•••
2 PM and we are still working when my stomach began to rumble. I also start feeling lightheaded meaning I need to eat lunch already. I was going to stand up when Alyssa placed a food on my table.
"Kumain ka na, kanina ka pa nakahawak sa tiyan at ulo mo."
I gazed at her and stared at the food inside its tupperware. She brought me my favorite food which is Bulalo. She has been bringing me this for 2 straight weeks. I'm not even obligating her to cook for me.
"Babe, masama ang malipasan ng gutom." She reminded before moving on to the other side of my table.
"Binubudol mo ako 'no?" I asked as I opened the tupperware's lid. "Kinukuha mo ba ang loob ko, Valdez?"
"Masama bang dalhan ka ng paborito mong pagkain? Alam mo ikaw, napakareklamador mo." She laughed while looking at her phone. She should be at her office but she's staying here to mess around with me.
I rolled my eyes and shake my head before taking a bite. I have to admit, Alyssa can cook well just like her Mom. And I hate to say her Bulalo is the best food I've tasted. Other restaurants I've been to don't even come close.
"Ano pa ang kaya mong lutuin?" I asked out of the blue.
"Lahat ng tinuro sa amin nila Nanay. Paborito kong gawin 'yung Kaldereta." She said proudly. She places her phone on the table and looks at me, "Pwede kitang dalhan ng ibang pagkain at baka nagsasawa ka na dyan."
I darted my eyebrows, "I'm just asking, Valdez." I paused and a question comes into mind, "Why are you doing this?"
"I want to." She smiles on her short answer then flashes a grin, "Hindi ka kuntento sa sagot ko."
Yes, I'm not contented because there seems to be a deeper reason. Maybe, I'm assuming things and I don't know what's going on her mind, but this is weird. Wala pang nagpapadala sa akin ng pagkain ng diretso sa loob ng dalawang linggo.
"Anong agenda mo sa akin?" Pag-imbestiga ko at kinunot ang aking noo.
"Wala." Alyssa answered, "Gusto ko lang." She brushed her hair backwards while watching me eat. "Ayaw mo ba?"
My mouth hanged open with her question. "I appreciate it." I drank water and our eyes met. I avert my focus and continued eating. "No one else has done this for me."
"Well, there is one person doing it for you now."
"Naiinis pa rin ako sa'yo." I said and she laughed.
We had a meeting two hours later and Alyssa is our current presenter. I closely observed as she talked about the current progress of our project. Alyssa is consistent from the start of our work together, and she frequently comes up with interesting ideas on how to make everything run smoothly. She is also very alert and composed when it comes to changes being done. All around, she is appearing to be a good leader and this is based on my observation alone.
I smiled a little.
Dad praised our team for the way things are being handled. He wishes to see us maintaining our progress and notes that me and Alyssa seem to work well together. The rest of the management inside the room noticed the same thing. Needless to say, our meeting ended on a positive note.
