❝Some of the best stories are unoriginal.❞
*****
Heidee "Heids" Evangelista has always kept her workmate Nikki Fiorello "Nio" Ramos at an arm's length. They aren't enemies but they're not friends either. Working in the marketing department, the two...
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THE WHOLE marketing department was supposed to attend the annual company Christmas Party but everyone had prior commitments. Si Ma'am Val ay may kikitaing kaibigan na kauuwi lang galing Canada. Marv was to spend Christmas in the province. Yulo, who was now a permanent employee, promised to spend the holidays with some childhood friends.
With only the three of them left, Annie, Heidee, and Nio made up an excuse. Ayaw din naman kasi nilang um-attend sa company party nang wala sina Ma'am Val. Sayang lang at medyo bigatin na naman ang raffle prizes.
Annie heard two iPhone 15 units were up for grabs.
"Wala pa rin bang paramdam?" Napamaang si Heidee sa tanong na iyon ni Annie. She turned to Nio's empty cubicle. They were supposed to have their own Christmas party at Troy's. "Na-message mo na ba? Don't tell me nahihiya ka pa ring mangulit?"
Heidee made a face. "Ako?" Nakatawa niyang itinuro ang sarili. "Mahihiyang mangulit? As if!"
Pinagulong ni Annie ang inuupuang swivel chair papunta kay Heidee. "Really? 'Di ka pa najijirits niyan sa lagay na 'yan?"
Heidee followed Annie's gaze. Sa picture pala nila ni Nio ito nakatingin. Nang silipin niya kasi ang phone at 'di pa rin nagre-reply ang boyfriend niya, ilang beses niya itong binaril ng stapler sa picture. Rolling her eyes, she gave her best friend a sarcastic smile. "Ayaw kasi gumana ng stapler ko kanina, okay?"
"Ewan ko sa 'yo, Heids." Annie rolled her chair back to her cubicle. "For sure naman, 'di nakalimutan ni Nio 'yong inuman later. Ilang beses kaya 'yon pinaalalahanan ni T."
"Worried ako, okay? It's just not like him." Heidee bit her lower lip. "Never 'yon nag-absent nang ganito na walang pasabi."
"Worried ka pero tinadtad mo ng stapler 'yong mukha?" nakatawang tanong ng kaibigan niya.
"Bawal?" She scoffed. "P'wede namang maging worried at jirits nang sabay, a?"
Annie raised her hands in defeat. "Natanong mo na ba si Sir Julian or si Pauie?"
Umiling siya. "Ayokong mag-alala sila. Baka mamaya, low batt or dead batt lang 'yon." Nag-unat siya ng mga binti sa ilalim ng mesa. "Puntahan ko na lang kaya mamaya? Troy's picking you up, right?"
"Teka, so pass na kayo ni Nio later?"
"I don't know," Heidee mumbled, sighing. "Feeling ko, may sakit 'yon, e. Kung may sakit 'yon, baka pass na kami talaga. What's with that face?"
Nakanguso kasi sa kanya si Annie. "Naglinis pa kaya si Troy. Nag-redecorate pa nga yata 'yon tapos 'di naman pala tayo makukumpleto."
"Nagsama kayo ni T na madrama, 'no?" natatawa niyang tanong. "Kaya naman next week, a? Next Sat pa naman uuwi si Bastien. Kaya 'yan."
