Knowing Her

Chapter 3: Indescribable Feeling

Chapter III

Kharissa isn’t ready to open her heart at totoong wala syang nararamdaman sa kanyang boss.

Dahil nahihiya syang wag ito bigyan ng chance dahil unang-una anak ito ng may-ari ng advertising company na kanyang pinagta-trabahuhan, sinubukan na lamang nyang bigyan ito ng isang pagkakataon para maipakita sa kanya na totoo ang lahat ng mga sinasabi nito.

Two days had passed after that incident.

Monday morning.

--

Collin’s POV

I directly went to the office building upon finishing my morning workout sa gym ng condo unit naming ng kapatid ko. My office has a walk in closet and shower, napag-isipan ko na lamang na doon na magbihis.

I check my watch and its 7:30 AM.

“I still have a lot of time.”, bulong ko sa sarili ko while looking for an office attire.

Dahil hindi ako nakatulog ng maayos for how many nights hindi lamang dahil sa mga reports na dapat kong ma review kundi pati na rin sa sinabi ni Kuya, I decided to take a nap sa two seater couch inside my walk-in closet kahit 10 minutes lang.

--

I woke up and it’s 8:30AM already.

I hurriedly go out then I saw my executive secretary sitting on my swivel chair habang nag-aayos ng mga reports sa desk ko.

Her hair in messy bun, yung lapis nya ay nakalagay pa sa kanyang tenga, I smiled seeing her in very dedicated scene.

“You might mind tying your hair properly muna Ms. Torres para komportable ka naman habang nagta-trabaho.”, I told her while walking towards her.

Akma na syang tatayo when I hold her shoulders and made her sit again.

“It’s fine, you can sit there all you want Kharissa.”

“Akala ko po kasi Sir wala ka pa, I find it hard to sort the papers while standing kasi.”, sagot nya sa akin.

I untie her messy bun, comb her hair using my fingers while faking a reprimand para hindi halata na ako mismo ay hindi mapakali bakit ko ginagawa ito.

“You know very well that I don’t tolerate looking unpleasant on my office Kharissa, you’ve been with me for a year and half.”

Natapos kong talian ang mahaba nyang buhok, then I made the chair turn, now she’s facing me.

I lean towards her, looking intently while remembering every detail of her features.

The next thing I knew, I just kissed her forehead.

Kharissa didn’t move an inch; she is also shocked as I am.

Dahil hindi ko alam yung gagawin ko, I immediately went out my office to breathe some air.

“Parang mali Collins, bakit ikaw yung lumabas?”, I ask myself while walking towards the elevator.

I just laugh realizing what I’ve done.

--

My legs brought me to this ice cream store just outside our building and I don’t know why I am having a vanilla ice cream now.

Hindi pa ako na kuntento, I ask the server for another set. I really don’t understand myself at the moment.

“Alam mo ba Sir, yung mga lalaking pumupunta dito at nag-va-vanilla ice cream, they usually tend to be either in love or broken hearted.”, walang prenong sabi ng server sa akin.

I was amazed by her so I replied.

“Sa tingin nyo po, alin ako dun sa dalawa?”

Tiningnan nya ako sa mata bago sumagot.

“In love po kayo but your eyes seems to be sad too.”

Hindi ako nakatugon agad dahil hindi ko alam kung ano yung sasagot sa server.

She smiled at me and said,

“Sana po wag kayong sumuko kasi baka mahal ka rin ng taong gusto nyo. I hope to see a full happiness in your eyes soon.”

Then the door bells, a sign of new customer entered the shop.

The server left me without hearing any reply.

--

Kharissa’s POV

Almost five minutes when my superior left his own office after he kissed my forehead pero andito pa rin ako, nakaupo pa rin sa kanyang swivel chair.

“What just happened?, I keep asking myself.

Napahawak ako sa aking noo, I feel like there’s tons of electric voltage running on body.

I immediately gather all my stuff and went outside directly to my cubicle. Napaupo ako still thinking what is this strange feeling that I have.

Napukaw ako sa pag-iisip nang biglang may naglapag ng paper bag sa table ko. When I looked up, it is Sir Collins.

He smiled at me.

“Eat that before it melts.”, yun lamang ang sinabi nya saka umalis na.

I checked on the paper bag and I am still puzzled with what is going on.

My eyes sparkle; it’s my favorite vanilla ice cream from Nancy’s ice cream bar sa labas ng building.

I pulled out the container from the paper bag, pinasadahan ng daliri ko ang naka sulat na brand name at specific name ng ice cream, Nancy’s KJ Vanilla.

Naalala ko tuloy nung nasa Ateneo pa kami ni Nancy taking our Business Degree, she always says that one day she’ll built an ice cream bar dahil pareho naming comfort food ito and she even said that one of her ice creams will be named after me.

Last year, my best friend Nancy made her dream into reality. Nancy’s Ice Cream Bar has fifteen branches already all over the metro at balak nya ring mag expand around the country soon kapag nag-asawa na sya.

I once again looked at the name, I smiled.

“Tinupad talaga ng loka na ipangalan sa akin ang vanilla flavor nila.”, kausap ko sa sarili ko.

--

It’s already 1PM pero hindi pa rin ako ginugutom dahil nilantakan ko yung isang container ng ice cream kanina. I just decided to continue my work.

“Ms. Torres can you help me out?”, my officemate from proposal team Janella asked.

Lumapit ako sa cubicle nya to see what she’s doing.

It’s a draft of proposal plan for the company’s new tie-up partner in Connecticut, USA.

“Ella, you need to specify your proposal, if you keep doing general proposal talagang hindi ka matatapos.”, I told her.

Janella hold my arm.

“Please Ms. Torres, tulungan mo ako. I know you’re an EA already at hindi na ito cover ng work mo but I know you’re good at it dahil napagdaanan mo na rin ito.”

I can’t say no to Janella since alam kong junior staff pa lamang sya sa department and kung gaano ka metikuloso yung boss naming sa department, and she’s right, I’ve been in the same work before I got promoted as Executive Assistant ng Finance.

“Okay, I’ll help you but this would be the first and last time. You need to listen well. Paano na lang kapag wala ng tutulong sayo diba?”

Janella enthusiastically say yes.

--

Saktong pagbalik ko sa cubicle ko ay sya namang pag-beep ng intercom.

“Kharissa, please come in.”, Sir Collins said.

I rush to get inside his office dahil baka importante ang kanyang papagawa.

He is timidly reviewing some documents when I come in but what caught my attention more is the set of food na nakalagay sa visitor table nya.

“Anything you need Sir?”,pagtatanong ko.

He looked at me first then wrap up the documents in his hands.

“Let’s eat together; I know hindi ka nag-lunch.”

I was about to say no pero hawak na nya ang kamay ko at hinila na nya ako paupo.

“Okay pa naman ako Sir and pwede naman akong kumain sa pantry in case.”, pagtatanggi ko.

“Eat now Kharissa or else you’ll starve. We’ll stay until 8PM today with the proposal team.”

Dahil sa sinabi nya napilitan na akong kumain, baka nga gutumin ako mamaya kapag tumanggi pa ako.

--

“Okay we’re done here. Let’s rest.”, this line from our boss made us all alive.

Tatlong oras na overtime para sa new venture hindi ko alam kung buhay pa ba kao o zombie na dahil pagod ang utak ko.

Everyone left the audio visual room at kami na lamang ni Sir Collins ang nagliligpit ng mga gamit.

“Kharissa, I’ll drop you off gabi na at delikado mag taxi.”

I am about to answer yes nang biglang bumukas ang pinto ng AVR.

It’s Clint.

“Good evening po Sir.”,pagbati ko sa bagong dating.

He just smiled at me then turns his gaze to her brother.

“Are you done here Collins?”

“Yes Kuya, we’re just sorting the documents and we’ll be off.”

Nakikinig na lamang ako sa usapan ng magkapatid na De Vera.

“That’s great! I’ll bring Kharissa home tonight.”,Clint uttered.

Hindi ko alam bakit parang nagpo-protesta ang pakiramdam ko nung sabihin yun ni Sir Clint.

I look towards Sir Collins waiting for his reply, alam ba nya yung ginagawa ng kapatid nya? Nahihiya ako dahil baka anong isipin ng superior ko dahil sa sinabi ng kapatid nyang COO ng kompanya.

Sir Collins just looked at me when Sir Clint break the silence.

“Is there a staring contest here guys?”

“Nothing Kuya.”, Sir Collins said coldly.

Agad kong binawi ang titig ko kay Sir Collins.

He carries all his belongings and about to go out when I bravely step in the conversation.

“Sir Clint, I think I should leave with Sir Collins. We have something important to discuss pa po kasi.”

I saw how smile carved on Sir Collins lips.

“Can’t it wait tomorrow Kharissa?”, asked Sir Clint.

I firmly answered that it can’t.

--

Clint Dexter’s face is written with disappointment but he has no choice but to give in to Kharissa’s statement.

--

We are already on the parking lot and I am walking behind my superior.

“Julienne. . .”

Nabigla ako sa sinabi ni Sir Collins, I am never comfortable with other people calling me by my second name. Pero nung si Sir Collins ang bumitaw nito ay para akong napaka-komportable.

Hindi ako nakasagot agad.

Bigla nyang hinawakan ang aking kamay.

“Stop calling me Sir when we’re outside the workplace.”, saad nya.

“Nakakahiya naman po sa inyo S--. .”

Hindi ko natapos ang dapat kong sasabihin nang bigla nya akong niyakap.

“I am too tired today, can I at least hug you for a minute. .”

Hindi na ako nagpumiglas pa kahit na animo’y nagkakaroon ng karera sa aking dibdib.

“Thank you for choosing me this time.”, sabi nya.

I let go of his embrace and face him.

“It will be improper if I would not dahil ikaw po yung unang nag-offer na ihatid ako. And it is never what you are thinking about me and Sir Clint, walang kami po.”

Bigla akong napahawak sa baba ko nang marealize ko na nag-e-explain ako sa kanya.

Natawa si Collins sa aking gawi.

“I’m sorry. I just wanted to clear things baka ano kasi yung isipin nyo.”

He didn’t answer me.

We walked directly to his car and he opened the door for me. Palihim akong napangiti.

But before I could enter the car he again kissed my forehead.

“Let’s go home honey, I know you’re tired.”

I looked at him puzzled.

“Anong sabi mo?”, tanong ko sa kanya.

“Sabi ko uwi na kita. .”, tugon nya habang tumatawa.

--

Kharissa didn’t know what she is feeling.

Collins made her feel so secure for the entire time na magkasama sila. Pinagbuksan pa sya nito ng pinto at umalis lamang ito sa tapat ng kanyang apartment nang Makita nyang umilaw na ang unit ni Kharissa.

Will her belief be disregarded this time?