I was in hurry to run, kahit naka-skirt ako at heels ay wala na akong pakialam. Pucha talaga!
Anong oras na kasi ako nakauwi, 4:00am and may event kami ngayon ng 1:00pm. Kahit na masama ang hang-over ko, wala naman akong choice kung hindi ang pumasok.
I breathed a sigh of relief, nung makarating ako sa Event's place. I put my bag on the high table as soon as I get there. Buti na lang hindi pa nag-start pero marami na ang taong nandito.
"How was the Event? All set na ba lahat?" tanong ko kay Katrina, one of our staff.
She handed me the documents I needed. "Yes po ma'am. Pero 'yong isa po doon sa mga kasama sa Event ma'am, gusto raw po kayong makausap."
I looked at the person Katrina was pointing to, he noticed us so he walked closer to us. Just from his posture, you will notice that he is in a higher position.
"Good afternoon! I'm Frank Dela Rosa, General Manager of Philippines Aircraft... Much has been heard about your name." he extended his hand.
At tama ako... General Manager pala sya.
I gripped it. "Good day sir, I'm Calantha Mersey Solivar, Event Organizer Manager ng Ulayaw Events. I hope you heard good things about my name."
He laughed. "Your passion on your work is really amazing. I've heard a lot of great things tungkol sa company nyo and also sa magaling nilang Event organizer manager." I couldn't help pero napangiti ako sa kanyang sinabi. Bolero!
We just keep talking about the event and their company dahil nabanggit ko rin na that I had planned to be a pilot before. Isa ang company nila sa pinaka-malaking airlines sa Philippines, isa sila sa pinangarap kong airlines dati.
Sa mga kwento ni Mr. Dela Rosa, parang ginusto ko tuloy ituloy ang pag-aaral ko. Parang gusto kong ituloy ang pangarap na nakalimutan ko.
"By the way Ms. Solivar, one of our best captain mentioned that he needs an Event Organizer, he really like your ideas for this event and I will recommend you to him."
Tumalon ang puso ko sa sinabi nyang iyon. More Sales, mas malaking commission ko. Kahit kasi ako ang Event Manager ay pag nakapag-pasok ako na sales ay may commission pa rin ako.
Maharan akong sumang-ayon sa kanya. "Thank you so much po sir Dela Rosa. Looking forward to that po sir. If you need anything po regarding to the event, just let me know."
Nagpaalam na rin sya agad dahil may tumawag sa kanya. Nakahinga ako nang maluwag noong maka-alis sya sa tapat ko. No matter how many clients I have talked to, ay medyo kinakabahan pa rin ako. Lalo na kung malalaking tao ang mga ito.
Kumuha ako ng tubig sa mga boxes ng tubig sa gilid, para ma-relax ako. Napatigil ako sa pag-inom dahil may tumawag sa cellphone na hawak ko.
[Hey. How are you? Na-late ka?]
Huminga ako ng malalim. "I'm fine... Besides nakausap ko lang naman yung General Manager ng Philippines Aircraft, so I think okay naman ako. Hindi pa rin kasi nag-start pero nandito na halos lahat nang staff ng Philippines Aircraft."
[That's good to hear. Edi marami mga captain ang nakikita mo dyan?]
Natahimik ako. Nadinig ko ang palalim nyang pag-hinga. Alam ko na alam nya kung ano ang iniisip ko.
[Si tita Tess? Naalala mo sya, right?]
I told you, kilalang-kilala na nya ako. Pinilit kong ngumiti kahit ang lungkot-lungkot ko.
He's right. Habang tinitingnan ko yung mga Captain dito ay naisip ko yung pangarap ni mama para sa akin dati.
[But we know that she's watching you right now. Alam kong proud na proud sya sayo. Palagi naman syang proud sayo, Cal.]
Hindi ko man natupad iyong pangarap nya para sa akin, but I know na she's proud of me now. I can pay my bills now. I can afford to buy everything I want... And I worked hard for this.
I bent down as I played with my feet.
[Cal alam mo ba, you are one of the most famous event organizer in the Philippine.]
I pressed my finger to my lips. Hindi pa rin kasi nag-sink in sa utak ko na dadating rin ako sa puntong ito.
"Yeah, I know. But thanks for reminding me."
He drew in a deep breath. [Need to go. Just call me later to pick you up. Take good care of yourself.]
Nagpaalam na rin ako sa kanya bago ko inantay na patayin nya ang tawag. Lumapit naman si Jim sa akin, isa sa sa staff.
"Ma'am, yung mga aircrafts miniature po hindi pa po pala namin nailagay po. Na-late po kasi iyobg deliver ma'am, nakalimutan po naming sabihin ma'am... Pasensya na po talaga."
I slapped my forehead at took a deep breqth. Hindi ko alam kung napansin ba ito ni Mr. Dela Rosa pero sa ay hindi. Kailangan namin tong ilagay dahil isa ito sa mga special request nila.
Instead of preaching to them, I just helped them fix it. Baka masermonan kami ng boss namin, sabay-sabay pag hindi namin ito naayos. Lahat kami ay aligaga, mabuti na lang at may aluminum lader sa gilid. Inalis ko muna ang heels na suot ko at umakyat ako doon sa aluminum lader.
Naka-ilan na rin ata ako na miniature aircrafts na nailalagay. Pero itong isa na nilalagay ko sa may gilid ng buffet table ay medyo mahirap ilagay. Pinilit kong abutin iyong lalagay ng aircraft miniature nung biglang dumulas yung paa ko sa aluminum lader. Dahil naka-stockings ako madulas talaga iyon.
Napa-pikit na lamang ako dahil alam kong lalagapak ako sa sahig, anytime. Pero mali ako, I felt something in my waist and on my back. I slowly open my eyes. I don't know if I'm dreaming pero natanaw ko ang isang pamilyar na mukha.
His Angelic Face....
Suddenly my world slowed down, same as before. I stared at his face intently. His age-old version of him was more manly and serious that ever.
His scent....
Nothing's changed. It took seconds from his scent to replace the air in the event's place. I filled my nose with his smell. Hindi pa rin nakakasawa...
Ibinaba na nya ako. He saved me again..... Liked what he did before.
Dinagsa ng iilang tao ang piligid naming dalawa. May sinabi si Mr. Dela Rosa pero hindi ko iyong maintindihan. Masyadong occupied ang utak ko sa itsura ng taong nasa harap ko.
"Sya nga pala Ms. Solivar, this is Captain Hernaez... Captain Cadfael Felix Hernaez."
Hindi ko napansin si Mr. Dela Rosa at nanatili ang mga mata ko kay Cad. I just loving staring at this man infront of me, as I always did before.
He just staring me back. Parang bumalik ang dating tingin ko sa kanya.
He was cold as Ice....
Hard as a rock.....
Naalala ko tuloy, how he used to smile at me habang naniningkit ang mga mata nya. But now, his eyes are full of anger.
"It was good seeing you... Again... After you left me hanging... Ms. Solivar."
My heart crushed. My knees are weakened dahil sa sinabi nya. Tama naman sya... I just left him hanging.
All memories flashed back to me... The memories that kept on haunting me before.
He's one of the memories... Behind my Tanceda.
***
Behind My Tacenda (Behind Series One)
A Novel written by : YourHasmina
All Rights Reserved
Copyright ©2021