Chapter 10
1147 Words
That Zia Aguas is a real pain in the ass.
Imagine — calling me a freak. A f*****g freak.
Ako na nga ‘tong bumaba sa level niya, went out of my way, showed up at her dingy apartment para lang i-announce na siya ang bagong Accounting Department Head ng Stratosight Marketing Corporation, tapos gano’n lang? I called her once — didn’t answer. Twice — nada. Pangatlo, sumagot, tapos ang bungad? "Who are you?"
What kind of ungrateful woman does that?
I mean, seriously? Me? A freak?
Dahil sa inis ko, binusinahan ko nang pagka-haba-haba ang sasakyan sa harap ko kanina. Ayoko talaga sa mabagal. It messes with my rhythm. Traffic stresses me out, pero nothing — nothing — annoys me more than people like Zia.
Loud. Palaban. And oh-so dramatic.
Ang malas lang niya, I happen to enjoy watching her get all riled up.
And so, a brilliant idea hit me.
A cruel, beautiful idea that I was going to execute on her first Monday as a Stratosight employee.
Pero bago pa ‘yon — eto ako ngayon. Seven in the freaking morning.
Nandito ako sa harap ng apartment niya. I’ve been here since six, kung saan ang normal na tao tulog pa, o kung may matinong utak man lang, nagkakape. Pero ako?
Ako’y nag-aabang.
Bakit? Simple lang.
To mess with her.
Hindi ito effort. Shudder at the thought. This isn’t about being sweet. Ew. This is punishment for being such a pain. Kaya ako narito — naka-park, naka-black suit, leaning coolly sa kotse kong bagong wax kahapon. Waiting. Like a boss.
Pero seriously? One hour and she still hasn't shown up?
Dahil nangangalay na ako, bahagya akong sumandal sa gilid ng kotse ko, pinanood ang paligid ng compound nila.
The place was small — five doors lined in a row, light cream paint, taupe roofs. Medyo okay-okay naman — clean, well-kept. May mga halaman pa sa labas. Huh. She’s a plantita. Didn’t expect that.
But honestly, I was done waiting.
So I walked over to her door. Nakataas na ang kamao ko, ready to knock like the apocalypse — sa totoo lang, gusto ko talagang ganti sa kung paano niya tinapik ang bintana ng kotse ko noong unang beses kaming magkita. That annoying tap-tap-tap na may kasamang sungit na boses na parang siya ang may-ari ng kalye.
Just as I was about to land the knock — bam!
The door opened. And there she was.
Zia. Aguas.
And for a second — just one second — I forgot I was supposed to be pissed.
She looked… human, finally.
She wore a simple but well-fitted pink and black dress, with those damn wedges that made her look taller. Her long hair was down, and I caught the faint scent of her perfume — fruity, floral, and irritatingly perfect.
She blinked at me, shocked. “Ikaw na naman? Anong ginagawa mo rito?”
I smirked. “Good morning to you, too, Ms. Aguas.”
Then I gave her the look. The you’re-late-and-I’m-rich-so-you-don’t-get-to-do-that look.
“Bakit ngayon ka lang lumabas? Just a friendly reminder — I don’t tolerate tardiness sa Stratosight Marketing Corporation.”
“Maaga pa, ah!” sagot niya habang naglalakad palabas. “Teka, ano bang ginagawa mo rito?”
Here we go.
“Hindi ba obvious? Susunduin kita.”
And oh, the way her eyes widened — priceless.
“T-talaga?” she stammered, obviously not expecting that. “Susunduin mo ako? Bakit? Undecided pa nga ako kung pupunta ba ako ngayon sa Stratosight o hindi.”
What. The. Hell.
Tumigas ang panga ko. Did I just hear that right?
“What the—undecided? Ako na nga ‘tong nagpakabait — nagpakabanal — na i-hire ka kahit you were borderline rude last time, tapos ngayon undecided ka pa kung tatanggapin mo ‘yung trabaho?”
“Tingnan mo, ayan ka na naman!” she shot back, arms crossed. “***Paano ako hindi magiging undecided? Look at you — I’m sure anybody will have doubts if their future boss is this monstrous!”
Did I… hear that right?
Monstrous?
Wow.
Pinilit kong kumalma. Pero naramdaman kong nag-init ang batok ko. This girl. This girl is something else.
“Alam mo, sumusobra ka na, Ms. Aguas.” I said, trying to keep my voice low but firm. “When will you stop calling me names?”
She didn’t back down. Of course she didn’t.
“Ikaw rin naman, ah! You called me a loudmouth!”
I rolled my eyes. “Because it’s true! You’re always talking! Hindi ka ba tinuruang maging prim and proper?”
At doon, napansin ko ‘yung slight change sa mukha niya. Para siyang binagsakan ng langit at lupa. Biglang nawala ‘yung bangas, ‘yung tapang.
Then she looked down and muttered, “Magko-commute na lang ako.”
Aba. Nagpakumbaba?
Or… guilt tripping?
Either way, hindi ko alam kung gusto kong matawa or ma-awkward. But the words came out before I could stop myself.
“Don’t be stupid.” I said, this time softer. “Let’s go, Ms. Aguas. We don’t want you to be late for your first day of work, do we?”
She looked at me, her brows furrowed, unsure whether to argue or agree.
“Sasakay ka o hindi?” I asked, this time already walking toward the passenger side, casually unlocking the doors.
Tahimik siya sandali, pero sumunod din. Napansin ko kung paano niya inangat ang palda niya nang konti para hindi matapilok sa wedge habang sumasakay. She was too careful. Too… feminine.
At cute. Damn it.
She sat beside me, clearly still unsure kung dream ba ‘tong nangyayari. I didn’t say anything. Turned on the engine. Shifted gears.
The silence between us was heavy, but not uncomfortable.
“Thanks… I guess.” she mumbled, barely audible.
I glanced at her. She was looking outside, pretending I didn’t hear that.
I smirked. “Don’t get used to this. This isn’t a habit. I don’t do pick-ups.”
“Wow. I feel honored.” she said sarcastically, turning to me. “Ano ‘to? First and last?”
“Exactly.” I replied, then gave her a look. “Unless, of course…” I trailed off.
“Unless what?” she narrowed her eyes.
“Unless you keep calling me monstrous. Then maybe I’ll start picking you up every day. Just to ruin your mornings.”
“You’re sick.”
“You’re loud.”
“You’re arrogant.”
“You’re late.”
Nagkatinginan kami — parehong inis, parehong amused.
And I swear, if anyone saw us right now, they’d think we were flirting.
Except we’re not.
Right?
She shook her head and looked back out the window.
And me? I drove toward Stratosight with the most annoying woman I’ve ever met beside me — and for reasons I can’t explain — I wasn’t entirely mad about it.
- Writer
