Let Me Be The One

Chapter 15 - Loved

Gail

It has been two days since Dinah left and days after the party, but I still feel attached, or should it be affected, to that... dancer. Ano ba meron sa kanya that has me hooked on him?

As I stared onto the screen of the computer in my office, I felt the strain on thinking of a fresh campaign for the new company ccount we have. An energy drink. Gosh. This is hard... Di nga ako umiinom ng ganun... all that sugar!

"This is a bit stressful!" sigaw ko as I turned my chair to face the glass that was the wall of my office at tumingin sa kalsada sa ibaba.

"Knock, knock. You seemed over worked Gail..." Sir Tuyor spoke by my open door.

"Oh sorry, Sir!" I stood upright ng nakaharap sa kanya from the other side of the office room feeling a bit awkward.

"Walang problema... you are way advance on things... maybe you should take it easy... why not... get off work early and go... what you call it... 'shopping'?" Sir Tuyor said nakangiti.

After a few minutes of discussion, some explanation of cost cutting figures and analysis... and how he doens't want his department head burning out on him, Sir Tuyor finally convinced me to leave work for the day... sa loob lang ng isang oras! This is not me, well, excited naman ako to go shopping. And with all the overtime, that turned into almost-overnighters in the office, under my belt and the belts of the staff, this was new to me.

Anyway, i had my bag with me as I sashayed my way to the lobby. I looked at myself on the shiny surface of the elevator panel as I went down to the basement parking. One has to look good when going out to the world.

"Gosh! Ang init!" I said as i brought my shades to my eyes, from my bag on the front passenger seat, as my car drove up the ramp to the streets.

Good thing the streets were partially deserted till later. Driving to the Shang  mall was quick, which was something different. Friday ngayon by the way and galing akong Makati business district.

"This is what I call 'therapy-shopping'!" I whispered in my mind as I went to the boutique that I usually frequent, Jimmy Choo.

I was signing the credit card receipt of my latest shoe purchase when I turned from the counter and saw... him...

"Nicolo?"

I saw him, or was it really him, on the opposite pathway of the boutique I was in. Looking so buff and enticing in that faded jeans and bicep-hugging shift, he was catching some of the girls and pa-girls attention as he stood there. Nag isa siya. Looks like he's browsing the window display of  Aeropostale. And causing some small commotions with his mere presence in the area.

"Another chanced encounter, is it?" I thought as I walked out the door of the boutique.

"Hey there..." I said as I walked just behind him.

"Uyyy!" he said turning, taking his shades off and looking at me with a smile.

"Wow!"

Nicolo

"Wow!"

Nandito din siya. Pagkakataon nga naman. Pumunta lang naman ako para magpalamig at bumili ng bagong T-shirt. Tapos makikita ko itong dalagang ito... si... si Ms. Mataray... si...

"Gail... ah... Ma'am... ano ginagawa niyo dito?" tanong ko habang binubulsa ang salamin ko.

"Just... just call me Gail... well... just relaxing and a bit of shopping... you?" sabi niya ng tingnan ko ang mga dala niyang paper bag.

"Ah... may... may bibilhin lang na shirt... madaming magaganda sa store na ito... mahal nga lang... a-akin na... tulungan na kita..." sabi ko ng abutin ko ang mga paper bag na hawak niya.