Arrange To You (Tagalog)

"Hmm, alright!" I positively replied. There's a hint of unknown feeling inside but I chose to ignore it.

Binigay ko nalang sa secretary ang pagkain bago lumabas ng building. I went to the nearby mall and went to some boutiques. I googled myself on buying some important things. Nakapagtataka at hindi na ako pala-bili ng mga gamit na ididisplay ko lang sa bahay.

Nang madaanan ang isang boutique ay kaagad akong naglibot-libot. I grimaced when nothing suited for my liking.

Lalabas na sana ako nang may mahagip akong pamilyar. I took a closer walk to verify if it's really her.

May kaharap itong babae at mukhang hindi maganda ang timpla ng pag-uusap nila.

"Mag-ingat ka sa mga sinasabi mo, baka bukas o sa makalawa, ikaw pa yung mapapahiya sa mga pinanggagawa mo." My lips curled into a smirk when I realized what's going on. It surely is Maite.

Sinuyod nito ang kabuuan ng babaeng kaharap at pagak na natawa.

"You b*tch! How dare you tell me those things!" Maite raised an eyebrow and looked at the girl in a mocked manner.

"Ikaw ang nauna. Pero bakit nung pinatulan kita, mas sobra pa sa biktima ka kung maka-asta?" Maite said sharply. Hindi nakasagot ang babae at umuusok ang ilong na tinalikuran si Maite.

"There's really not a day that a bad spirit will follow you, yeah?"

Lumingon siya sa'kin at tumango.

"Hah, wala talag― Celestia?" untag nito nang makita ako.

I waved at her. Ang kaninang mataray na mukha niya ay naging maamo bigla. Kaagad niya akong nilapitan at niyakap.

"Walang pinagbago, angganda ko pa rin." si Maite.

I rolled my eyes and hugged her tightly. Hindi ko inasahan na magkikita kami ngayon. It has been such a long time when we last met.

"What are you doing here by the way?" tanong ko. At mukhang na-alarma naman siya sa sinabi ko.

"Nothing, really. N-Nag-shopping lang ako at na-"

"Maite," putol ng kung sino sa kanya.

I saw how Maite squeezed her eyes shut as if putting herself to embarrassment. Sabay kaming napalingon sa nagsalita, and there stood a tall guy throwing sharp glares at Maite.

"Nandiyan ka pala, anong ginagawa mo dito?" mataray nitong tanong pero hindi maikaka-ila ang kabado sa boses.

"Should I be the one asking you that?" masungit na pabalik na tanong ng lalaki.

Looks like they are enemies.

"Bakit mo binabalik ang tanong sa akin?" medyo tumaas ang boses ni Maite.

"Bakit? Ikaw lang ba ang pwedeng pumunta sa mall? Di 'ba hindi? At bakit mo ba ako pinapaki-alaman rito? Dun ka sa babaeng haliparot na yun at mukhang interesadong-interesado pa yun na samahan ka." si Maite. Palipat-lipat lang ang tingin ko sa dalawa, hindi alam kung magpapaalam o dumeritsong lumayo sa kanila.

I saw the guy massaging the bridge of his nose before composing himself.

"I'm not interested in her. I'm sorry, please let's not argue. Let's go home, Maite."

Lumapit si Maite sa'kin. "Let's hang out some other time. I just need to deal with this creature."

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Pagkasabi ng huling linya ay rumolyo ang mga mata nito. I nodded and bid farewell to them. Nang maka-uwi ay palalim pa lang ang gabi. Kaagad na bumungad sa akin si Roseanna.

I didn't greet her and just walked past her.

"So you're close with Wayde now? Noon, halos isumpa mo pa kami dahil gusto ka naming ipakasal sa kanya. What happened now, Celestia?"

I gritted my teeth and answered. "What happened is not your business, Roseanna."

"He will leave you. Hindi ka magtatagal sa kanya, I'm sure of that. Wayde would just throw you something like trash." I clenched my fist.

Staying calm is the only thing that I bear in mind. My mind is congested and I would be more of it if Roseanna would provoke me.

"Iiwan man niya ako o hindi, wala kanang pakialam 'run. Better stay in your line, Roseanna. I don't need your pointless statement."

I was about to walk away when she threw a line that got me thinking. Naramdaman ko ang pagkirot ng puso ko sa sinabi niya. Na sa lahat ng mga sinabi ni Roseanna ay dun ako mas naapektuhan.

"Just how many months have you two known each other? Pumunta ka sa office niya diba? pero wala siya 'run. It just shows how he prioritizes his business more than you. Because you're not the priority and never will be."

Natikom ko ang bibig ko at hindi na sumagot, ni hindi ko man lang siya tinapunan ng tingin. I went straightly to my room and took a bath. Hindi pa rin mawala-wala ang sinabi ni Roseanna kanina.

I trust Wayde.

Hinayaan kong dumaloy ang lamig ng tubig sa katawan ko. It has been a year since we knew each other. At sa mga panahong iyon ay hindi ko kailanman iniisip ang mga bagay na 'yun. She may know Wayde longer than me, but she will never see Wayde's sacrifices to where he is now.

How cruel she can be.

Kaagad kong pinunasan ang buhok ko at pinatuyo iyon. When I glanced at the clock, it's already past 8 pm. Kinatok rin ako ni Manang Helen para kumain pero tumanggi ako. Sabay nalang kami ni Wayde mamaya.

I made my way to the main balcony to breathe some fresh air. Kaagad na bumungad ang malamig na kapaligiran sa akin.

I watched those myriad lights outside. Those moving trees as they swayed with the breeze. Hindi ko mapigilang mapaisip na naman sa sinabi ni Roseanna.

Aaminin kong hindi ako mapakali dahil dun. Those statement from her lingers in my mind like a windmill. I was never been the priority even before. Because you're not the priority and never will be.

There's always a line between the business and with my dad's relationship. But I couldn't blame him for it. Dahil lahat ng ginagawa niya para sa akin, para sa kinabukasan ko. I never think of it not until Roseanna mentioned it. Ni hindi kailan sumagi sa isip ko ang mainggit sa isang bagay na hindi naman tao pero ngayon, I doubt it. Alam ko kung gaano kahirap ang industriyang pinasok niya at kailangan kong intindihin iyon. After all, it wasn't just me. Wayde... didn't grew up with his parents beside him. Wala siyang matatakbuhan kung meron 'mang masamang mangyari o sa masasayang araw niya. And those kinds of situations made me realize somehow. An hour had passed.

Bumibigat na rin ang talukap ng mga mata ko. Iniba ko ang posisyon ko sa pagkaka-upo para hindi antukin. I also entertain myself on watching some movies.

An hour had passed when I felt my phone vibrating. Awtomatiko akong napabangon upang kunin iyon.

"Celestia, have you eaten already?"

"Not yet, why?" I answered in a low tone.

"I may not be able to join dinner with you. Baka late na akong maka-uwi ngayon, I'm sorry for not being able to meet you today. Don't wait for me already." nagbaba ako nang tingin at napatango kahit hindi naman niya ako nakikita. I tried my best not to be affected. I took a deep breath and tried to stop myself from over-thinking.

It took me seconds to answer Wayde, who was also waiting for me to respond.

"Ganun ba? Oh, okay, mag-iingat ka sa pag-uwi." I replied and ended the call.

Hindi ko na hinintay ang pagsagot niya. It was rude for me to act that way pero hindi man lang ako nagsisi na sinabi ko 'yun. I can sense a bitterness that is hovering over me.

Damn it! What the heck is happening to you, Celestia?