Her Side of the Story

She let out a sharp, heavy sigh as she continued staring at the monitor of her computer. Nasa loob siya ng opisina at natapos na niya ang lahat ng kanyang gagawin para sa araw na iyon. It was still 2 o'clock in the afternoon. Hindi pa oras para lumabas siya. She has to wait for an grueling two hours before she could finally head home. Gustung-gusto na niyang umuwi. She's longing for home where she can lay rest her tired heart. Dahil sa mga oras na iyon, wala na siyang ibang makapang damdamin sa sarili niya kundi ang takot at sakit na patuloy na sumisigid sa puso niya.

She love him. She love him enough to accept the fact that he cannot and could never love her back. Magkalayo ang mundo at agwat nilang dalawa. Ni wala siya sa kalingkingan ng lalaking mahal niya. Hindi man lang siya nito magawang tingnan. He belonged to a different league. At hindi siya nabibilang sa mundong ginagalawan nito. Again, she heaved another sigh. Naluluha na rin ang kanyang mga mata dahil sa itinatakbo ng isip niya. She has to stop. Kung hindi ay baka mahalata pa ng kanyang mga kasamahan na may dinaramdam siya. 

Daig pa ang nilipad ng hangin ang kanyang pagdadrama nang biglang may nag-flash na pink box sa kanyang computer monitor. Sa box ay may nakasulat na "Chan Rak Khoon". It meant "I love you" in Thai. 

"What's going on? Damn it!" sigaw ng isa sa mga ka-opisina niya.

"Hell! Thai version of tbe I Love You Virus!" sigaw naman ng isa.

Marahil ay lumitaw rin siguro sa mga computer ng mga kasamahan niya ang pink box na iyon. Virus nga siguro iyon dahil tumigil sa pag-function ang lahat ng mga computer sa kompanya. Halos hindi na rin magkandaugaga ang mga kasamahan niyang IT specialists sa pagtuklas sa kung ano mang virus na kumalat sa computer system ng kompanya.

The entire office was rattled, except for one man. Amidst all the chaos, Mak just stood near his own table. His hands were inside his pocket, his face, like the usual, was devoid of any emotion. But his eyes said otherwise when he met her gaze. Sari-saring emosyon ang mababasa mula roon-longing, tenderness and love? Pero bakit ganoon ang tinging ibinibigay nito sa kanya? Anong ibig sabihin niyon?

Nawala ang atensiyon niya kay Mak nang biglang nagsipag-angalan na naman ang mga tao sa loob ng opisina.

"Pare, may sira-ulong nagdedeklara ng pag-ibig sa virus na ito."

"Ginaya yata ang pelikula ni Jericho Rosales, dude."

True enough, when she looked at the screen, a message was written in italics. 

I have something to say. I should have said this long ago but I got tongue-tied. Do not be shock. This is the only way I know so that I can finally reveal my true feelings for you.

Natutop niya ang kanyang bibig at wala sa sarili na napaupo siya ulit sa kanyang swivel chair nang biglang lumabas ang isang video sa screen ng kanyang computer. Not just an ordinary video but it was a video with Mak in it!

Marahil ay na-miss na nito ng sobra ang girlfriend nito kaya naisipan nitong magpakalat ng virus para maiparating ang pangungulila nito sa girlfriend nito in a romantic way. She should get jealous. Pero siguro ay dakilang masokista siya dahil sa halip na hindi panoorin ang video ay itinutok pa niya ang kanyang buong pansin doon. She wanted to see him talk. She wanted to hear his voice. She wanted to imagine that he was talking to her and not to any other woman. Gusto niyang isipin na ang video na iyon ay ginawa ni Mak para sa kanya. Na nagpakalat ito ng virus para sa kanya.

And so the video started with Mak speaking English with so much struggle but so much love in his eyes.

Nakangiting mukha ni Mak ang nasa video. Kumaway io sa camera. 

"Hi! I really don't know what to say. The truth is, I made this video on impulse. I don't know why. Maybe I just can't hide what I feel for you anymore," nagkamot ito ng ulo. "Magtatagalog na lang ako. Kahit...kahit hirap ako gawin 'yon. I'm more poor in English, you know."

Naiiling na natawa na lang siya sa sinabi nito. She continued looking at him, lulled by his every words and voice.

"I'm sorry. Iyan ang una ko sasabihin. I know that I've been a total jerk to you. Alam ko nasasaktan ko ikaw dahil sobra kong snob. I know you're hurt because I am acting like a total asshole towards you. Sana you can still find it in your heart to forgive me." Pinagsiklop pa nito ang dalawang kamay. "Please tell me you forgive me. If you don't, 'wag mo na lang tuloy panonood ng video."

Tuluyan nang nagpatakan ang luha sa kanyang mga mata. Mahinang bumulong siya sa hangin, "I forgive you, Mak. It's alright."

She continued watching. Napansin rin niyang natahimik ang kani-kanina lang ay magulong opisina. Marahil ay hinihintay rin ng mga ito kung ano ang mga sasabihin ni Mak.

"I love you. Chan rak khoon, saranghae, mahal na mahal kita. That's what I really feel for you. If you think that I don't notice you, you're wrong. Unang dating mo pa lang sa office, napansin na kita. Your smile, your graceful gait, your high-spirited aura, I've noticed them all. You created a huge impact on me effortlessly. That first day, when you arrived, it seems like the entire office was filled with sunlight and then, you looked at me. If you only knew, my knees got weak at that time." Mak smiled. There was so much love in his eyes. "Every time you passed by my table, every time your sweet scent left a trace, I just can't help but fall in love with you. I love you, you know. Mahal na mahal kita. You made my heart skip a beat every time you look at me with wide, expectant eyes."

Mula sa kung saan ay may inilabas itong bouquet of roses. Iniumang nito iyon sa camera. "Will you be my girl, Xaleya Kim Alejandro?"