Our Fate [OUR SERIES #2]

CHAPTER 11

'What relationship? We're friends'

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"I really appreciate your helping hand Thana. Gosh, what would I do without you?" I said breathily.

Nag aayos ako ng mga papel na nai staple na ni Thana sa office table ko. Habang siya naman ay nasa sala, abala rin sa pagse staple ng iba pang hindi natatapos na papel.

"It's fine Ms. Professor." Sagot niya nang hindi ako nililingon.

Pagkatapos ng klase ko kanina ay agad akong dumeretso sa opisina upang simulan ang gagawin. Nahinto lang nang pumasok siya at palitan ako sa ginagawa ko. I rested for almost half an hour. Tingin ko ata ay nakaidlip ako kanina habang pinagpapatuloy ni Thana ang nasimulan ko.

Sa kalagitnaan ng trabaho ay nag order ako ng pagkain para sa 'ming dalawa. I told her to eat first so she'll have the energy. Sabay kaming kumain at kakatapos lang namin. Nagpahinga kami saglit at eto na naman, balik trabaho na.

"I don't know how to thank you but I hope I could repay you for your hard work today." I sighed. "And by the way, how much is this slack?"

"Don't mind it. Just don't wear skirts when working again." Kunot noo niya kong binalingan.

"Well, I need to." Pangatwiran ko.

"Just make sure to wear it on the days when you will not pick up papers like today."

"Yes ma'am. You sound like a mother nagging your child." Nakakatuwang sa sitwasyong iyon ay nagawa ko pang tumawa.

"I'm just saying. Maraming bastos ngayon at ayokong may masilipan pa ulit ang propesor na iyon."

"Masilipan? It was an accident-"

"Dhayne, if I was him earlier, I would have looked away. I would probably turn around and tell you to fix your skirt. That's a bare minimum. I can't believe he's below the minimum." Hindi makapaniwalang argumento niya.

"What I am telling is, baka naman nahihiya lang siya na sabihin sa 'kin iyon dahil baka masabihan siyang bastos."

"Ms. Professor, Kung ganon bakit harap harapan niyang tinititigan ang binti mo kanina? Ayaw niyang masabihan ng bastos but his actions were like what a perverted man would do."

"Alright. Are we seriously having an argument about this?"

"It's not an argument. We're just talking."

"Good. Because I'm bad at arguments, I prefer sparring." I set aside the papers I've finished fixing. "I was just thanking you for helping."

"No problem, Dhayne. That's what friends are for."

I smiled. Glad she's considering me as a friend now. Not someone na pwede niyang sungitan anytime na gusto niya. I hope I'm getting close to the real Thana Morana Hirano.

I couldn't believe that we're both having a peaceful conversation while doing my work inside my office. Siguro'y ito ang unang pagkakataon na mahaba kaming nagsama na hindi man lang naiinis sa isa't isa. She magically became considerate of every situation we're in. I don't know if a person's attitude towards someone could change in the span of two months but this woman seriously did.

Mukhang ibang tao ang kausap at kasama ko. Except that her face is the same. May pagkakataon namang nagiging sarkastiko siya ngunit nailulugar na niya iyon. Ang mahalaga, ngayon ay nasasagot na niya ng maayos ang mga tanong ko. And at least, we're having a conversation. At least we're now friends.

"Do you want to dine with me for dinner?" Tanong ko nang palabas na kami ng school. Sinabay ko na rin siya upang ako na ang maghatid sa kanya.

"Hm? No." Simpleng sagot niya.