Chapter 28: Remembering Past..

Sierah's Point Of View.

A few days later, I've been a bit stressed because of business. Marami talaga akong makakalaban na kumpanya at hindi lahat ng mga 'yon makakasundo ko talaga.

I was busy tapping on my keyboard, all I could hear was the click and clacking of my nails and the mechanical keyboard.

After revising a file, I stood up so I could make a hard copy of it. "Ma'am, someone made an appointment to meet you po." I glanced at my secretary.

"Ah, who is it?" I asked while diverting my attention to the pack of blank paper getting inked.

"Si Mr. Villamos po, it's a promotion ma'am." My forehead turned into a crumpled paper.

Ano naman kayang promotion 'yon?

"Sure, let him in." I gestured my hand and compiled the paper, inisa isa ko ang mga 'yon sa folder at habang ginagawa ko 'yon ay narinig ko ang yabag ng itim na sapatos sa tiles.

"Good morning, thank you for accepting the appointment Ms. Garcia. But can you check this out?" He walked a few steps to my entertainment area and dropped the folder while he sat on his ass.

What kind of proposal or promotion does he want me to check?

"Can you read the title for me? I don't want to lose count." Talking about the compiled papers.

"Yeah sure, uhm.." He paused a second before reading the title, "Medical center in a province that doesn't have a little clinic. The governor of the province wanted to join hands. They want us to help in return for free volunteer service." I sighed and glanced at Yeon who's calmly sitting on the couch.

"You can decline if you want to.." He added when he sees me thinking deeply.

"I actually wanted to help, hindi tayo uunlad kung pagdadamutan natin ang mga nangangailangan. So sure, I'll study the proposal and then I'll give you a heads up." I explained and walked near him, I went to grab the folder.

"I'll keep this. You can go ahead, let's just discuss this next morning." He breathed and nodded as he stood up.

"Sure." Nang tumayo siya sa harap ko ay dibdib niya na lang ang nakita ko.

It was well-built, alaga sa gym for sure? His height were really tall, wala akong masabi.

I tried to look up and nodded, "Don't forget my tupperware." Sa binigkas niya ay nasamid ako sa sariling laway.

Grabe. Para sa tupperware?

"Ibabalik ko, Mr. Villamos, no worries. Okay?" He hissed and rolled his eyes, "Kailangan mo talaga ibalik 'yon, Ms. Garcia." Parang doble ang meaning ng sinabi niya sa akin.

Then I remember he's my ex-boyfriend that used me, don't tell me after I lose feelings tsaka niya pa ako mamahalin?

Well, girls could really be stupid because of love but once they realized everything, you're done.

Hindi rin naman ako sumuko kaagad para bawiin siya sa akin noon. Basta-basta niya akong iniwan at wala akong nagawa.

Ipinaglaban ko ang para sa akin, pero kasal na siya at matagal ko ng ipinatalo ang laban na 'yon.

Napapagod rin naman kaming mga babae, pero kahit napapagod kami bago sumuko lumalaban pa rin kami. Men are just lazy at first, then realize that they can't lose their woman.

How stupid.

Tsaka hahabulin pag pasuko na.

Lumayo na ako sa kaniya dahil naalala ko na naman ang matatamis at mapapait na ala-ala nang nakaraan namin.

So sweet, that it caused me harm. Para siyang chocolate para sa mataas na sugar ng tao.

Umalis na rin naman na siya kaya napasulyap ako sa pinto, if only I could forget what you did, Yeon. I would risk it again, but you hurt me so good that I wanted not to love anymore.

Before the sun hit the waves of the sea, I went out with my friend, Amaya. We went to drink outside and we're not supposed to meet other people pero nakita namin si Engr. Lapiz, the ex-boyfriend of my cousin.

Yung ex-crush ko, I chuckled when I remembered this man. He's a total green flag, caring and he respects women.

He's ready to commit when it comes to Jami, unlike his cousin that became my boyfriend. Walang ginawa kundi saktan ako, emotionally.

He talked to other women even in front of me, flirting like an expert, too late for him to realize my feelings, too.

Naghabol rin naman ako at nagpatawad ng ilang beses kay Yuno, naniwala rin ako sa sinabi niyang magbabago na siya at hindi na mauulit but ended up disappointing me.

Well, shit happens.

He regretted it already and my phase is done with Yuno, although I loved him so much. Yeon opened my heart and closed it permanently. Walangya.

"Tahimik mo dear?" Nasulyapan ko si Amaya who's slowly sipping on his alcohol.

"Wala, may naisip lang. Pinsan 'yon ni Yuno." Turo ko kay Yamato na kasama ang mga kaibigan niya sa club, no girls just the two, yung girlfriends ng mga kaibigan niya.

"That man is loyal, 'no?" Napatango na lang ako, 'cause I can't disagree. Matagal na silang hiwalay ng pinsan ko pero instead of moving on with someone new he focused on himself.

So lovely.

"Kasi, his last relationship was three years and months pero until now single pa rin siya. He seemed like waiting for your cousin 'no?" Ngumiti ako at muling tumango.

"Lapiz kasi siya, loyal and faithful." Sagot ko pa at napangisi.

"That's the type of a guy I wanted to date, Sierah." Sa biglang sinabi ni Amaya ay ngumisi ako.

"But it's so hard to find a loyal and faithful man nowadays right?" Amaya pouted her lips and agreed with me.

"That Yamato Lapiz is really a deal, masasabi mong educated siyang tao not just because of his degree pero may disiplina siya sa sarili niya." Kwento ko pa while drinking in my glass with my legs crossed.

"When a man cheats, does that mean he's not well educated?" Ngumisi ako sa tanong ni Amaya.

"They may be educated because they graduated, but if they entertain nor date another woman in the process of relationship matatawag mo ba silang matino? Tell me would you be down for that kind of man?" Awtomatikong umiling si Amaya.

"No, it was a turn off." Kibit balikat ang sinagot ko sa kaniya.

"Being loyal and faithful is a responsibility, not a choice. Kahit may pagpipilian ka, you have to have those aspects to be a better person." I explained.

"Wow, expert pagdating sa ganiyan ah?" She teased.

"You don't understand dear, maybe because this attribute was inside me. I was fooled a lot of times." She nodded to agree with me, I yawn as I felt the alcohol hitting me now.

"Lasing ka na?" Umiling ako at uminom lang, little while I saw Yeon from afar yet I know it's him.

A lot of girls were trying to cling on him so I looked away, that night a lot of things were on my mind.

Ihinatid ako ng driver ni Amaya sa condo kaya medyo nahihilo akong naghintay sa elevator.

Then suddenly someone stood beside me, also waiting for the elevator door to open.

I glanced and looked up a little, "It was Yeon.." Sambit ko at umiwas tingin.

"Did you just mention my name?" Nagulat ako at tinignan si Yeon.

"Did I?" Naguguluhan na tanong ko.

Yeon Gavril sighed a little and nodded, before entering the elevator and stopped the door for closing when I was late on hopping in.

Humawak ako sa gilid, naamoy ko ang halimuyak niya sa buong kulob na kinatatayuan namin.

"You partied?" Nalingon ko si Yeon sa tanong niya, but he's looking at our reflection.

"Yep." Matipid na sagot ko, I don't want to talk to him. He's in my past already, para saan pa ba.

"Okay." He cleared his throat and placed his hands on his pockets.

When the elevator opens, natigilan ako nang mauna siya sa akin. Kaya mas binilisan ko at dahil doon ay naunahan ko na siya, habang binubuksan ang pinto ko ay hinugot niya lang sa likod ng bulsa ang card tsaka niya binuksan ang condo.

Halos sabay naming nabuksan kaya pumasok ako kaagad sa loob, ayoko kasi siyang makausap.

Later in the morning, when I entered the conference room I already saw him sitting with other members of the board.

Naupo naman ako sa designated seat ko at hinintay ang iba, later on na-kumpleto kami and we all started planning about the proposal.

I am not minding Yeon's presence, maybe he felt like I was neglecting him but that's normal.

After the topic, I went back to my office but before I opened the door, Yeon stood in front of my door.

"What?"

"Let's have a talk." Kumunot ang noo ko at tumikhim, "Tungkol saan?" Pagdududa ko.

"They don't want this project, would you keep on pursuing it?" Napakurap ako bago umirap, "C'mon they're so hard when it comes to unfortunate people."

"You can't blame them, they have different goals." He replied that made me sighed and opened the door to my office widely so he could step in.

Yeon sat on my sofa in the entertainment area, sinaluhan ko naman siya doon. "Hindi na ba sila mapilit?" Pangengwestyon ko.

"Hindi na. So are you gonna cancel this?" He tapped the folder again and stared at me.

"I want to pursue it." Sagot ko, "pero mahirap kung mag-isa lang ako, at least I need two or three people to join me. Hindi biro." Nam-mroblemang sabi ko.

"How about one person but can invest like three or two people?" On his question, I was a bit confused.

"What do you mean?"

"As I was saying, Ms. Garcia. If there's one person who can invest big time, just one person. Itutuloy mo pa ba?" Pasimple kong iniiwas ang titig sa mata ng ex-boyfriend ko.

"One is better than no one." I simply answered and tried avoiding his gaze.

Masyadong maganda ang mata niya, kaya ako naloko noon, tsk.

"Alright, hahanap ako. I will do this because I have sinned in the past, I'll go now." Pairap niya pang inalis ang tingin sa akin tsaka dere-deretsong tumayo at naglakad.

Wowwwww!

Wow ha!

Utang na loob ko ba nahahanapan pa niya ako ng investor? Para sa project na 'to?

Ugali niya talaga, napaka-arogante!

Kinagabihan ay may nag-bell sa mismong condo ko kaya tamad na tamad akong tumayo para pagbuksan 'yon, ngunit halos mahulog ako sa sariling paa ko nang matanaw si Yeon.

"A-Ano?"

"Ano ka rin, wala akong mahanap na investor na big time." Huminga ako ng malalim at tumango.

"It's okay mukhang wala tayong magaga—"

"I will just be that one." Sa sinabi ni Yeon ay naguluhan ako, "Ano?" Ulat ko.

"Ako na lang." Seryosong saad niya na ikinatuyo ng lalamunan ko, peke akong natawa.

"If you're going to use your grandfather's money, I would love to decline Mr. Villamos." Matipid akong ngumiti at inabot ang folder.

"Hindi ko kayang tanggapin ang pera ng lolo mo, so it's fine. You can go." He simply cleared his throat and sighed.

"H-Hindi pa nawawala ang galit ko sa lolo mo, kaya kahit anong tulong niya ay hindi ko tatanggapin—"

"It's my money." Pagputol niya sa sasabihin ko kaya nangunot ang noo ko at pekeng natawa.

"Your money? Maybe your inheritance money from your grandfather?" I sarcastically asked.

"Look, Ms. Sierah Garcia, in the business industry you have to stop being sarcastic and disrespectful. You can decline me and just let the unfortunate suffer, or accept my money and let them breathe well." He said in monotone before staring at my eyes directly.

"Don't you ask where this money came from, if I said this is my money, then be it." Bahagya akong nakonsensya, pero bakit? Mas masakit naman ang ginawa niya sa akin noon.

"Call me, if you decide to help them." Hindi ako nakaligtas sa matalim niyang tingin bago siya naglakad ng ilang hakbang papunta sa condo niya at pinagsarhan ako ng pinto.

Bumuntong hininga ako at pumasok sa loob, foul mouth, plump lips.

Three days later, I decided to accept his money. The project is doing great and the people are excited about it.

Ang mga sumasakit ang ngipin, mga may sakit ay magagamot na rin pagkatapos ipadala ang clinic sa lugar na 'yon.

Hindi ako pinapansin ni Yeon at hinahayaan ko naman 'yon, wala naman akong pakialam sa kaniya sa totoo lang.

Bumaba naman ako ng kumpanya dahil may lunch ang lahat kasama ang mga board members at iba pang special person.

Habang naglalakad papalapit sa mahabang table sa restaurant ay nginitian ko na silang lahat.

"Sit here, Ms. Garcia." Tukoy nila sa espasyo kaya tumango ako at naglakad pa papalapit not until a little girl hugged my legs that made my eyes widened.

"Oh my gosh." Gulat na sabi ko dahil muntik na ako mapatid.

"Mommy." Ngumuso ito at tiningala ako kaya nanlaki ang mata ko because she's just two years old?

Napatingin ako sa mga kasama, nagulat rin sila at dahil doon ay napailing ako.

Inalalayan ko naman ang bata na paiyak na, "H-Hey.." Pag-aalo ko ng mamula ang ilong nito at humikbi sunod-sunod.

"Hey.. Shushh.." Ibinaba ko tuloy ang bag ko at sinubukang buhatin ang bata.

"Where's your mommy?" I asked, naguguluhan ako.

"Mommyyyy—" Halos mag-init ang pisngi ko nang yumakap ito sa leeg ko at umiiyak.

"H-Hindi ako ang mommy mo, jusko." Nahihiya ako dahil tinitignan nila akong lahat, ang iba ay napapabulong pa.

"Ms. Garcia, it's okay for your daughter to join us." Sa sinabi ng isa ay nanlaki ang mata ko.

"Oh. No, don't misunderstand." Nahihiyang sabi ko.

"Hala ma'am sorry!" Nagulat ako sa paglapit ng isang yaya mukhang alaga niya ang bata.

"Ma'am sorry, nawala siya sa paningin ko. Halika na bebe." Pag-aayo nito sa bata, lumunok ako dahil sa sinabi niya ay parang itinatago ko yung bata bilang anak ko!

"I-It's okay." Hiyang sabi ko.

"Mommyyyy!" Nagwala yung bata at gusto pa humabol sa akin kaya nahihiya akong lumapit sa table at napaupo.

"Ms. Garcia, okay lang kung isama mo yung anak mo para hindi na umiyak." Nasapo ko ang noo at tumikhim.

"I like how concerned you are about the little girl, pero hindi ko siya anak." Mahinahon na sabi ko.

"Enough with the word, 'anak mo' 'cause it's not." Napatikhim ito kaya irita akong kumain dahil napapansin ko ang sulyap ni Yeon.

In the middle of the lunch, nag-usap usap sila ukol sa business at nalaman rin nila na itinuloy ko ang project.

"You won't receive anything from this project Mr. Villamos, why did you invest?" Napasulyap ako kay Yeon Gavril na napatigil sa pag-hiwa ng karne.

"To help," mahinahon na sagot niya.

"That's a garbage in business industry—"

"Well, for someone who's not successful enough, yes it's garbage. But for someone like me, there's always a room for help." Medyo nabilib ako sa naging sagot niya ngunit hindi ako umimik.

"Your birthday is coming Mr. Villamos, I read the magazine and it says next two weeks?" Matipid na ngiti ang ibinigay niya at ilang mga tango lamang.

Tamad 'yan magsalita? Si Kuya Laze nga kahit 'di magsalita parang maiintindihan mo.

"You're all invited, no worries." Biglang sabi niya kaya ngumiwi ako, 'di ako pupunta.

Matapos ang lunch ay mabilis rin na dumaan ang oras at parang may mga paa ito na nagawang tumakbo ng ganoon kabilis. Isang linggo na ang nakalipas at ilang clinic na rin ang naitayo ng ganoon kabilis.

"Ma'am, kailangan niyo po itong ipa-pirma kay Mr. Villamos." Nagtataka akong tumayo at inabot ang tatlong folder.

"Ito lang? Bakit ako pa?"

"Ma'am owner po kasi dapat talaga raw.." Kamot ulo nitong sabi kaya huminga ako ng malalim at tumango.

"Call an appointment, pupunta na ako sa opisina niya. Diyan lang naman sa kabila 'di ba?" Turo ko pa.

"Opo ma'am pero wala pa po kasi yung tulay papunta sa kabilang building.."

"Sige sige."

Dahil doon ay pumunta ako sa opisina ni Yeon Gavril, pagka-katok ko ay narinig ko siyang nagsalita kaya pumasok ako.

"I need you to sign this." Lumakad ako papalapit sa table niya kaya sa paglapit ay ibinaba ko na ang folder sa desk niya.

"What are these?" Tumaas ang gilid ng labi niya.

"Sa project.."

"Ah.." Tumango siya at pumirma.

"Yung fund kulang pa ba?" Biglang tanong niya.

"Sa ngayon sapat yung fund natin. Tatlong barangay pa lang ang natatayuan may pito pa." He gestured to the seat so I followed him, mukhang may idi-discuss siya.

"Those millions are not enough for ten clinics then?" Napatitig ako sa mata niya bago umiwas dahil nailang, "We'll see, Mr. Villamos. I'm still at the verge of computing and calculating the expenses." He simply nodded at my remarks and grabbed something in his drawer.

"Take this," nagtaka ako nang ilapag niya sa harapan ko yung isang susi.

"Ano 'to?"

"I can't go home, ampunin mo muna yung baby ko." Nanlaki ang mata ko sa sinabi niya, "Baby mo? Baby mo ipapaalaga mo sa akin? Duh?" Gulantang na sabi ko.

"What's new?" kwestyon niya nagtataka.

"Anak mo 'yon, wala ka bang asawa para alagaan yung anak mo?" Umirap ako at suminghal.

Ngunit bigla siyang natawa, agaran niya namang pinigilan 'yon. "I'm talking about my cat, not my baby that came out from my wife's tummy." Naitikom ko ang bibig sa sinabi niya.

Huminga ako ng malalim, "Ba't 'di mo ipaalaga sa asawa mo?"

"Ayaw ni baby sa iba." Sagot niya.

"Ba't kasi baby?" Kwestyon ko, nawiwirduhan ako sa pangalan ng pusa niya.

"Bakit hindi baby?" Sa sumbat niya ay medyo iba ang naging dating no'n kaya tumikhim ako.

"B-Bahala ka."

"Alagaan mo na, ito lang yung kapalit ng pag-invest ko. I really can't go home for about a week." Umirap ako at hinablot ang susi.

"Fine. Bye." Kinuha ko na rin ang folder at tumayo na.

"Good luck." Pahabol niya pa kaya nagmadali na ako umalis at medyo padabog pa ang pagsara sa pinto.

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@/n: Any thoughts? Hehehe long rest kaya ngayon lang nag-update! Sorry for making you wait ❤️