Chapter 5: Forget
1019 Words
I feel like I'm pinned on the couch. Madami akong gustong sabihin pero walang lumalabas sa bibig ko. Tinignan ko siya kaya nagtama ang tingin naming dalawa.
He... changed so much. His body became more firm. Mas lalo siyang gumwapo.
"I said who is this girl?"
I can't move my eyes away from him. Tumayo ako at niyakap siya. Tears fall down to my cheeks as I hug him. This familiar warmth... I'm sure of it.
"What the hell?" sabi niya at kumalas sa yakap ko.
Pinunsan ko lang luha ko at inayos ang sarili.Walang reaksyon ang mukha niya. Pati sila Sam ay nagulat sa ginawa ko. I cannot read him anymore. What happened, Dane?
"Uh... Cleo what's your full name again?"
"Cleopatra Fuentabella,"I said.
Mom said I should use that name publicly. May mga I.D din sila na ginawa sa'kin na dala ko ngayon, 'yon din ang nakalagay sa'king resume.
"She's applying to be your assistant, Troy."Sabi ni Daryl.
Wait... they're close? And Troy? Who is Troy? Siya ba 'yun? But his name is Dane!
"He's Dane," I said.
Tinignan nila akong tatlo. Hindi pala nakilala ni Daryl si Dane dati. Hindi naman kasi sumasama samin si Daryl.
"What are you talking about?" Sam asked, confused.
"That guy! He's Dane! He's not Troy?"
Nakatingin lang sila sa'king tatlo, nakataas ang kilay at nagtataka kung ano ang sinasabi ko.
Is Dane pretending that he doesn't know me? But why? I don't understand why. He's supposed to be apologizing to me right? He left me on the day of our wedding!
I hugged him again. Sam and Daryl tried to pull me away from him pero hindi ako pumayag... I just want to hug him. I want to feel his warmth. I miss him so much.
"Cleo... tama na yan..."They said.
Dahan dahang kinalas ni Dane ang pagkakayakap ko sakanya. Tumama ang mata namin at doon ako humiwalay sa kanya. He doesn't look and feel like the old Dane anymore.
"I don't know who are you talking about miss, I'm Troy Villanueva and I own this building." he said.
It's impossible na may clone si Dane sa mundong 'to.
"Oo nga Cleo? Sino ba si Dane?"Tanong ni Daryl.
I know he's Dane... ang hindi ko lang maintindihan ay kung bakit hindi niya ako kilala? Is he just pretending? Or hindi lang talaga niya ako maalala? But that's impossible!
I will figure it out, if he's pretending or not. Kung hindi ay ipapaalala ko sa kanya lahat. I will do everything just so he could remember me.
"Are you still going to apply?" he asked.
"Y-Yes." I said.
"Follow me." He said and went out of Sam's office.
Nilingon ko si Sam at Daryl and they gave me the sign to follow Dane... I mean Troy.
Sumakay pa kami ng elevator, halos na sa tuktok na ang kanyang office. We entered his office and the view is mesmerizing, mas malaki ang office niya kumpara kay Sam.
"Did you bring the requirements?" He asked and sat in a swivel chair.
Nilapag ko ang envelope sa kanyang papel. Nakatayo pa din ako since he didn't allow me to sit, yet.
He opened the envelope and checked the papers. Inangat niya ang tingin niya. Halos pigilan ko ang hininga ko nung tignan niya ako. He sighed.
"Won't you take your sit, miss?"
I sat down in a chair in front of him.
Nakatingin lang ako sa kanya habang tinitignan niya ang resume ko. I badly want to talk to him, gusto ko malaman kung anong nangyari nung araw na 'yon.
"You have a good background and that's great for me. But... you still have to prove why you should be my assistant. I won't hire you that fast."He said.
Nilapag niya ang resume ko sa kanyang lamesa, he stood up kaya napatayo din ako.
"K-Kailan ako mag start?"
"Tomorrow. I badly need an assistant." He said and walked away.
I will do my best. Mas mabuti na araw-araw kami magkasama para mabantayan ko ang kilos niya.
Ang daming tanong sa isip ko na hindi ko mailabas. Paano kung hindi niya talaga ako maalala, 'diba? Magmumukha lang akong tanga kapag pinilit ko na magkakilala talaga kami.
"Tanggap ka na agad?" Tawa ni Daryl.
"Hindi. Under trial pa ko." I said.
Tumango tango siya at ngumiti.
"That's unexpected. Knowing Troy hindi siya basta basta tumatanggap o nag bibigay ng chance."
I can't believe I'm walking while having a conversation with Daryl. Noon iniimagine ko lang 'to at patay na patay pa ako sa kanya, pero ngayon parang wala lang. Like I'm just talking to someone I knew back then.
"Do you want to come with me? Coffee?" He asked.
"Sure-"
"Hoy tigil tigilan mo nga 'yang si Cleo." Sabi ni Sam kay Daryl.
Tumawa kami dahil bigla nalang siyang sumulpot out of nowhere.
"What? We're schoolmates back then afterall."Tawa ni Daryl sabay akbay sa'kin.
"Kung aalis kayo sasama ako."Sam said.
Tumawa ako at hindi na umangal pa. Pagod na din ako and I just want to chill and not talk that much anymore.
"Ang tagal niyong nawala ah?" Daryl said as we enter the cafe.
"Ah... oo." Tipid kong sabi.
I don't want to tell stories because that will be a whole lie. Nagsinungaling na nga ako tapos magsisinungaling nanaman ako? That's not how it works.
Someone served us coffee. Wow! This taste really good! Walang wala sa ginawa kong coffee kay Sam.
"Masarap?" He asked.
"Masarap." Sagot ni Sam na nakabaling sa kanyang cellphone habang iniinom ang kape.
"Hindi ikaw kausap ko gago."
Tumawa ako. Si Sam naman ay sinimangutan siya.
"Oo." I answered to his question.
"This is actually my Cafe." He said.
Wow! Really? Inikot ko ang paningin ko sa paligid and that's when I appreciate the environment. Ang ganda ng pagkakagawa and the design is nature friendly.
May mga puno at bulaklak sa loob nito. May second floor pa.
"Really? Congrats! It looks nice and the drinks are superb." I said.
He's successful now. Well, he's a hardworking guy ever since. Nag papart time job siya kahit na madami naman silang pera.
- Writer
