Her Flirtatious Ways

CHAPTER 1

"You made it to the headline again! Slay!" bati ni Bea, my co-writer in ABC publishing corp.

Ngumiti ako at umarteng hinahawi ang buhok. "Ako lang 'to!"

Nagtawanan kami. Break at pareho kaming nasa pantry para magkape o kumain ng snacks, it's one time we can stand up from sitting for hours in front of the monitor. Not that we are forced to, we're just too focused to move.

Hinalo niya ang kape niyang bagong labas lang sa coffee-maker, luminga-linga muna siya sa paligid bago bumulong.

"So…saan mo nasagap ang balitang nabuntis nga ng dating Mayor ang modelong kasa-kasama niya during campaign?" tanong niya, referring to the headline of our freshly published newspaper/online article.

I smirked. "Secret," sabi ko at hinigop na rin ang kape.

Her smile fades, umirap siya at umatras. "So damot, lilibre pa naman sana kita ng samgyup."

"Not worth it." Umiling ako. Inaasar ko lang naman siya, but I also have no plans on telling her where I get informations.

It's how publishing works. Each of us writers have connections we cannot share to one another, si Bea nga may nakausap na whistleblower for an illegal underground hospital. Lahat 'yon sinarili niya lang. Sa larangan ng pagsusulat, itataya mo ang pangalan mo, pero kailangan marunong kang tumupad sa usapan ng pinagkukuhanan mo ng impormasyon. That is, if you want to earn their respect.

"Isabelle! Parang others naman 'to! Hindi naman kita aagawan, like just give me a hint! Sobrang controversial ng article mo, and I'm dying of curiosity!" pag-iinarte niya.

"Bea—"

"Oo nga naman, Elle. Why not tell your friend where you get the news, or tell us? Pamilya naman tayo rito," singit ng isang bida-bida.

Ngumiti ako. Plastic. "Right. And families still keep secrets from each other. Una na 'ko sa cube ko," baling ko kay Bea.

Nawalan ako ng gana makipag-kwentuhan. The guy who just came at us is the best gossiper, usually, mga artista ang tinitira niya sa mga sinusulat niyang articles. He's someone who is into mainstream news. Kadalasan napag-uusapan, pero madalas walang laman. Masyado lang siyang papansin.

Bumalik ako sa cubicle ko, pag-upo ko pa lang ay may napansin na 'kong frappe mula sa sikat na cafe. There's a note saying. 'Smile more, it suits you'. A common banat.

I move my office chair backwards palabas sa cubicle. Then I saw Rance, standing so he could peek over. Tatlong cubicle ang pagitan namin, iwinagayway niya ang hawak niyang kape.

I smiled and mouthed 'Thank You'. He knows I don't like too much caffeine, and I just had a coffee na libre sa pantry.

"Welcome," nakangiti niyang sabi.

Papasok na sana ako nang may humatak ng sandalan ng chair ko. It was Bea, katabi kami ng cubicle which I think is a bad idea. Istorbo siya sa trabaho.

"So…ano na ka'yo ni Rance?" tsismis niya.

Bumuntong-hininga ako. Wala ako sa mood dahil kulang pa ako sa tulog. Buti na lang headline ang article ko today and it will be the talk of the town for a good week, kung mag-comment ang dating Mayor, may chance na tumagal pa ang usapan.

"Bakit, susulatan mo rin ako ng article?"

Ngumuso siya. "Sino ka ba, 'di ka naman sikat."

Hinatak ko ang ilang strand ng buhok niya pababa.

"Aray! Bayolente mo. Siraan kita riyan sa manliligaw mo eh," reklamo niya.

Umirap ako. Ganito ang asaran namin. Kami lang kase ang nagkakasundo, well, at least on a deeper level. Everybody here acts competitively, and it's good and actually supposed to be healthy. However, some seniors are beginning to show signs of envy whenever newcomers gain more recognition.

With Bea and I, we don't cross each other's boundaries, we are work besties, and we like how we complement each other.

"You better stop, Bea. Alam mo namang mainit sa'kin dugo ng 'lover' niyan."

She giggled. "Issue."

Ilang minuto pa kaming nagtawanan bago natapos ang maikling break. Just like that, kanya-kanya na ulit kami. Ganito rito, everyone is doing their researches, lahat kami updated sa pangyayari sa bansa. We have to…because we can't be late on releasing relevant and current news. Be it facts or gossip, but we do not claim opinions as factual. We indicate what's what and that makes us more credible.

"Guys!"

Here we go.

Napatingin kami sa assistant editor in chief, but basically, his job is to talk for the introverted head editor. Everybody knows that…except him.

"Mayroong nagaganap na palitan ng putok ngayon sa isang kalye malapit sa mga universities, who wants to go?" nagmamadali niyang sabi.

Unahan 'to parang sa classroom, hindi ko forte kaya hindi ako nagprisinta. Bea also didn't raise her hand.

"Me!" it's Rance.

Napabaling ako at nagtama ang tingin namin.

"Uy…worried," bulong ni Bea.

"Shut up." Umiwas ako ng tingin. When the news has something to do with illegal drugs, substance abuse and the likes, basically anything dangerous, he writes it well. Siya ang magaling at walang takot na gumagawa ng article about it.

Padaan siya sa gawi ko kasama ang dalawa pang ka-trabaho namin. I have to say something.

"I-Ingat."

Nakatalikod ako at nakaharap sa monitor nang sabihin ko 'yon, but I know he heard it.

"Thanks, Elle. Mag-iingat ako 'wag ka masyadong mag-alala."

I know I blushed. Good thing nakatalikod ako, at agad naman silang umalis para kumuha ng impormasyon.

"The rest of you, go back to your research. Isabelle, come to my office."

I knew it.

"Yes, sir."

Nauna na siyang maglakad paalis. Nagkatinginan pa kami ni Bea habang naiiling siya, we both hate this person, ako parati ang pinupuntirya.

Magalang akong kumatok bago pumasok.

Taas na tasd agad ang kilay ng assistant editor in chief, as if I did something bad to be reprimanded. My article is in the headline! Not his decision, pero wala na siyang magagawa. The editor in chief has the final say.

"You. Where did you get the information about the Mayor and the Model?" maarte niyang tanong. Pilit niyang tinatago ang tiyan na lalabas na mula sa polong masikip, halos umaray na at bumigay ang mga butones, pilit niya pa ring sinusuot.

"It's confidential, sir." I'm still trying to be polite, kahit pa alam kong ginagawa niya lang 'to dahil sa inggit at selos.

"I'm the assistant editor in chief, how would I know if the articles you're writing are based on facts? What if our name will be tarnished for a lie you make? Hindi ka ba nag-iisip? I'm concerned about our publication," maarte niyang sabi. Kinukulot pa ang mga salita, gumagamit ng accent na hindi naman natural sa kanya.

I forced a smile. "I care about my job, sir. And if you don't trust me despite the evidence I presented, then fire me."

Confident akong nagsasalita sa kanya, dahil nakaka-ubos naman kase talaga siya ng pasensya.

Lalo siyang nag-alburoto. Kahit kase gustuhin niyang alisin ako, he can't. I'm an asset, one of the best in the field. I make our paper known. Hindi papayag ang director at editor in chief na mawala ako.

That's why this person is just doing his best to make my life miserable, sorry siya, ako gagawa non sa buhay niya.

"How dare you talk to your editor like that!" tumaas na ang boses niya, tumayo na rin siya mula sa pagkaka-upo.

Dahil sa pagiging agresibo, natanggal ang isang butones ng polo niya at tumalsik sa sahig.

The face of embarrassment. I want to laugh at him, but I'll be more irritating kung wala akong reaction na ibibigay, like I expected it to happen. It will boil his nerves.

"I'm just saying, sir, of course I won't ruin the publication's reputation. Besides, Mr. Reyes trusts me so much, I headlined five times this month, I think that is enough reason for you to trust me too."

Lalong sumama ang mukha niya nang pinulot ko butones na tumalsik.

"Should I give this to Rance? 'Di ba may ganon sa ibang bansa, you give your buttons for a person who peaks your interest?"

Namula siya nang tuluyan. Wow, he's so gay for Rance. Not that it's bad, I just hope he'd stop coming at me. Hindi naman siya magugustuhan non kahit mawala ako rito sa office, not because of appearance, but because of his feeling superior attitude.

"I'm not done with you yet!" sigaw niya pa.

Nilapag ko lang naman ang butones sa lamesa niya, at walang lingon na naglakad pabalik sa cubicle ko.

Lahat ng madaanan kong cubicle ay napapatingin, isa pa 'yung lalaking bida-bida na nakangisi. Masaya siyang pinag-iinitan ako.

Pagod akong bumalik sa space ko.

"Ano'ng sabi?" si Bea.

"Later." I said, sighing.

Now my focus is gone…I've been researching for this particular person. Someone who might be just a reason for me to be promoted big time, at palitan ang walang kwentang assistant na 'yon.

"Hmmm 'kay," rinig kong sabi ni Bea.

Ibinalik ko ang tingin sa monitor. I stare at the face of a man too stunning to be involved in dirty businesses, but who knows? That must be the very reason he can't be caught.

Am I right? Dash Fontanilla?