Pinagsoltada

72

KATATAPOS lang ipakita ni Joan ang file ng estimate expenses para sa susunod na buwan na may kinalaman sa marketing aspect ng DF Farms—mula sa expenses na may kinalaman sa website hanggang sa mga mumunting brochures at poster na ikakalat sa buong Masbate para i-promote ang mga produkto ng farm.

She looked at Genaro who wore his signature brown three-piece suit and remained motionless on the swivel chair. Ang lalaki ang kasalukuyang nakaupo sa desk ng office room at kaharap ang laptop, habang siya naman ay nakaupo sa isa sa dalawang visitor's chair nito. Hindi niya mapigilang ihilig ang ulo para masilip nang mabuti ang mukha nito. The light from the monitor glowing against his eyeglasses made it hard for her to see his eyes earlier. Once she saw them, Joan read how blank his gaze was.

"Señorito Genaro," usig niya rito. "Are you okay?"

He blinked, as if someone snapped their fingers in front of him and awakened him from a hypnosis. Nanatiling walang kagalaw-galaw ang katawan nito pero gumalaw ang mga mata nito at tumutok sa kaniya.

"Is there something wrong with my . . . budget request, Mr. Accounting Head?" she asked softly.

Tumuwid ito ng pagkakaupo. He sighed and shook his head once. "Nothing. I'll . . . I'll double check later."

Sa tingin niya, gumagawa lang ng excuse ang lalaki. Hindi ito makapag-isip nang maayos o makapag-focus kaya nahihirapang magdesisyon tungkol sa ilalagak na budget sa February para sa marketing aspect ng DF Farms.

Joan took in a deep breath and lowered her eyes. "Look. If there is something bothering you, it is safe to tell me." Then, she lifted her eyes at him. "Hindi naman sa nanghihimasok ako sa personal mong buhay, pero kung makakaapekto ito sa trabaho natin, I think I have to know what it is. I might be able to help."

He narrowed his eyes at her. "Please. Don't."

Isinara nito ang laptop at tumayo na mula sa kinauupuan. Mabilis na tumayo si Joan.

"Sa inyong magkakapatid, ikaw ang unang naging mainit ang pagtanggap sa pagbabalik ko rito. But ever since your parents came back, halos hindi mo na ako kinakausap."

"Just because I opened up to you one time at the roof deck, that doesn't mean you're welcome to meddle with my life, Ms. Orosa," he said sharply in a low tone.

Nahigit niya ang paghinga. She struggled with worrying and her effort to make herself look okay. "M-May nasabi o nagawa ba ako? Did I upset you in any way?"

Napatiim-bagang lang ito habang nakatitig sa kaniya. Tila tinitimbang ng lalaki ang mga salita sa isip bago sabihin ang mga iyon sa kaniya.

"Señorito Genaro . . ." pakiusap niya.

"I thank you, for proving us wrong about the accusations of you having an affair with Kuya Ernesto five years ago. I thank you, for helping us here. But," he took in a deep breath, before he shakily continued, "that doesn't mean I want you for my brother."

Tila sinaksak ang puso niya sa narinig.

"Demanding my father to convince Kuya Ernesto to join cockfights again? Understandable. But to get to the point where you'll even play with his heart just to get what you want? That's too much." He scoffed and smiled sarcastically at her wide-eyed shock. "What? Nagulat ka? Akala mo, hindi ko mapagtatagni-tagni ang lahat? Akala mo, paglilihiman kaming lahat ni Papa tungkol sa kondisyon na binanggit mo sa kan'ya bilang kapalit ng pagtulong mo rito? Our family doesn't keep secrets from one another, Ms. Orosa. We might keep secrets from our in-laws, but never with one another."

Pinatatag ni Joan ang sarili. Isa sa mga natutuhan niya mula sa paninilbihan noon sa Maynila ay ang huwag mahiyang magtanong, na mas mabuting magtanong muna bago gumawa ng isang bagay.