Nights Like This

CHAPTER 23

Tamang tama ako sa desisyon ko na mag enjoy sa camp because here I am again, tambak ng reports. Halos ilang araw na rin kaming naka kulong sa meeting room because there's just a lot of meetings that we had to attend to. Halos magpalit na nga kami ni Vance ng mukha because we are literally together all the time. Halos hindi na ang ako nakakabalik sa cubicle ko because if i'm not on the meeting room, nasa office naman ako ni Vance.

There's just so many things that we have to do together beause we've been away for a very long time and beause of that, the work that we have to do piled up so instead of coming back ang forth to my cubicle, we both agreed na it's better na magkasama na rin kami so we could work faster.

The camp that we enjoyed is now a distant memory that I can't help but to re- visit in my memory when I feel like nalulunod na ako ng trabaho. It's nice to claim na our prize kaso that would be effective three months from now. We won a week of trip to California and I am excited because my Auntie Nova lives there and I could swing in a visit to their house. Wala namang fixed itenerary so according to them, we are free to do whatever we want there. All expenses paid.

My gaze went to my phone that beeped because of a text message that I got from Mommy.

Inilayo ko ang mga daliri ko sa keyboard ng laptop sakaa dinampot at inanagat ang phone ko na nasa tabi lang.

Mommy:

Can't you make time for our dinner with your Tita Betty?

I sighed. I tapped the call button para tawagan si Mommy and it's fine dahil nag iisa lang naman ako rito sa office and Vance is nowhere to be seen.

Mom must've really anticipated my call dahil ilang ring lang sinagot na nya kaagad yung call.

"Mom," bati ko sa kanya.

"Camila can't you make time for me? For your tita? Ilang oras lang naman ang hinihingi ng Tita mo sa 'yo. She just misses you. You know naman na she treats you like her own daughter, hindi ba?" pagkukumbinsi nya sa akin.

"Ma, I really can't po. Halos gabi gabi akong nag o- overtime because there's a lot of thngs that we have to de here in the office," paliwanag ko sa kanya.

It's not really like super ayaw ko talagang makasama si Tita Betty but I'm sure naman that Tita, of all people, na sobrang busy rito sa office ngayon because nag uumapaw ng deadlines for this week and next week.

I'd rather drown myself to work than hear all the panghihimasok rin ni Tita in my life while lowkey masking it as a concern. Gusto na lang minsan na sagutin sya at mas mamabutihin ko kung wala syang concern sa akin.

"You'll just squeeze in an hour or two? Come on, I'll tell Gabriel to let you go tonight."

I shut my eyes saka nafu- frustrate na binuksan rin iyon. "Mom, labas po si Gabriel sa reason ko na mag over time. Wala sya o ang company na kinalaman roon. It's me. I chose to because ayaw ko pong natambakan ng gawain."

I know naman na Mom would really push through kung anuman yung plano nya at pag gusto nya, she'll really do everything just to have everything whatever that she wants to. Gaya ngayon.

"You missed the first dinner that I set up for us because you didn't even inform me that you'll be away at the camp. Imagine ang hiya ko kay Betty when you didn't show up ata wala man lang akong ka malay malay na malayo ka," sabi nya and lalo akong na stress because it sounds like sumbat.

Parang kasalanan ko pa that she set up a last minute dinner appoinment with Tita Betty and then called me thirty minutes before the said appointment para ipa alam sa akin thay they want me there and then because I am away, I ruined the supposed fun.

That's nice.

"Okay Mom, next time I'll tell you if I'm gonna be away for quite a long time so hindi ka mapapahiya, " sabi ko sa kanya.

"Camila Amaris," banggit ni Mama sa pangalan ko in a very stern voice. Hindi naman sya galit but I suppose that she's using that tone that Dad and Kuya always uses to me when they can't handle me.

I raised my head from dropping when the door opened and Vance came in. May dala pala syang mga papel while he's fixing his glassses. I mouthed him 'mom' and he just nodded while walking to his swivel chair, dahilan para maging magkaharap na kami.

"Mom..." tawag ko sa kanya in my very malambing voice, hoping na she'd just let this slip.

"Do you really want na mapahiya na naman ako sa Tita mo? Don't fail me on this, Camila. Um- oo na ako sa Tita mi and she's already looking forward to having a dinner with you."

Nag angat ako ng tingin kay Vance, sakto rin na tumingin sya sa akin and he gave me a short smile bago ibinaba ulit ang mata nya sa mga papel na binabasa nya.

The smile that he gave me lingered to my mind na hindi ko na namalayan na natahimik na ako until Mom called me out.

It seems to me na Mom is demanding meto attend that dinner instead of asking me and my opinion kaya no matter how I decline, wala akong magagawa. I have to comply.

"Okay, Mom. Just text me the details and I'll be there. I'll just attend the dinner po, okay? I'll have to leave kung may other plans pa kayo ni Tita.

Gone the stern voice that she used on me kanina, I can now hear her squealing with joy. "Really? Okay, I'll text you the details, anak. I have to call your Tita kaya ibababa ko muna 'to. I'll see you later, darling!" mabilis na sabi nya saka binaba ang tawag.

Halos padabog kong inilapag ang phone ko sa lamesa, dahilan para mapa angat na naman si Vance ng tingin sa akin.

"Sorry. Just continue what you're doing," sabi ko sa kanya habang hinihilot ng kamay ko amg mukha ko.

Mag ha- hapon pa lang but the stress that I am getting is good for a week. On top of all the deadlines, dumadagdag pa talaga si Mommy na hindi ako tinatantanan.

"Are you okay?" he asked me.

Am I okay? Of course, no. I'm barely okay. I feel like I am hanging by a thread everyday. Sobrang na s- stress na ako with everything and I know I get through all of this pero sana naman hindi mag sabay sabay lahat.

Well, kaya ko naman 'to. Gusto ko lamg din mag inarte so I could have a reason to party after.

Pakiramdam ko bumalik na naman ako sa time where our past head resigned and sa akin na tambak yung work load for both positions. What made this different is that hindi lang ako ang stressed with this. Si Vance rin. Para akong naka hanap ng kakampi na when I wanna say all my reklamo, papakinggan nya lang ako and he's just reply 'same'.

"I need a drink," I said to him. Sumandal ako sa upuan na naka harap sa kany.

"It's too early to drink, Camila. You're still in the office," seryosong sabi nya while he puts down his pen and seriously looked at me.

Kinunutan ko sya ng noo. "What? No. I mean, I need a drink like coffee. I need caffein in my blood so I could function properly," sabi ko sa kanya.

Walang pagdadalawang isip na tumayo si Vance on his swivel chair. "Let's take a short break. Coffee tayo," aniya.

'Coffee tayo' is the most positive thing that I have heard today kaya hindi na ako tumanggi at sumama na ako sa kanya.

We went to a coffee and pastry shop sa mismong tabi lang ng company building because ayaw na naming lumayo. Their coffee tastes good naman so it's fine.

"Double shots of espresso on ice for me," sabi ko nang tanungin nya ako kung ano ang akin.

Inabot ko yung card ko sa cashier to pay for our drinks but Vance already beats me to it because bago ko pa ma angat ng maayos yung kamay ko, hawak na ng cashier yung card nya at i s- swipe na.

"My treat because you've been really stressed," aniya na akala mo ay sya himdi.

If there's one person na mas malala ang stress na nakukuha, sya yun. But he doesn't make it obvious because compared noong una syang nag outburst before, he handled this one really well. Minsan nga hinihiling ko naman na mag outburst ulit sya to make him more human, na may emotions pa rin naman sya.

Well, my indication na he's really stressed is that kapag nag ta- tap na sya ng pen. Meaning, he's already controlling himself at ginagawa nyang metronome yung pen nya at kasunod yun ay ang pag hinga nya ng sobrang lalim pag kumakalma na sya and that's it.

"Really? Your treat?" paninigurado ko sa kanya at tumango naman sya agad. "Miss paki add ng isang box ng brownies, please. Thank you."

I looked at him at naka angat na yung sulok ng labi nya't naka taas na yung isang kilay nya ng pa- biro.

"Mauubos mo ba lahat 'yun?" tanong nya.

"Watch me," sagot ko sa kanya. "Pero share naman tayo dun. I don't want to palpitate at the same time, have diabetes."

"Pero okay lang sa 'yo magka fatty liver because of your alcohol intake?" pasaring na naman nya.

"Grabe ka. The last time na uminom ako was during the camp and I only had three bottles dahil you targeted my conscience-"

"Na hindi ko alam na meron ka pala," aniya nang naka ngiti matapos nyang pinutol nya

Dumiretso kami sa dalawang vacant chair habang hinihintay na ma ready yung coffee at yung brownies namin.

"Of course I have! Kahit na I am craving for Piña Colada, pinipigilan ko because I'd rather rest. Na miss ko na tuloy yung favorite bar ko."

Ever since we had our conversation back in the camp, halos araw araw nya akong binibilinan na huwag akong iinom kasi may pasok at umuwi na lang ako ng diretso. Mas nag wo- worry pa sya sa condition ng liver ko kaysa sa report namin, nakakaloka!

"You have your favorite bar?" kuryosong tanong nya.

"I have. But I won't tell you what bar is it because that's my hide out. Kung may isang lugar na hinding hindi ako i- iintroduce sa iba, that's that place. I wanna keep that comfort place to myself."

"Kakaiba ka 'rin no? Ikaw lang yata yung bar yung comfort place," aniya and there's an amused looked on his face.

Vance is leaning on my direction. Mukha syang very invested sa topic naming ito.

I smiled at him and shurugged my shoulders. Nagiging usapang alak na naman kasi yung topic namin but I am glad because for a moment, nawala na naman sa isip ko yung stress na babalikan na namin maya maya lang.

"Ikaw? How do you release stress?" tanong ko sa kanya.

Mukha syang nagulat sa tanong ko. Syempre, alangan naman puro ako lang. It's better na mag share din sya diba.

"You wouldn't want to know," sabi nya. Seryoso sya.

"Ang daya mo ha. Nag share ako tapos ikaw ayaw mong mag share," sabi ko, tunog na nagtatampo.

Kinagat nya yung labi nya na para bang he's really contemplatlating. What's there to contemplate ba? Ganun ba ka- hirap sagutin 'yun

"Let's just say that I relieve my stress by releasing endorphins," sabi nya.

My mouth formed a circle saka tumango ako. "Oh... so you like exercising? Mga ganun?"

No wonder naman if that's the case because he looks like he's a regular on the gyms dahil sa polo long sleeves nya, halos kumawala na yung biceps nya and his muscles on his chest.

Vance tilted his head and naningkit ang mga mata nya like he's not really sure. "Hmm..."

"Why? May iba pa bang way to realease endorphins?" tanong ko.

As far as I know kasi, it's exercise. I just don't know if there's anything else that releases endorphines that's why I am asking.

"Eating spicy foods, Camila. It also releases endorphines," aniya saka tumango like he's convincing himself.

He looked away and I noticed that his ears are turning red.

When our oder is ready, we get back to our work more light headed dahil even just for a small time, we forgot about everything. Naka langhap kami ng hangin at nakapag unwind kami.

Pag sya talaga ang kasama ko, I lowkey forgets everything because of his company. Vance really has in him that makes me drawned in to him at sa kanya na lang ang focus ko.