ni Shymalandi
I called Jerry and checked on the activities to be accomplished this morning before the presentation. The final report for a recently concluded project and the recommended phase 2 of the project.
Pagdating ko sa office, my team went beyond my expectations. There was a buffet of different muffins and free flowing coffee at a corner of the conference room. Our clients were commenting on the warm welcome and even our VP gave me a thumbs-up even if I came in 15 mins late.
The meeting lasted for hours that we even extended beyond lunch time. Though we got the approval for the second phase, umaasim na mga mukha nila sa gutom nang kumatok si Michelle.
Beshie, may catering set-up sa labas. Sa lobby ko na pina-ayus kasi seryoso kayo. E sabi ni Jerry patapos na at pirmahan na lang ng contract kaya inabisuhan na kita. Pwede na kayo kumain.
Ate Besh, sino nag-order ng foods? Akala ko ba nagtitipid ang madam sa budget? Lahat pa favorite food ko. Sicilian salad, grilled chicken, bulalo and fish fingers with ranch dressing tapos buco pandan ang dessert. Pati nga drink ay kakaiba ang choices … iba ibang palamig.
Loka ka! Sayo nakapangalan yan pati daw yung almusal set up kanina. Ang humble mo talaga Beshie! Kaya kita love e.
Gaga!
Hindi na ako nakipagtalo pa. Hindi na din ako nagtanong sa iba at malamang mas weird pa kung malaman nilang hindi ako ang nag-order ng food. Pero sino?
After umalis ang lahat including the caterer ay may package ulit na dumating for me. It was a basket full of my comfort sweets and the card says…
Dearest Claire,
Congratulations!
Here’s to celebrate your success…
Kilala mo na ba ako ngayon? From the muffins to lunch set and now these?
If nagtataka ka paano ko nalaman na may major presentation ka today, hmmm…let’s just say I have a connection dun sa company na kausap mo kanina kaya nakarating sa akin ang balita.
And based sa naipadala ko kahapon ay malamang di mo naisip ang details on food. Masyado ka kasi workaholic dear.
Relax ka na muna. Enjoy these sweets. Like how we planned it for our little trip…
Loving you,
V.H.
Is he back?
To leave me again?
Voltaire Halili.
My puppy love. Kapitbahay namin. Kami lang magka-age sa street kaya natural na maging malapit sa isa’t isa. Magkaklase mula elementary hanggang college.
College nakilala nya sa PE si Renz. Naging tatlo kaming magkakaibigan. Until his parents sent him to the US to continue his studies there. Ayaw nya daw magbakasyon dahil baka di na nya gustuhin bumalik pa para mag-aral dun.
Nung namatay si Renz sa aksidente ay umuwi sya. Nang mailibing si Renz, every night after work ay diretso ako sa mga bar para magpakalasing. Voltaire would always follow me at makikipag-inumam sa akin. Sya yung kakwentuhan ko at iniiyakan ko at eventually maghahatid sa akin pauwi.
Though some speculated pero walang nakaalam na naging kami before sya bumalik sa US. Yes. It was a rebound relationship. Pero imbes na sya ang masaktan ay ako ulit ang lumuha.
Nag-usap kaming pupunta sa Baguio para magbago ang aking environment at makapagrelax naman. Pero ako ang hindi nasipot sa tagpuan this time. Lumipad pabalik ng US si Voltaire a few hours after namin maghiwalay. Alam nyang tulog pa ako nung umalis sya kaya he did not bother calling. He did left a letter sa facebook ko telling me that his boss’ wife went to early labor kaya he had to take his place in giving a lecture sa isang conference.
Sa nakita nilang deterioration ko dahil sa matinding depression, Mrs. Pineda, my manager at that time, excused me and offered to give me a month’s vacation with pay. With one condition. That I go through counselling and therapy. She even offered assistance since mental issues are not covered by HMOs.
To deal with my heartache – heartaches actually – I turned off all notifications from Renz’ social media accounts and blocked all of Voltaire’s. Close friends and family knows I am mad at him for leaving without saying goodbye kaya di nila minemention ang name nya sa akin. Even updates ay wala ako pakialam.
The “old” Claire was back after 6 months of mourning and therapy. Though I had to continue until after the death anniversary for monitoring.
That was 7 years ago.
Now. Looking at the basket and the note made all the feelings resurface. I grabbed the basket and my bags. Said goodbye to my team, informed Mrs. Pineda that I’d take the rest of the day off and will be back in time for the project kick off preparation in 10 days.
After turning off my mobile phones and tablets, I drove myself straight to Baguio. Booked a room at The Manor. Locked myself in the room munching on the sweets and crying.
A week into my instant vacation…
I received another basketful of sweets.
Dear Claire,
Ang daya mo! Inubus mo mag-isa yung unang basket.
See you later,
Voltaire