"No."

I saw him lick his lower lip, nodding a little. Muli akong bumaling sa daan, umaasang makakakita ng sasakyan. Maybe I can just call someone to get my car?

Hindi pa rin siya umaalis do'n kahit na sinabi ko nang hindi ko kailangan ng tulong. I went inside my car, retrying to operate but it just won't work! Lahat na ata ng kamalasan, nasalo ko na.

"M-Maybe I can help you...in any ways." Hindi ko siya pinansin. Wala akong panahon para sa kanya. All I want now is to leave this place and him!

"I can handle this. Alone." Bitterness is visible in my tone. Nakita ko namang sandali siyang natigilan. I cleared my throat. "I still have more important things to do, so, if you wouldn't mind, can I have my way?" I told him because he's blocking my car's door.

He raised his hand, looking like he surrender. I smirk inside. Muli akong lumabas ng sasakyan and thankfully, may nakuha akong taxi. I told him that I have some groceries with me. Nagpadagdag pa ng bayad. Kung may choice lang ako, hindi ako sasakay dito.

"I-I can get your car, where's your pl---,"

"No need. I have my friend, I'll just tell them to get that for me." Hindi ko na hinintay na sumagot siya. I texted Colby, one of friends I made here in this country.

Upon staying here, I gradually adopted some of their cultures. Slowly, I learned the way they live. Pati ang paraan ng pagsasalita nila, unti-unti ko na ding naa-adopt.

Hindi katulad sa Pilipinas, mas organisado ang bansang ito. From highways, transportation, and people. Everything seems so clean, and yeah, it refreshes my entire system.

But something caught my thought.

Dillion is also here in Singapore, which is not impossible for this is his hometown. I thought he had no plans on getting back here? I even remembered him saying that Singapore is boring and dull, once.

Until now, I can still feel my body trembling. Cold enveloped my body as sweats started to form bullets on my forehead.

It's been years since the last time I saw him. And I already forgot him. Not totally but a part of me never look for his presence anymore. Unlike the previous months.

I heave a sigh before looking outside. Ano ba kasing ginagawa niya dito? And the nerve of him to talk to me after what he'd done.

I scoffed before checking my phone when it beeped.

From: Colby
wutt time u need it? i still have meetings to attend ;)

Napabuntong hininga ako kasi hindi ako sure kung hanggang kailan pwedeng magpark ang sasakyan ko do'n. I pursed my lips before typing my reply.

To: Colby
No need. I'll have someone to get that, I guess. Thanks.

From: Colby
wer r u? i'll call kendric to fetch u if u can't drive

Kendric and him are both my friends, but Kendric and I aren't that close so I am not able to send him a message. I smiled because Colby's being so worried again.

To: Colby
It's okay if he's busy, too. I understand.

From: Colby
busy his ass ರ_ರ

Mahina lang akong tumawa saka tinago ang cellphone. Sana naman hindi busy si Kendric kasi kung oo, wala na akong ibang choice kundi ibaba 'tong pinamili ko sa unit at balikan ang kotse ko do'n.

Paminsan-minsan ay pinagmamasdan ko ang mga punong nakatayo lang kahit saan. Ilang beses ko na 'tong nakikita pero gan'on pa din 'yung pakiramdam. It's comforting, and for some reason, it made me smile. I will never get tired of the scenery.

Nang makarating sa tinutuluyan ko, nagbayad na lang ako sa driver. He even helped me with my belongings, so, I thanked him.

Binuhat ko ang dalawang plastic papasok. The guard nods his head at me, so do I. Nasa taas pa ang floor ko, hindi naman mahirap bitbitin 'tong mga 'to kaya okay na.

"Shit, ang bigat niyo pala."

I was panting heavily when I reach my unit. I wiped the sweat on my forehead before getting my keys. Agad ko itong binuksan at pumasok. I also turned on the lights because the room is dark.

Dumiretso ako sa kusina kasama ang mga pinamili ko at basta na lang itong inilapag sa mesa. Uminom lang ako ng tubig saka bumalik sa sala para magpahinga.

From: Kendric
i'm already here, wheres ur car?

Kumunot ang noo ko dahil sa text niya. Ang bilis naman?

Anyways, I still typed my reply. Sumandal ako sa sandalan para ipahinga ang sarili.

Simula no'ng umalis ako sa Pilipinas, pinutol ko na lahat ng koneks'yon ko sa kaniya at pamilya ko. Though, Cleo's still sending me messages about my sister. She's doing fine now, at sana naman ay magtuloy-tuloy.

Noong unang araw ko sa bansang ito, nahirapan akong makisalamuha. I stayed on my sister's condo because I can't find any. Good thing that her boyfriend let me.

Nahirapan din akong maghanap ng trabaho kahit na may natapos ako. I thought, kapag may degree ka, it will be easier for you to find job, but I guess wrong. You need to wait, and try another.

It was really tiring. There are times that I just wanted to surrender everything and go back to Philippines. But I always remind myself that this is my dream so I have to be patient.

My forehead creased when I heard my phone rang. Irita ko itong kinuha ngunit agad nawala nang makitang si Kendric pala ang tumatawag.

"Why?"

"Could you please tell this man that you summoned me to get your car?" Based on his voice, he sounded so pissed. "Come, talk to him. Talk to the owner. Son of a bitch."

"What's happening?" Mas lalo pang nangunot ang noo ko dahil sa sinabi niya. "Hello?"

"See? He's the owner of that car. He told me to get that for him."

Sino ba kausap nito? And why is he so pissed?

"I-I'm sorry. I thought you're planning to g-get that. Sorry, my mistake." I raised my brow when I heard a familiar voice. Siya pala 'yung nangingialam? I smiled sarcastically. "There, you can have it. I'm sorry again."

"Psh." Nadinig ko ang pagsarado ng pinto tanda na pumasok siya. Nadinig ko din ang pagpapa-andar niya ng makina. "It's fine, Callan. There's no problem."

"What? Are you sure?" How come?

"Yeah. Whatever, I'll drop it off there. Bye." Hindi niya na hinintay ang sagot ko at agad ibinababa ang tawag. I shrugged my shoulders.

Tanginang kotse 'yun. Nung ako ang gumagamit, may deperensiya, tapos nung siya na, maayos naman. Pinaggastos lang ako ng pamasahe.

Tumayo ako at pumunta sa kuwarto ko para maglinis ng katawan. This should be my rest day pero mukhang hindi ata ako makakapahinga dahil sa pagkikita namin ni Dillion.

With just one interaction, my day ruined.

Gan'on kalakas ang epekto ni Dillion sa'kin, na kahit wala na siya sa harap ko, ramdam ko pa din 'yung inis. I really have to lessen my stress, and I'll start it with dismissing him in my mind.

Tapos na akong maligo nang makatanggap ng tawag mula kay Kendric. Nasa baba na daw siya.

"Uh, thanks." The only word that came from my mouth. Nadinig ko naman ang mahinang pagtawa nito.

"Open your door. I'm outside." Nanlaki ang mata ko nang makarinig ng katok. Dali-dali akong nagsuot ng damit saka pumunta sa sala.

"What are you doing here?" I left the door open so he knows that he can go inside. Narinig ko ang pagsara ng pinto. Hindi ako lumingon pabalik pero alam kong ibinagsak niya ang sarili sa sofa. "Aren't you busy? Or don't you have something to do?"

"Let me stay here for a while. Consider it as your payment for disturbing me." I can even hear him smirking. Napailing na lang ako at pumunta sa kusina para kumuha ng maiinom. "And about that guy who's guarding your car, do you know him?"

I stopped with his sudden question. Napatingin ako sa malayo at iniisip kung anong dapat sabihin. In the end, I just heave a sigh before pouring the glass with water.

"I don't know." Yes, Callan, deny your ass.

"I thought you knew each other." Mahina lang akong natawa sa sinabi niya.

I thought so.

The next day, I go to the company because I have to work. I didn't expect to see workers just beside our building.

"Anong meron d'yan?" I approached the lady. She's a Filipina so I can talk to her in our language. Nagsulat ako sa logbook saka sinandal ang braso sa lamesa.

"Ewan ko. May ipapa-ayos ata sila, o baka ir-renovate 'yung building na 'yan," she said while shrugging her shoulder. Tumango lang ako saka nagpatuloy na sa pagpasok.

Pagpasok ko sa elevator, yumuko lang ako katulad ng ginagawa ko dati. Hindi ko na lang pinagtuunan ng pansin 'yung pinag-uusapan nila. Hindi ko rin naman maintindihan since ibang language ang ginagamit. Hindi ko pa kasi gamay ang main language ng mga Singaporean.

"Good morning, Cal!" Ngumiti lang ako nang batiin ako ni Cybelle. Mukhang may pupuntahan siya dahil nagmamadali siya habang may hawak pang paper cup sa kamay, malamang ay kape. "Pinapatawag ako ng head. Pasuyo naman 'yung table ko, baka may gumalaw."

"Sure," sabi ko saka pumasok na. I immediately look for my cubicle.

Malinis ang table ko dahil pinapanatili ko talagang malinis 'yun. I opened the computer and checked the files I found on it. Napahilot ako ng sintido nang makitang madami na naman akong tatrabahuhin. Mukhang hindi pa naman siya kailangan ipasa mamaya sa head, so nakahinga ako nang maluwag.

"Coffee?" Hindi ko na kailangang lumingon kung sino ang nagsalita. I didn't took off my eyes on the screen when I gestured him to put the coffee on the table.

"Thanks." Nagpatuloy na lang ulit ako sa aking trabaho pagkatapos no'n. Nanatili naman si Fragid sa likuran ko kaya hindi mapigilan ng noo ko na kumunot. "Anything else you want to say?"

"None." He chuckled lowly before walking out of my sight. I just rolled my eyes before shrugging everything. Since day one, he's always weird. Crazy.

Hindi ko na namalayan ang pagdaan ng oras, masyado akong naka-focus sa ginagawa ko. Hindi naman sa nagmamadali ako, pero mas gusto ko kasing matapos na para mas marami akong oras magpahinga.

Napatingin ako sa orasan nang makitang nagsisimula nang magsitayuan ang mga kasamahan ko. A smile drawn on my face when I noticed that it's already lunch time. Finally!

Nag-inat muna ako ng mga braso dahil sa pangangalay saka sinimulang ligpitin ang mga gamit ko. I left my computer on because I am having a hard time opening it.

Nang masigurado na maayos na ang lahat, kinuha ko na ang mahahalagang gamit ko at lumabas na ng office. May ilang nakisabay sa'kin maglakad. Nag-uusap sila pero hindi ko mapagtuunan ng pansin kasi wala ako sa wisyo para makipag-usap. Good thing, they didn't ask me things.

"One chicken rice, miss..."

Napatingin ako sa lalaking nasa gilid ko dahil sabay kaming nagsalita. He looked at me too and I didn't know that heaven was this playful. Why does it have to be him?

Umiwas na lang ako ng tingin at hinintay na dumating ang binili ko. From my peripheral vision, I saw him taking glimpse on me and I can't help but to frown. Hindi na lang ako nagsalita at pinabayaan siya.

"Thanks." I told the lady. Umalis ako para sana maghanap ng mauupuan. Hindi naman ako nahirapan dahil may iisa pang lamesa na available.

Nakangiti kong nilapag ang pagkain ko. Mabuti na lang at malapit ito sa salamin kaya kitang-kita ko ang mga dumadaan na tao. I was about to start eating when someone stand at my front, making me looked up to him. Gusto ko na lang umalis nang makitang si Dillion ito.

Ano na naman ngayon?

He's scratching his head, as if he was embarrassed of something. Kitang-kita ko din kung paano bahagyang umuga ang hawak niya dahil sa panginginig.

I smiled sarcastically. Parang ewan lang. Again, I ignored him. I pretended that he's not in front of me, with his embarrassed ass.

"Uh, can I share?" he asked.