Manila Girl

Chapter 1

Traffic.

Grabe ang traffic sa Edsa.

Araw araw ganito ang nararanasan ko sa byahe especially during rush hour. Kaya one hour early ay umaalis na ako dahil ayaw ko mahuli sa trabaho sa isang malaki at kilalang construction company where i work as Senior Architect.

Damn right, you read it right - I earned it.

Hindi naman ako katalinuhan pero dinaan ko sa sipag dahil ayaw kong mapahiya sa parents ko na binigay lahat ng luho ko dito sa Maynila - Anyway, i live alone in the city since High School and my parents is the province.

After many minutes na pakikipagbuno sa traffic ay nakarating na ako sa trabaho. Habang naglalakad sa lobby ay kumaway agad sakin si Marrol.

"Let me guess traffic?" Nakangiti nyang sabi sakin sabay abot ng kape.

"It's Manila, what's new?" I grab the scalding hot coffee from her. "Thanks."

At sabay na kaming ang lakad papunta sa elevator.

"Nawala ka kagabi." Salita ni Marrol.

We went to the party last night, nagkaayaan lang at sino ba ako para tunanggi eh sobrang boring sa bahay.

"Napasabak." Natawa pa ako.

I can imagine her eye roll. "Tigil tigilan mo yang one night stand mo."

"Sira." Defensive naman ako. "Kilala ko yon at hindi one night stand, fling at kiss lang."

"Sus.." Nailing nalang sya sakin. "Si Mikael lang yan eh."

At bumukas ang pintuan ng elevator. "And why not?" Pumasok kami sa loob, it's only us. "He's gwapo, rich and.."

Marrol press the elevator's button. "A cheater."

Sumandal ako sa pader ng elevator. "You know what, panira ka talaga ng mood."

Natawa si Marrol - well she's really kontrabida sa buhay ko. "I'm your best friend Jill and I want the best for you -"

"Oh, scratch that." I'm a bit upset. "Alam ko ang ginagawa ko."

Uminom ng kape si Marrol. "I hope so."

Parang nanay ko tong si Marrol minsan sobrang strict.

Then I remember something. "Anyway natapos mo na yong bedroom interior design ni Mr. Macapagal?"

"Of course ako pa." Mayabang nyang sagot.

Bumukas na ang elevator.

Lumabas na kami.

"Monday!" Buntomg hininga ni Marrol habang papunta kami sa office namin. "Nakakatamad na magtrabaho."

Natawa ako. I know the feeling. "But we have bills to pay."

And Marrol give me this side eyes. "Heck you are rich bitch."

"I'm not." I disagree with a shake of my head. "My parents is."

"Pahumble pa."

At pumasok kami sa office.

Kaharap ko na naman ang technical drawing and check all the details kung maayos ba o may uulitin pa - next week na ang presentation namin for our clients.

Bumukas ang pintuan ang pumasok ang aming CEO, Si Mr. Ponacier. He's in mid 50s, still looking young and handsome. "Good morning ladies."

Tumayo kami ni Marrol to greet him back.

"Good morning Mr. Ponacier." Sabi ko.

He gives us a smile. "Sobrang ganda ng araw ko kapag kayo ang nakikita ko."

Natawa ako, natural na bolero kasi tong boss namin - kaya tumandang binata. "Salamat Sir kung ganyan ang naiisip nyo." Kinuha ko ang blueprint at inabot sa kanya. "Tapos na po ang project for Cholo."

"Great." Masaya nyang sabi. "Nagcoffee na ba kayo?"

"Ye-"

But my best friend cut me off. "Hindi pa po."

And i give her a look but didn't say anything though. Diskarte nya to for free coffee eh.

"Alright, I'll send coffee." And he wave goodbye before leaving.

Umupo ako with a shake of my head. "I can't believe you."

Pero tawang tawa lang si Marrol. "What? I want coffee at sayang naman."

"Oo nalang." Nagkibit balikat nalang ako.

We go back to work dahil ang dami naming tatapusin na nakapilang project. Monday palang pero yong pagod ko pang Friday na.

Hindi ko na nga malayan na alas dose na.

"Let's eat?" Pag-aaya ni Marrol sakin.

"Restroom muna ako, i need to pee." Paalam ko bago lumabas at naglakad s hallway.

"Jill!" Puro bati ng mga katrabaho ko.

Ako talaga si Ms. Congeniality sa office, naeejoy ko naman ang attention - i like it.

Papaliko na sana ako sa comfort room ng may humatak sa braso ko -

"Sh*t!" Nagulat ako. Pero may biglang humalik sakin and i recognize who is it. Kaya tinulak ko sya. "Mikhael!"

And he give me a smile, ang gwapo eh. "Miss me?"

I roll my eyes at him. "Ambisyoso."

Mikhael kisses my shoulder. "Are you free tonight? I kind of horny. I want you."

I smile at him, glazing the tips of ny fingertip against his nose. "No, I'm busy." And i kisses his lips before pushing him away from me.

Mikhael looks dumbfounded. "But Jill!?"

Nilayasan ko sya. I maybe flirt with him pero hindi naman ako ganon kadaling makuha.

Bumaba na kami ni Marrol to get lunch sa favorite naming coffee shop that sells different of pastry and pasta.

Medyo mahaba ang pila pagpasok namin - I gain some attention from other people, not to brag but I'm really beautiful.

Confident is the key everybody.

"Grabe lunes na lunes ang haba ng pila." Reklamo ko agad kahit wala pa kaming one minute sa pila.

"Lunes eh." Sagot ng kaibigan ko. "At payday."

Sa payday nalang gumaang pakiramdam ko.

But anyway...

"What will you order?" Tanong ni Marrol dahil susunod na kami after this girl in front of us.

Napatingin ako sa favorite ko, may isang slice nalang. "Blueberry."

"Isa nalang." Sabi ni Marrol.

At nilingon ako ng babaeng nasa harapan namin. She's wearing facemask but her eyelashes are long.

Bakit tumitingin tong babae na to sakin?

"What's your order Ms.?" Tanong ng casier.

At hinarap ng babae ang casier. "Blueberry po." At the girl in front of me give me playful stare.

What the?

It's mine!

°

Lumabas sa Bad Cinderella ang magiging love interest ni Jill ^^