Lost In Each Other

Chapter 3

Louis Alexander

I took a deep sigh and shook my head while looking at my schedule. Kakabalik ko pa lang sa trabaho, ang dami agad gagawin. Damn! That one week vacation in manila isn’t really enough and will never be enough for me!

I am here at the provincial capitol because I was been elected as a governor a year ago and going to manila once in awhile or every weekend is such a relief to me.

“So, you are back.” Napaangat ako ng tingin sa babaing nagsalita. It was Treesse, one of my counsin. Padabog kong nilapag sa mesa ‘yung schedule na tinitignan ko kanina pa. I stretched my back on my swivel chair and took a deep sigh.

“What the hell are you doing here?!” Singhal ko sa kaniya.

“Excuse me?! Your Mom asked me to check up on you. I heard you fired your secretary again?!” Sarkastiko at kunot noong tanong niya.

Seriously? For the 9th time?! Now, you don’t have one na naman!” Mariing reklamo niya at singhal pa nito sa akin.

“Whatever! I hate stupid girls, just find me a new one.” Irita kong komento at utos sa kaniya tapos ay inabot niya sa akin ang isang folder.

“What is this?” Kunot noong tanong ko sa kaniya.

“Duh?! A list of applicant.” Sarkastikong sambit niya tapos ay inirapan niya ako.

“So, you are the one who made my schedule?! Damn! It is such a hectic schedule, Treesse!” Mariing reklamo ko pa sa kaniya habang binabasa ko ang list of names ng applicants na binigay niya.

“That’s hectic because of you! Sana kung tinatapos mo lang ng maaga ang mga kailangan mong tapusin, you wouldn’t feel like it was a heavy workload. But there you are, always going to manila to party-“

“To unwind.” Sarkastikong pagtatama ko pa sa mga sinabi niya tapos ay muli kong binaling ang tingin sa list of applicants.

Damn, those night out is the only thing that keeps me happy and keeps my sanity. I was a governor of this province and it was my first term, I feel like I am still trying to figure out how things work because this is such a heavy responsibility.

“I want to personally see these first three applicants.” Utos ko kay Treesse kaya tinaasan niya ako ng kilay at para bang nasurpresa siya.

“Stop looking at me like that, Treesse.”

“Come on, I want to make sure I get the suitable secretary for me this time. Ang tatanga kasi ng mga hina-hire mo! Walang ibang ginawa kundi magpapansin sa akin. Tss.” Mariing reklamo ko pa sa kaniya kaya nakita ko ang pagngisi niya.

“Assuming.” Singhal at komento pa niya tapos ay napailing iling na lang siya. Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay at sinamaan ng tingin. Tss. Totoo naman eh!

“Fine.” Sarkastiko at nakangisi niyang saad tapos ay napailing siya na para bang natatawa siya.

“So, kailan ang screening or interview?!” Kunot noong tanong ko sa kaniya.

“Now.” Napaangat ako ng tingin sa kaniya. Damn! She’s so quick to respond and do actions!

“The applicants are waiting outside.” Nakangusong turo niya sa may pintuan.

Huminga ako ng malalim at binalik sa kaniya ‘yung folder. “Ok, I’ll start, you can go.” Sarkastikong utos ko sa kaniya.

“Treesse, only the first three applicants, alright?!” Paalala ko pa sa kaniya.

“Noted, Gov.” Sarkastiko at nakangising sabi niya bago lumabas ng opisina ko.

Minutes later, someone entered the room and it was one of the applicants. “Name? Age?” Bungad kong tanong do’n sa aplikante.

“A-Ana po, 18 years old.” Nauutal niyang sagot kaya tinasaan ko siya ng kilay.

“18? Are you a student?” Mausisang tanong ko sa kaniya pero umiling siya.

“Hindi na po, matagal na po akong huminto.” Nag aalangan niyang paliwanag.

“First, you are too young. Second, you are not qualified yet. You should’ve focused more on your studies than applying for work. Apply for a scholarship program not for a work. Okay? We will help you out.” Sarkastiko at mariin kong sabi sa kaniya. Bakas sa mukha niya na gusto pa niyang magdahilan at umalma pero tumanggo na lang siya.

“Approach Ms. Treesse, ask for her assistance snd help.” Utos ko pa sa kaniya bago siya lumabas ng opisina ko.

“Next.” I shouted then the second applicant came.

I noticed that the second applicant is already in her mid 50’s or something so it’s kind of a no for me but I decided to give it a try.

“What’s your name, Ma’am?” I asked when the second applicant came.

“Maria, Gov.” Tipid na sagot niya kaya napailing ako.

“Are you a techie person or at least knowledgeable enough about social media or how to use gadgets?” Mariin at mausisang tanong ko sa kaniya pero umiling siya kaya napabuntong hininga ako.

“Sorry, Ma’am but.. I want works to be done immediately and I want someone who has knowledge about social media and such, you know what I mean?” I said and explained politely.

“But you can apply for some work here related to paperworks, if there’s a vacant position.” Nakangiting dugtong ko pa kaya mukhang nabuhayan siya ng loob tapos ay nagpasalamat na lang siya at lumabas na.

Binalik ko ang tingin sa laptop ko dahil may natanggap akong email pero narinig kong bumukas ulit ‘yung pintuan.

“Name?” I immediately asked when I heard the door opened again.

Nag angat ako ng tingin para tignan ‘yung pangatlong aplikante pero natulala ako nung makita ko siya. Damn~

Para akong napako sa kinauupuan ko at hindi ko agad na alis ang paningin ko sa kaniya. She’s just wearing a simple white long sleeve and a mini skirt but she was so damn gorgeous and attractive.

I was stunned to speak, napangisi ako at napailing. Kung gaano ako natulala dahil sa ganda niya ay mas grabe ang reaksyon niya nung makita niya ako, seems like she was very shocked and surprised. Para siyang nakakita ng multo dahil sa psgkagulat niya at bigla siyang namutla, ramdam ko rin ang tensyon at pagkataranta sa kaniya.

“C-Camila S-Selene C-Castillo.” Nauutal at nag aalangan niyang sagot sa tanong ko. The more I look at her, the more her natural beauty comes out. But damn! She look so familiar but I can’t remember where and when I saw her. Her name isn’t familiar at all but her face was. Werd, isn’t?

“You look familiar, Ms. Castillo. Have we met before?!” Mausisang tanong ko sa kaniya at kita ko na mas lalo siyang natensyon dahil sa tanong ko.

Umiling siya at pilit na ngumiti sa akin. “H-hindi p-pa po, Gov.” Nauutal niyang sagot at kita ko na parang hindi siya mapakali dahil mahigpit niyang hawak hawak ang mga kamay niya habang mariin niya itong pinipisil.

“How old are you?” Kunot noong tanong ko sa kaniya at tinitigan ko siya sa mga mata niya pero mabilis siyang nag iwas ng tingin sa akin.

“24 po.” Tipid niyang sagot tapos ay yumuko siya ng bahagya para mag iwas ng tingin sa akin.

I bite my lower lips and shook my head. “Not too young, not too old.” Sarkastiko at nakangising komento ko pa.

I took a deep sigh and stretched my back again on my swivel chair. “Okay..”

“You’re hired, Ms. Castillo.” Seryosong sambit ko sa kaniya at nakita ko ang pagkabigla niya dahil sa sinabi ko. Hindi ko alam kung tuwa ba o kaba ang nararamdaman niya. But who cares?!

“Start tomorrow.” Saad ko pa tapos ay sineñyasan ko siyang lumabas na.

Tumanggo siya at saka sinunod ‘yung sinabi ko. Napabuntong hininga ako nung makalabas na siya sa opisina ko. Damn! She quite look familiar but I don’t know when and where I met her?!!