moirai

business trip

"Ta, I'm going on a business trip tomorrow. I have to check on the project assigned to me."

"Ahh really?"

"Hu-o....I'll be back in 2 days....I'll text you....I don't know if I'll have stable internet kasi...."

"Ah okay...."

Work for both was a bit hectic at their respective offices. Maine was training people while Rj had numerous meetings almost daily. The upside to Maine's work was that she didn't have to travel away from Negros Occidental to train people. A lot of times, the training was done right in their office. Pauleen assisted her most of the time.

Unknown to Maine, Rj had planned to visit her in Bacolod at an earlier date.

"Pangga....when will I see you?" she asked during one of their Facetime sessions.

"Soon, Pangga, soon....basi next month...." was his reply.

He was actually going to their Bacolod office as well for a month. Maine had already spent one month in Bacolod so she was just waiting for the current month to end so she could return to Manila.

"Meng....anong plano mo tomorrow afternoon?" Pauleen casually asked on Friday just after work.

"Hmm....punta ata kami sa farm sa morning pero hanggang lunch lang ata...." Maine replied.

"Pizza tayo! I've been craving for the pizza at Bob's Cafe....let's go?" Pauleen invited

"Sige....text kita later....ayusin ko schedule ko with sina Tita..."

"Okay! Sama natin sina Pia and Andrew...."

"Okay...."

Maine talked to her Tita about Saturday afternoon. They went to the farm in the morning and were back in the city by 3pm.

"I'm home na....what time are we meeting up?" she texted Pauleen

"6pm....dinner na...okay lang?"

"Okay...see you. Bob's Cafe..."

"Yup!"

The cafe was not crowded when they got there. Maine was surprised when Pauleen asked for a big table when they were only 5 in the group – Maine, Pauleen, Pia, Andrew and Derek (the three were their office mates).

"Who else are coming?" Maine asked.

"Wa-ay man....para lang comfortable...kagamay sang tables...." (no one else....just so we're comfortable...the tables are kinda small) Pia explained.

After dinner, they moved to the outdoor seating for coffee and so that the boys could smoke. Maine was enjoying the conversation when someone approached their table.

"Hi....Is this seat taken?" the voice asked.

Maine, whose bag was on the seat, removed her bag and casually answered, "go ahead" without looking at the speaker. She noticed that her friends stopped talking and were smiling oddly.

Maine slowly turned her head towards the speaker and was surprised to see Rj standing beside her!

She jumped up and hugged him tightly.

"Pangga!"

"Hi Pangga! I missed you!"

"I missed you too....you said you'd be on a business trip....siling ko na daw ka-familiar sang voice....."

"Yes....this is my business trip...."

"Huh?"

"Wait, ga...can we sit down?..."

They sat down and Rj explained. Maine introduced Rj to her friends.

"I'm here for a month....I'm checking on our office here...."

"Te, where are you staying?"

"Sa house namon sa Capitolville....my Tita and Tito live there now....they lent me one of the cars...."

"Wow! You're really here..." Maine kept on repeating, shaking his arm. "Guys! Ari sya! Si Rj ko!" she was like a giddy school girl. Her friends would only laugh and giggle at her.

"Pangga, are you done with your coffee?...Let's go?" Rj invited

"Diin naman ta makadto? It's late na..."

"Basta..."

"Okay guys....mauna na kami....see you all on Monday...."

"Bye....halong...." their friends said.