HIS PERSONAL SECRETARY

Chapter 4

TINITIGAN ni Katrina ang mga bituin mula sa telescope, ang saya at excitement na nararamdaman ay kitang-kita. Nakita niya ang constellation ng Aquarius, at tila ang saya-saya niya sa tuwa. Isa itong routine tuwing Biyernes para mag-de-stress, at karaniwan na niyang ginagawa ito pagkatapos ng linggong punong-puno ng trabaho. Isang abandoned na building malapit sa bahay nila ang kanyang pinupuntahan para magdala ng astronomy gear at magpahinga.

Parang hindi na natapos ang unang linggo sa trabaho, lalo na’t andiyan pa si Boss Algin. Hindi matapos-tapos na demands, reklamo, at ang mga hindi makatarungang hinihingi. Pakiramdam ni Katrina, parang natatabunan na siya. Kaya't nang makita niya ang Helix Nebula, medyo napangiti siya. Ang mga patay na bituin na naging maganda at makulay, ganun din ang buhay—minsan mahirap, pero minsan may magandang resulta.

Hinugot ni Katrina ang malalim na hininga, nagpipigil ng luha. Tinitigan niya ang kalangitan at naramdaman na parang sobrang layo ng mga bituin mula sa kanya. Layo. Sobrang layo pa nga.

Tumutunog ang cellphone niya at nakita niyang may tumatawag na unknown number. Napakunot ang noo niya at kinabahan. Sino kaya ito?

"Bakit ngayon ka lang sumagot? Kanina pa ako tumatawag sa'yo," galit na sabi ng lalaki sa kabilang linya.

"Sino po ito?" tanong ni Katrina.

"Si Algin."

Naguluhan si Katrina at sabay na nag-flash sa isip niya ang mga bagay na baka nakalimutan niyang ayusin. Baka nakabukas pa ang computer niya o baka hindi pa nalilinis ang desk niya. Baka pati ang stock ng mansanas sa ref na tatlong piraso na lang nawala...kasi kinain niya yun habang may meeting si Algin.

"Boss Algin? Yes?" tanong niya, medyo kinakabahan.

"Asan ka?" tanong ni Algin.

"Sa bahay lang," sagot ni Katrina, sabay pakikilos ng mabilis para ilagay sa bag ang kanyang mga astronomy tools.

"Will be there in 10 minutes." Mabilis na sinabi ni Algin bago ito pinutol ang linya. Nagtaka si Katrina, pero hindi siya pwedeng magpatumpik-tumpik. Agad-agad siyang nagdesisyon na kailangan niyang magmadali.

Habang nagmamadali siya pababa ng abandoned building, iniisip niya na 10-minute walk lang mula doon papuntang bahay nila, pero ramdam na ramdam niya ang init at hingal. Nakita na niyang malapit na siya sa bahay, ngunit nang makita niyang nakatambay si Algin sa harap ng red Mustang niya, nag-panic siya. Naka-panting na siya, kaya't nahirapan mag-usap.

"Hi Boss! Bakit?" sambit niya, hinahabol ang hininga.

Tiningnan siya ni Algin, umiling, at binuksan ang sasakyan. Inabot sa kanya ang isang bag na may Dior na tatak. Alam na agad ni Katrina na mamahalin iyon.

"Thank you po, Boss, pero hindi ko po matatanggap 'to," sagot niya ng mahinahon.

"Hindi 'yan regalo," sagot ni Algin, seryoso. "Magpaayos ka kay Julio, may pupuntahan tayo."

Doon lang siya napatingin sa itim na sasakyan sa likod ng red Mustang. Isang matabang lalaki ang bumaba doon, lahat itim ang suot, at may malaking bag na hawak. Si Julio, ang stylist na laging tinatawag ni Algin para mag-ayos sa kanya.

"Hi, Day!" bati ni Julio, masaya at parang wala lang ang lahat. Pumasok na siya sa gate ng bahay at nag-umpisang mag-set up sa kusina.

Katrina hindi alam kung ano ang nangyayari. May ilang instructions si Julio na kailangan sundin, at habang ginagawa niya iyon, nag-alala siya kay Algin na nasa labas. Pero hindi niya kayang mag-protesta. Pag tiningnan mo kasi ang mata ni Algin, parang mapapaamo ka lang.

"Pumikit ka lang, and we'll work our magic," sabi ni Julio.

Pagod na si Katrina, kaya hindi na niya tinanong kung anong magic ang tinutukoy ni Julio. Nang magsimula siyang matulog, wala na siyang naramdamang iba. Nang magising siya, ang unang nakita niyang imahe sa salamin ay isang babaeng hindi siya.

Hindi siya makapaniwala sa hitsura niya. Hindi sobrang heavy ang makeup—perfecto lang. Ang kilay niya na dati'y makapal, ngayon ay parang natural na sculpted. Ang mga mata niya, mas umangat dahil sa soft brown eyeshadow. Ang lips niya, coral pink gloss na sobrang natural.

"Ano ka ba, Day? Maganda ka talaga," sabi ni Julio, hinahaplos ang buhok niya. "Wag mong sabihing hindi mo alam, hilahin ko yang buhok mo!"

Katrina hinaplos ang maiksi niyang buhok na pinatagal na ni Julio at bumagay sa hugis ng mukha niya.

"Para sa final touch, suotin mo 'to. Dali na, bago pa mag-init ang ulo ni Sir Algin," sabi ni Julio, inilabas ang isang puting dress mula sa bag at inabot kay Katrina.

Nagmadali si Katrina at nagtungo sa kwarto niya para magbihis, naguguluhan kung ano ang plano ni Algin. Pero isa lang ang sigurado siya—may nangyayaring kakaiba.

Katrina glanced at her reflection in the mirror after changing into the dress. It was a white halter dress with a modest neckline, flattering yet elegant. The tea-length dress complemented her creamy complexion, hugging her body in all the right places. It swayed with every small movement, giving off a vintage vibe when paired with a two-inch cream stiletto. The only thing that added extra sparkle to her look were the Swarovski chandelier earrings and a crystaldust cross-cuff bracelet.

"Wow! Grabe, you look like a celebrity! O mas maganda pa sa celebrity. Anong mix mo?" Julio asked, still tidying up his things.

"Half-Romanian ang Mama ko. Sa kanya din namin nakuha ang kulay ng mga mata namin ng kakambal ko."

"Good genes. Let's go. Baka naiinip na ang boss mo."

Julio gave her a kiss on the cheek before heading to his car. Katrina stayed quietly, waiting for her boss to finish his phone call. She could see him talking to someone in his car, looking serious.

"Yes, yes... yea—" Her boss, Jascha, finally looked up at her. Slowly, he lowered his phone. His smoldering gaze swept over her from head to toe, and the small smile that tugged at the corner of his lips made it hard for her to tell if he was mocking her or just teasing.

"Okay na ba 'to?" she asked, unsure.

Instead of answering, he stepped out of the car and extended his hand to her. Her right hand tingled as it met his warm palm. Something felt off, maybe his unusually gentle demeanor—it didn’t seem quite right. She couldn’t help but wonder if it was all just an act.

He opened the passenger seat door for her, waiting until she adjusted the hem of her dress before gently closing it behind her.

"In fairness, nadagdagan ng isang paligo ang kagwapuhan mo kapag mabait ka," she remarked when he hopped into the driver’s seat.

"You know what, you are starting to look like a human if you wear makeup. I should start treating you like one if you will continuously do that."

"Is that your way of saying, 'You are beautiful, my dear Secretary'? Well, thank you, that's so sweet of you."

"I don't remember saying you're beautiful, I just complimented you after a great effort to look like one of us. Welcome to Earth, alien head."

"Hindi ako alien!" She shot him a playful glare. "I love astronomy, galaxies, and the entire universe, but aliens are not included in that, although I believe they exist too. If I had a way to apply to NASA, I’d know. Sana hindi ko pinagtitiisan ang demanding kong amo na parang ako ang sinisisi sa lahat ng kamalasan niya sa buong araw. Goodness, lighten up, will you?"

He chuckled and shook his head. "You always have a lot to say."

"I do. Sabi ng Mama ko, I better say what I have in mind than forever stay in silence with a heavy heart."

"Well, if you know that staying silent will make someone else's life beautiful, there's nothing wrong in keeping your mouth shut."

"Ay, how can you make someone else's life beautiful in silence? Malungkot ang buhay kapag tahimik tayong lahat."

"Well, if you won't break my eardrum, then I'll be happy."

"Touche."

"Thank you."

She fell silent, as her boss had requested, but after five minutes of quiet reflection, her curiosity got the best of her. "Saan tayo pupunta, Boss Jascha?"

He took a deep breath before answering. "A friend's party."

She nodded, but noticed him glancing at her out of the corner of his eye.

"It is an engagement party of a friend," he added.

His grip on the steering wheel tightened, and he muttered a curse under his breath.

"An engagement party of my best friend and my ex-girlfriend." He sighed heavily.

Katrina stayed quiet, watching him. The way his jaw clenched made it clear he was holding something back—his heart was breaking.

She’d seen that look before. It was the same one her mother had when she cried after a fight with her father. She’d seen it in her college friends after their breakups. It was the same look in Hershey's eyes when they learned about the tragic accident that took their parents. Now, she was seeing it in her boss's eyes.

Heartbroken. Same emotion, different circumstances.

"And I need you to make me look less miserable. I will pay you, don't worry." He forced a bitter smile. "Just don't do anything funny and go with the flow."

Katrina nodded, understanding what he was going through.

"Pasalamat ka mabait ako. Pagbibigyan kita."

He chuckled softly, and his tense jaw relaxed a bit.

He really did look better when he was happy. If only he would smile more.

She couldn’t help but feel for him.