"I got to go first. Late na rin, baka kailangan mo ng magpahinga."

Ilang oras din siyang nanatili sa apartment ko bago niya naisipang umuwi na. I think, it's already ten in the evening? Nakatingin lang kami sa isa't isa. Mukhang hinihintay niya na magsalita ako.

"Ingat." Maikling sagot ko. Tumango lang siya saka naglakad paalis. I even watch him entered the elevator.

Nang tuluyan na siyang mawala sa paningin ko, sinarado ko ang pinto at bumuga ng hangin. Hindi na din naman ako nagtagal do'n at agad na pumasok sa loob ng kuwarto nang makaramdam ng antok. May trabaho pa ako bukas, ayoko namang magpuyat.

Kinabukasan, maaga akong umalis ng apartment ko. Kailangan ko na naman kasing mag-abang ng masasakyan. Kapag hindi ko inagahan, baka ma-late ako ng dating sa trabaho ko. Ayokong magisa na naman.

Last time kasi na nalate ako, nang-warshock head namin. Buti na lang nando'n si Fragid kaya medyo nakaligtas ako sa kaniya. After that event, I promised to myself that I will never be late again. Kaya nga bumili ako ng bagong sasakyan. Kaso, nasira kaagad.

Maybe I should consider Dillion's offer?

He said he knows someone who sells car. Okay lang kahit secondhand, basta ba maayos at magagamit pa. Hindi katulad nung bulok ko na sasakyan.

"You need a ride?"

I was shocked when I saw Colby on the parking lot. Natawa pa siya nang mahina nang makita ang gulat na mukha ko. Bumaba siya ng sasakyan at inakbayan ako.

"I am going to the same building where you are working, so I thought of giving you a free ride." Tinanggal niya ang pagkaka-akbay sa'kin at binulsa ang kamay. "Come on, time is running."

Tumango na lang ako at sumakay sa shotgun seat. Sumunod naman agad siya, saka pinaandar ang sasakyan. Tahimik lang ako buong biyahe, habang siya naman ay sinasabayan ang tugtog sa stereo ng sasakyan.

Minsan, may tinatanong siya sa'kin pero tango lang ang sinasagot ko, o kaya iling. Hanggang sa makarating kami sa building, dinadaldal niya pa din ako.

Magkasabay kami sa elevator at doon lang siya tumahimik dahil may mga kasama kami. Bahagya na lang ulit akong yumuko para hindi nila ako pansinin.

"I'm already in my destination. See you when I see you, Callan!" Colby said. I only nod at him, then he already left the elevator. Ako naman ay hinintay ulit na makarating sa palapag kung nasaan ang office namin.

"Good morning, Cal! Coffee?" Cybelle offered me a cup of coffee. Hindi pa ako nakaka-upo pero mukhang may bitbit na naman siyang kuwento. Typical her.

"Thanks." I get the cup and sat on my seat. Bahagya kong inayos ang ibang papel na nagkalat sa table ko. "Good morning, too."

'Yun lang ang sinabi ko at binuksan na ang computer. She remained on my side, and I can sense her stares. I can't help but to look back. I raised a brow, urging her to talk.

"Wala. Dito na ako. Have a good day! Sabihin mo lang kapag may kailangan ka." She winked at me and walked away.

From: 09580871458
doon ka ulit kakain?

My brows furrowed when I received a text message from someone. I was about to ignore it, baka nagkamali lang ng nasend-an pero muli itong nag-text.

From: 09580871458
it's Dillion, i'm sorry i forgot to include

Unconsciously, my brow raised. Nagdalawang isip pa ako kung re-reply-an ba siya pero nang makita ang head na papunta sa direksiyon ko, agad kong naitago ang aking cellphone.

She's walking with no expression on her face. Dinig na dinig ang pagtunog ng yapak niya sa buong tahimik na silid. Halatang-halata sa mukha ng mga kasamahan ko ang pagtataka at pagkabalisa.

Bahagya lang akong yumuko nang mapadaan siya sa'kin, at napabuntong-hininga nang lumampas siya. She looks pissed or disappointed about something out of my concern.

Nakita kong huminto siya sa isa sa mga workmates ko na nakapuwesto sa pinakadulong cubicle. May sinasabi siya dito pero hindi ko mapakinggan nang maayos. The girl seems so scared, and her trembling appearance is an evidence.

"Back to work!"

Parang mga tangang nagsi-sunuran ang mga tao na nasa loob na 'yun at kaniya-kaniyang humarap sa trabaho. From my peripheral vision, I saw the girl followed the head. Her hand is at her back and her head is facing down.

Hindi ko na lang inusisa ang posibleng mangyari sa kaniya. Hindi kasama sa resume ko ang talent sa pangingialam ng ibang tao.

Naririnig ko pa rin ang bulungan ng iba pero sarili nilang language ang ginagamit nila kaya wala akong maintindihan. 'Yung iba kasi ay slang pa kaya hindi ko gamay.

I focused on my work again. Mas marami atang papers ang nakapatong sa table ko ngayon. Usually, it wasn't this thick. I guess, I had to do it faster this time, so I can go home early.

Ilang sandali lang ay nakita ko ang babaeng lumabas ng office. She looks so down while walking towards her table. Our co-workers are staring at her with both sympathy and confusion, but they knew they could do nothing. Whatever she'd done, it's her choice, and it's the company's right to decide for her job. It's out of our concern.

Napaiwas ako ng tingin nang makitang unti-unti niyang ilagay ang mga gamit niya sa isang box. I gulped the lump on my throat. Wala pa ata siyang nakaka-kalahating taon sa kompanya pero napatalsik na siya. Pity her.

My morning ended normally. Napag-alaman ko din na kaya pala siya napatalsik kasi ang sabi, espiya daw siya mula sa kabilang kompanya. She used to steal documents, and send it to the other company. I am not sure if those were true, though.

"Oh?"

"Oh, lang, Callan? Grabe, na-miss kita, 'te!"

Habang nasa labas ng building, biglang tumawag si Kyla. It's been month since the last time she called, and I can say that somehow, I missed her noisiness. She's in Korea now, handling her own business. Hindi man niya natupad ang pangarap niya na makapag-tapos as Comm student, at least she fulfilled her dream to lived in Korea.

"Where's Carleen? Aren't you with her?" Pinatong ko ang palad ko sa uluhan ko dahil nasisilaw ako sa init. "How are you there, anyways?"

"Nothing changed, maganda pa din, tapos wala ding bebe, hehe," I chuckled lowly with what she said. This girl, really. "Kidding! Okay lang. Nakapag-adjust na din naman ako. Soon, tuturuan kita mag-Korean, basta turuan mo 'ko ng ano, 'yung language din d'yan."

Madaming language ang Singapore, alin ba do'n ang gusto niya? "Hmm, if I had some spare time, I will." I told her, earning a yell from her. Mahina na lang akong natawa. "Tell Carleen to have long patience for you."

"Kapal mo!" I, again, chuckled.

"Gonna drop the call. I have to eat."

"K payn, whatever. Who ba me para i-talk---!" I didn't let her finish and just ended the call.

From: Kyla
pukingina k. d k pa mabulunan hbang qmakain jok onle. eatwel Callerky

"Did you eat already?"

Napaangat ang tingin ko sa nagsalita. I was startled for a moment to see Kendric in front of me. He's wearing a red t-shirt and a gray pants. May salamin pa siya na nakasabit sa collar. Hindi ko nga alam kung bakit siya nandito.

"I was about to." I answered shortly, keeping my phone to my pocket. I saw him followed it, but immediately glance back at me. "Why are you here, anyways? As far as I know, you're not working near here."

"Are you free? I want to eat outside." Sumingkit pa ang mata niya nang ilibot ang paningin sa paligid. "Just quick."

"You should at least texted me." I saw him smiled a little when I walked towards his car. "20 minutes. That's the only time I have."

"Literal quick," he chuckled.

Stores and restaurants are abundant in this country. Like, everywhere, you can see stores so it wouldn't be that hard for you to look for a place to eat, or treat yourself. That's what made me love this country. Bonus na lang siguro na masarap ang ibang mga dish na ino-offer nila.

Since nagmamadali ako, hindi na siya nag-insist ng mamahaling kainan. Ilang minuto lang tuloy ay nakarating na kami. Pero mukhang hindi ata talaga siya sanay sa mga cheap na lugar dahil bigatin din ang hinintuan niya. Buti na lang may pera ako.

"Order what you want. My treat." I raised my brow with what he said. "Just think that this is my peace offering for bothering you."

Hindi na ako umalma. Sinabi ko na lang sa waiter ang order ko at hinintay na dumating. I checked my phone and I almost slap my face when I noticed that I am not able to reply with Dillion's message.

To: 09580871458
Sorry, I'm with my friend.

'Yun lang ang laman ng message ko. Enough na para malaman niyang hindi ako doon kakain. Ilang sandali lang ay muli itong nag-reply.

From: 09580871458
aww, oky! enjoy :)

Hindi na ako nakapag-reply ulit dahil mabilis lang na hinatid ang in-order ko. Madali lang naman kasi talagang dish ang kinuha ko para hindi masayang ang oras. Kendric and I ordered the same food.

Nagsimula na akong kumain. Him, on the other side, was just looking at me while his arms are crossed on his chest. I just ignored him. I don't have time for to acknowledge anything from him now.

"Easy, Callan. Your food won't run," he chuckled before starting to eat his food too.

Tahimik naming inubos ang mga 'yun. Kinailangan ko na ring bumalik kaagad kaya hinatid niya na ako. I thanked him when I reached the building. Tumango lang siya saka umalis.

I was about to step inside when someone caught my attention. It's Dillion. May hard cap pa siya. He's eyeing me from afar, and when he noticed that I saw him, he waved his hand. A small smile flashed on my face when I looked away. Hindi na ako naka-kaway pabalik, at agad na pumasok.

Medyo na-late lang ulit akong makauwi ng hapon na 'yun dahil nga madaming trabaho, pero mabuti na lang at hindi ako gan'on ka-late. Lubog na ang araw nang lumabas ako.

I don't know how but I am not shock to see him there again. Mukhang sinadya niyang maghintay sa parking lot. Naka-upo siya sa uluhan na parte ng sasakyan at nakatingin sa malayo. Saglit lang akong tumingin sa kaniya pero iniwas ko din kaagad. He looks lonely.

"Are you waiting for someone?" I can't help myself and ask him. Mukha namang natauhan siya sa kaniyang pagkakatulala at tumingin sa'kin.

"Ah..." He chuckled awkwardly. Umalis siya sa pagkakaupo sa uluhan ng sasakyan at bahagyang kumamot ng ulo. "I was actually, uh...waiting for you. You're late again, so I thought of, uhm, giving you a ride?"

I went silent for a while. Him, on the other hand, is just standing there, as if he's waiting for me to frown at him. I pursed my lips, and nod. I think, I'll take this opportunity to talk about the car he mentioned last time.

"Okay." The only word that I utter but his reaction is priceless. He looks like he achieved something when he suppressed his smile by biting the insides of his cheeks. Napailing na lang ako, pinipigilang bumuo ng mga bagay sa utak.

Like before, I took the shotgun seat. Tahimik niyang pinaandar ang makina ng sasakyan, habang ako naman ay payapang nakamasid lang sa labas. Madami-dami pa din namang tao ang nasa kalsada. Ngayon ko lang din napansin na may mga christmas decoration na ang ibang building. It's already November, ilang linggo ay pasko na.

"I'll take other route." I looked at him with what he said. His eyes are busy at the road but he probably saw the confusion drawn all over my face when he answered, "Traffic."

Tumango na lang ako. This direction is familiar. Pinilit kong isipin kung saan ito, at pinilit ko ring 'wag ngumiti nang ma-realize.

This is the way to Merlion. That means, madadaanan namin 'yun.

Hindi naman sa first time kong pumunta doon, o makita 'yun. I've been there many times, but the level of excitement never went down. Kung maganda siya kapag tinatanaw sa malayo, mas maganda kapag malapit.

Lalo na ngayong magpa-pasko. Nilalagyan nila 'yun ng dekorasyon na mas lalong nagpapatingkad ng angkin nitong ganda. Idagdag mo na kitang-kita din mula do'n ang Marina Bays.

"You want to stop over?" Hindi ko maintindihan ang sinasabi niya kaya tinaasan ko siya ng kilay.  Looks like he got the hint when he cleared his throat. "You want to see the Merlion tonight?"

I don't know what to react with what he said. Naramdaman ko na lang ang sarili ko na tumango sa kaniya. I saw him smiled and continue driving.

Just how the fuck did we end up in the Merlion park?