Together but Separate

Chapter 41: On Her Own

Kate R. Ferragni

"So, we are settled. We will go with design number three for the packaging."

Napangiti ako sa napili naming design. Both Ma'am Nadia and I chose the same design. Iyan ang isa sa mga bagay na pareho kami. We both had the same taste in art.

I was glad that this project was moving faster than expected. We were so close to getting it out in the market. Maybe a month or more to go then we would be done. We just had to order more ingredients of the dish we agreed on, so we could produce more of those. That would take weeks to be done kasi ituturo pa sa staff paano gumawa nito, so they could produce more na kuhang-kuha ang lasa.

Tumayo si Ma'am Nadia kaya tumayo na rin ako. She extended her hand for a handshake, which I gladly did.

"Good job, Kate. I am very pleased with your performance. We made quite a progress because of your hard work. But don't forget to get some rest, okay?"

Napatango ako. "Will do, ma'am. This is not just my effort but also my entire team. Thank you so much for appreciating."

"Sure. Keep it up," sabi niya saka tinapik ng mahina ang balikat ko saka siya lumabas ng conference room.

"Wohoo! Another one down!" Kris exclaimed saka lumapit sa akin at binigyan ako ng fist bump. Natawa na lang ako. "We should celebrate! My treat!"

Kahit gusto kong kumain, ayoko lumabas. Tinatamad ako.

"Ikaw na lang. Dito lang ako kakain. I am lazy to leave the office."

Napataas ng kilay si Kris sa akin. "You always say you're lazy. That's not the Kate I know. What she wrong with you?"

Umiling ako. "Wala. I am just exhausted from all the work I did in the past few weeks. Go eat. Okay lang ako dito."

"Kung ayaw mo lumabas, mag-o-order na lang ako ng pagkain at ipapa-deliver ko rito para sabay tayo. Ang boring kasi kumain sa labas ng mag-isa."

"Ikaw ang bahala," sagot ko saka niligpit na ang mga gamit ko sa table bago ako lumabas papunta sa office ko.

I was glad that things were going well. Also, it had been quiet for the last few days. Nobody brought up about the articles. I guessed both agents were successful in deleting the articles and pictures, which I was so happy about.

Half an hour later, bumukas ang pinto ng office ko. Kris entered the room with paper bags in both of his hands. He raised them to show me. "I have our lunch."

Tumigil ako sa ginagawa nung nakita ko ang dala niya. Hindi pa nailabas sa bags ang pagkain pero amoy na amoy ko na agad ang bango nito. I closed my laptop at tinabi iyon saka tinulungan si Kris na ilabas ang mga pagkain. My mouth watered in anticipation.

"Did you give some to Linda?" I asked.

"Of course. Makakalimutan ko ba naman siya. Baka pagalitan mo 'ko eh."

Natawa ako. Kris knew I liked sharing my food to Linda. Kahit anong ipabili ko na pagkain kapag nasa office ako ay sinisigurado ko na meron din siya.

After we opened all the containers, I put a lot of rice in my plate. Then I grabbed two kinds of viands and put them on my plate. Akmang susubo na ako nung pinalo ni Kris ang kamay ko.

"What?!" inis kong sabi sa kanya.

"Hindi pa PO tayo nagdadasal," napapailing na sabi niya kaya binaba ko ang kutsara na hawak ko.

Kris uttered a prayer then when he was done, I didn't waste any time. Kumain ako agad. I didn't know I was this hungry until I saw the food and ate.

"Thanks, Kris. You really know the timing kung kailan ako gutom. Akala ko kanina ay hindi pa ako gutom eh." He just kept on looking at me weirdly like he was studying me. Kanina pa siya ganyan makatingin sa akin pero dahil gutom ako, hindi ko na lang pinansin. But he still kept on doing it. "What?" I asked.