Stand Still: Please Stay

Eleven

"A date?" Hinarap ko ulit siya.

"Yes." Nahihiya niyang sagot, napakamot pa siya sa batok.

"A friendly kind of date?"

"No. It's more of a boss and employee type of date. Walang malisya." He answered.

Tumango ako at nag-isip ng sandali. Sa huli ay Tumango ako bilang pagsang-ayon.

"So I'll pick you up at, eight?" he asked.

"Okay" sabi ko at tumalikod na para umalis.

I was about to step outside when I realized...

"Alam mo kung saan ako nakatira?"

"Of course, it's on your resume. Have you forgotten?" He sarcastically asked.

"Ay, oo nga pala. Uuwi po muna ako, boss."

"Wait." He said with authority. "What you'd call me?" Mataray niyang tanong.

"I called you boss." I shyly smiled. "Don't think of it as a formal thing, think of it as an endearment."

"Endearment? Okay. Go home. See you at eight."

I drove home, still thinking about the date. Hindi ba parang ang aga naman for a date with my boss. I mean, it's my first day. May matino bang boss na mag-aaya sa empleyado niya ng date sa unang araw? He must be crazy then. Wala naman siguro siyang masamang balak, di ba?

When I arrived home, I went straight to the shower, then pumasok ako sa walk in closet to look for something to wear.

Napatalon ako nang biglang kumatok si Dianne. "Hey, Anna? Nandito ka na pala."

"Oo. Bakit?"

"Wala naman. Hindi ko lang namalayan na nandito ka na pala? May lakad ka?"

"Oo." Tipid kong sagot at nagpatuloy sa paghahanap.

"Sama naman ako. Medyo nabobored na kasi ako."

"Next time na lang, Dianne. Si boss ang kasama ko mamaya. And I think it's not a good idea na isama kita. 'Cause probably, tungkol sa business ' yun."

"Okay. But let me at least help you pick out an outfit."

"Thank you, nahihirapan nga din kasi ako."

"What do you want? A dress?" she asked habang papalapit sa ilang dress sa sulok ng closet ko.

"Uhm. Ayoko. Lagi na ako g naka-dress. I want something different but memorable. Nothing special pero makikitang pinaghandaan ko."

"You want different huh?" She walked out of the walk in closet.

Dumiretso siya sa normal clothes ko. She took out a grey sleeveless shirt. Then she took out a light brown cardigan. And she went for skinny jeans.

Sinuot ko lahat ng binigay niya sa akin. "Whoah! Good taste Dianne." Sabi ko habang nakatingin sa full length mirror.

"Maliit na bagay." She said with a sarcastic confidence. "Let's finish that look with this."

She was holding a gold and brown necklace.

"Remember this?" She asked.

"Yes. I can't believe you still have this." Sabi ko habang inaabot sa kanya ang necklace.

"Of course I still have this. It's from my favorite person in the world."

Na-touch naman ako sa sinabi ni Dianne. I didn't know na ganun ako ka-importante sa kanya. Niyakap ko siya and said thank you. We didn't know na parehas na pala kaming umiiyak. Natigil ang ka-dramahan namin nang biglang tumunog ang doorbell.