I WAS EXTREMELY worried when I received Maggie's text that she wanted to take a nap. I thought maybe she is still not okay and she only forced herself to report to office pretending she is in a better shape, but in reality, she is not. I wish I could wish upon a star now so she'll be strong and healthy and happy just like the first time when we met. She was full of enthusiasm and her smile is just breathtaking. Alam ko, it was not a good meeting at first dahil nag-away pa kami, pero after our lunch, mas naging panatag ang loob ko sa kanya.
Last night, I did plan on coming early so I could welcome her and give her orientation of the whereabouts of our English Center but I had to attend to a client that there was a need to set aside my longing of seeing her. I know this is not right but I can't help it. Hahayaan ko na muna na ang nararamdaman ko, tutal hindi naman sila ni Brian,'di ba? So technically, kung mag-worry naman ako kay Maggie, wala namang masama? Wala namang makaaalam. Ako lang at ang puso ko.
Kahapon, no'ng magkakasama kami, gusto ko sana ako 'yung kasabay niyang maglakad, alalayan siya at bilhan din siya ng icecream, kaso ang sakit lang na sa tuwing titingnan ko siya, nakikita ko siyang nakatingin kay Brian. Parang sinasaksak ang puso ko. Alam kong wala naman akong karapatang maramdaman 'yun, pero ewan ba. Siguro, may past talaga sila ng kaibigan ko. Ano'ng laban ko do'n,'di ba? Kami, ngayon lang nagkakilala. Wala pa ngang isang buwan. Ano ba naman kasi 'tong feeling na 'to? Nakakaasar.
I decided to just focus my attention to Zen Choi. After all, she is a fellow Korean and it's just right to help her. Nakakatuwa nga na ang pagtulong namin ni Maggie sa kanya eh, ang magiging dahilan para maka-close ako ng isang malaking deal. Blessing talaga. Nakakatuwa. Every day is a miracle. God's love never fails.
Zen works for a school in Korea and she said that she is here in the Philippines to look for possible partner to teach Koreans Conversational English. Mabuti nga raw at naligaw siya at nakilala niya si Maggie and the rest is history. We signed our contract this morning and in a month's time, students will be coming. Marami kaming gagawin ni Maggie. Baka mapagod siya. I will help her naman. Dalawa naman kaming magtatrabaho. Maraming pagkakataong makilala namin ang isa't isa.
I had to type, edit, and erase my reply before I finally decided that the best thing to do is to call her. I was anxious on what to tell her but I have to risk, yes risk, so I could hear her voice.
I dialled her number and was surprised with her answer. "Good morning, Sir. Hindi na po pala ako inaantok. Hihintayin ko na lang po kayo, Sir. Sorry po Talaga.Iinom na lang po ako ng tatlong tasang coffee so that I will not be sleepy anymore," sunud-sunod na sabi niya.
Hindi ko napiligan ang sariling kong matawa. Paano ba naman, para siyang batang nag-e-explain kanina. Hindi naman ako terror na boss, ah. Bakit siya takot na takot?
Mas lalo akong nagulat nang tanungin ko siya kung ano'ng gusto niyang lunch. Wala naman talaga akong planong dalhan siya ng pagkain kasi my plan was to ask her out pero okay na rin siguro kung sa center na lang kami kakain para marami kaming matapos na trabaho at hindi na rin siya mapagod.
"Maggie, are you still there?" tanong ko ulit. Paano, medyo ang tagal niyang sumagot.
"Sir David, I'm actually good. But if you will be able to buy Yellow Cab Pizza, it would be great!" Nakakatuwa lang na pareho kami ng choice of food. Well, bukod sa Korean food, mahilig din talaga ako sa Pizza and mas magugustuhan ko yata ngayon ang pizza kasi kasama ko siyang kakain ito.
"Is that all that you want?" tanong ko ulit sa kanya. Para lang humaba ang usapan namin.
"Ahm . . . Yes . . ." napakaikli ng sagot niya. Hindi sapat para marinig ko nang matagalan ang cute niyang boses. Matinis na masaya. Nakakapagpagaan ng pakiramdam.
"Alright. What about dessert?" tanong ko ulit. Wala na kasi akong maisip na tanong.
"Buko pie or sundae." mabilis niyang sagot. Siguro gutom na rin talaga siya.
"Alright. Will be there in an hour." Pero kung kakayanin kong less than an hour, gagawin ko.
"Okay, I'll see you later then, Sir. Bye."
"Ahm . . . Maggie . . ." Actually, hindi ko talaga alam kung bakit ko pa pilit pinapatagal ang usapan namin eh, wala na naman talaga na akong sasabihin pa.
"Sir?!"
"Sleep well." 'Di ba gusto niyang matulog? Gusto niyang mag-take a nap? Kaya nasabi kong sleep well. Just the thought of her sleeping so peacefully made me smile. Siguro mukha siyang anghel,'di ba?
"Ahm . . . Sir." Akala ko binaba na niya ang phone, pero 'di naman pala. Bakit kaya? Baka gusto niya rin akong makausap? Ewan.
"Yes?"
"Take care."
Take care? Hindi nga? Galing 'yun kay Maggie? Take care? Sasagot pa sana ako ng 'You too' nang marinig kong ibinaba na niya ang phone.
Pinilit kong pigilan ang pagtalon ng puso ko. Take care lang naman ang sinabi niya. Wala namang big deal doon pero ewan ba, parang teenager ako. Tuwang-tuwa ako.
Malapit na ako sa parking ng Yellow Cab nang nag-ring ang phone ko. Marahil nagugutom na si Maggie o kaya naiinip. That was like ten minutes ago, ah. O baka naman may problema sa English Center. Kailangan kong bilisan ang pag-order at lumipad papuntang center.
Hindi ko na tiningnan pa kung sino ang tumatawag at agad 'tong sinagot.
"Maggie, I'm okay. Traffic lang. I'm on my way. I think I have cookies in my drawer. You can take that first. Sorry,'di ko agad nasabi kanina. It slipped my mind."
"Pare, this is Brian and Maggie is still peacefully sleeping. Please give us time to talk. Kung okay lang. Thank you, pare. I owe you a lot"
Seryoso? Si Brian? Nasa English Center? Si Maggie natutulog? Si Brian at Maggie mag-uusap? Pero, bakit? Paano na 'ko?