Midnight Sky

2

I'm at my workplace right now doing my job as a Chief of Staff  in my parents company. I graduated last year in U.P, Business Management.

Wala akong balak mag business management dahil ayaw na ayaw ko sa lahat ang nag babasa nang sang katutak na mga paper works. Pero dahil sabi ng Dad ko na matalino daw ako at may kakayahan rin daw akong mag handle ng negosyo, somehow. At dahil wala akong magagawa, hindi ako nag ri-rebelde sa parents at brother ko kahit anong puot ang nararamdaman ko para sa kanila.

Ina-amin kong may galit ako sa kanila dahil sa mga ginagawa nila sa akin. Pero kahit ganun, pamilya ko parin ang tingin sa kanila.

I'm currently busy reading this endless pile of papers in my table. I need to finish reading this in time for reassurance and hand it over to my brother who is currently sitting in the Director's position, i need to hand this paper to him because his approval and signature is needed then give it to my father who is the President.

Hindi lang ito ang gagawin ko kaya mina-madali ko ang pag tapos nito. Gagawa pa ako ng report for the financial expenses that the company spend for the partnership of the new project of our investor last month. I need to make an options for the designs present it in front of the board members. And as a Chief of Staff, i'm one of 'em. I'm also the team leader of the Department of Management and my job is to manage the flow of the new project flawlessly.

"Miss, pahinga ka kaya muna." Na pansin ni Agnes na kanina pa ako hikab ng hikab.

Agnes Castillo is my Secretary, siya lang pinag kakatiwalaan kong tao sa companya ng mga magulang ko. Agnes is actually my friend, i met her when we were still i school at nu'ng graduate na ako kay in-offer ko sa kanya ang pagiging secretary niya sa akin. She's excellent in everything, flawless and clean ang trabaho niya.

I wave my hand twice, slowly and said, "no... i'm good. I need to finish this damn work, god!"

"You haven't slept for 3 days straight, aren't you exhausting?" she said it calmly, worried tone of her voice.

"I'm tired but i still can, kunti nalang naman ito siguro matatapus natin ito in for hours." sagot ko.

Hindi ito nag salita at tinitigan lang siya. Na bigla siya ng bigla lang itong lumabas ng walang sinasabi at bumalik nang may dalang kape sa kamay pagka lipas ng mga limang minuto. Lumabas pala ito para bunili ng kape para sa kanya.

"Eto, miss, kape inumin nyo para 'di ka antukin kakabasa." nilapag nito sa mesa ang dalang kape at bumalik sa sariling table at pinag patuloy ang trabaho.

Napapangiti nalang ako sa mga ginagawa niya. May mga araw na nakakalimutan ko nang kumain tapos tinatanung niya ako kung kumain na ba daw ako tapos sinasagot ko siya ng hindi pa, this happened first week when she got her job as my secretary. And guess what she did after that, she brought me breakfast, lunch to dinner without asking me and without me ordering her to get me some foods to eat. It's all her will to do everything for me.

It's true that i haven't sleep for 3 days in a row, i didn't even have a chance to go home to take just a little bit of a rest.

I'm exhausting. So tired that my body wants to break down my mind keep on going, doing and finishing this work nonstop.

Kinakailangan kong tapusin ito ngayon'ng linggo dahil kailangan ko na ring galawin at tapusin ang report ko for next week's meeting with the board.

'Ahh... i want to relax after this.' Sinandal ko ang likod ng ulo ko sa headboard nang chair ko, mahinang mina-masahe ang ulo. I admit na i had a mild headache right now, pero dahil mina-madali ako ni kuya sa work ko so i couldn't take a nap when he said the died line is after dinner today.

I'm reading the finance form when i suddenly got a call. I glance at my phone, then there, the name Aslan pop on the screen.

Kinuha ko ang phone ko at tinutukan ito nang mga ilang sigundo bago sinagot ang tawag nito.

"Hello?" i answered.

I heard a sigh on the other side before he speak, "what took you so long to answer my goddamn call." I can hear annoyance in his voice.

I roll my eyes a little. "Well sorry, Mr. evil punk. I'm working at this hour and i'm so busy that i can't even spare a minute talking to you." may diin sa pagka sabi ko ang 'busy' dahil totoo naman'g busy talaga ako.

I hear him clearing his throat. "Is that so?" tanong nito.

"Yes. And... why are you calling me right now?"

"I just want to tell you that come to my office by dinner i have something to discuss with you."

"Kailangan ba talaga'ng itawag mo pa sakin? You can just send a text message, you know? I can read it anytime." pinag-patuloy ko ang pag babasa ko ng papers habang nakikinig sa kanya.

"Stop complaining. I need you here, later." diniin niya ang 'later'. Lumalaban panga.

Tahimik nang mga ilang minuto habang tinitigan ang mga papel sa table ko.

"I'll think about it." sagot ko maya-maya.

"Don't just think about it, do it, stubborn lady." Sa oras na sinabi niyang matigas ulo ko ay nag init bigla ang ulo ko.

I slightly smirk and stand up at the same time.

"What did you just called me? A stubborn lady?....Hey, mister, you're the one forcing me to go there knowing that i really don't want too. So what if i don't want to go? You're going to scare me again? With what? A gun again or a hand knife this time? You stupid, son of a hell, bastard!" i shouted.

Hinihingal ako dahil sa sigaw kong iyon. Wala akong narinig na kahit ano sa kabila kaya binaba ko na ang tawag. Bumalik ako sa pagkaka-upo at sinandal ang ulo at likuran ko.

Nararamdaman ko ang titig ni Agnes sa akin. Hindi ko siya ni lingon dahil sumasakit talaga ang ulo ko pag kausap ang siraulo'ng lalaki'ng iyon.

"Buwiset ka! Sana madapa kang siraulo ka. Sarap mong batukan..." mahinang sigaw ko pagka tapos ay tinapon ko ang phone ko sa sofa. Lumingun ako kay Agnes, "wag mong pulutin yan. Nakaka-isturbo." utok ko, tumango naman siya.

Bumalik na lang ako sa aking ginagawa. Hindi ko namalayan na limang oras na pala ang lumipas. It's already 6:25 pm, i forgot to eat lunch earlier. Sobrang focus ko yata sa trabaho at hindi ko na napansin ang lunch na nilapag ni Agnes sa left side ko.

Buti nalang at tapos na ako sa trabaho kaya pina init ko kay Agnes ang lunch na binili niya kanina para kainin ko ngayon'g dinner time.

Sabay kaming kumain ni Agnes nang dinner sa loob ng office ko nang maalala ko ang rason kung bakit tumawag iyung kumag kanina.

'Be there at dinner? and what scare me in the end?' There is no way i'm going there. He makes my blood boil. Seriously, his getting on my nerves that i want to knock him down.

Best to take a short nap than going there.

___________________________________________