? How could I forgot someone who saved me from the past?
How could I?
Muli akong napatingin sa resumé ni Mattea atsaka mas lalong tinitigan ang kanyang litrato.
Buong buhay ko, sa isang tao lang ako nagkaron ng malaking utang na loob. Pero hindi ako makapaniwalang nagawa ko siyang kalimutan.
My memory from the past suddenly appeared right in front of me.
If she wasn’t there, I don’t think I’m still breathing right now.
Mattea arrived in the right time and in the perfect place to save me.
Napatitig ako ng mas maige sa mukha niya at hindi maiwasang may maibulong sa aking sarili nang maalala ko rin ang ginawa niya kagabi nong lasing na lasing ako sa gilid ng daan.
“Bakit ba sobrang hilig mong iligtas ako, Mattea? Are you doing this on purpose, or this is just your nature after all?”
Kinuha ko ulit ang aking cellphone atsaka may idinial na numero. Wala pang dalawang ring ng sagutin niya ‘to kaagad.
[Mr. Gutierrez. Good evening, how may I help yo—]
“Is Mattea Velia Aguillar under your supervision?” I asked while still eyeing her image in this piece of paper.
[Mattea? Ah, yes, Mr. Gutierrez. She’s working under my department. Is there’s something wrong? First day niya po kasi ngayon kaya kung iuutos niyo po sa akin na sibakin siya ay gagawin ko p—]
“No, don’t ever do that. I need her in my company.”
Napatingin ako sa labas ng bintana at hindi maiwasang maalala ulit ang nangyari siyam na taon na ang nakakalipas.
It was the exact situation where Mattea and I met for the first time.
It was raining heavily with lightning and thunders, and we are in a dark place while I am standing on the edge of a bridge.
“Listen, I want you to do something for me, Guinido.”
[I am listening, Mr. Gutierrez.]
Matapos kong sabihin sa kanya ang gustong kong ipagawa ay tuluyan ko ng pinatay ang tawag.
I put my phone inside my pocket as I stood up straight while staring the city of Manila under a heavy rain.
Mukhang hindi mo na ako naaalala, Mattea, and here I am thinking I should do something about it.
So right now, I am using my power to make it happen.
I will make you remember me.
- Writer
