Del Rico Triplets #2: Retracing The Steps

Kabanata 31

Gunshots

We arrived at his company pass nine. We used his car since I haven't got mine yet. Kinuha raw iyon ng talyer na pinagpagawaan niya. Ang sabi niya ay maayos na iyon at pwede ko nang magamit mamaya. Nagdesisyon na nga siyang sasamahan niya ako sa pagkuha kahit hindi naman ako pumayag.

I just didn't mind it since wala rin akong gagamitin papunta sa talyer at hindi ko alam kung saang lupalop ng Manila iyon.

"Welcome, Mr. Del Rico..." A woman I guess is on her late forties greeted Troi when we both step out of the elevator.

Hanggang tenth floor ang building na 'to. Actually, that's just the facade. The building has eleven floor in total. Underground ang isa dahil naroon ginagawa ang mga gamot na hindi daw pwedeng exposed sa tao. Although, mild pa lang iyon since the real life threatening chemicals are made in a secluded village around Manila lang din.

"This is my office," he motioned the wide wooden door which will lead, I think, in a big room.

Tumango si Troi sa mga nakakasalubong na binabati siya bago ay sa akin na uli ang atensyon. He opened the door and motioned me to come in first.

Sanay na ako makakita ng naglalakihang opisina ng mga big boss ng kompanya. Kaya lang, ang kaalamang personal kong kilala ang tumatao sa opisinang ganito kalaki ay nakapagpapamangha sa akin.

The whole office is a mixture of dark blue and white. The setup of the office tells me that the person who owns this is a man of big figure. As in big at all. Even his money is big, though and other things he has...

I bit my lips and scanned the area. Parang hindi Doctor ang may-ari, ah. I mean, I know he's a businessman now but I didn't know that this is how serious it is. Akala ko naman maliit pa ang kompanya niya. Well, I guess mali ako.

Nanliit ang mata ko nang dumako ang tingin sa dalawang office table. Isang malaki at isang katamtaman lang. Malinis pa ang isa at tila bago lang. Iyong katamtaman.

May kasama siyang nagtatrabaho dito? A secretary, perhaps? Is that going to be my table? Sa previous companies ko, nasa labas ang table ng secretary. Wala sa loob! Tapos siya...

Naningkit ang mata ko sa sunod-sunod na pagpasok ng imahe sa utak ko. Troi probably has a secretary. Maaring nag-resign na iyon kaya ako agad ang naisipan niya. He wants to hire me, so that means he has women as his secretary before. Pwede rin namang lalaki pero I don't think women will let the secretarial position passed. Lalo na at si Troi.

He probably had a woman secretary before me. At dito talaga sa loob ang table noon? Paper works lang kaya ang trinatrabaho nila o baka may iba pa?

I closed my eyes tightly when I realized I am becoming too much. Eh, ano naman kung may trinabaho silang iba? Wala na akong pakealam doon. Labas na ako roon.

"Where do you want us to conduct the interview?"  Napatalon ako sa biglaang pagtatanong niya.

Oh God! Even myself is ashamed of my thoughts!

I inhaled and cleared my humiliating thoughts before I did what I think is best. Nilingon ko siya nang nakataas ang kilay. I really made sure that he won't see any trace of shame I felt earlier when I am judging him in my mind.

Very unlike of me who has an uptight expression, siya ay  kalmado lang. Iyong tipo ng itsura ng tao na walang problema sa buhay. Ganoon!

"Sa sofa o sa office table?" Napakasimple at seryoso ng pagkakasabi niya noon kaya lang ay iba ang dating sa akin.

Like hell? Ako lang ba o iba talaga? Parang ibang klaseng interview ang tinutukoy niya? Sa sofa o sa office table? Hindi pa pwedeng sa office chair?

I pinched myself when even my question sounds a bit off to me.