Napangiwi ako sa sarili dahil sa naalala.

Sabagay, bata pa naman talaga ko noon. I mean, me and Prestin was three years accelerated in elementary. Kaya naman bata pa ang tingin niya sa akin noon kahit na college na kami.

My eyes darted at Archer, may mapaglarong ngisi sa kanyang mga labi. Siguro ay natantong may naalala ako dahil sa sinabi niya. "Does it still stand?"

Napapantastikuhan ko siyang tinignan. "Attorney-"

"How about we talk about this over dinner?" Anyaya niya. As much as I want to accept his invitation, I can't risk it. He's a part of Cosmos and Cosmos' looking for me. Who knows, maybe this is one of their plans. And I suddenly remember why I chose to be far from him years ago. Tila ba nakalimutan ko iyon at ngayon lang naalala.

Agad na tumalim ang aking mga mata. "I don't want you near me-"

"Auriese!"

Naputol ang pagtanggi ko nang may tumawag sa akin.

Napabaling ako sa likuran ni Archer. Naroon si Ryke at kalalabas lang ng presinto.

"We can now go, I already settled everything."

I almost told him Archer settled everything but I didn't. Mabuti na lang ay napigilan ko ang sarili.

"Thank you, Attorney," Baling ni Ryker kay Arch, noon lang napansin na bukod sa akin ay may iba pa siyang kaharap. He offered his hand and Archer immediately accept it for a handshake.

"Attorney-"

"You, murderer!" Marahas akong napapitlag nang may humatak sa aking buhok. Bahagya akong nalingon at sandaling nakita ang humihila ng aking buhok.

"Fuck!" Malutong na mura ang pinakawalan ko nang pakiramdam ko ay matatanggal ang aking anit.

Hindi ko siya magawang labanan dahil kahit paano ay may natitira pa naman akong respeto sa kanya at naiintindihan ko ang reaksyon niya dahil sa nangyari sa kanyang anak.

Ryker immediately pulled Salvia San Sebastian away from me. Si Archer ay inilayo ako kay Salvia matapos ay inilagay ako sa kanyang likuran upang maprotektahan. I don't need anyone to save me though.

Nang tuluyan kaming mapaglayo ay nahuli ko ang pagpormal ng ekspresyon ni Archer.

"I can sue you for harassing my client, Madame." Attorney Fonacier's voice thundered, it sent shiver down my spine. His cold eyes were fix at Calvin's mother.

"There's no need for that, Attorney," agad na pigil ko. Si Ryke ay alerto pa rin sa maaaring gawin ni Salvia.

As expected, Salvia didn't back down. "Ang kapal ng mukha mo! Idedemanda kita, sisiguraduhin kong makukulong ka sa ginawa mo sa anak ko!"

"She didn't kill Calvin, Tita. That's already settled-"

Naputol ang mga salita ni Ryker nang mapanuya siyang tinignan ng ginang.

"Do you think you can fool me?" Inilibot niya ang tingin sa aming tatlo habang napapailing bago tuluyang nagpatuloy. "I know you killed my son!" She shouted while pointing a finger at me.

"She didn't kill anyone, Madame. You're just blinded by your own anger. Try to calm yourself first and go inside the precinct. You'll find answer inside," Archer muttered in a matter-of-fact tone. He even coldly gestured the entrance of the precinct.

"You'll pay for this!" Muling baling niya sa akin bago tuluyang pumasok sa presinto.

Can't she understand that I didn't kill her son? Don't she wants to have the justice that his son deserves or she only wants someone to suffer even if that someone's not really the killer?

I placed my phone between my ear and my shoulder as I started looking for the key card of Prestin's new unit. He sold the other and bought one. He doesn't want me to stay inside the unit where Calvin died. Sinabi kong ayos lang iyon ngunit hindi siya pumayag. I also offered my money if he really wants to buy a new but he refused. Itabi ko na raw iyon para kay Rye, sa huli ay wala na akong nagawa kung hindi ang pumayag sa nais niya.

The unit is located at the same building, ang kaibahan lang ay nasa mas mataas na palapag ang bagong binili niya.

"Let's face time. I want to see Rye. I miss him already, Prestin," I muttered as I swiped the key card.

"Alright, I'll call you in a minute."

Nang makapasok ay agad kong inilibot ang tingin sa kabuuan ng lugar. This has a similarity from Prestin's previous condo.

"Hmm, I'll open my laptop."

Nang natapos ang tawag ay agad kong ibinaba ang mga hawak na papeles. I stretched my neck from side to side as I reached for my laptop. Habang binibuksan iyon ay walang buhay akong sumandal sa couch.

It is one heck of a long and tiring day. I heaved a deep sighed when I remember I still have an interview before four in the afternoon. Pang-anim na kompanya na ang pupuntahan ko mamaya. The first five told me they'll call me. They didn't directly reject my application but I know they won't hire me. Pagkabanggit pa lang ng pangalan ay agad ng nagbabago ang mga reaksyon ng mga interviewer, ang iba ay pagkapasok ko pa lamang ay mukhang may desisyon na.

The news about me being the main suspect in Calvin San Sebastian, one of the prominent business man's murder case made it to the national television.

Now, no one would hire me because of that news. I didn't kill that bastard, if I killed him, they won't know. Sana ay ganoon nga ang ginawa ko kung alam kong ganito ang mangyayari, nang sa ganoon ay nagawan ko ng paraan at naitago ang katawan niya pati na rin ang mga bagay na makapagtuturo sa akin.

And he's prominent because of our company. He would be nothing without it.

"I miss you, Rye," I muttered as my three years old son appeared on the screen.

"I miss you too, mommy! Look, Tito Prestin bought me this!" Iwinagayway niya ang laruan na sinasabing binili ni Prestin.

"I bought it to calm him, he's crying and looking for you when we landed," Prestin immediately defended hisself.

Tumango ako, may maliit na ngiti sa mga labi.

"How are you?" Prestin placed my son on his lap while Rye's playing.

"No one wants to hire me because of that stupid news." I can't help but rolled my eyes in annoyance, good thing Rye's not looking.

I was a financial analyst on the company I'm working before I resigned because I thought I can leave the country with my son. Ayoko namang bumalik pa sa dati kong pinagtatrabahuhan dahil marunong din naman akong mahiya.

"I told you to go to our company, Dad will hire you, or in our firm if you don't want to work at the company."

"Parehas lang 'yon. Saka ayoko nga, mapapahiya lang ako kapag hindi ako tinanggap. You know how much he hates me. Kita mo nga, ikaw kinamusta, tapos ako hindi?" Its been years since I last talked to him. Iyon ay noong pinaalis niya 'ko. Hindi ko alam kung itinakwil niya ba 'ko pero parang ganoon na nga.

"He'll hire you. Nahihiya 'yon sa ginawa niya sa 'yo kaya hindi ka malapitan." Ganoon ang laging sinasabi ni Prestin. Na hindi ko alam kung dapat ko bang paniwalaan.

The pain dad inflicted years ago won't change, it didn't change. But at some point, I want him to acknowledge Rye as his grandson. Iyon lang ay masaya na 'ko.

Sa huli ay napailing na lamang ako. "I won't, I don't want to apply in his company. Besides, I still have one left in my list. Last na 'to ngayong araw."

"What makes you think that would be different? Na tatanggapin ka riyan?"

I reached for my laptop as I placed it on my lap.

"I don't know," may pagaalinlangang sambit ko. I bit my lower lip, nagaalangan kung babanggitin ang pangalan ng kompanyang balak pasukan. Sa huli ay napailing na lamang ako sa sarili.

"How about work for me? But I can only offer you secretarial position, you know, I'm not working on our firm."

Napailing ako sa suhestyon niya. At ano kung tatanggapin ko ang posisyong iyon, he'll fire his secretary? I don't want that. "Ako ng bahala. Anyway, can you stay there for awhile? Let's say for a week? I want to make sure Rye's safe here."

"Hmm, I can study my case from here."

Napatango ako sa sagot niya at nagpatuloy sa pagkausap sa anak.

Wearing a beige turtleneck long sleeves paired with a beige wide leg pants and a black belt, I sashayed towards the last company on my list. Sa kamay ay dala ko ang aking application form.

I immediately went towards the receptionist. Hindi pa man ako tuluyang nakakalapit ay agad na ako nitong hinarap. "Good afternoon. How can I help you, ma'am?"

Tipid ko siyang nginitian. "I have a schedule for an interview."

I frowned when her lips parted, bahagyang nawala ang ngiti sa mga labi. "Interview po?"

"Yes."

"Ahh-" she cleared her throat. "The first room at the right wing, Ma'am. Pasok lang po kayo."

I nodded at her. "Thank you."

Nang tumapat ako sa silid na sinasabi ng receptionist ay agad akong kumatok. I heard someone from the inside spoke, telling me I can enter.

Nakangiti akong pumasok. I immediately saw the interviewer in her late fifties, wearing a large glass. Bahagya pang inayos ang salamin nang makita ako.

"Good afternoon," I greeted. My eyes darted at the company's name written at the documents on the table. Fonacier Enterprise.

The interviewer slowly nodded. "Good afternoon, Miss Gallardo. I assume you're here for the interview. But I'm sorry, Miss. We already found someone suited for the job." Wait, what?

Napamaang ako sa diretsong sambit niya. You found someone or you don't want to hire me because of that news? Your boss' son is my lawyer! I'm not a killer, well atleast not Calvin's killer.

Inutos din ba na huwag akong tanggapin?

"You can now leave, Miss Gallardo. I'm sorry."

Mariin akong napapikit at napabuntong hininga. Fuck this. Tipid akong napangiti at bahagya siyang tinanguan bago tuluyang lumabas ng silid na iyon.

I stared at my resume as I walked towards the exit of the building. A familiar scene flashed back on my mind. Do I need to do it again? Just for me to get hired? Fuck, I won't.

Inangat ko ang aking tingin kasabay ng pagkabunggo ko at pagkalaglag ng aking resume.

Akmang pupulutin ko iyon ngunit agad akong naunahan ng taong nakabangga ko. "Sorry, Miss-" Napatigil siya sa pagabot sa akin ng resume nang nagtama ang aking tingin.

"Aurie." Those familiar eyes darted at me. I was stunned for a moment.

"Miss, look at where you're going." My eyes went at the woman clinging on him. I almost rolled my eyes.

"I'm-" I cleared my throat. "I'm sorry."

"Its my fault, Aurie. I'm sorry. Anyway, I thought the new business partner is not a woman."

I tilted my head. "Huh?"

"Its her fault. Let's go in your office, Hon." The woman beside Archer spoke in a sensual way.

Arch frowned a bit. "No, Kelly, I have an important thing to do. I'll send someone to drive you home."

Archer signalled someone, agad namang lumapit sa amin ang isang lalaki.

"Drive her home," agad na utos ni Archer na para bang nagmamadali.

Napakagat ako sa pangibabang labi nang natantong dapat ay umalis na ako at hindi nakinig sa usapan ng dalawa. I started walking towards the exit. I even heard the annoying tantrums of Archer's girlfriend, or is she even her girlfriend? I felt my cheeks burned as I remember when I saw his Honey number one calling in his phone.

He haven't change a bit.

"Aurie," he called as reached for my arm to stopped me from walking. I saw his woman walking away, sandali pang nagtama ang aming tingin at napataas ang aking kilay nang tumalim ang kanyang mga titig sa akin.

"Where are you going?"

I tilted my head. "Home?"

He frowned a bit. "What? We have a meeting?"

"Meeti- wait, what?" The hell is he talking about?

A smirk slowly crept on his face. "After seeing me, you already forgot why you're here. I still have the same effect on you, huh, Aurie?"

Agad kong binawi ang aking braso mula sa kanyang kamay. Nahihiwagaan ko siyang tinignan. I heaved a sarcastic, audible breath. "I haven't forget anything, Attorney. I'm here to apply to a job but unfortunately they already found someone suited for it. And..." I trailed off and cleared my throat.

"About the effect that you're talking about, that's what I can't remember, Attorney. T-that's all in the past, I think," marahan at nananantyang sambit ko.

You fool! You can't remember? Hindi mo pa maalala sa lagay na 'yan? At talagang naisipan mo pang pasukin ang kompanya nila?

"If you'll excuse me, can I now go home?" Tanong ko ngunit parang nawala siya sa sarili. Isa pa 'to.

"You'll apply?" Tanong niya nang sa wakas ay nakabawi.

"Yes, Attorney. But as I said, they already-"

A smile formed in his lips. "Follow me then. Let's talk about your application in my office."

What? Should I? I don't want him near me... I'm not sure though. I don't want to see him... not sure too. Fuck.

__________