DIESIETE
2604 Words
Magkaibigan
♔ Samuel
“Good Morning Boss!” ang lakas ng boses ng loko, Atty. Tyron is here… ewan ko kung bakit tuwang tuwa akong makita siya ngayon. I am so stress lately na pati si Mrs. Angeles na tataasan ko na ng boses. Magiging monster na naman ako, last time ako nagkaganito three years ago… ng mawala siya.
“Good Morning Attorney! Thank God you’re here. Can you do this report for me?” sabay abot ko sa kanya ng tablet na hawak ko…
“Hoy! Aguila hindi na kita amo makautos ka naman” singhal niya sa akin
“Help me please… please” paawa ko sa kanya…
“Tang na! mo Aguila, hindi bagay sayo” Sabay halakhak niya, saka hinablot ang tablet… tiningnan niya ang ginagawa ko, report kasi yun sa Law School. Maya maya nag ta-type na siya sa tablet tahimik lang… naupo na rin sa visitor chairs sa harap ng lamesa ko. Sumandal ako sa swivel chair ko saka pumikit… hindi ko alam kung ilang minuto ang lumipas, nagising ako sa pitik sa noo ko ni Tyron.
“Hoooy! Aguila talagang tinulugan mo ako!”
“Ouch! What the F? Disturbo!”
“At talagang disturbo pa ako ngayon! Delete ko itong ginawa ko.” Nahablot ko tuloy ang tablet sa kanya
“Please don’t!” nag peace sign pa ako sa kanya
“Libre mo ako ng lunch” sabi ni Tyron
“Did you come here for that?”
“Baliw! Dinalaw kita kasi may mga bubwit na bumulong sa akin, may monster na naman daw” pang aasar niyang sabi
“I’m so sorry! I’m just so stress right now”
“Sinabihan na kitang huwag ka muna mag girlfriend habang nasa Law School ka, nag dagdag ka pa kasi ng stressor sa dami ng kailangan mong gawin dito. Tigas ulo ka! Kaya magtiis ka!” sermon niya sa akin
Tama naman siya matigas ulo ko, sa kagustuhan kung patunayan sa sarili ko na naka move on na ako, pinatulan ko ang isa sa mga fling ko at ginawang girlfriend… ngayon dagdag sakit sa ulo lang napapala ko. Dumating pa si “My Love” Haayyy! Kahit Anong tanggi ko hindi pa rin talaga ako naka move on.
At dahil sa mga sinabi ko na naman, para akong may sakit na iniiwasan niya. I wanted us to be friends kahit sana yun man lang… but then mali na naman yata ang mga nasabi kung mga salita.
Sa isang pasta and pizza restaurant kami nagkasundo ni Tyron na mag lunch, sa katabing building lang naman namin.
To our surprise...
“Your Mom is here” sabay turo ni Tyron kay Mommy sa may booth seat malapit sa windows… lumapit kami, kumaway kasi siya sa amin.
“Good Morning Tita!” bati ni Tyron kay Mommy
“It’s already Good Afternoon Attorney” sabi ko habang bumebeso sa Nanay ko, natawa tuloy si Mommy.
“You alone?” tanong ko
“No, my EA is in the loo” pangiti ngiti pa si Mommy sa akin… Paktay! Iniiwasan nga ako nun isip isip ko lang
“Let’s sit together, mag additional order nalang kayo we ordered a large New York’s Finest Pizza aside from these” turo niya sa mga nasa lamesa, Prawn Aglio Olio and Chicken Alfredo Pasta plus a box of chicken wings. Gustuhin ko mang tumanggi baka sabihin niya na naman rude ako. Nagpunta kami sa counter ni Tyron para umorder. Favorite ko dito ang Charlie Chan Pasta pareho kami ni Tyron saka kami nag dagdag ng another box of chicken wings. Nag take out na rin ako ng Four Seasons na Pizza para sa staff ko.
Buti na lang hindi naman naging awkward ang lunch namin, umikot ang usapan sa trabaho at sa opisina naming itinayo ni Tyron. Tahimik lang nakikinig si Livi, sasagot lang pagtinatanong. Hindi naman halata na nag iiwasan kami, para lang siyang bagong empleyadong nahihiya kasama ang Boss niya. I hope we can be friends para naman hindi kami ganitong super strangers lang ang turingan namin. - Blame yourself… kagagawan mo yan. Yeah! I know and if I have to use my charms on her again, I’ll do it… lumambot lang ulit ang puso niya sa akin.
Panay ang sulyap ni Tyron kay Livi saka ako titingnan ng hindi ko mawari… iiling saka ngingiti tapos ng mahuli niya akong nakatitig sa babae taas baba kilay naman. Baka nakilala ng loko ang “Ms. Beautiful” from the Summit. Nakikita ko ang paghanga sa mga mata niya, sino ba hindi ma aakit…
She’s wearing a navy blue high waist pencil cut skirt just below her knee… it is hugging her curves gracefully, paired with a baby blue v-neck sleeveless top baring some skin… those luscious skin I’ve dreamed a billion times of tasting again. Tang na talaga!!! Her blazer hangs at the back of the booth we are sitting at… she was not expecting us so she let her guard down, she’s always in her full suit whenever I see her around the office, never bare like this. - I know I shouldn’t be looking… gawking even at her and thinking things like that but God! I am just a man. Almost every man around is looking at her! Gusto kung mambakod at maging possessive pero wala akong karapatan.
But the woman is just oblivious of those men around, she’s just eating… back straight, head held high, Poised! I can imagine her being at a meeting looking like this. Sh*t!!! Kung ako siguro ka meeting nito hindi ako makapag concentrate sa usapan. Well, kasama sa itinuturo yan sa mga Business School… personality development, social skills. But she’s something, she’s not easily intimidated… You can see in how she held her head high that she’s calm and collected yet strong-willed. She has the aura of somebody you don’t want to mess with. God! My Love… you can make men run for the hills with your stare, but not me I will always know my way around you.
~~~~~~~~~~
“Mrs. Angeles” tawag ko sa intercom… sumakit ang ulo ko sa report na binabasa, hindi naman ganito ang mga reports dati. Kaya ko nga sa kanya pinapagawa kasi naging maganda ang kinalabasan ng mga nauna. But this one I am reading is different and I have to redo it, to be able to use and present it in the meeting.
“SRA, Yes po” kita ko sa mukha niya ang takot, para bang nahuli siyang may maling ginagawa…
“Who did this?” taas ko sa report na binabasa ko
“Sir, I did”
“You did? Then why is it like this… it’s different from the lasts ones” napataas ang kilay ko
“Sorry Sir, aayusin ko nalang po” saka siya lumapit sa akin para kunin ang hawak ko… “Hindi kasi na check ni Olivia to” bulong niya, na lalong ikinataas ng kilay ko…
“What did you say?” medyo tumaas boses ko… inilayo ko yung reports na inaabot niya… magulat ko yata siya lalo
“Hindi kasi na check ni Ms. Olivia” bulalas niya sabay hawak sa bibig niya, nagulat yata siyang nasabi niya yun…
“Oh My God! SRA...Sorry, Huwag po kayo magalit, Sorry po talaga” natataranta niyang sabi… Kung tama ang tumatakbo sa utak ko, si Livi ang gumawa ng mga report dati at itong hawak ko gawa niya at hindi niya na pa check kaya ganito kinalabasan.
“Hey! Mrs. Angeles… Relax, No one is getting angry but I need an explanation” pag aalo ko sa kanya… at tama nga ang assumptions ko, the Venus incarnate have been helping my staff do the reports without me knowing it. At nakiusap itong huwag ipagsabi ang tinitulong niya kahit kay Mommy, kung paano niya nagagawa yun kasabay ng duties niya hindi ko alam.
May super powers ba siya… ang dami ko ng report na pinagawa at lahat ng yun wala akong masabi until now. She’s unbelievable but she’s good… very good in what she does. Mukhang tama nga si Mrs. Angeles… She can be my EA, but I don’t think that’s a good idea… I don’t think she’ll be amenable to it and for our peace of mind too. God! Can you imagine if she’s here… with her sassy, feisty attitude. F*ck! I’ll be doomed… as much as I am toying with the idea, I can’t give in… I know I can’t get my hands off her pag nagkataon. I have been restraining myself to be near her… been avoiding her too.
Pero heto na naman pati trabaho pinag lalapit kami, these reports is important to me now… I can’t just dismiss it just because she’s the one helping me. I need help, I know that… Law School is draining me. These are really difficult and stressful times for me and I’ll take whatever help I can get. And with her experience, kung kay Mommy lang siya nagtatrabaho… we are not getting her full potential. Kaya sumang ayon na rin ako na ganun ang set-up… her helping us, like working for me covertly. Sinabi ko na rin kay Mrs. Angeles na huwag ipaalam sa kanyang may alam na ako… baka hindi na yun tumulong.
Days run so fast…
Board Meeting Day
Hindi pa ako ready… I was up all night studying the reports given to me, I only had time last night with Law school and a demanding girlfriend. P*ta! Tama talaga si Tyron sa girlfriend na yan… ngayon gusto ko man dispatsa di ko magawa, pero kailangan ko na harapin yun sooner or later or else talagang mauubos ako.
“Good Morning Gia! Is Mrs. Angeles already in?” bati ko sa sekretarya ko… siya palang ang nasa pwesto namin pati si Jude wala pa rin. Maaga kasi ako pumasok.
“Good Morning Boss!”
“Hindi niyo po ba nakuha ang message niya? May emergency siya sa kanila.” gusto kung mapa mura, bakit ngayon pa… haven’t check my phone mula kagabi. Napa buntong hininga nalang ako
“Ok, coffee please” saka ako pumasok sa loob ng opisina ko.
Maya maya may kumakatok… bakit kumakatok si Gia?
“Come in”
“Good Morning Mr. Aguila” well Surprise! Surprise!… “My Love” is here, What a breath of fresh air. May dala din itong coffee from the shop with a mermaid logo. She’s wearing a little black dress, sabrina neckline, cap sleeves, pencil cut skirt just below the knee… paired with classic louboutin stiletto. Her blazer is hanging on one of her shoulders and she’s walking straight to my table. Binigay niya sa akin ang dala niyang coffee saka umupo sa visitors chair.
“Good Morning, Ms. Robles… What a pleasant surprise!” smiled at her… mischievously.
“What brought you here, My Love” I don’t know what came to me to tease her, maybe because she’s too serious looking just now. Pinandilatan niya ako… ang sungit!
“Your Mom asked me to be your EA today for the Board Meeting… because she knows Mrs. Angeles will not be in today” paliwanag niya
“You’re so sweet My Love” nginitian ko ulit siya
“Samuel! Quit playing around!” singhal na niya sa akin… napa halakhak tuloy ako, Seryoso ang babae, Sarap nakawan ng halik… napasandal ako sa swivel chair ko at pinagmasdan siya lalo. Kagandang dilag… “No MakeUp look” enhanced her natural beauty. Pinandilatan ulit ako… Tinaasan ng kilay saka umirap!
“Ok, Ok, Ok!” nagtaas na ako ng dalawang kamay…
She sighs… before looking back at me
“Sorry, Mr. Aguila I’m just nervous about this” sighs again… more like calming herself
“Anyway! Are you ready for the Board Meeting?” looking me in the eyes with a half smile
“Not yet, I’m still reading and studying the reports… that you did” her eyes grew big like saucers in what she heard… She lowered her head and audibly whispered...
“You knew?”
“I just wanted to help Mrs. Angeles” habol niya pa… akala niya siguro magagalit ako, Well wala akong karapatan dahil ako ang natulungan.
“Yeah! I knew… long time ago” tumayo ako saka dumukwang sa lamesa para abutin ang baba niya… iiwas sana siya pero umiling ako. Buti nasunod pa rin siya sa mga silent message ko.
“And Thank you! for helping you just don’t how I badly needed that. I have long wanted to say my Thanks but I was afraid you would stop helping if I said something” pinisil pisil ko ang baba niya habang nakatingin sa mga labi niya… I am so tempted to just kiss her now but I can’t. I look away still holding her chin by my thumb have a mind of its own… it went for her lower lip…
She gasped and pulled away.
“I’m sorry” bulong ko… awkward! saka ulit naupo sa swivel chair ko, sumimsim muna na ako ng kapeng dala niya, habang nag iisip… I don’t like that we are like this tense, edgy, uneasy…
Maybe this is the time to say that thing I’ve been thinking about…
“Hey! Can I say something… please hear me before you make a violent reaction” tipid ko siyang nginitian… tumango lang siya, looking everywhere just to avoid my eyes on her.
“Can we at least be friends or at least an acquaintance… not like this, treating each other like total strangers which we are not. Avoiding each other… like we’re viruses… I know I’m the one who ask for this and I f*cking hate myself for doing that.” tahimik lang siya
“I don’t want awkwardness between us, I don’t want you to be nervous and like tiptoeing whenever I’m around, that’s not you. Be yourself… the feisty confident one, the one that doesn’t restrain herself from talking back, even scolding me sometimes. Even though I prefer you not to do that in front of the Board” napangiti siya sa sinabi kung yun… tumingin siya sa mukha ko still avoiding my eyes…
“Look at me! I want to see that smiling eyes of yours.” tumango lang siya saka ngumiti, Ngiting abot sa mga mata niya. There I see the old Olivia…
“See you’re very pretty smiling like that but that’s only for me” napatawa siya ng malakas
“Ewan ko sayo Samuel!”
“I am being serious here”
“Mr. Aguila, are you hitting on me, are you forgetting you have a girlfriend?” mapang asar niyang sabi
“You sounds jealous, My Love”
Pinanlakihan niya ako ng mata… saka masungit na umirap
“What the Heck! Shut up! Enough of this! I’m Ok with the friendship, acquaintance or civil treatment offered but professionally please… no monkey business, shenanigans, mischiefs or whatsoever. I don’t want to be the receiving end of the wrath of your woman Mr. Aguila.” gusto kung matawa… kaya lang baka maspak na ako nito… Tumango nalang ako saka ngumiti...
“Now let’s get down to business”
We discussed the reports for the Board meeting, we talked like long time business colleagues. Wow! She’s witty and clever… very smart too, naka jackpot kami sa pag hire sa kanya.
The Board Meeting was a success, dahil na rin sa pretty kung EA for the day. I could not have done it without her… I definitely need her on my team. Me and Mom have something to discuss...
- Writer
