Ang kanina pa tahimik na opisina ni Osiris ay nagkaroon din sa wakas ng ingay nang si Martha ay maging handa na sa pagsasalita ng kanyang sasabihin na kanina pa gustong malaman ni Osiris. Mabuti na lamang at hindi basta-basta nauubos ang pasensya ng binata."Ang totoo niyan ay gusto kong malaman ang nangyari kay Mr. Cesar," ani Martha, ang kanyang mga mata ay tila ba napupuno ng kalungkutan na kanina lang ay nagtatago sa maaliwalas niyang mukha.Osiris nodded, his expression a mix of curiosity and empathy. “Bakit? Hindi mo ba alam ang nangyari kay Mr. Cesar? Hindi ba’t kasasabi mo lang kanina ang tungkol sa pagkamatay niya?”“Oo, alam ko pero hindi ako nakasipot noong libing niya,” Martha explained..“Kaya pala, make sense. I announced it sa charity about his death saka pinapunta ko rin do’n ang mga scholars niya. Doon siya nakaburol at pinaglamayan ng ilang araw, if you ask me why, because it felt like the place he would have chosen,” pagbabahagi ni Osiris, may bakas ng kalungkutan s
Biglang tumunog ang phone ni Martha na ikinagulat nilang dalawa. Nakasagad kasi ang volume nito at sobrang nakakagulat ang sound nito kaya naman nagulat talaga lalo na ang binata na relax na relax pa naman sa kanyang swivel chair. “Ay, sorry, sorry, Osiris, tumunog lang yung alarm ko,” ani Martha at bahagyang napangisi nang maalala kung paano nagulat si Osiris. Magugulatin pala ang binata, ‘yan ang naging impression niya rito sa lalaki. Hindi naman in a negative way but she find it cute though, Dinukot niya ang phone sa kabubukas lang ng zipper ng shoulder bag niyang hindi malaman kung anong brand dahil wala namang nakatatak at hindi kilala ang design nito. Pinahinto niya ang tunog, matapos i-snooze ang alarm ay ibinalik niya na rin agad sa bag iyong phone niya. Ngumiti siya nang tipid nang ibalik niyang muli kay Osiris ang kanyang mga tingin at napagtantong kanina pa rin siya pinapanood nitong binata na itong nasundan na lahat ng ikinilos niya. “Bakit?” tano
Parang tinatawag siya nito, ang kakaibang disenyo nito ay nagbibigay ng senyales ng mga lihim na sikretong nakapaloob dito. Sa isang umaagos na kuryosidad at pag-aasam ng kung anumang dapat malaman, dahan-dahang itinaas ni Osiris ang kahon at hinawakan ito sa kanyang kamay, ang bigat nito ay parang pangako ng isang bagay na hindi pa nabubunyag. Kailangan niya iyong malaman.Binaligtad ni Osiris ang kahon, tiningnan ito mula sa iba't ibang anggulo, ang kanyang isip ay pinaglalaruan ng iba't ibang posibilidad at kung ano-anong deduksyon. What could be inside? What had Mr. Cesar chosen to keep hidden in this box?With a slow and deliberate motion, Osiris unlatched the box, the soft click of the mechanism filling the air like a secret being whispered. As the lid lifted, he was met with a sight that left him momentarily breathless –
Paano na nga ba ‘to? Puro paano ang nasa isip ni Osiris ngayon kahit he’s still doing stuffs just to distract himself but the fact na he’s gonna be in an unsure journey ng paghahanap sa babaeng hindi niya naman alam kung saan hahagilapin… it such an anxiety! He swore.As Osiris surveyed the scattered documents and rearranged his table, his mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, a medley of musings that danced like fireflies in the twilight. "How will I be able to find that girl?" he mused aloud, his voice a blend of contemplation and mild exasperation. His fingers instinctively reached for a stray paper, as if the task at hand provided a momentary distraction from the puzzle before him.With a sigh, he leaned back in his chair, his gaze drifting to the open window that framed a canva
“Ano po ‘yon, sir?” sambit ng dalaga na ngayon ay hinihintay na lang ang sasabihin ng binata dahil natapos naman na niyang linisin ang lamesang kinainan ng lalaking ito. “Sino ‘yong babaeng kasama mo rito kanina? Yung tinawag mong Martha?” tanong ni Osiris sa dalaga ngunit biglang nag-iba ang timpla ng mukha nito, hindi dahil hindi tungkol sa kanya ang tanong ng lalaki at para kay Martha pala. “Sorry, Sir. Hindi po kami pwedeng magbigay ng impormasyon ng mga ka-trabaho po namin, e, pinagbawalan po kami ng amo namin,” sagot nito at iyon ang dahilan kaya naman sumama ang mukha ng babae. Osiris leaned in, a casual smile tugging at his lips. "I totally get it, rules are rules. But here's the kicker – there's a sweet deal on the table, something a bit out of the ordinary." His words carried a hint of intrigue, like a hook that snagged the waitress's attention. Her eyes flickered with a mix of uncertainty and curiosity, as if debating whether to take the bait. It was a standoff between
The morning sunlight filtered through the curtains, gently illuminating the room as Osiris stirred from his slumber. His eyes blinked open, and a sense of contentment washed over him, as if the weight of the world had lifted from his shoulders. With a stretch and a yawn, he swung his legs over the edge of the bed, his feet finding the cool surface of the floor. As he stood, a rush of determination surged within him. The events of the previous day, the conversations and connections he had forged, had ignited a fire within him. He was no longer in the dark; he had a lead, a direction to follow, and the knowledge that Martha was not an enigma beyond reach. With a renewed sense of purpose, he reached for his phone, scrolling through the messages once again. Each word seemed to resonate with newfound clarity, a roadmap of possibilities. His fingers traced over the text, as if seeking confirmation that this was not a figment of his imagination. His heart beat with a steady rhythm, a cade
"Martha," he replied, his own smile matching hers. The air seemed to crackle with a kind of energy that defied explanation. It was as if the universe had conspired to bring them together at this moment.Without hesitation, Martha took a seat across from him, her presence filling the space between them. There was a natural ease to their interaction, a comfort that belied the fact that they were essentially strangers. It was as if their paths were meant to cross, as if their lives had been intertwined in ways they were only beginning to understand."Is this seat taken?" Martha asked, a playful glint in her eyes as she motioned to the empty chair.Osiris chuckled softly. "Not anymore," he replied, a warmth in his tone that conveyed his genuine pleasure at her presence.As they settled into their seats, an unspoken understanding seemed to pass between them. There was no need for elaborate introductions or explanations; their connection transcended words. They were two souls brought togeth
Martha's enthusiasm was infectious as she continued to gush about the restaurant's exquisite features. "And look at the menu! I've never seen such a selection before! Lobster, filet mignon, truffle risotto… It's like a dream come true."Osiris chuckled, his appreciation for the moment mirrored in his eyes. "You're right. The menu here is something else. And the fact that we can enjoy it together makes it even better."As they entered the restaurant, Martha's excitement only grew, her eyes widening as she took in every detail. She couldn't help but share her thoughts out loud. "The ambiance, the music, even the waitstaff – everything is so top-notch. This is way beyond anything I could have imagined."Osiris nodded, his gaze moving across the elegant space. "It's a testament to hard work and determination. From where we both came, places like this were distant aspirations. Now, we're here, enjoying this moment."Martha's eyes met Osiris's, a shared understanding passing between them. "