SUMIMANGOT si Valencia nang makita niyang tambak na naman siya ng mga tatawagan na mga supplier para sa bagong branch ng Maid in Metro sa Davao. It was hard for her boss to get a property in Davao. Binawalan kasi ito ni Riggs na magtayo ng bagong branch sa Davao. Hindi niya alam kung anong rason pero hindi na siya nag-abalang magtanong sa boss niya.
Valencia sat down on her chair as she faced her own desktop. Napabuntong-hininga siya nang mapansin niya kung anong araw ngayon. A sad smile appeared on her face. Kaya pala walang imik na naman ang Papa niya dahil sa araw na 'to.
Today is here mother's birthday. Hindi niya nakalimutan pero hindi naman siya pwedeng magmukmok nalang sa kwarto niya. She could still feel the pain inside her chest. She could still feel the longingness. She still missed her.
"I approved your leave, Miss Vega."
Napatingala si Valencia nang marinig ang boses ng boss niya. She blinked the tears away.
"P—Po?" she asked confusingly.
"I approved your leave," ulit nito sa kanya.
"B—Bakit naman po? Marami pa po tayong aasikasuhin, Sir," angal niya sa boss niya.
"I know this day is important for you. I also brought flowers for your mother and a cake. I don't know what's your favorite flavor but Riggs told me to pick red velvet. I hope you'll like it."
Napatanga lamang si Valencia sa boss niya. Parang may mainit na palad na humaplos sa sa puso niya. Naalala niya na naikwento niya pala sa boss niya ang tungkol sa Mama niya nang nagpaalam siya rito last year na uuwi siya nang maaga dahil may aasikasuhin siya. Bumisita kasi ang kapatid ni Mama sa kanila noong nakaraang taon pero ngayon ay hindi ito makakabisita dahil may importante raw itong aasikasuhin.
"Hindi na naman po kailang—"
"Shut up, Miss Vega," agad na putol ng boss niya sa kanya. "This is an important day for you and I want you to celebrate it with your family."
"S—Sir,"
"Go and enjoy your leave. Bukas ka na magtrabaho," wika nito. Iniwan siya nito at dumiritso sa mesa nito. Valencia was still surprised. Hindi siya makapaniwala na natatandaan pa nito ang sinabi niya. Valencia was really soft-hearted and she could feel the mist from her eyes. Matinding pagpipigil ang ginawa niya.
She took a deep breath and stood up to gather her things. Nakita niya ang sinabi nitong bulaklak at cake na binili nito para sa Mama niya. Aaminin niya na kinikilig siya ngayon. No one had ever done this to her. Nang mawala kasi ang Mama niya ay nasanay na siya na siya lahat ang gumagawa. Siya ang bumibili ng bulaklak para sa Mama niya. Siya ang naging nanay sa kapatid niya. When she lost her mother, she made a lot of sacrifices. She had no idea that someone would be concerned about her well-being or care about giving flowers to her mother.Ito ang unang beses na nakatanggap siya ng bulaklak at napakaespesyal ng bulaklak na iyon dahil para iyon sa Mama niya.
Valencia walked over to the table that had the flower and cake. It's impossible to look at this flower without falling in love with it. It's a bouquet of white roses and tulips. She took it in her hands and sniffed it.
"Thank you, Mr. Adler," she said, holding the flowers in her hands.
Her boss raised his head and smiled slyly at her. "I'm sure your mother will like the flowers."
She returned her attention to the flowers. Her heart was bursting at the seams with joy. "Of course! I'm sure she's already bragging about it to her friends up there."
Tumawa ang boss niya at umiling. "Birthday niya ngayon, Valencia. Siya ang bida," anito sa kanya habang nakangiti.
Hindi rin mapigilan ni Valencia ang ngumiti. "Marami silang may birthday 'don, Boss. Bida-bida talaga 'tong si Mama ko," biro niya rito.
Her boss simply shook his head. "Get going, Valencia; your family is waiting."
Tumango si Valencia at tinalikuran na ang boss niya. Nasa balikat niya ang bag niya habang bitbit niya naman ang mga bulaklak at ang cake na bigay ni Mr. Adler. Napangiwi siya dahil nahihirapan siya. Malaki naman kasi ang bouquet na binili ng boss niya.
Akmang lalabas na siya ng pinto nang bigla siyang makaramdam nang mainit na palad na dumapo sa braso niya. Nahigit niya ang kanyang hininga.
"Tulungan na kita hanggang sa parking lot, Miss Vega."
Hindi na nakaimik si Valencia nang kunin ni Mr. Adler nag mga bulaklak na yakap-yakap niya. Ang nasa kamay niya nalang ay ang cake. Si Mr. Adler na rin ang nagbukas ng pinto at pinauna siya nito.
They both stepped outside. They were walking side by side. Some of the personnel were staring at them with wide eyes. She was feeling uneasy.
"S—Sir, you don't have to help me; you've already done enough,"
Her boss's brow was crinkled as he gazed at her. "What's the harm in assisting my executive assistant?"
Valencia instantly shook her head. "Nothing, Mr. Adler, except that they're staring at us."
Nang makarating sila ng lobby ay nakita niya na nanlaki ang mga mata ni Jayra. Alam na niya kung anong tumatakbo sa utak nito. Pinandilatan niya lang ito ng mga mata. Nasa parking lot na sila ng building. Kinuha na niya ang kanyang susi sa kanyang bag. Her boss was patiently waiting for her. She pressed her key fob to open her door. Hinarap niya ang boss niya para kunin ang mga bulaklak mula rito.
"Akon na po ang bahala, Mr. Adler."
"Just open the door in the backseat and I'll put these flowers there," he demanded. Agad naman siyang tumalima. Binuksan niya ang pintuan sa backseat at si Mr. Adler na mismo ang naglagay ng mga bulaklak doon. Nahihiya na siya dahil sobrang hands-on nito ngayon sa kanya.
Nang matapos ito ay ito na mismo ang nagsara sa pinto ng sasakyan. Her boss faced her. Siya naman ay kinakabahan. Nahihiya talaga siya rito.
"Maraming Salamat, Mr. Adler."
Yumuko si Valencia. Mas lalo siyang nabigla nang ginulo nito ang buhok niya. That small act made her heart skip a beat. What caused her heart to behave in a different way?
For the love of God, please! This is her boss, and he's a complete jerk. Damn!
Valencia, get your act together.
She told herself quietly.
"Wala lang 'yan sa lahat ng pang-aabala ko sa'yo, Miss Vega," anang Mr. Adler. Lumamlam ang mga mata nito habang nakatingin sa kanya.
Napalunok si Valencia dahil pakiramdam niya nasa lalamunan na niya ang puso niya. "Boss naman! Bayad naman 'yon. Overtime 'nga diba," pabirong hinampas niya ito sa balikat pero agad siyang napatakip ng bibig dahil sa ginawa niya. "Hala! Sorry boss. Nadala lang ng feelings," aniya rito.
"Why? Do you have feelings for me?" Mr. Adler asked.
Kahit walang laman ang bibig ay pakiramdam ni Valencia ay nabilaukan siya. She awkwardly smiled at him. "Sir naman, joker!"
Pasmado kasi 'yang bibig mo, Valencia. Ayan tuloy!
Ngalingngaling iuntog ni Valencia ang kanyang ulo sa malapit na pader.
Mr. Adler simply laughed. She was quite jittery. Her insides trembled, and her heart continued to beat at a rapid pace.
"Miss Vega, go into your car," Mr. Adler urged.
"Yes, yes," she said as she jumped into the driver's seat. She didn't even bother to look at her boss. She believed she was done chatting to him when Mr. Adler knocked on her car window.
"Yes po, Boss?" she inquired as she slid down her car window. She was chewing the inside of her lower lip.
"Take care, Miss Vega," he added, waving his hand. Valencia raised her hand and waved back at him without thinking about it.
When she realized what she had done, she rolled the door up and shut the window.
Isinubsob niya ang kanyang ang mukha sa manibela ng kanyang sasakyan.
"Jusko ka, Valencia! Hindi ka na astig! Shit!" sermon niya sa sarili.
She was unsure of her true feelings at this point.
What is it about Mr. Adler that makes her feel this way?
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