It Might Be You

38

38

He is holding his table knife and the fork, but his hands are not moving at all. Ridge is in deep thought, he hasn't even realized that his parents are looking at him.

"Hijo, don't you like the food?" His mother spoke so softly.

Parang walang narinig si Ridge at nakatitig lang sa kawalan. Hanggang sa marahang pisilin ng ina ang kanyang braso.

"Yes, Mamá?"

"You are not eating your food, hijo. Gusto mo bang magpahanda ako ng ibang pagkain?"

Napatingin si Ridge sa kanyang plato, hindi nga niya nagagalaw ang isang slice ng cheddar potato omelet. "This one is fine, Mamá."

Narinig niya ang pagtikhim ng kanyang ama kaya nabaling ang atensyon niya kay Don Gabrielo na matamang nakatitig sa kanya.

"Is this about your new executive assistant? Ang sabi sa akin sa HR ay galit ka raw dahil unang araw pa lang sablay na yung assistant mo."

"Right, I remember our son here mentioned he is already stressed at work Gab." Masuyong hinaplos pa ng kanyang ina ang pisngi ni Ridge, "Do something about it, Gabrielo. The assistant should be making our son's work easier."

"I will ask somebody from my office to look for ano—"

"No!" Maagap na sagot ni Ridge at nakita niyang nagulat ang kanyang mga magulang. "There is no need for that Papá. The new assistant has a valid reason, everything is okay. She's competent. She is exactly what I need."

"Your new assistant is a woman?" Gulat na tanong ng kanyang ama. "Is she even capable of working late? Ginagabi ka minsan sa mga business trips mo, minsan ay late ka ring matapos kung may mga dinner meetings. Can she even handle you when you're too drunk?"

"Then I won't get drunk. I don't want to trouble her." He immediately answered. "Just don't meddle about it anymore, I'm totally fine with my new assistant."

Nakita niyang bahagyang napamaang ang kanyang mga magulang sa kanyang naging sagot. "If you say so." Sambit ng kanyang ama at pasimpleng nilingon ang asawang si Cecilia na nagkibit-balikat lamang.

Hindi man niya gaanong nagalaw ang kanyang almusal. In fact, every day he makes sure not to eat too much breakfast in their house, and he's been like these for three days.

"Dark roast coffee and bagel."

He slightly moved his Macbook on the side and let Dawn placed the breakfast she brought for him. "Thank you, Dawn." He expressed with a genuine smile on his face.

Dawn smiled back at him too, "Ahm, ready for your schedule?" She showed the Ipad.

"How about you? Have you eaten your breakfast?"

"I did. My husband won't let us go without eating breakfast." Nakangiting sagot ni Dawn at tila gustong sumimangot ni Ridge.

"I see. Go on with the schedule."

Nakinig si Ridge sa sinasabi ni Dawn, paminsan-minsan ay hindi niya naaabsorb nang mabuti ang sinasabi ni Dawn dahil nalulunod siya sa pagtitig sa bawat galaw ng kanyang mga labi, ultimo ang pagpilantik ng kanyang mga pilik-mata ay napagmamasdan ni Ridge.

"Do you approve of it, Sir?"

"Huh?" He did not know how to answer.

Damn it, Ridge! Stop fooling around. Stop looking at her damn lips!

Narinig niya ang munting paghalakhak ni Dawn, "Sir Ridge, I think you should eat your breakfast. I'll get back to you again."

"Right, just come back later? Alright?" Now, he likes the idea of having to see her again later.