Love and Cigarettes

The End

"What day is it, Aria?"

I cleared my throat. "It's Friday, Sir Alex."

"Wrong. Today's the day you say yes to me."

I shot him a horrified look. Oh, my god. Ang corny. Nagkatinginan kami ni Dan at sabay kaming napangiwi. How can he say such things without cringing?

"I'm sorry, but no. I refuse to date you, Sir."

"I see. Not yet, huh?" bulong ni Sir Alex.

No, Sir Alex. I don't think I'll ever date you. Not today, not tomorrow, so don't say 'not yet' like it's only a matter of time, I laughingly thought to myself.

Anyway, this has been a common scene in my daily life. It's been two years, and I still work in Incognito. Wala naman akong rason para lumipat. Mataas ang sahod ko, maganda ang benefits, at mabait pa ang boss ko.

Well, minus the fact that he's head over heels for me, I think Sir Alex Alterra is a pretty good employer all in all.

Plus, his bodyguard Dan is also funny.

So there's never a dull moment in my life.

"Do I look better with my hair down, Aria?"

I tilted my head as I stared at Sir Alex. He purposely fixed his hair down in order to show it to me today. Hmm, what do I say...

"You look good in any hairstyle, anyway." komento ko at sinuklay ang bangs niya gamit ng mga daliri ko. "Pero mas bata ang hitsura mo kapag nakababa ang buhok mo, Sir."

"I see." Sir Alex had a smug look on his face. "So you think I look good in any hairstyle, Aria. Will you marry me, then?"

"I'm sorry, but I politely decline." I bowed.

He clicked his tongue. "That's the 378th rejection."

Sinulyapan ko si Dan na noo'y nagbabantay sa pintuan. Kumindat ako sa kanya at mukhang naintindihan naman niya ito. Napaubo siya.

"Will you marry me, Aria?" tanong ni Dan.

"I'd love to!" I chirped then burst into laughter upon seeing the sour look on Sir Alex's face.

"It seems that you enjoy making fun of me." Sir Alex said in a flat tone. "Should I get rid of you?"

Dan smiled. "You can't fire us, though?"

"Because you like us very much?" dugtong ko.

In the end, Sir Alex simply evaded our words. Perhaps he was too embarrassed to admit it, but it's obvious that he liked being with me and Dan.

During lunchtime, I left the office to buy myself lunch. Habang naglalakad ako, biglang tumunog ang phone ko kaya sinagot ko ang tumatawag.

Si Tobi.

"ARIAAAA!" he shouted from the other line.

Napangiti naman ako. "What is it, Tobi?"

"OMG, MY FIRSTBORN IS A BOY!"

Si Tobi talaga, minsan mapagkakamalan mong bading. Mas maarte pa kamo magsalita sa babae!

"Bakit parang di ka masaya na lalaki?"

"BECAUSE I WANTED A GIRL THAT LOOKS LIKE NAMI! I EVEN BOUGHT A LOT OF PINK STUFF!"

Napailing ako. "Bakit kasi bumili ka agad?"

"GANITO NA LANG. MAGBUNTIS KA NA TAPOS DAPAT BABAE, PARA MAIBENTA KO SAYO 'TO-"

Hindi ko na siya pinatapos at binabaan ko na siya. The thing about Tobi, he doesn't know when to stop talking. Tapos minsan ganyan pa siya, may pagka-scammer. Ang hilig magbenta ng kung anu-ano.