Excuse Me, Ma'am Wesley

Stacy

Waking up was one of the best part of my day. Simula nang magkausap kami ni Wesley, I've been in a constant state of good mood. Which is great because it helps me a lot with work and completing daily tasks. After my sudden confession, I felt like natanggalan ako ng tinik sa katawan. I could no longer hide how I feel, and my action speaks a lot of it. I haven't thought about this feels deeply, but I know it meant something. I wont be here lying in bed with her if it's just nothing.

  As usual, nauna akong nagising kay Wesley na mahimbing pa rin ang tulog sa tabi ko. I smiled at her sleeping state bago ako tumayo para bumaba at mag jogging. We were up late kagabi watching a series we recently discovered. After it nagpahinga na kami, at first she was shy to accept my offer of sleeping beside me, pero napilit ko naman ito kaya nakatulog kaming magkatabi. Three days since we talked about my feelings, pero nandoon pa rin ang hiya niya tuwing malapit ito sa akin. I can't blame her because I get too shy too whenever she's close to me, hindi ko lang inaamin.

  After half an hour of running back and forth sa bahay, I took the face towel I left in the chair beside the outdoor table at pinahid ang pawis ko. My eyes caught again the fresh blooming flowers I have kaya namitas muna ako bago ako bumalik sa loob. Inilagay ko ito sa vase at ibinalik sa kanyang same position. When I turned, saktong pagpasok din ng inaantok na si Wesley.

  She is still yawning, rubbing her eyes as she walks papunta sa sink.

  "Morning," bati ko rito.

  She mumbles a short response to my greetings bago kinuha ang mug sa lalagyan. "Kape?"

  "Same as usual, please." I didn't bother telling her what my coffee mix is dahil naging kabisado niya na ito simula nang magsama kami sa bahay. She even knows how I make my protein shakes and salads.

  She passed me the coffee at tinulungan ko naman itong dalhin ang tinapay sa dinning room where we sat. "Thanks, Ma'am Wesley."

  She looks up at me, her eyes a little red from all her rubbing. Ilang beses ko na itong sinuway sa kanyang hindi-matigil na pag-kusot sa mata tuwing gigising but she never listens. "Palagi mo na akong tinatawag na ganyan," she pointed out, giving me a confused look.

  Nagkibit-balikat lang ako. "I like calling you that, it fits your name perfectly kasi. Why? Hindi mo ba gusto?"

  Umiling ito. "Hindi naman po. Masyado lang kasing mataas, baka mapagod ka."

  "It's not that long, dork. Do you have any plans for today?"

  Umiling ulit ito. "Wala naman. Ikaw ba?"

  "I have a few calls to make at ten and a zoom meeting mamayang one."

  "Ohh, ganun ba. Okay, habang busy ka magliligpit kami ni Leah."

  My brows raise. "You don't have-"

  For another surprising time, she cut me off with a frustrated expression plastered on her face. "Ilang beses ko bang uulitin na ayos lang na kami ni Leah ang maglinis. Hindi naman masyadong mahirap ang gawaing bahay dito, para mas makasave ka rin."

  I took a sip from my drink bago ito sinagot. "But you're paying me rent, and some of its portion is allocated sa pagbabayad ng maintenance dito sa bahay—which includes the cleaning staffs. "