What Went Wrong

Ikasampu (Back in the City)

A load of work welcomed me pagbalik ko. I had to go to work the next day after I arrived.

Yen, our marketing head and my friend, scans me nang makasalubong ko sya sa hallway.

"I don't like that look," sabi ko sa kanya refering to what she just did.

"How's your vacation? You look fresh!" she smiles meaningfully.

I rolled my eyes.

"Did you meet someone?" tanong nya ulit na sinabayan ako sa paglalakad.

Natawa ako. "Lumagpas ka na sa office mo," sabi ko sabay nguso sa pinto ng opisina nya.

Natawa rin sya. "Mamaya ka sa'kin!" sabi nya bago bumalik sa opisina nya.

Alam kong di nya ako tatantanan tanungin kapag nagkita kami ulit.

I saw our Director as I entered my office.

"Good morning, Mr. Ford," bati ko.

He smiles.

"Liam, remember? Just call me 'Liam'," he said.

I immediately closed the door.

"I heard you're back, so I rushed to see you," he says bluntly.

Liam Ford is one of the directors of our company's Philippine branch. He's a very busy man kaya di ko alam kung paano sya nakakahanap ng time to flirt. He's a successful and good-looking guy kaya halos lahat ng employees nagpapapansin sa kanya. But not me.

"You know you shouldn't be saying that here," sabi ko sa kanya. "People might get the wrong impression."

"Who cares?"

I look at him with disbelief.

He chuckles saka nagsalita. "I actually came here to give this," sabi nya saka abot ng isang folder.

I sighed. "Right, more work."

Details yun ng new policies ng company. I-iimplement na kasi yun for the next hiring season.

"But I really wanted to see you, too." Sabi nya ulit maya-maya. "Are you free tonight?"

Agad akong umiling kahit free ako.

"Are you turning me down again?" I saw a hint of pain in his eyes. Kasi naman, pang-sampung beses na dinner rejection na yata 'to.

He's a gentleman, but I'm not into office romance- especially with my superior. Mamaya isipin pa ng iba na gold-digger ako. Isa pa, di naman ako isa sa mga nagkakagusto sa kanya. Plus, someone already have my heart.

Matthew! I forgot about him!

Nang umalis si Liam, agad kong chineck phone ko. I searched my contacts and saw his name. Should I message him? Baka naman makaistorbo ako. Eh paano kung naghihintay pala sya ng text ko? Bahala na nga!

: Hi.

I messaged him in the end. Kaka-off ko pa lang ng phone ko nang magreply agad sya.

: Akala ko nakalimutan mo na ako. I was waiting.

He was?

: It slipped my mind, sorry.

: It's okay, I guess you're back to work.

: Yeah.

Shoot. I pressed send right away. Does it sound too snobby? Baka ma-turn off sya. What do I say next?

: Can I call you on your break?

: Sure.

Did that sound to excited? Ah basta! Everything felt so light after that. I can't believe I'm actually excited to hear his voice.

I debated whether to join Yen for lunch kasi siguradong mangungulit sya. Kaso paglabas ko ng office, sya agad bumungad.

"Let's go?" I sensed the excitement in her voice.

Napailing na lang ako.

"So, ano nga? Bakit mukhang blooming ka? Have you met someone?" Excited na tanong nya.

I gave her a smile.

"Ano ka, si Mona Lisa? Pa-mysterious?" Natawa kami pareho.

I told her about Matt.

"Do you think he's serious?" Tanong ko sa kanya.

"Ang tanong gusto mo ba ng seryosong relasyon?"

I shrug. "I don't know him that much. Isa pa, malayo sya."

"Then get to know him," sabi nya.

Dumating ang pagkain namin kaya saglit kaming napatigil.

"Through phone? Ang dali lang magpretend sa phone eh," sabi ko maya-maya.

"Based sa kwento mo, I think he's a good guy." She starts eating her food. I dig in too.

"Pa'no si Mr. Director?" Asar nya maya-maya. Alam kasi nyang pinupursue ako ni Liam.

"Ilang beses ko na syang nirereject, go pa rin sya," sagot ko.

Natawa sya.

"Ganda naman talaga!"

"Ewan ko sa'yo! Sa'yo na sya kung gusto mo. I've got Matt," natatawang sabi ko.

"So, you really like him for real?"

I smiled. She smiles, too.

"I'm happy for you. After all the heartaches with-" pinandilatan ko sya kaya di na nya natuloy sasabihin nya.

Kababalik ko lang sa office nang mag-ring phone ko. It's Matt. I counted to five before I answered it.

"Hello?"

"Hi, Toni."

Why does his voice sound so dreamy over the phone too?

"Toni? Are you there?"

"Uh, yes! Sorry. May pinirmahan lang ako," I lied.

"Are you busy?" I sensed disappointment.

"N-no! I just came back from lunch. Kumain ka na?"

"Are you concerned about me now?"

I feel my cheeks blush. He's teasing me.

"I didn't know you also flirt on the phone," sabi ko sa kanya.

"When did I flirt with you?"

I almost took it the wrong way pero nagsalita sya ulit.

"I've always been real with you when you were here. I like you."

The butterflies in my stomach are in chaos.

It took me a while to recover from that.

"I told you I would pursue you, remember?"

"Are you really serious about me?"

"Dead serious."

"If I tell you to come pick me up tonight, would you really show up?"

"Is that a challenge?" Confident na tanong nito.

"Would you?"

"I'll see you tonight," sabi nya before he ended the call.

Oh my god!