Sunbathe Under The Thunderstorm

Chapter 4: The work together

DAY SIX. The reality of my first week was already filled with paper works and errands. I didn't want to slack off so I never let them feel that I needed time to cope with my work and so far, I could say that I already adjusted with the set-up of being an office girl. I didn't struggle a lot though there were times when I had to ask them about logistics concerns. Still, I managed to show my competency in this field. Even the market research associates, Nola and Florence, gave me thumbs up after my first report to the marketing department last Friday.

Although awkward at first, I felt at ease to bond with my colleagues. Given naman na iba-iba ang pinanggalingan namin, so our personalities and principles vary. On the other side, even without telling me all the deep reasons why they entered this profession, I could clearly see how passionate they all were in their work. Minsan nga ay wala sa job description nila, tutulong pa rin hangga't may oras. Sobrang effort talaga. Matatalino na, magagaan pang kasama.

Well, except for the boss in here.

I stretched my back the moment my butt touched my seat. Nakaupo rin sa wakas. Catherine and I delivered the food to each division in every department who attended the briefing since it was hosted by our unit. At katatapos nga lang namin.

Ngayon pa lang ako makakapagpahinga nang mapansin kong may bagong box na naman sa corner ng desk ko. My brows creased as I tried to remember what this was until I confirmed that I was not informed about this.

Kaya naman tumayo ako at dumungaw sa cubicle ni Yno. "Hey, Yno. Napansin mo ba kung sino yung naglapag nito?"

Yno blinked a couple of times as he stared at me. Ilang segundo rin ang lumipas bago siya yumuko para umiwas ng tingin. Tumikhim muna siya bago ko napansin ang daliri niyang tumuro sa kanan.

I didn't have to look at where he pointed. I heaved a sigh and just sat back on my area. Surrended, I opened the box. Ano na naman kaya itong ipagagawa ng lalaking 'yon? Carefully, I tore its seal and the first thing that greeted me from inside was a note.

‘Shred all these old files and scratch papers. Finish it before Lunch.’

Bwisit! My head automatically glared at him. Buti na lang hindi rin siya nakatingin sa gawi ko. Abala siya sa kung ano mang binabasa niya sa isang magazine sample na kapapadala lang sa kanya kanina. I didn't know what for, because that was not the concern.

I gazed upon the wall clock and it was bright as heaven to see that it was already 11:44 in the morning! So I have sixteen minutes to do this or I'll eat lunch later than my colleagues?!

Nananadya ba 'to?

Hindi ba pwedeng mamaya na 'to?

"Uy, Jocson Resto tayo, ha!" Catherine called my attention to remind me.

"May pinapagawa pa sa akin? Kasama ba lahat?" I responded with a frown.

"Hala, yes. Nag-confirm na si Ms. Nola pati si Floe at Yno. Gusto ka pa naman naming maka-bonding," Catherine replied with her disappointed tone.

"Madali lang naman 'to." Alanganin akong ngumiti habang isa-isa nang nilalabas ang pile ng mga papel sa desk ko.

"You want some help? Ay, kaso isa lang pala yung shredder dito sa office. . ." She frowned as well but still smiled after a couple of seconds and looked at me vibrantly again. "Hindi bale, dalhin ko na lang dyan sa 'yo since mahaba naman extension noon, para matulungan kita." Hindi pa nga ako nakakatango, kumilos na siya. Catherine cheerfully lifted that machine towards my area.

I mouthed thank you and immediately prepared myself to do this instantly. Pero bago ang lahat ay nilingon ko muna ang head ng office saka sinamaan ito ng tingin habang patuloy pa rin siya sa pagbabasa. Ni hindi man lang siya naistorbo. So I was free to scrutinize his features.

His monolid eyes gave gentle gazes to the magazine. His delicate yet manly finger brushed through the tip of his chiseled nose and well-defined jaw from time to time. Hindi ito umiimik pero napapansin ko ang pag-awang at simpleng pagngiti ng kanyang mga labi. His lips had always been this pouty, mapanukso sa parehong kahulugan. It could be annoying and tempting at the same time. Parang gusto nito laging manghalik kapag tinitigan mo ang kanyang mga labi. Idagdag mo pa ang tingin niya na akala mo ay tutunawin ka lagi.

Hindi maaari! I shook my head as I tried to cleanse my thoughts about Koa. Huwag kang magpadala sa demonyo, I spoke to my conscience.

Ang pangit niya kamo! And instead, I tried diverting my attention back to my task.

And of course, I succeeded. Natapos ko ang pinagagawa sa akin ng principal investigator slash immediate supervisor slash head of market research unit slash bwisit kong ex na si Koa. Who would have thought that I could shred all those paper in fifteen minutes?!

Kaya naman nakasama ako sa lunch na sinasabi ni Catherine sa akin mula pa ng pagpasok ko sa office. I was actually sitting with them in a long table here in Jocson Resto, the canteen of this building. Catherine sat beside me while the rest at sitting in from of us. Kaharap ko si Nola, kaharap naman ni Catherine si Yno, at sa dulo nila si Florence. Katatapos lang namin kumain at naisipan munang magpahinga bago bumalik sa opisina. Maaga pa naman, maaga pa para makita ko ulit ang mukha ni Koa. So I didn't hesitate to agree when Yno told us to stay here for a little bit.

"Wait, so saan ka ulit dati bago rito sa J & J hardware?" Catherine was curious.

I gave her a smile, then I spoke, "I just finished my masters and I did business, pero hininto ko muna for this."

"Woah! Businesswoman ka pala. Okay naman o nalugi kaya dito ka na nag-work?"

Nola suddenly cleared her throat. "Cath, you are talking to an heiress here." Then she smiled at me.

Hindi ko alam kung gagantihan ko iyon pero nabigla ako dahil ang sabi nga nila ay snub daw si Nola. Mukha namang mabait siya.

Suddenly, she laughed. "I'm sorry. Do I like look a creep? I'm your follower sa social media and I know you. To be honest, ikaw lang ang gusto ko sa mga anak ng CEO. I like your vibe so I have no reason to stay aware from you." Diretso ang sagot nito at hindi man lang natakot sa consequences sa pagsabi sa akin na ako lang ang gusto niya sa mga kapatid ko. Pero okay, wala naman akong pagsasabihan. And hearing that from her, I also felt comfort.

So I smiled. Even mouthed thank you as well. "My business is doing good. Gusto ko lang talaga mag-shift ng career," I reasoned out.

"Ano pala kinuha mo for masters?" This time, Nola was the one who asked.

"Applied Linguistics dyan sa Taft. You took masters din ba?" Ibinalik ko ang tanong kay Nola.

"I didn't take masteral degree, pero kumuha ako ng panibagong kurso para makatulong sa supervisory level ko. BS development communication," she answered.

Nagkatanguan naman kami. Akala ko ay magiging awkward na pero buti na lang ay nagsalita ulit si Catherine.

"Bakit pala lagi mong sinasamaan ng tingin ng tingin si Sir Koa?"

I was taken aback when she noticed. "Huh?" I kinda stammered. "Ganito talaga ako tumingin." Then I looked away from Catherine which made me gaze upon Nola who was smirking at me.

"Sus! Ano nga ha? Sabi ni Ms. Nola, magkakilala na raw kayo, pero mukhang hindi yata maganda ang past niyo, e!" Alam kong personal na ang tanong ni Catherine pero parang nahirapan akong iwasan iyon.

I gulped upon realizing that Nola had already stalked me or whatever to know those details. Wala pa naman kasi akong nababanggit tungkol sa amin ni Koa, pero mukhang halata naman na base sa kung paano napansin 'yon ni Catherine. So I had no reason to deny it. . .

I cleared my throat first before my head started nodding slowly. "He's my ex."

And at that moment, their eyes widened and silence devoured our table.