Episode 43

Sorry

"Dapat hindi mo na sinabi 'yun, Val!"

Sinamaan ko ng tingin si Val na ngayo'y nakangisi lang habang nakasunod sa'kin. Talagang balak niya 'atang mag-stay muna sa opisina ko. Wala ba siyang trabaho?

"Dun din naman patungo natin. Why bother explaining?" I saw him roll his eyes. Binilisan ko ang lakad kaya tinawag niya 'ko pero wala na akong paki. Marami pa 'kong trabaho.

"Good morning, Miss Hyacinth," bati sa'kin ni Leah sabay bow kaya nginitian ko rin siya. Sinandal ko muna ang siko ko sa station niya para magtanong.

"What's my schedule for today?" nakangiti kong bati pero ngumiwi ako nang maramdaman ko na naman si Valentine sa gilid ko at hinawakan ang bewang ko.

"Uhm, M-ma'am..." Parang nataranta si Leah dahil sa presensya ni Val kaya nilingon ko si Val na wala namang paki at iniikot lang ang tingin sa buong office.

I furrowed my eyebrows at her reaction. Anong meron?

"Y-you have two meetings in the morning and another two meetings in the afternoon..." pahina nang pahina niyang sabi habang umiiwas ng tingin sa katabi ko. "Are you okay?" tanong ko at mabilis siyang tumango. I saw Val glancing at us in my peripheral vision.

"Okay, then." Nginitian ko na lang siya. Didiretso na sana ako sa office nang nakita kong nakakunot lang ang noo ni Val kay Leah na umiiwas ng tingin. "Bakit?" I asked him and he shook his head. "I think I saw her from somewhere before. 'Di ko lang maalala."

Nagkibit-balikat siya at tumango bago ako dumiretso sa office. Binalik ni Val ang hawak niya sa bewang ko. Para siyang mamamatay 'pag nagkahiwalay kami.

"So this is your office, huh..." he said with amazement in his tone. 

Napataas ang kilay niya nang makakita ng bedroom sa loob ng office ko. "You sleep here?" he asked when he opened the door towards it. I nodded. Minsan kasi ay kailangan kong tapusin ang trabaho ko kaya rito na 'ko natutulog.

I smiled at him before going towards my swivel chair. Doon siya naupo sa may couch ko dahil isa lang naman ang upuan dito.

"I'm just... going to work," paalam ko at tumango naman siya bago tumayo at lumapit sa'kin.

I opened my laptop and starting opening the files that I have not finished yesterday. But I got quickly distracted when I felt his stare from my back. Nilingon ko siya at nakahalukipkip lang siya habang pinagmamasdan ako.

"Val... Na-di-distract ako. Dun ka na lang muna." Ngumuso ako sa upuan pero umiling lang siya. "Malayo." Umiling siya kaya sinimangutan ko siya. Nagulat na lang ako nang kinuha niya ang intercom sa mesa ko!

"Hey! What are you do—" Naputol ang sasabihin ko nang magsalita na siya sa tawag.

"Can you please provide another swivel chair in her office? Yes. Yes. No problem. Thank you." Binaba niya na ang tawag. He smirked at me and I just raised my left eyebrow. Wala pang ilang minuto ay may pumasok na na trabahador na nag-provide ng panibagong swivel chair.

"Now... Dito na 'ko." He cutely smiled at me with his eyes going crescent before kissing my cheeks. Pinagmulahan na naman ako ng pisngi dahil sa ginawa niya.

He's cute when he turns childish and clingy but he's ruthless in terms of management and when he's... jealous. Siya pa 'ata ang mas madalas 'toyoin' sa'ming dalawa. Kahit dati pa.

Nagpatuloy ako sa pagtatrabaho at si Val naman ay nasa tabi ko lang. Sometimes he will guide me while doing a business plan. Pero minsan ay kinukulit niya lang ako. Nagtatanong siya ng kung ano-ano kaya 'di ako makapag-trabaho ng maayos.

"Val, mas okay siguro kung dun ka na lang muna. Find something wherein you can be busy. I'm working kasi eh." Para akong nanay na pinapagalitan ang anak dahil sa sobrang kulit. He pouted before going to the couch.

Nakita ko siyang padabog na umupo at sinandal ang ulo sa headrest na mababa para sa kanya. Ang tangkad niya kasi. Naka-dekwatro pa ang mga paa niya kaya napangiti na lang ako.

It took me another hour to finish a project and I stretched my arms to relax. I was about to yawn when I almost got choked in my own saliva because I caught Valentine staring intently at me!

"Bakit?" I asked. "Tapos ka na?" Umiling ako at tumango siya bago lumapit na naman sa'kin. Napakakulit talaga nito. Umupo siya sa swivel chair at dahil pagod na 'ko kakatrabaho, hinarap ko na lang muna siya.

"What were you doing while you were in the US?" he suddenly asked. Kumunot naman ang noo ko.

"Uhm... study? Wala naman ako halos ginagawa ro'n."

"You don't drink?" Umiling ako. 

"Minsan lang siguro. Kaunti lang naman ang mga naging kaibigan ko ro'n." Naging pala inom na lang ulit ako nang pumunta ro'n sina Shreya at Skyler.

Tumahimik siya kaya siya naman ang tinanong ko. "Ikaw... Anong ginawa mo habang wala ako?" Wala pang isang segundo ay sumagot na agad siya.

"Flirting." Tumawa siya kaya nilingon ko siya nang may masamang tingin. I hit him hard and he just shielded his hand on his face.

"Just joking. I don't have time for that. Mas marami akong inaasikaso sa kompanya namin." He sighed so I stopped hitting him. I suddenly remembered that while I'm just studying in States... he's suffering on reviving their company.

Biglang nagbago ang mood at parang naging gloomy ang buong office. Naging seryoso na ulit siya.

"Pa'no ka... nakapagtapos? How did you live through it?" Binaba ko muna ang laptop ko at hinarap ang upuan sa kanya. He looked at me with his dark brown eyes that I have always admired.

"Tinulungan ako nila Mac. His parents offered help in rebuilding our company. Tapos sila Bri naman... they lend me money so that I can continue going to college. Muntik na kasi kaming ma-bankrupt no'n. I immediately paid them when our company is functioning again." He even laughed like it was nothing to worry about but I got sad with his story so I stood up.

"Why?" he asked. Dire-diretso akong umupo sa kandungan niya at pinalupot ang mga braso ko sa leeg niya para mayakap siya.

"What are you doing..." he whispered but I hugged him tighter. I felt him hugged me back too so I buried my face on his neck. "Hey... Don't be sad. Apat na taon na ang lumipas, Elara." He chuckled but I embraced him more.

"And I'm not there to support you..." nalulungkot kong sabi sabay hiwalay sa yakap para makita siya. I saw how his eyes were full of love and contentment on our current relationship.

"Wala rin naman ako... noong mag-isa kang namuhay sa US. I'm not there when you're fighting for your life... dahil sa katarantaduhan ko. I'm sorry. I love you." He kissed me on the cheek and hugged me again.

Matagal naman na 'yun pero naisip ko lang na buti na rin ay naghiwalay kami no'n. Well, not officially. Pero at least, we were given time to succeed on our own and rethink about our life decisions. Inaamin ko na kahit umulit ako ng third year, masaya pa rin ako sa kung nasaan ako ngayon.

"Siguro tadhana na lang din 'yung nagpahiwalay sa'tin." I pouted by the thought while still sitting on his lap. Balak ko na sanang umalis pero ayaw niya at nakayakap pa rin siya sa bewang ko.

"No. That's the worst. Mas dumagdag pa sa problema ko 'yung wala ka sa tabi ko no'n. I didn't thank that fucking destiny for it." Umiwas siya ng tingin. I saw how his jaw clenched so I just laughed.

"Kumusta naman kayo ni Dhara no'n? Pa'no nawala 'yung engagement niyo?" He looked at me with furrowed eyebrows like I'm saying something absurd.

"Are you really sure that you want to talk about Dhara? Baka awayin mo na naman ako dahil nagseselos ka." He smirked and I just smacked him on the arm. "Bilis na. I'm curious."

"'Wag na. Next time na lang. I don't want to think about negative things now. I just wanted to be with you." He kissed my forehead, then the tip of my nose, then my lips. I kissed him back and we ended up making out inside my office.

Hinihingal akong napabitaw sa halik at pinalupot na lang ang braso sa leeg niya.

"I still need to work. Wala ka bang trabaho?" I asked him because it was so strange that he's the CEO but he's straying like a dog in our company.

"I could even take a leave of absence for a year. Sa buong apat na taon ay puro pagtatrabaho lang ang inintindi ko, Elara. In that form, I will avoid missing you."

"And... did you succeed? Of not missing me?" nang-aasar kong tanong pero napamura na lang siya. "Scrap that shit. I really missed you." He kissed me again. Napangiti na lang ako sa kanya.

"Kawawa ka naman, na-miss mo ako." I laughed and he pouted at me. "Why? Did you ever think about me while you're away? I bet you didn't..." He looked away like he's really sad so I laughed out loud.

"Valentine niyo, sad boy na!" I said like I'm announcing it to everybody but he just furrowed my eyebrows at me.

"What sad boy? I'm not a boy. I'm your man." He smirked before approaching for a kiss again. Iniwas ko ang mukha ko sabay tawa.

"Nakakarami ka na, ha. Magtatrabaho pa 'ko." I kissed him on the cheek before standing. I was about to stand from sitting on Val's laps when the office door opened and I was shocked when I saw Tita entering it!

"Hija, about the meeting—Oh my god!" Napaiwas siya ng tingin dahil sa posisyon namin ni Val kaya agad akong nahihiyang tumayo.

"Tita! What are you doing here! Hindi niyo po ba alam ang kumatok?" naiinis kong sabi at nakita kong umiiwas ng tingin si Val kasi natatawa siya sa nangyayari. Hinampas ko ang hita niya kaya umayos siya ng upo at pinanatiling maging seryoso kahit may bakas ng ngiti sa mga labi.

"Just what the hell, Hyacinth! Bakit kasi rito niyo pa naisipan magharutan! This is a workplace! Pa'no kung iba ang nakapasok—Oh my goodness!" Hinawakan niya ang sentido niya at para siyang matutumba.

I walked near her to support her from standing. "No... ayos na... Just... don't do that again inside the office, okay? Act formal! Maraming oras para mag-harutan!" Sinamaan ako ng tingin ni Tita kaya sumunod ako sa kanya palabas para sa meeting daw. May meeting nga pala. Nakalimutan ko na dahil kay Val.

"Call me," I mouthed to Val and just signaled a call sign before giving a flying kiss. He smirked at my reaction before pouting too.

I really love, Valentine.

Sumunod ako kay Tita at habang naglalakad kami ay bigla niya kong kinurot sa tagiliran. "Aw!" impit kong tili sabay sama sa kanya ng tingin. "Para sa'n 'yon?"

"You should keep your relationship lowkey. Saka piliin niyo naman 'yung lugar kung saan kayo naghaharutan! What if pagkapasok ko ay naghahalikan pala kayo? So eww! Be professional at work, hija!" She rolled her eyes at me so I just embraced her before giggling. Alam ko namang concerned lang si Tita. That's why I love her.

Pumasok na kami sa meeting at nagulat ako nang parang kami na lang ang hinihintay. There were a lot of businessmen and engineers inside the meeting room.

Tumayo ang iba at binati kami. Nang makaupo na si Tita sa kabisera ay umupo na lang din ako sa bakanteng upuan.

"Hya. Nagkabalikan na pala kayo ni Val, 'no?" bulong sa'kin ng katabi ko na si Niall. Napabuntong-hininga ako bago tumango.

I saw him also nod. Hindi kasi ako nakapag-explain sa kanya kanina. "I'm happy for you," he said with full sincerity that's why I glanced towards his direction. Alam kong matagal na kaming nakapag-usap tungkol dito at... 'yung kaninang umaga ay nag-sorry lang ako sa kanya dahil late na 'ko sa trabaho.

"Thank you..." I said with a small voice and gave him a small smile too. I saw sadness in his eyes but I disregarded it.

In this world, there are always two choices. It's either to live happily or suffer because of regrets. I've been suffering with regrets and I got tired of it. I wanted to live happily so I will choose the man who'll make me happy. Even though a lot of things had happened between us, he's still my source of strength and joy. And in him, I can always appreciate all the things in this world.

Natapos ang meeting at hindi na kami nagkausap pa ni Niall ulit. Ang awkward na rin kasi no'n kung mag-uusap pa kami. 

Just after one meeting, there's another one. Kaya tinapos ko pa ulit ang two-hour meeting bago bumalik sa office ko. Hindi pa 'ko nag-l-lunch.

I craned my neck left and right and massaged my shoulders. Pagkabukas ko ng office ay nakita kong bukas ang pinto ng bedroom at wala si Val. Is he sleeping?

Hindi nga ako nagkakamali. I saw him sleeping on my bed inside that bedroom so I removed my sandals to lie with him too. Napapagod ako at nagugutom na. Kanina pa kumakalam ang sikmura ko.

I hugged Valentine and we were in front of each other. I damped a light kiss on his lips and I heard him groan when I laid again on the bed. Nakita kong dinilat niya ang mga mata niyang mapupungay pa mula sa pagkatulog.

"Baby..." he whispered then hugged me. "Kumain ka na ba?" I asked him and he shook his head. "Bakit 'di ka pa kumakain? Alas-dos na oh!" I looked at my wristwatch.

"I was waiting for you..." Siniksik niya ang ulo niya sa leeg ko habang nakayakap pa rin sa'kin. "Kain na muna tayo... Nagugutom na 'ko..." I said and was about to stand when he pinned me to bed.

"Ako rin, Elara... nagugutom na." He smirked at me. 

Hinampas ko siya sa braso dahil talagang gutom na 'ko kaya tumatawa siyang hinalikan muna ako bago kami bumaba sa lobby para humanap ng restaurant sa labas.

Some people were staring and smiling at us while our hands are intertwined when we walked down the hallway. I was in all smiles but it immediately faded when I saw a familiar woman waiting patiently in the lobby.

"Anong ginagawa ni Dhara rito?" I asked Val and he just furrowed his eyebrows. I suddenly saw anger in his eyes and he was about to approach her when I stopped him. "Ako na." Huminga siya ng malalim bago tumango. Pinaghiwalay ko muna ang mga kamay namin.

I walked towards Dhara and she immediately glanced at my side like she knew that it was me. "Dhara..." I said with a serious tone. Naiirita na naman ako kahit sa pangalan niya palang.

"H-hya..." Nakita kong sumulyap siya sa likod ko at naramdaman kong humawak si Val sa bewang ko. "Nandito ka rin pala V-val..." Yumuko siya. "Can I talk... to Hyacinth...?"

Tinitigan ko muna siya at naramdaman ko ang marahang pagpisil ni Val sa bewang ko kaya nilingon ko siya. His eyes were asking of my opinion. Tumango ako. 

"Sure. Kahit dito na lang. Val, hintayin mo na lang ako sa labas." I kissed him on the cheek but he pulled me towards him and kissed me on the lips. Nakita kong napaiwas ng tingin si Dhara kaya nang matapos ang halik ay nagpaalam na si Val.

"Be safe, Elara," he said like I'll be in danger when I'll be left alone with Dhara. Hindi ko naman hahayaang mangyari 'yun.

"So... anong pag-uusapan natin?" panimula ko nang makaupo na 'ko sa couch.

"First of all, I'm s-sorry... For everything..." Yumuko siya. "I'm sorry for... ruining your relationship... I... I meant everything that I had done but now... I'm regretful. I'm sorry, Hyacinth..." Mas yumuko siya kaya napakunot ang noo ko. Pinagsalita ko muna siya.

"You were... once my friend. Alam kong tinuring mo 'kong kaibigan that time but... I failed you... Sorry for not telling you that I'm the Dhara you once knew when we were kids..."

"Ako rin ang... nagpapadala ng texts sa'yo no'n. Para takutin ka... I'm really sorry. That time, I wanted Val. I really loved him—" I cut her off.

"Enough. Pinapatawad na kita," malamig kong sabi at nakita ko siyang nag-angat ng tingin. "W-why... Bakit ang bilis mo 'kong p-patawarin...?" I saw a glimpse of tears at the corner of her eyes. I sighed.

"Ano pa bang magagawa ko? Tapos na 'yun. The only thing that you can do now was to stay away from us and live happily somewhere else. Don't ruin another's relationship again. And... settle for a man that will love you back. You were once my friend, and I'm telling you this as... an ex-friend." Umiwas ako ng tingin.

"Si Val ang may kasalanan na naging kami habang engaged kayo. I'm sorry for that. I didn't know. Pero napatawad na kita sa lahat ng kagagahan mo. Matagal na. Maybe there's still some anger in my heart, but after your 'sorry', it's okay now. Just... don't face me again. Goodbye," sabi ko sabay tayo na. Ayo'ko nang makausap pa ulit siya.

I saw Valentine waiting outside the office in his car. I just looked tough but deep inside I was trembling. My legs were shaking while I am walking. I was about to go out when I heard Dhara called me. "Hya!" Lumingon ako sa gawi niya. I saw her crying relentlessly.

"T-thank you..." she said like a whisper and I just nodded with a poker face before going to Val. Naramdaman ko na lang ang panghihina ko nang makapasok na 'ko sa loob ng kotse.

Napayuko ako at kusa na lang tumulo ang mga luha ko. "Hey..." Val called me. He held my shoulders. Para mapatahan ako sa pag-iyak. Hindi ko rin alam ang mararamdaman ko ngayon.

Did I just really forgive her? For all of what she's done?

"Tapos na... Val..." I looked at him and smiled with tears flowing down my cheeks. "I... forgave her already... wala nang hahadlang sa'tin..."

My heart felt light by that confession. Parang tuluyan nang nawala lahat ng bigat sa puso ko. Lahat ng pagdududa at masamang nakaraan. Parang naglaho lahat bigla. Hinihintay ko na lang 'to eh. And I am thankful that this will be the end of it.

I felt Valentine hugged me so I hugged him back. "Hush... Stop crying now, Elara. It hurts me seeing you cry..." Tumango ako habang nagkayakap pa rin kami. I heard him whisper.

"I'm proud of you, baby. I can't wait to marry you."

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#ACM43

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