28

Pagkatapos ng naganap sa pagitan nilang dalawa ni Leonardo ay pinilit niyang bumalik sa normal. Dahil hindi lang naman ito ang buhay niya. Marami pang trabaho ang nakaabang, mga taong umaasa sa kanya ay nariyan lamang. Hindi siya maaaring pumirmi sa lugar na siya lang naman ang nakakaalam.

"Toni, are you sure you're really okay?," Vixen kept bothering her as she entered her office, and he's asking the same question, just revising though nonstop.

She smiled a bit and nodded, "Of course. I'm always alright, Vix. Thanks for your concern and about last time."

Muli na niyang inabala ang sarili sa pag-aaral ng mga blueprints na nasa kanyang harapan at inignora na lang ang presensya ng binata.

"You know that I'm always here for you, Toni," muli na namang wika nito at ramdam niyang pinapanood lang ng lalaki ang bawat kilos niya.

"You don't really have to, Vix. I can handle myself, nadala lang ako noong nakaraan," tinalikuran na niya ang binata at dumampot na lamang ng lapis at panukat.

"Toni, kahit hindi mo naman sabihin, lagi lang akong nandito para sayo. We've known each other for years, and you always have my back," parang wala talagang trabaho ang lalaki at siya ang ginugulo nito.

Napailing na lamang siya ng bahagya, "And you know also that I can only offer friendship with you, Vix. I don't want to include my personal life in my work life."

"But you also knew that I'm not buying your excuse," Vixen's voice was full of determination.

"I'm not selling anyway," pangbabara naman niya dito.

"Kapag ba umalis ako sa kumpanya mo, papayagan mo na ko?," and that's her cue to faced him again.

But upon facing him, seriousness was painted on his face. There's no stained of humor. It's too pure.

"Come on, Vixen. Don't do that. Kahit naman ay pumapalpak ka minsan, you're still an asset in my company," she tried to weighed the atmosphere, but all she received was a heavy one.

Hindi talaga siya nagbibiro ngayon. There's no playful Vixen.

"Kailan mo ba ko makikita, Antoinette? I tried to hide my feelings for you way back in college. Dahil alam kong marami kang pangarap sa buhay, you're ambitious woman and I'm so proud of you, darling. I tried to be a man like what you had before, but still none. You never tried to try. Kagaya ka lang ng mga pangarap mo, napakatayog para abutin," hindi pa rin nagbabago ang ekspresyon sa mukha ng binata, blangko.

"Vixen..," pangalan na lamang nito ang nausal niya.

She don't know how to react. Parang kahapon lang ay siya ang nagmamakaawa.

"You rather chose to hurt yourself with that guy, Toni. And I can't stand seeing you like that. I can't stand seeing my precious gems been wasted by somebody else like a trash. I became a playboy in order to forget you. But damn, I really can't. I can't leave," frustrations was dominant now on his face, he even pulled his own hair.

"I'm a broken pieces now, Vixen, and you'll just hurt yourself, too. Please, I'm not enough for your love," kahit siya ngayon ay naguguluhan na.

The pain she felt yesterday came back like a bomb. And she can't afford to used someone else in order to forget. Her Mama never raised her like that.

"If you're not enough. Why won't you let me fill those missing gaps? Handa akong maubos para sayo, Toni," he's still consistent as ever.

Vixen might have a bad impression on her. But he never failed to do things she never asked. This man deserves someone who's willing to sacrifice everything, not her.

She's just a little can in an ocean. Lost and nowhere to be found.

PAPASOK na siya ngayon sa inuuwing condominium after her work. Nag-overtime pa siya ng dalawang oras dahil marami pa talagang naka-pending na projects ang kumpanya. At ayaw naman niyang abutin pa ito ng pasko bago maasikaso.

Wala rin siyang naging balita kay Leo dahil hindi niya rin naman ito nakamusta ngayong araw. Siguro papalipasin na lang muna niya ngayon ang gabi at bukas na lang ulit niya haharapin ng binata.

Bawas man ng isang araw ang isang linggong hiniling niya, mabuti na rin iyon dahil hindi niya talaga kayang pakiharapan ang huli. Lalo na ngayon na hilaw pa ang naganap na pangyayari sa kanila ni Vixen. It's still fresh.

She was just interrupted on her walk when she saw a familiar figure at the lobby. Nakapamulsa ito at halatang galing lang sa trabaho dahil suot pa rin nito ang suit. He's so serious while standing just behind the front desk.

Bumilis naman ang lakad niya at ganoon din ang kabog ng kanyang dibdib.

Tila may kung anong kable ng kuryente ang umakap sa kanya at ilang boltahe ang pumapasok sa kanyang kaibaturan. Nuot pa ito hanggang laman at buto, at ang lalaki hindi kalayuan lamang ang nakakagawa nito sa kanya.

"Leo, why you're here?," bungad niya sa binata pagkalapit na pagkalapit niya.

Tumaas naman ang paningin nito at bahagyang lumiwanag ang mukha ng masilayan siya, "You didn't reply on my messages," he said in a matter of fact.

She was guilty all of a sudden, she's not really expecting that Leo anticipating her replies. She's just giving time and privacy for them.

Mapait siyang napangiti sa isipan.

"I've done lots of office work that's why," she simply answered, still the rhythm of her heart was so abnormal.

Tumango-tango naman ito na tila nauunawaan, "I see. Then let's go in your condo? I'll cooked dinner for you, baby. You seems stressed from your work," Leo's voice became sweet and he even hugged her on her waist and guided her towards the elevator.

Wala naman siyang imik na nagpatinaod dito. Dinadama ang haplos at ang panahon na kasama niya ang binata.

"How's your day, baby?," he asked her again, hindi pa rin nilulubayan ang kanyang bewang.

She tilted her head a bit, "A little bit tiring I guess."

Pagkatapos ng ilang oras na pagbababad niya sa trabaho ay ngayon niya lang naramdaman ang pagod. It's like her body and soul was so drained. And all she wants to do right now is to sleep and hugged her hotdog pillows.

"You should rest later, then," he answered.

Tumango naman siya at hindi na umimik pa.

Inabot din sila ng ilang minuto sa loob ng elevator na walang imikan bago nila narating ang floor ng kanyang unit.

Upon entering her place, she walked towards her room lifeless.

"I'll just take a bath," she informed Leonardo.

"Alright, baby," tugon naman nito pabalik.

Hindi na siya umimik pa at nagdire-diretso na lamang sa balak.

She let herself soaked in her bathtub, feeling the coldness of water.

As of now, she don't know how to lived anymore. Napakagulo na ng buhay niya. Pati mga desisyon niya sa buhay ay wala ng pinatutunguhan. At ngayon lang iyon nangyari sa loob ng dalawampu't pitong taong nabubuhay siya.

Pagkatapos niyang magbihis ng kulay maroon na kamisetang pantulog ay lumabas na siya ulit pabalik sa sala.

At unang pagtapak pa lamang niya sa baba ay nangibabaw na sa kanyang pang-amoy ang mabangong aromang niluluto ng binata.

"What's our menu tonight, baby?," she tried her best to make her voice a lively one, sumampa pa siya sa high stool habang pinapanood ang lalaki.

"Bistek ala Leonardo," the latter faced her with a smile, nakasuot pa ito ng apron sa ibabaw ng kulay puti nitong long sleeves na tiniklop hanggang siko.

She smiled on his playfulness, "Mas masarap ba sa'yo 'yan?"

Natatawa namang hinubad na nito ang suot na apron, "I think wala pa ring tatalo sa kasarapan ko, baby."

She bite her lips unconsciously, "Hmm...I won't argue."

Nababawasan na kahit papaano ang kirot na nararamdaman ng kanyang puso. Sumunod naman kasi talaga ang binata sa kanyang pakiusap. And she's so glad for that.

"Let's eat? So you can rest na later," anyaya naman sa kanya nito habang sinasalin na sa malaking bowl ang nilutong ulam.

He expertly owned her kitchen by setting up and preparing everything. From cooking and pouring foods on their plate, he was the one who did the work. While her, still on her seat and watching him like a professional homemaker.

Naglakad naman na siya palapit sa binata nang matapos na nitong lahat ang mga dapat gawin.

She just sat there, acting like a Queen waiting for her dinner to be served.

Leo never failed him. He really acted like they are really a thing. But in the reality, they are not. She was just a girl who tried to be part of someone's untold story.

And while looking at him, she realized that there are things we can touch, but we can't possessed.

And that is Leonardo Marasigan.

"Try it, baby, that's one of my specialty and I'm pretty sure it will eased your tiredness," matamis pa rin ang ngiting ginagawad sa kanya nito.

At sino nga ba siya para hindi matunaw ng lubusan sa mga ngiting iyon?

Sana nga lang pati 'yung sakit, kayang alisin ng kanyang bistek.