Book1: A Night with You

Chapter 5

-Five-

Nick's Pov

I was on my office waiting for my new yet temporary secretary.

I was walking to and fro. Ang daming pumapasok sa isip ko to the point na naguguluhan na ko. Anong gagawin ko? Anong sasabihin ko? Kukumustahin ko ba siya? Paano ko ba siya dapat ia-approach? Will I act like old friend o aastang boss? Will she be happy seeing me again? Paano kung hindi?

Ang tagal ko siyang hinanap pero dito ko lang pala siya makikita. Ano ba ang dapat kong sabihin sa kanya? Naguguluhan ako.

My thoughts were interrupted when I heard the door creaked open.

Eto na.

Then my heart stop beating. The moment I saw her, I lost. My emotion covered my sanity. This might sound exxagerating, but I really can't think for more. Something squeeze inside me and I want to say ‘atlast’

Atlast she's here.

Mabilis ang mga hakbang na lumapit ako sa kanya, hindi na ako nag-isip pa at agad siyang niyakap.

"I miss you." Kahit ako nagulat sa mga katagang lumabas sa bibig ko. I felt her froze and I felt my voice shaked.

Dati I keep on wondering kung ano ba yung gusto kong sabihin sa kanya oras na makita ko ulet siya. Naguguluhan ako, but the moment I saw her, yun lang talaga ang unang pumasok sa isip ko. I realized how much I miss her. I miss her voice, her warmth and her scent.

And now she's here. Inclosed in my arm and so near. Para akong nabunutan ng tinik. I never thought that it will be this good. God she's really here, finally.

I tightened my hug. Like I was afraid to let her go.

"S-sir?"

Parang nagising ako mula sa pagkakahimbing ng marinig ko ang boses niya. Nagtataka at parang kinakabahan.

Agad akong bumitaw at lumayo sa kanya. Puno ng pagtataka ang mga mata nitong nakatingin sa akin.

Hindi niya ba ako naaalala?

"Honestly hindi kita namumukhaan. At kung dumating man ang araw na magkita ulit tayo, hindi kita makikilala."

I suddenly remember what she said. "Hindi kita makikilala." Tama, hindi niya ako kilala. I can't help but feel dissapointed.

"S-sir, bakit po?"

I look at her. Hindi parin siya nagbabago maliban sa mga labi nitong nababahiran na ngayon ng lipstick.

Those lips that once been mine.

"Sir?"

I blinked my eyes thrice when I realized na kanina pa pala ako nakatitig sa kanya.

I cleared my throat and fixed my suit.

"Sir pasensya na po kayo pero sa tingin ko hindi naman po tamang basta basta na lang po kayong mangyayakap ng empleyado. That's disrespecting sir." She said without looking at me.

Napamulagat ako sa sinabi niya. Parang bulang biglang naglaho ang naramdaman ko kanina. Nagkamali pala ako ng inisip kong wala paring nagbabago sa kanya.

I shook my head in disbelief.

"Who are you anyway?" With my voice serious, her demeanor changed. Medyo naging submissive ang sumunod na approach nito. Maybe the thought that she's not supposed to act that way comes to her mind.

"I'm Shiinel Vinicio sir and I will be your secretary for today." She said with her voice half shaking.

"See? Your just my secretary, but yout going beyond the limit. Disrespecting? How about going in without even knocking? Miss, I don't need incompetent people within my company."

She didn't answer. She just bowed her head na parang nagsisisi sa nauna nitong sinabi.

"Look, first you don't have the right to talk to me that way. I'm your boss and you're just my secretary so know your place. " I tried to sound as authorative as possible. I'm pissed. Really pissed off. There I was imagining anf feeling the moment. That might sound gay but that's it and she just ruined the moment and accused me of disrespecting. Wow.

"Sir----"

"Cut it. Nagmamadali ako. Fix yourself, prove me that you can do the job and your not all dramas." I turned to get my keys at tsaka ko tinungo ang pinto at nilagpasan siya. I felt her followed.

Shiinel's Pov

Nakakahiya.

Nakakahiya yung nangyari kanina. Isang araw na nga lang akong magtatrabaho palpak pa talaga. Asan na yung sinasabi kong kakayanin ko? Na may mapapatunayan ako? Uggh! Nakakainis! Ano ba naman kasi yung iniisip ko? I just ruined my first day!

Bakit nga ba hindi ko naisipang kumatok muna kanina at pumasok na lang nang walang paalam? Siguro sa sobrang kaba eh nakalimutan ko. Tapos, pinagsalitaan ko pa yung boss ko. Natataranta na kasi ako kanina. This will be my first time to work at i-apply lahat ng natutunan ko sa America. I want to please my boss and show my skills pero kabaliktaran pa ang nangyari. Worse, napagsabihan pa akong incompetent.

"You got it?" He asked kaya napalingon ako sa kanya. May sinasabi ba siya?

He stop on his track and look at me with disbelief. Maraming mga empleyado ang nakatingin sa amin. Maybe they are wondering who am I and what am I doing with their boss. Pwede ring sadyang napakagwapo lang talaga ng CEO kaya kahit sino ay di mapigilang mapatingin. Yes I admit, gwapo nga ito. Maybe that's one of the reasons kung bakit din ako nataranta kanina. Kasi kahit aa America, hindi pa ako nakakakita ng lalaking may karismang tulad ng sa kanya.

"You-----" Mariin nitong ipinikit ang mga mata at tsaka malalim na humugot ng hininga. "Nevermind, just do the minutes."

"Yes sir." Alam ko namang may iba pa siya gustong sabihin pero pinipigilan niya lang.

Nagsimula na itong maglakad palabas ng building kaya sumunod na ako, pero bago pa man ako tuluyang makalabas, may narinig pa akong dalawang babaeng empleyado na nagbubulungan sa di kalayuan.

"Nakita mo yung secretary ni sir kanina? Halatang hindi nakikinig habang nagsasalita si sir. Tulala."

"Oo nga ang incompetent."

Ayan na naman.

Ano ba kasi Shiinel, get back to your senses! Wake up! Hindi ito ang oras para palutangin at gawing saranggola ang utak mo!

I composed myself. Humugot ako ng malalim na hininga. Though dissapointed, I tried to fix myself.

Focus Shiinel, you can do it. Para kay Rui at para sarili mo. Umpisa pa lang to kaya kayanin mo.

I'll prove them wrong.

Sumakay na kami sa kotse. Pareho kaming walang imik. Nakatingin lang ako sa labas ng bintana habang siya ay diretso ang tingin sa kalsada.

Pagdating sa hotel, were ushered to the place na pina-reserve na siguro kanina.

After minutes of silence, dumating na yung foreign client. Sa tantiya ko, he's maybe on his late fifties. Mukha itong strikto at matapang.

"How are you Mr. Smith? I'm glad you made it here." They shook hands.

"I have to. So, can we go down to bussiness?" He said in complete monotone.

Hindi lang pala ito strikto, sigurista pa. He's the type of man na ayaw ng pasakalye. He knows what he want.

"I agree, but can we do that after eating? I've ordered the hotels specialty, I hope you don't mind." My boss stated with a smile that shows he can handle the situation very well and that everything is in control.

Napatango-tango naman ang matanda.

"Sure."

Inihanda na ng waiter ang pagkain. Mukhang masarap nga, but I have to keep my focus para hindi na ako pumalpak.

After eating, nagsimula ng mag-usap ang dalawa. My boss had given his propisition at kasalukuyan niyang sinasagot ang mga what ifs ni Mr. Smith sa deal niya.

I was doing the minutes, pero hindi ko maiwasang humanga sa taglay na katalinuhan ni boss. He can play with words para maging kabigha-bighani iyon. His voice is persuasive itself and indicates promises. Ngayon napatunayan ko na kung gaano ito talaga kagaling sa negosyo. Kaya pala sikat ito at pinag uusapan ng marami.

"I trust your materials Mr. Sobremonte, but if it fails i'll come and blame you." Matapang nitong saad. Pero hanga ako at nakakaya iyong dalhin ni Mr. Sobremonte.

"How do you think of that young lady?"

Nabigla ako sa tanong na iyon pero pinilit ko paring huwag ipahalata.

Nagtatanong ang mga mata kong tumingin kay sir, asking for help kung ano ang dapat kong sabihin but he look at me blankly instead.

I was unprepared, but I tried.

Ayoko nang masabihan ng incompetent pero natatakot ako na baka masira ng sasabihin ko ang deal between my boss and his client.

My thoughts are rattled, I don't knoe what to say. Mapapahiya na naman ako.

Napapitlag ako ng may maramdaman akong mainit na dumampi sa kamay ko mula sa ilalim ng lamesa. Nang tiningnan ko iyon, nanlalaki ang mga matang napalingon ako sa boss ko. Bakit niya hawak ang kamay ko? My eyes are questioning pero parang wala lang ito dito at diretso lang ang tingin sa client namin na nag-aantay din ng sagot ko. Suddenly I felt at ease and comfortable. He squeezed my hand and I felt right. It's like giving me the assurance that I can do it.

"Sir, I think if an error comes your way, it will be better if you look for someone who can fix it and not for a person whom you can blame. Doing the latter won't solve the problem." I said then pursed my lips after.

Hindi ito nagsalita at seryoso lang ang mukha. Bumalik yung kaba na kanina ay naramdaman ko. Na-offend ko ata siya. I am not supposed to oppose the clients personal view. But I was asked right?

My thoughts are interrupted when I heard a laugh. I stared at the client with an awe.

"I like your wit young lady." Napapailing nitong wika na parang di makapaniwala at tsaka kinuha ang inuming nasa harap nito. Nakangiti parin ito at dahil doon ay nawala ang kanina'y mabalasik nitong aura. He look like my father now and I felt relieved. "How I wish we're just dealing secretaries here. Hahaha." Dagdag pa nito tsaka sumimsim ng inumin sa kopita nito.

Napangiti ako and when I look at my boss, I think I saw his lips twitch.

The deal was closed pero natagalan pa kami bago nakauwi. Dahil marami pa kaming pinuntahang site kasama ang kliyente. Pagbalik namin sa kompanya, agad muna akong nagpaalam para sunduin si Rui sa eskwelahan.

******

Gee❤️