All Clear, Attorney

T

"THIS IS YOUR office? Wow!" She roamed her eyes around his cozy office. His perfume lingers in the air along with lemon air freshener. Hindi iyon masakit sa ilong. It smells like home and reminds her of having an early breakfast, and the sun has just began to kiss the morning sky. 

Napatingin siya sa mesa nito. The documents are cleanly piled up on the side of his desk. Bumaling siya sa bookshelf nito na nasa kaliwang banda. Puro law books iyon, at karamihan ay makakapal pa. With the kind of brain that the attorney has, alam niyang nabasa na nito lahat ng naka-display. 

"Hindi mo ba naisip na magpatayo ng sarili mong law firm?" Tumingin siya rito at saka ito kinunotan ng noo, but she immediately thought that doing so is such a huge mistake.

He took off his tuxedo and placed it on the coat rack at saka itinupi ang sleeves ng black polo hanggang siko. His muscles flexed, making her clear her throat and avert her gaze. 

Attorney naman. . .

"Nah. I want to fight in court, so I decided to work under uncle's authority," Alex said calmly and pulled his swivel chair to sit on it. The chair creaked, and she could hear his movements.

Muli siyang naglakas-loob na tingnan ang lalaki, at nahagip ng kanyang mga mata ang table name plate sa desk nito. Itinuon niya ang atensyon doon. The corner of her lips curled upwards as her eyes followed the lines engraved on the metal.

Atty. Cadence Alexander Futore

Cadence. . . She really likes that name. It sounds so. . . unique.

"Can I call you by your first name?" She blurted that question unconsciously, and when she realized what she had just ask him, her eyes widened. Muntik na siyang mapasinghap at saka mabilis na nag-angat ng tingin upang tingnan ang reaksyon ng lalaki. 

Oh, gosh. Baka magagalit ito? Baka ayaw nito? Everyone calls him by his second name! And she has the guts na magpa-special?!

Ang kapal naman!

Saglit itong natigilan sa pagkuha ng mga dokyumento na nasa gilid na para bang hindi inaasahan ang kanyang tanong, pero kalaunan ay nagkibit-balikat. He doesn't mind?

"Whatever you like, Shayna Azanthea." His voice is usually in a steady baritone, but now, she could hear it waver with uncertainty, making her think twice. 

'Wag na lang siguro. . .

Napatitig siya rito, and she almost took a step backwards when he lifted his head up and stared back at her, his hazel eyes, although cold, was filled with a glint of warmth. That sight brought her a swarm of butterflies flying in her stomach.

Shit. Bakit ganito makatitig ang lalaki?! His stares are intimidating but at the same time. . . enough to make her insides scream. 

"Call me 'Cadence'," he muttered, gone was the subtle hesitation that lingered on the edges of his words. Muli nitong ibinalik ang tingin sa mga papeles na nasa kamay nito at bahagyang itinagilid ang ulo. "Seat."

It was just a word, pero mabilis siyang napasunod dito. His statement made her breathe out a sigh of relief. 

He gave her the permission to call him by his first name. Baka nabigla lang ito no'ng una, thus his reaction. Maybe, she was the first one to call him 'Cadence'.

That thought almost made her smile, pero mabilis niyang pinaputok ang lobo ng pag-asa. Eh, ano naman? Cadence doesn't mind.

"Read this, Thea, and tell me your thoughts."

Napatingin siya kay. . . Cadence. May inabot ito sa kanya, and when she took a look at it, nakita niyang isa iyong QR code na ikinakunot ng kanyang noo. What does a QR code have to do with this?