Nakaupo ako sa gilid ng swimming pool at nagbabasa ng magazine ng lumapit si Yaya Lita.

May naghahanap daw sa akin.

"Sino daw po?" Nagtatakang tanong ko.

Wala naman akong inaasahang bisita.

"Serena daw po."

Biglang tumaas ang presyon ko ng marinig ang pangalan niya.

Dalawang linggo na mula ng umalis ako sa RITC.

Ano naman kaya ang kailangan niya sa akin?

"Sige, Yaya. Papasukin niyo po siya."

Nilapag ko ang magazine sa pool chair at sinundan si Yaya papasok sa sala.

Pagpasok ni Serena, nanibago ako sa itsura niya.

Miyerkules at work day pero hindi siya nakabusiness suit.

Puting button-up shirt na three-fourths ang pagkakatupi ng sleeves, itim na track suit at white sneakers ang suot.

Mukha siyang pupunta sa gym at hindi sa opisina.

Sa mukha niya, halatang hindi din siya mapagkatulog dahil maitim ang mga eyebags at kita ang fine lines sa gilid ng mga mata.

"Thank you for seeing me."

Tumango ako at tinuro ang armchair.

"Bakit ka nandito?" Hindi ko na siya boss. Pwede ko na siyang tarayan.

Huminga muna siya ng malalim.

"I came here to apologize."

Natawa ako bigla.

"What's funny?"

"Tuwing pumupunta ka dito, Serena, lagi ka na lang naga-apologize."

Tumawa din siya.

"I was so mad that day but when I realize what I said to you, I felt stupid."

"Buti at inamin mo."

"You risked your life for me but I was only able to focus on what my mother did and how angry I was. I'm an idiot, Maria, and I'm sorry."

"Na idiot ka? Dapag lang na maging sorry ka. Walang gamot sa ganyan."

Umiling lang siya. Natatawa sa pagiging pilosopo ko.

"I don't know why I'm even shocked that my mother paid you. She would do everything to manipulate people into submitting into what she wants."

"Do you want to know the reason why I agreed to take over the company?"

"Ikuwento mo na lang."

"She threatened to cut me out of her will if I don't say no. When my father was still alive, she coerced him to specifically add to his will that I will only get my inheritance if I agree to manage the company."

"Kaya napilitan ka dahil ayaw mong mawalan ng mana."

"Yes. For a long time, iyan ang reason kung bakit ako pumayag. Hindi ko alam ang gagawin kung wala akong pera, Maria. I grew up in luxury. I wasn't in need of anything. Bago ko pa man hingin ang isang bagay, my father seemed to have a sixth sense. Or maybe he just paid attention to what I was saying. For my fourteenth birthday, he gave me a brand new red Corvette Stingray because I showed an interest in it. I don't even had a license then but he didn't care."

Napailing na lang ako dahil naalala ko si Kyle.

Ang mga mayayaman talaga, parang inuulan lang ng biyaya.

Samantalang kapag mahirap ka, inuulan ka din....ng problema.

"I thought, I could handle working for my mother's company. At sinubukan ko. God knows how hard I worked at aaminin ko na I was able to find joy in the little things. The good employees, the perks of bonuses and travel, the profit share. But when I got involved with Marcus, I lost my balance. Sabihin mo ng ang tanga ko dahil pumatol ako sa may-asawa but during the early stages of our relationship, I felt whole. Valued. Validated. But it was all an illusion. He was no different from my mother. He only cared about himself and his possessions. I was an object to him. When I finally came to my senses, it was too late."

Hinawakan ni Serena ang sintido.

"Bakit mo sinasabi sa akin ang mga bagay na 'to?"

"When you risk your life for me, it opened my eyes to the truth."

"What truth?"

"That someone actually cares for me."

Kumunot ang noo ko.

"Ikaw iyon, Maria. You risked your life for someone you barely know. When you told me that my mom gave you money, I was so angry because I thought the only reason you ran to my side was because you were paid. But when I finally calm down, when I had the chance to think things through, it occurred to me that no amount of money was worth your life." Tiningnan niya ako ng diretso.

"I'm sorry it took weeks for me to come here. I had to make sure that the company will be okay before I leave."

"Anong sabi mo?"

"I turned in my walking papers. But before I go, I had to talk to everyone involved. I had to talk to my mother."

"Pero paano ang mana mo?"

"I don't care. I'm smart, I'm strong, I'm able, I'm not afraid to get my hands dirty and I can work."

"Sigurado ka ba diyan? Kanina lang eh sinabi mo na hindi mo alam kung ano ang gagawin mo kung mawalan ka ng pera."

"That was before."

"Serena, pinag-isipan mo bang mabuti ang naging desisyon mo?"

"Oo naman."

"May idea ka ba kung gaano kahirap ang maging mahirap?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Naranasan mo na ba ang hindi makatulog dahil hindi mo alam kung kasya ba ang sahod mo para sa pambayad sa upa, sa kuryente, pagkain at tuition?"

"No. What exactly is your point?"

"Hindi madali ang gagawin mo."

"I know that. But do you know why I'm still doing it despite the fact that I will lose millions and was disowned by my mother for being stubborn?"

"No."

"Because I want to be free, Maria."

"Laging may kapalit ang freedom, Serena."

"Alam ko. Pero kaya kong panindigan ang decision ko. With Marcus behind bars and me liberated from my obligations with RITC, I can finally pursue what I want."

"Ano bang gusto mo?"

"I want to go back to school. I want to teach."

"Teach?"

"Yes." Kita ang excitement sa mga mata niya.

"I'm too old to be a basketball player. I learned that when I played with Henry and his friends. My body hurts like a mother the day after. But teaching is another thing I liked. Besides, I'm never too old to learn new things."

"Mukha ngang masaya ka sa balak mong gawin."

"I am."

Saglit kaming natahimik.

Nang magsalita siya ulit, seryoso na naman siya.

"Am I forgiven?"

"Oo naman. Ang akala ko nga, hindi na tayo magkikita ulit."

"Bakit mo naman nasabi iyan?"

"Kasi hindi kita nakita noong last day ko. Gusto ko sanang magpaalam pero nasa meeting ka."

"I was sad when I saw your empty desk. It hit me na wala ka na talaga."

Bago siya umalis, niyaya ko muna siyang kumain.

Hindi pa naman ako nanananghalian dahil wala akong gana.

Tinulungan niya akong maghanda ng lamesa.

Nag-usap kami habang kumakain ng pritong tilapia, nilagang talong na binabad sa suka at ginisang sayote.

Aalis pala siya papuntang California.

Doon niya balak mag-aral.

May bahay ang daddy niya na iniwan kay Serena.

Bago ito pumanaw, binago niya ang will lingid sa kaalaman ng mommy niya.

"Money isn't everything, Maria."

"Sabi ng taong may pera."

Nagtawanan na lang kaming dalawa.

Hinatid ko siya sa gate.

Nagpasalamat siya sa lahat ng tulong na ginawa ko sa kanya.

"Is it okay if we keep in touch?"

"Oo naman."

Yumakap siya sa akin bago umalis.

Pagpasok ko sa bahay, agad kong hinanap ang phone ko.

Isang ring pa lang, sinagot na ni Kyle.

"Is everything okay?" Halata ang concern sa boses niya.

"Oo naman."

"Do you need anything?"

"Book mo ako ng appointment with your psychiatrist."