Sleepover...Car Perfume...
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KALMADO NA ULIT ako pagkabalik ko sa site. Nadatnan kong nagta-trabaho na ulit ang mga worker sa katirikan ng araw.
Naglakad na ako pabalik ng tent at binati ang mga worker na nasasalubong ko. Mainit ang sikat ng araw, pero hindi ako nag-abalang mag-payong. Hindi naman kasi malayo ang lalakarin ko pabalik sa tent. Besides, walang-wala itong init na nararamdaman ko sa nararamdamang init ng mga worker. I wish I could stop them from working, but I don't have that kind of power. Architect lang ako dito.
Nakarating din ako sa tent, at naabutan siyang kausap si Mang Berto. I frowned a bit. Sa pagkakaalam ko, nauna akong umalis sa kanya. Saan ba siya nag-shortcut at bakit mas nauna pa siyang nakabalik dito kaysa sa'kin?
Halos sampung minuto silang nag-usap ni Mang Berto bago siya lumingon sa direksyon ko. The crease on his forehead quickly dissolved when he saw me. Muli niyang binalingan si Mang Berto na kaharap niya. Mukhang may sinabi siya kay Mang Berto bago tumango ang huli at umalis sa harapan niya. Binati ako ni Mang Berto nang madaanan ako.
He then walked towards me. "So...where's our client?" tanong niya pagkatigil sa harapan ko.
Kaswal ko siyang tiningnan bago sumagot. "Didn't you hear him? He said he'll be here in an hour."
To my surprise, he nodded. Inaayos niya ang pagkakasuot ng kanyang hard hat saka ngumiti.
"Let's get to work," aniya at naglakad na papunta sa mga worker na naghahalo ng semento sa mixer.
I went inside the tent to get my hard hat. It's one of Levi's rules, especially for me. I'm not allowed to roam around the construction site during work hours without a hard hat. I sighed at that.
Sa totoo lang, hindi naman kailangan araw-araw nasa site ang architect. Two or three times a week is enough, but Dad and even Jaei said that the "client" wants me full-time in this project, citing the client's meticulous nature and high standards.
I have no complaints. Full-time job or not, even though it's a smaller project compared to others, I'm still well-compensated anyway.
Like what he said, propesyonal naming ginampanan ang trabaho namin. Our further interactions were casual, and he talks to me when he has questions. Propesyunal ko rin naman siyang sinasagot. Kahit dumating na si Jaei sa site, nagpatuloy lang si Levi sa kanyang trabaho tulad ng karaniwan niyang ginagawa bilang isang engineer. Napaka-seryoso at napakaswal kung kausapin niya ako sa harap ng kanyang mga tauhan, na akala mo ay walang kalandiang tinatago kapag kaming dalawa lang. Unlike the blank stare he gave Jaei at the restaurant earlier, he's looking and speaking to Jaei formally. He really is a great pretender.
"Following the design, we will keep that fountain and make a few changes." Habang lumilipat kami ng pwesto mula sa nire-renovate na swimming pool, itinuro ko sa katabi kong si Jaei ang bahagi ng garden kung saan nakatayo ang nilulumot nang fountain. Jaei, who was not just here to observe the renovation's progress but also had something to announce, nodded.
"Hmm…it hasn't been a month yet, pero parang ang dami nang nagawa," komento ni Jaei na sinundan ng pagtikhim ng katabi niya—si Levi.
At mula kay Jaei na napapagitnaan namin, I darted my eyes at him, making me see his casual expression as he eyed me and Jaei na lumingon din sa kanya. I winced internally. He's acting like he did nothing earlier.
"I'm aiming to complete the renovation within four months, a bit earlier than planned," Levi stated confidently.
Tumango-tango naman si Jaei. "That's impressive," anito na sinserong ngumiti.

BINABASA MO ANG
One Last Time
RomanceAll she wants is to get his elusive love so when the opportunity comes, hindi na siya nagdalawang-isip pa na isagawa ang plano---ang akitin ito sa kahit anong paraan! Pero tila hindi sasang-ayon sa kanya ang kalangitan, dahil hindi magiging madali s...