Wicked Games (An Epistolary Novel)

068

"Thank the Lord," I whispered when I hit the send button of the email.

This was what kept me busy the past weekend and until wee hours of the morning earlier. Sinundo ako nina Adie last Friday night and no matter how much I wanted to get wasted because it's been freaking ages since I drink, I contented myself with just mocktails, against my better judgment. I did not want to nurse a hangover whilst knowing I still have a lot of work to do. Hindi lang naman ako ang gumagawa ng report, but I was the lead and point of contact of our team, so while I do my part—a large portion of the report—I was also the one editing, proofreading, and everything that needed to be done to make it look like the report—worthy of being published in science journals.

I lost count of the amount of caffeine I have consumed for the past weekend. Napapagalitan na ako ni Daddy kasi ninenerbyos na raw ako kaka-kape ko.

What could I do? If not for the caffeine, my mind and body would have long given up on me!

I knew that the report I sent will make its way to Julian. The fact that he's the new head researcher of URM, the one who'll review and maybe actually manage the project, still stresses me out. I mean, I have read Adie's comprehensive report about him before—that he's in STEM and works as a laboratory consultant. That guy's credentials are screaming scientist through and through! But I never actually imagined our paths will cross. . . that we'll be working someday.

What a freaking small world.

Oh, well.

I knew I did good on that report. I may be many things, but I do my job well, if not stellar.

It was a couple of days of silence. I wanted to chill and go clubbing with my friends, but I still haven't recovered yet from last week's pagod. Sleeping in was always a better idea kaya maaga akong umuuwi. For a change, hindi ako overtime sa trabaho. My coming week's workload would depend on the feedback I will receive from URM team. . . if Julian will actually make our lives miserable. I hope not.

It was a chilly Thursday morning when I received a Teams notification that URM team will be visiting today. We were given a heads up that twice a week—more, if the situation calls for it—they will be working here in our lab.

I groaned.

I disregarded the information and continued with my day. I did not want to stress myself for the things I have no control over.

Besides, the lab is big. It's possible na hindi kami magkita.

Right.

That thought comforted me a little. If he thinks I'd still pine for him like before. . . that I'd flirt with him shamelessly and annoyingly, well, he was so wrong. That era was dead. I am a changed person now.

When the URM team arrived, we were summoned to the conference room to discuss the upcoming work arrangement. I sat on the far corner of the round table with my friends, casually averting my gaze from Julian and keeping my eyes straight to the speaker. It was a bit of hardwork because why does he need to look so good?!

I mentally groaned while my face remained passive.

It was the first time I'm seeing him in clothes other than color black. It was as if he's a different person. He was wearing a white lab coat for crying out loud! And the glasses! He looked every inch of a hotshot nerd!

Lord, why naman po? HUHUHU.

Noong tapos na ang alignment meeting ay ngumiti lang ako sa ibang member ng URM team at deretsong lumabas na para bumalik sa lab slash mini office namin.

"Nagmamadali ka, girl?" bulong ni Rachel na natatawa nang bahagya.

"Madaming trabaho," I answered, casually shrugging.

"Weh?"

I just chuckled and disregarded her goading.

The URM team was on the other lab room. Kalalabas ko lang ng lab room namin para umihi nang makasalubong ko si Julian.

I just bowed slightly at him because even though they're our third-party partner and we're the client, he's obviously ahead of me in the industry. That makes him technically a boss level.

"Who made the report?" he suddenly asked when I was a few steps away from him already. His forehead was creased, and he looked intimidating as always.

Galit na naman ba siya?

My brow arched a bit, gauging if I will tell him I made it. I mean, for the most part.

Bakit, hindi pa pumasa sa standards niya? Marami bang mali? But I thoroughly reviewed it! I even asked my sister who's a chemical engineer to give inputs on the report.

"Who did this?" tanong niyang muli saka iwinagayway ang papel na hawak.

"I did. Why?"

Biglang parang nagulat siya. His brow arched too, like he's in disbelief.

Bakit ba parang gulat na gulat siya sa mga pangyayari? Did he think of the worst in me?

"What? Marami bang mali? Tell me so I can revise already," I calmly said, shrugging nonchalantly.

Kung mali pala ang ginawa ko. . . eh, 'di sorry.

He cleared his throat. "It was good."

Good? That's it?

Iniabot niya sa akin iyong report saka tumalikod at naglakad na paalis.

Hindi man lang ba siya mage-elaborate ng comments? Surely, may inputs siya kahit papaano.

I looked at the paper on my hand and found his neat scribbles in red on the margins. True enough, it was mostly him agreeing to what I wrote in the report with some suggestions. I mean, it was factual. And even with the hypotheses, it was all tested and proven correct. Hindi naman ako nag-imbento roon.

I shrugged.

Oh, well. At least we're done with our work. . . for now.

I'll review his comments maybe tomorrow. For tonight, I wanna celebrate kasi dasurv.

I got my phone inside my lab pocket and sent a chat to our messenger group chat asking my friends to go barhopping later as I made my way to the comfort room.

The master is back, baby!