Simula
Disclaimer:
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
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Simula
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"Peace out Eleanor!" I bid my goodbye loudly and stepped out of the club.
Natatawa pa ako habang papasok ng sasakyan. Natatawa sa mga pinanggagawa namin sa loob kanina.
She's with her boyfriend kaya mamaya pa uuwi ang isang 'yon, samantalang ako naman ay may trabaho bukas ng madaling araw! Pity me.
I didn't get to test my alcohol tolerance at its peak because I didn't want to go to work with a hangover! Nangyari na iyon dati at pinagsisihan ko ng sobra.
Tumulak na ako paalis ng club at dumiretso na ng bahay. I was jamming some hard music on the way para lang hindi ako antukin sa pagda-drive.
"I'm home." Aniya ko pagbukas ng ilaw ng common area kahit na ako lang naman mag-isa. Kung marinig ako ng mga kapit-bahay ko ay baka akalain nilang nabaliw na ako o 'di kaya naman ay may ka-live in akong multo.
I went straight to my room and showered before changing into something comfortable. I did my skincare and headed downstairs to grab snacks.
I am ruining my diet!
I grabbed chips and soda before heading to the living room and had something to watch. Siguradong dito na ako sa sala makakatulog.
Para akong sira na tumatawa mag-isa dis oras ng gabi dahil sa pinapanood ko. I might have to vacuum the couch and carpet tomorrow because I spilled my damn chips all over the place!
Mali ang pangitain ko dahil hindi pa rin ako inaantok nang patayin ko ang TV bago umakyat ng kwarto, ni hindi man lang ako nag-abalang linisin ang kalat ko.
I shrugged. I'll just deal with it tomorrow.
Pinihit ko ang door knob ng kwarto ko at umupo sa study desk ko para tignan ang ilang paperworks ko.
Nakatulugan ko na ang trabaho kaya nagising na lang akong masakit ang leeg dahil sa desk na ako nakatulog. I was woken up by the irritating sound of my alarm. Nakakairita dahil record iyon ng boses ni Elly!
"Wake up dumbass! Be productive as heck and suck a cock!" I groaned. A bit mortified of the possibility that my neighbors might hear that.
Dali-dali ko iyong pinatay at dumiretso sa banyo para maligo. I did my make-up with light coverage, just enough to enhance some of my face's assets.
I didn't bother eating breakfast at home because I usually eat my meal at the cafe.
"Gandang umaga Ma'am!" Ngiting-ngiti akong sinalubong ni Rheina na dini-display ang ilan sa mga tinapay.
Nathan was busy mopping the place habang abala naman si Rose sa kusina kasama si Trisha. Though someone was missing in action. Of course it was Chester! Laging late ang serbidora naming iyon.
"Chester's not here yet?" Tanong ko kay Rheina na binuntot naman ako papasok sa opisina ko.
"As usual po, ang baklang iyon, malamang busy pa sa OOTD." Rheina spat while brushing through her luscious long hair.
Matapos kong ilapag ang bag ko sa office table ay madali rin akong lumabas. I smiled when I already saw my breakfast ready at my favorite spot here at the cafe.
As usual, I ate my breakfast while they were busy prepping the cafe for customers. Kahit kakaunti lang ang staff ko ay productive naman sila.
After eating my breakfast I usually spend my day inside my office and only come out when needed. I do paperworks all day or accompany meetings or appointments regarding our catering service.
Ganito ang buhay mo magmula ng maghiwalay kami ni Lorman, it was not miserable and detaching him from our toxic marriage saved us both.
Speak of the devil. Nag-text ang mokong.
From Lorman:
Dinner? I need you to sign some papers regarding the divorce :)
I unconsciously raised my brow while glancing at my phone. Dinner doesn't seem bad.
I sighed and placed my phone at my table. I think separating with Lorman is the best idea we could both cope up to.
To Lorman:
Yeah sure! Just text me where.
Pareho naming alam na hindi para sa amin ang buhay mag-asawa.
It's a good thing we still managed to stay as friends, I think sorting things out with a good talk really does help. One of the reasons why I married him is because he handles his problems nicely.
It's still past lunch and too early but I've already done my paperworks for today. I guess I could advance some things so I wouldn't waste my free time.
It was all peaceful in my office until I was distracted when my office door flung open.
"Ma'am Gaia! May naghahanap po sa inyo sa labas. Pogi!" It was Rheina. Sino pa nga ba sa mga empleyado ko ang laging barumbado kung pumasok sa opisina ko?
"Rheina, how many times have I told you to knock." Marahan kong hinilot ang sentido ko, medyo naiirita.
"Ay sorry po Ma'am, papapasukin ko po ba? Tinignan ko po kanina pero wala naman kayong appointment ngayon." She said, a bit confused.
"Sino ba? Is it Engineer Alde? Papasukin mo na lang." Baka si Lorman lang, ang bilis naman niya. It's not even time for dinner yet!
He's really pushing through the divorce huh? I mentally smirked.
"Hindi Ma'am, Astraeus daw po pangalan." I stilled by her answer. Am I hearing things? Astraeus ba raw kamo?
He's home? Why is he visiting then? Is he with his wife or something?
Pinilig ko ang ulo ko. If he's here then it's most probably about business.
I shrugged, hindi dapat ako apektado, "send him away Rheina, tell him your boss is busy." I continued to type nonsense on my laptop, making it look that I'm really busy.
"S-sige po, Ma'am." I gave her a nod without glancing at her, basta ay narinig ko na lang ang pagsara ng pinto.
I sighed and stopped clicking on my keyboard. I always have my air conditioner on full blast pero bakit ay pinagpapawisan ako ng sobra ngayon?
I mockingly laughed. He's been out for years tapos bigla na lang siyang susulpot bigla? Ano siya kabute?
"Ma'am ayaw po umalis, aantayin niya daw po kayong matapos." Rheina entered my office again with her problematic look.
I sighed, hindi talaga marunong kumatok ang isang 'to.
"Fine. Paupuin mo na lang muna sa isang table, susunod ako." He's still as stubborn as ever. I'd just personally shoo him myself then.
"Kape Ma'am?"
"No thanks." Astraeus is already making me anxious and palpitate like hell. Sa inis s'yempre.
"Sige Ma'am una na'ko." Nang masara niya na ang pinto ay isinubsob ko ang mukha ko sa table, already feeling frustrated by the situation.
Why is he here? I have no business with him. After he ghosted me meron pa siyang kapal ng mukha na magpakita sa'kin na parang walang nangyari.
Wow! He baffles me. A lot.
I stood up and straightened my blouse. Ayoko ko nang mag-retouch dahil siya lang naman ang kausap ko, I am so done pleasing his ass.
I took my pace and gently turned the door knob.
What the heck?
"M-ma'am!" Rheina's face grew pale. She was leaning her right ear by the door nang buksan ko iyon.
"Fuck you Nathan! Bakit mo ako tinulak?!" Mangiyak-ngiyak niya ngayong nilapitan ang cashier namin, si Nathan.
"Luh papansin ka? Layo-layo ko sa'yo eh!" He creased his brows and threw her a table cloth.
Umiling na lang ako sa asta ng dalawa at nilagpasan ang counter. I roamed around the cafe, trying to look for a familiar figure. May ilang mga customer ang napapasulyap sa gawi ko at binibigyan ko naman sila ng matamis na ngiti. Out of the sea of people inside the cafe I caught myself staring at his familiar back. Mas naging maskulado siya ngayon.
I bit my lip while making my way towards Astraeus' familiar back. He probably sensed me coming when I saw him turning towards my way with his stoic and unmoved expression.
I mentally sighed. At times like this I should be used to treating him like just someone I know, not someone I'm fond of. If this were the old days I'd probably rush my way towards him and give him a tight hug.
Well jokes on you Mariella, things changed.
A lot...
"Miss Gaia..." I shot up a brow when he greeted me while my hands where crossed on my chest.
"Mr. Ferrer." I gave him the most professional greeting I could ever manage.
He gulped and pursed his lips, "Your cafe does catering services right? Can I?" He asked, still covering his face of any possible emotion.
"You can set up an agreement with Rheina about that, I'm sure you've stumbled across her earlier?" I smiled but I was boiling irritated on the inside, 'yun lang naman pala eh!
If I wasn't as professional as I am baka isipin kong nang-aasar lang ang isang 'to. I bet he has a wide selection of acquaintances that would offer him caterings for free! Kung magpapaka-immature ako ay baka tanggihan ko siya.
"Yeah. Siya ang natanungan ko sa'yo kanina" I was surprised by what he uttered. Hinanap niya ako? I just smiled though, masaya akong mamamatay 'wag lang niyang malaman na medyo apektado ako sa kanya ngayon. Of course he would look for me, ako ang may-ari ng cafe.
"It's settled then. Mauuna na ako Mr. Ferrer, I have errands to attend to." I smiled before turning my back, satisfied by our little encounter, infact ayaw ko naman siya ma-encounter! Hindi na ako magugulat kung madalas na kaming magkita ngayon, he's home now after all.
"Wait!" I glanced at his tight grip at my arm, giving it a mocking stare.
"What?" Sinulyapan ko siya bago muling tinitigan ang kamay niyang nakakapit pa rin sa braso ko. Binitiwan niya iyon agad, na tila ba napaso.
He cleared his throat, "let's have dinner." Nangunot ang noo ko. Mama niya dinner.
"What for? Talk to Rheina instead nga. My schedule for tonight is packed." I said with my patience and poise hanging on the edge of the cliff. I didn't lie though, totoong busy ako mamaya dahil magdi-dinner kami ni Lorman.
"Ngayon na lang." He sounded convincing. I sighed in defeat, mabuti na sigurong ngayon kaysa yayain niya ako mamayang gabi.
"Alright, let's proceed to my office then." Hindi ko na siya sinulyapan pa at naglakad na pabalik ng opisina ko, naabutan kong nagbabangayan si Nathan at Rheina sa may counter nang madaanan ko iyon.
I ship these two. Kaso syempre boss nila ako. I should set myself as a strict boss para naman hindi nila ako maliitin.
"Working hours pa, you two." I mockingly smiled at the both of them. Pareho naman silang natigil at pinagpatuloy ang trabaho. Namataan ako ang matalim na pagtitig nila sa isa't isa. If looks could kill, wala na ang dalawa kong empleyado.
I made my way inside my office, still not bothering to look behind me and check for Astraeus. Naupo na ako sa swivel chair ko nang marinig ko ang pagsara ng pinto.
"You're back." Obviously, sinisigurado ko lang kung dito na nga siya o pansamantala lang. Ayaw ko namang tanungin siya kung nagbabakasyon lang siya at baka kung ano ang isipin niya.
"For good." He seated at my couch uninvitedly. Kapal.
"Get straight to the point." I muttered, silently wishing he was really here for business matters.
"I'm sorry Mariella..." I guess my prayers weren't heard.
"Leave Astraeus, don't ruin my day." Nagtiim ang bagang ko habang nililibang ang sarili sa mga papeles sa lamesa. As much as possible I kept on avoiding eye contact with him.
He has the audacity to come here after ghosting me for years, leaving me confused. Tapos pupunta siya dito't guguluhin nanaman ako ngayong nasa proseso na ako ng paglimot?
He's so selfish...
"I——"
"Stop, huwag ka nang magsalita dahil hindi ako makikinig sa'yo. Save your words to someone who's willing to listen." Mariin kong pinikit ang mga mata ko. Hindi ako makapaniwala't nasabi ko iyon ng diretso at hindi nauutal. My acting skills are getting better each day.
"I'll talk to you when you're ready. Please... hear me out... someday."
That was the last thing I heard before hearing the door close. Akala ko ay ayaw kong makinig, pero bakit parang nagsisi akong tinaboy ko siya?
