CHAPTER 10
1095 Words
(FLASHBACK…)
BAHAGYANG nagtaka si Blythe nang madatnan niyang may bulaklak sa kaniyang lamesa. Noong una, hindi niya ‘yon pinansin dahil akala niya, nagkamali lamang ang naglagay o nag-deliver.
But every morning, without fail, there were flowers on her desk.
Fresh ‘yon tsaka malinis ang pagkakaayos.
Sometimes roses, sometimes lilies, and once, even sunflowers.
At first, her coworkers found it sweet.
“Ang swerte mo naman,” one of them teased.
“Secret admirer?” another added.
Hindi ngumiti si Blythe.
Sa ibang tao, nakakatuwa ‘yon pero hindi para sa kaniya.
She stared at the bouquet sitting neatly beside her keyboard.
Hindi mabasa ang ekspresyon ni Blythe sa mukha.
Then, without a word, she picked it up and threw it straight into the trash bin.
“That was harsh,” komento ng katabi ni Blythe pero nakangiti ito.
“May allergy ako sa pollen,” she said flatly.
And no one questioned it after that.
Umupo si Blythe sa swivel chair.
“Hi, I’m Dianne Tan. New employee.” Inabot ni ang kamay para makipagkamay.
Tinanggap naman ni Blythe ang pakikipagkamay ng bagong katrabaho. “Blythe Romero,” she introduced herself.
Ngumiti ng makahalugan si Dianne. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“Likewise,” wika ni Blythe.
They started working after that.
But the flowers didn’t stop coming.
The next morning, another bouquet was placed on her table.
Frustrated na napabuga ng hangin si Blythe.
“Persistent,” she muttered under her breath.
Hindi siya nag-alinlangan at itinapon niya agad ito sa basurahan.
Napapangiti naman si Dianne na nakakita ng ginawa ni Blythe sa bulaklak.
But one day, the ‘secret admirer’ in her office appeared. And guess who? It was just her manager.
“Blythe.”
Blythe slowly turned her chair.
Her manager stood behind her desk, while hands in his pockets and a faint smile plastered on his face.
"Ayaw mo ba sa bulaklak?” tanong nito.
Umiling si Blythe. “Allergic po ako, Sir.”
“Really?” he said, glancing briefly at the trash bin. “That’s unfortunate.”
Pekeng ngumiti si Blythe.
Pinapaalala niya sa sarili na ito ang boss niya, kaya kailangan niyang maging polite rito.
Noon pa man niya naririnig na may gusto sa kaniya raw ang boss niya, ngunit hindi niya pinapansin ang mga ‘yon dahil nasa isipan niya na tsismis lamang ito ng mga walang magawa sa buhay.
Pero ngayon, mukhang naniniwala na siya sa tsismis na ‘yon.
“I can bring something else next time,” he said. “Chocolate, maybe?”
“Hindi na po kailangan,” sabi ni Blythe at inabala ang sarili sa nire-review na dokumento.
Her tone was polite, but cold.
Pero mukhang hindi naman na-offend ang boss niya. He looked more interested. “You know,” he continued, “you don’t have to be so distant. I’m just trying to be nice.”
Blythe met his gaze with a fake smile plastered on her lips. “And I’m just trying to work, sir.”
Inaasahan ni Blythe na sapat na ang salita niyang ‘yon para tigilan siya nito, pero hindi, dahil mas lalo pa itong lumapit sa kaniyang lamesa. “I can make things easier for you here,” he said. “Less workload. Better accounts. And promotions don’t come easily, you know.”
Huminga ng malalim si Blythe. “I’m fine where I am,” she replied.
She was trying to control herself, not to lash out at the person in front of her.
Mahirap na kung masigawan niya ito dahil baka matanggal pa siya sa trabaho.
Ngumiti ang boss ni Blythe. “Don’t be too quick to refuse. You might regret it.”
Hindi sumagot si Blythe. She simply turned back to her screen.
Medyo nakahinga na lamang siya ng maluwang nang umalis ang boss niya.
Humigpit ang hawak niya sa mouse. She was really annoyed, not flustered, not flattered, but annoyed.
“Ang kulit…” she murmured.
Kung si Evron ang nagbigay sa kaniya ng bulaklak, she will be over the moon. Pero kung ibang tao, ayaw niyang tanggapin.
She didn’t have a pollen allergy.
That was just an excuse.
A simple way to reject something without making a scene.
“Tsk.”
She clicked her tongue softly and focused on her work.
Numbers didn’t complicate things, but people did.
Kapagkuwan, napansin ni Blythe na seryoso si Dianne habang nagta-type ito sa cellphone.
“You okay?” tanong ni Blythe.
Napakurap si Dianne saka tumingin sa kaniya. Biglang nawala ang seryoso nitong anyo at napalitan ng ngiti.
“I’m fine.”
Napatango si Blythe saka muling ibinalik ang tingin sa screen ng laptop.
Meanwhile, while Blythe left her desk for a quick break, she didn’t notice the way her manager watched her from across the office.
His eyes were lingering on her, calculating and very patient—like someone who wasn’t used to being ignored. And wasn’t planning to stop trying anytime soon.
Pagod na lumabas ng opisina si Blythe noong hapon na iyon, ngunit nawala bigla ang kaniyang pagod nang makita niya si Evron na naghihintay sa kaniya.
Patakbo siyang lumapit sa kinapaparadahan ng kotse nito at pumasok.
“Tired?”
Tumango si Blythe.
Ngumiti si Evron. “I’ll cook for dinner…” Bahagya siyang napatigil nang makita niya ang boss ni Blythe na nakatingin sa kotse. Hindi nito makita ang tao sa loob dahil tinted ang salamin, pero nasa anyo nito ang gusto nitong makita kung sino ang nasa loob ng kotse.
Evron didn’t bother himself with an unimportant person. But Dianne had informed him about this man.
“Love, where’s my kiss?”
“Huh?” Natigilan si Blythe.
Evron pointed his lips. “My kiss.”
Ngumiti si Blythe kahit namumula na, saka hinalikan si Evron sa pisngi.
But that wasn’t enough for Evron.
Evron leaned in, grabbed Blythe’s neck, and kissed her mouthful. While kissing, Evron purposely pushed the button to roll down the car’s window beside Blythe.
At nang maghiwalay ang labi nilang dalawa, tiningnan niya ang boss ni Blythe na nakatingin sa kanila.
Nginisihan niya ito.
Umalis naman ang boss ni Blythe na halatang naiinis at nakakuyom ang kamay.
Tumaas ang isang sulok ng labi ni Evron. “Let’s go home.” Aniya, saka umayos sa upo sa driver's seat.
Ikinabit naman ni Blythe ang seatbelt. She was completely unaware being watched by her boss while she was kissing her boyfriend.
While Evron, there was a smug smile plastered on his lips.
In his mind, what his… no one can take it away.
- Writer
