C3's Surrender

"Why should I hire you?"  Diretso ang tingin ni Faye sa interviewer na nagkataong may-ari rin ng Bloodhound Security Agency.    Sa halip na sumagot ng kung anu-anong the usual and memorize na lines, she handed Mrs. Fuentes a photo. Tumaas ang kilay ng ginang, gayunpaman ay tinitigan nito ang inabot niya. "I heard you personally look after your employees dreams and ensure they come true. Am I correct, Ma'am Fuentes?" Nagkibit-balikat ang future boss niya.  A small smile crept from the corner of Mrs. Fuentes lips. "Only to a favored one." "Luck is with me then since that person in the photo is one of the trusted few who knows about your son, Vincent Devlin Lee." Natigilan si Mrs. Fuentes. "Yes, I did my research but I'm not interested about your son, Ma'am. I'm here  because of that person in the photo. And you should hire me because in order to help him achieve his dream, you will be needing me." She smiled confidently. "I, will fullfill his dreams." Naiiling itong umayos ng upo, nawala ang istrikto at pagkaalarma sa awra nito. "Your confidence is blowing me away, Miss Murillo." Napapalatak ito.  "And how sure are you with your claim?" "Ninety nine point nine percent sure, Ma'am. Although you won't see it right away, I'll ask you to be patient. I'm pretty sure that person will give me a hard time. Something I guess I deserve after all the trouble I gave him in the past." Yumuko si Mrs. Fuentes at sinulypan ng tablet nito. "Looks like you are indeed a trouble to someone." Nakangiti nitong inabot sa kanya ang pinapanood. "That face is not something I see everyday."  At nandoon, makikita nila kung paanong parang pusang hindi maihi ang pinag-uusapan nila. Panay ang lakad nito sa harap ng pinto kung saan siya kanina pumasok. Pigil ang ngiti niya bago bumaling muli sa ginang. "Am I hired?" "Yes. But... I'm not hiring you to be a part of Bloodhound Security Agency." Napatingin sa direksyon ng pinto si Faye bago nag-aalalang tumitig sa ginang. "But..." She know Bloodhound Security Agency rarely accepts ladies as part of its guard services, but what and where will she work then? Lumapit ito sa kanya at marahan siyang tinapik sa balikat. "I'm hring you as my P. A. Take it or leave." Lumapad ang ngiti niya sa narinig. Napatayo siya. "I'm taking it! Thank you! Thank you po, Mrs. Fuentes. I'll be the best P.A. you'll ever have. I swear." Itinaas pa niya ang kanang kamay. Tumango ang bago niyang employer. " Report to me in Villa Fuentes on monday. You have six months. If you fail, there'll be no second chances. Goodluck, Miss Murillo." "Villa Fuentes on monday. Noted, Ma'am. I'll be there at exactly seven am." "Don't be ridiculous." Tawa ng ginang. "You can come at nine. And I suggest you wear working clothes where you're most comfortable with. I have to warn you, you'll be doing a lot of running." "Yes, Ma'am! Thank you po ulit." Masayang tumalikod si Faye at kakaba-kaba ang dibdib na tinungo ang pinto.  Tumigil siya pagkatapat doon. At kagaya sa mga nakalipas na limang taong wala ito sa tabi niya, she imagined him waiting at the other side of the door. At kapag binuksan na niya ang pinto, his handsome face will be the first to welcome her. Huminga siya ng malalim.  This is it!  Hindi na 'to imagination Dreyanna Faye Murillo. He's really right there. Sa labas ng pinto. Sabi nga ni Princess Anna, love is an open door. So all you have to do is open the freaking door! "Whenever you're ready, Miss Murillo." Napalingon si Faye, muntik na niyang makalimutan ang presensya ng ginang. Ngumiti siya dito. "Mam, pinapakalma ko lang po yung heart ko, masyadong excited e." Tinampal pa niya ang dibdib.  She heard her chuckled.  "Be still, my heart and stop freaking out... it's just your cutie cute cute Clyde." Tumikhim pa muna siya bago mahigpit na hinawakan ang doorknob. There's only one way out. She'll only prolong whatever mixed feelings she's having at the moment kapag tumagal pa siya sa pagkakatayo doon. Pikit-mata niyang hinila ang pinto.  Agad niyang naramdaman ang mahigpit na paghawak sa braso niya, kasabay ng paghila nito sa kanya papunta sa exit door. Tahimik lang siyang nagpahila dito hanggang sa makarating na sila sa hagdan.  "We can talk over coffee, you know. May nadaanan akong cafe doon sa labas kanina—" Marahas siya nitong itinulak sa pader. Napapikit siya. "What are you doing here, Faye?"  Napangiti nang lihim si Faye sa narinig. It's nice to hear her name from his mouth once again kahit pa nga halata ang disgusto sa boses ng lalaki. Inangat niya ang tingin hanggang sa magpang-abot ang mata nila ng lalaking nagtanong. She gave out her infamous close up smile while crossing her arms. "Hello, Clyde! Surprised? Missed me?" "Hindi iyan ang sagot sa tanong ko." He snapped, frowning. "Clyde, what's with this greeting? Come on, it's been years. I actually thought you'll miss me so bad—" "Stop assuming, Faye." Mariin nitong sabi. "I know you. You just can't help but messed up with my life so you can't blame me if I'm acting like this. I'm working here for some time now, I'm building up a clean record and I can't have you here just so you can ruin me." "Sino sa'tin ngayon ang assuming?" Tumawa pa siya ng sarkastiko. "Excuse me, Clyde Clinton Cuervo, but in case nakakalimot ka, let me remind you. Yes, kilala mo ako. But that's five years ago. Maraming pwedeng mangyari sa loob lang ng isang minuto, limang taon pa kaya? And about me, messing up with your life...tsk. Stop exaggerating! They're all silly little pranks to spice your oh so boring life. Kung makapagsalita ka, parang pinutulan kita ng alaga kaya wala kang s*x life." Halatang nagulat ito na ikinatawa niya. Her eyes even went to his crotch for second. "Hindi naman di ba? And FYI, Hindi ko pinagsisisihan ang ginawa ko. They made me happy. Sure may mga mali doon but I've learned my lesson. And I've changed!" She took a step closer to him. "Look at me," she even flipped her shoulder length hair. "Mukha pa rin ba akong bata na mahilig mangtrip sa paningin mo?" She asked while closing the distance between them. "I'm all grown up and become a beautiful woman, Clyde." Ito naman ang umurong noong gahibla na lang ang layo nila. "Something you missed cause you ran away." "I did not ran away." "If you say so." Natigil ito sa pag-urong nang masandal sa pader. "But it didn't change the fact the you left me behind. You know how I hate it to be left behind and yet you did. You of all people." Makailang beses niya itong hinampas. Her eyes started to water but she hold it in. "Five years Clyde. Natiis mo ako nang ganoon katagal?" Kumibit ang labi nito na tila ba nais sumagot pero sa huli ay nagdisisyon yatang huwag na lang kumibo. Tahimik na naglaban ang kanilang tingin. Pinagmasdan ni Faye ang mukhang tinitingala niya lalo ngayon. Kagaya ng kung paano siya nagbago,  ganoon din ito.  Mukhang wala na ang cutie, cute cute Clyde ko since he's every inch a man now. This is the face she imagined him to be five years ago. Ruggedly and dangerously handsome. Tumangkad din talaga ito, unlike her na na-stuck sa 5'5", umabot yata ng 6 foot ang lalali. His confidence and s*x appeal is ozzing in that Bloodhound dark navy blue uniform he's currently wearing. Malayo sa totoy na ginagawa niyang past time noong highschool. Hindi na niya napigil ang sarili, niyakap niya ito. "I missed you. Sobra." Ramdam niya ang paninigas nito . Ilang saglit itong natahimik bago tumawa. Napakagat-labi si Faye habang inaalis siya ng lalaki mula sa pagkakayakap niya dito. Mukhang mahihirapan talaga siya. His laughter is full of bitterness. She can feel it. At kahit pa ilang beses na niyang inihanda ang sarili sa ganoong eksena, nasasaktan pa rin siya. "You did not missed me, Faye. Nawalan ka lang ng laruan, that's what it is." "You're wrong—" "Of course, Faye. Ikaw naman lagi ang tama, di ba?" Nang-uuyam na putol nito sa sasabihin niya. "Now para matapos na ang usapang ito, tell me, were you hired?" "Yes." Mahina niyang sagot. Gusto nang tumakas ng confidence niya. He scoffed. "Congrats! I hope you'll find working here enjoyable," he said saka tumalikod. "I'm not working here exactly." Mukhang magreresign ito kung doon nga talaga siya magtatrabaho. Nagdududa ang tinging nilingon siya nito. She nodded. "I'll be Mrs. Fuentes, PA." Tumawa ulit ito. "You seriously expect me to believe na tinanggap ng isang criminology graduate na gaya mo ang pagiging PA? Why did you even took that program? I thought you always wanted to become an actress. Hindi ba doon ka magaling?" She grimaced at his sarcasm. "Hindi ka rin naman maniniwala kahit sabihin ko pa sa'yo ang totoo, so what's the use?" "Right." Muli itong tumalikod at tinungo ang pinto. "Teka, saan ka pupunta?" Her hands automatically reached out to his arm. Pumiksi ito. "Sa kung saan wala ka." **********