Frozen Time

The Encounter

"Good morning everyone. I'm Krystalance Herrera Vergara. I guess you all know me by KHV. But you can call me whatever you are comfortable with."

Then she smiled and my heart just melted right now.

Call her anything? Can I still call her Honey? Oh Pat stop it!

Hindi ako mapakali. Para bang may langgam sa upuan ko at hindi ako makaupo ng maayos. I just kept staring at her. That smile. I'm so glad that she's smiling. Nakakapagtaka man na nakangiti siya ngayon, ang mahalaga ay alam kong masaya siya. Ang masakit lang ay hindi na ako ang dahilan ng ngiti na yan.

I can't see the coldness in her. Kahit ang mga kaopisina ko ay hindi rin makapaniwala dahil ineexpect nila ay masungit na boss. But right now she's just so warm and she keeps on smiling while discussing the company.

Oh sh*t! She's discussing the company! Dapat nakikinig ako at hindi nagdedaydream ng tungkol sa kanya. I should focus!

I tried and I was able to focus on one thing. Her lips. As she was talking and her lips moving... I can't help but think that my lips should be moving with her lips in sync.

Oh God help me baka mawalan ako ng trabaho ng dahil dito! And with that... I realized, she's my boss! She's my freaking boss! How could this be? Oh God eto na ba ang paghihirap na pagdadaanan ko?

"Alright that's it! I'm excited to work with everyone! As of now I have to meet with the head of each department to align the plans we have for the company. And let me start with the advertising department. Patricia, see me in my office."

There's that smile again and now it's directed towards me. Each part of my being is melting.

As I looked up she's looking at me. And as we stared with each other, I was able to see my world again.

------------

PAT POV

"Good luck girl!" halos sabay-sabay na sabi sakin ng mga kaopisina ko sa loob ng board room. Agad namang umalis si Lance papunta sa kanyang office. Speaking of office... hindi ko alam kung san yun at kailangan nandun na ako, ngayon mismo!

"Ms Lea! Ms. Lea! San po pala ang office ni Ms. KHV?" tanong ko kay Ms. Lea.

"It's just there in front of your office Patricia." sabi ni Ms. Lea.

"Ha? Bakit ka-floor natin si Ms. KHV? Hindi ba dapat nasa 31st floor siya?" pag tatakang tanong ko.

"Well... For your information Patricia, Ms. KHV wants to be close to her employees and she wants to build the teamwork that we should have in this office kaya gusto niya andito malapit lahat satin." sabi niya na para bang kilala niya si Lance ng buong buhay niya. This new side of Lance is very new to me. Hindi naman siya ganto dati. She is a very distant person when it comes to work. She does not encounter a lot with her colleagues because she wants to separate her work life and her personal life. But now, everything I'm seeing from Lance is just an opposite of who she is before. Is this the new her? Wala na ba ang dating siya? Hindi ko alam kung dapat bang maging masaya ko sa pag babago niyang ito.

"Patricia? I think you should be heading there by now." agad naman akong natauhan dahil natulala pala ko ng panahon na iyon.

"Oh yeah. I really should. Anyway, thanks Ms. Lea." naglakad na ko papunta sa direction ng office ni Lance. Sa bawat hakbang ko ay mas lalong lumalakas ang tibok ng puso ko. Sa bawat distansya na naglalapit samin ay nararamdaman ko ang unti-unting namumuong pawis sa noo ko.

"Good morning Ms. Patricia." bati sakin ni Denise ng nakangiti. Talaga naman ito na ang long-time assistant ni Lance. Kasama rin kaya niya si Lance kung saan man ito nanggaling.