Begin Again - A KaRa (Mika Reyes & Ara Galang) Fanfiction

Six

"Ingat Mikang!" Cienne said as I slipped on my teal vans. Today is my first day of work and I decided na mag-casual na suot lang din since lahat naman sila dun casual yung suot.

"Okay, sasabay naman ako kay Jerome papunta and pabalik e, bye!" I replied as I made my way out the door.

"Hindi yun yung ibig kong sabihin!" Napatingin ako sa kanya. "Ang ibig kong sabihin, ingat... baka mahulog ka na naman!"

Cienne knows about my past feelings for Ara pero hanggang dun lang 'yung alam niya. Whatever happened between Ara and I stays between the two of us.

"Nakakatawa ka Cienne," I sarcastically said as I rolled my eyes and walked out the door.

Naghihintay na si Jerome sa labas, looking rather handsome with his leather jacket and plain white t-shirt. Wait, did I just say he looked handsome?

"Good morning!" Pagbati ni Jerome. "Ready ka na ba for your first day at work?"

Lol, no. "Yup!"

Pumasok na kami sa kotse niya and we drove to Lumiere.

I stayed silent in the car kasi iniisip ko yung interview kahapon. I survived yesterday pero, ma-s'survive ko kaya yung today? And the next days to come? What if Ara hired me para lang pagtripan ako? That seems totally unnecessary but from my past experiences, Ara is definitely capable of something as cruel as that. Si Abbie nga, confident na confident before nung job interview tas after, ang lungkot na niya. She's an experienced girl, and..... wait.

"Jerome!" I called.

Nagulat naman siya at napahawak sa dibdib niya. "Kagulat ka naman! Bakit?"

I laughed. "Sorry, sorry." Napakamot ako sa ulo 'ko. "Uhm, I know na wala ka naman kahit anong connection sa kanya pero, have you... have you heard from Abbie after nung interview?"

"Ah, okay na 'yun. Siguro natakot lang kay Ara kaya naiyak." He chuckled.

I nodded. And then, it hit me. "Wait, how did you know na malapit na siya maiyak after nung interview? Wala ka pa naman nun ah?"

Jerome looked at me. "Ah, nakasalubong ko kasi siya." There was an odd silence after that. "Dun sa may elevator."

"Ah..." I nodded as I looked outside the car. Buti pa nga si Abbie, okay na, paano naman ako? Ano ba 'tong pinasok ko?

I stayed silent after, I needed to socially and emotionally prepare myself for what was about to come my way. I thought of how much I needed this just for Cienne to stay. Wew, okay self, you got this.

Nakarating na kami at pinark na ni Jerome yung kotse. He looked at me, and without even saying anything, he calmed me. I know now na kaya ko 'to, I can get through this, si Mika Reyes 'to eh.

We entered the building and even though everything looked the same since yesterday, the funky colors and playful furniture seemed to have felt different. Ironically, it felt empty. Tinignan ko ulit si Jerome and just as expected, I was calmed again. I breathed and entered the elevator.

Nang nasa loob na kami, tinignan ulit ako ni Jerome at hinawakan 'yung kamay ko.

"Kaya mo'to, okay? Si Mika Reyes ka eh."

I smiled. "Si Mika Reyes 'to eh." I repeated.

Just then, bumukas na 'yung elevator and I stepped out. I think hindi ako masusundan ni Jerome since may gagawin pa siya sa office niya so I looked back at him. He gave me a wink and a thumbs up as the elevator closed.

I breathed deeply and walked towards Ara's office. Kaya ko 'to. Go self, laban!!

Nakarating na ako sa harap ng door niya and I looked at my watch (which read 8:03 so I guess I'm here just in time). I slowly tilted the doorknob and saw Ara, from across the door, walking around in a circle. Mukhang nag-iisip.

I knocked sa door na nakabukas na para makita niyang nandito na ako, pero, 'di man lang siya umimik. I closed the door and looked at her, confused.

"Good morning!" I greeted. Still, wala pa rin. Tuloy-tuloy lang siyang naglalakad ng paikot-ikot.

"Pst! Huy!" I called. "Hellooooo?!" I went to her and exaggeratedly waved my hands in front of her face. "Huy? Buhay ka pa ba? Hellooooo? Bingi--"

It felt as if my heart jumped out of my body when Ara took hold of my wrist, real tight.

"Aray!" I twisted my hand at sinubukan kong tanggalin 'yun sa hawak niya but it was useless. Sobrang tight ng pagkahawak niya. "Tsk, ano ba! Ang sakit!"

She looked at me. Sa tingin niyang 'yan, parang gusto niya nang baliin 'yung wrist ko. Ang lala naman pala nitong babaeng 'to.

"Never interrupt me pag nag-iisip ako." Mas hinigpitan pa niya 'yung hawak niya at ginamit niya 'yun para ilapit ako sa kanya. "Understood?"

"Tsk, oo na!" She let go of my wrist rather aggressively and turned her back on me. Napahawak ako sa wrist kong namamanhid na. Who gave her the right to do that to me? Boss ko siya, oo, but that doesn't mean she has the right to do that! I thought ang sama na niya three years ago, but that was nothing compared sa pinapakita niya ngayon. Ang lala.

"Get me brewed coffee from starbucks. Now, please." She said as she sat on her chair.

Muntik ko na siyang sagutin but I was stopped by her please. Kahit ang pangit ng pagkautos niya, may konting manners pa rin naman pala siya kahit papaano. But that still doesn't change the fact na first day na first day ko, sinaktan na niya ako ng ganto. Ang lala talaga.

Padabog akong lumabas ng office niya. Nakakainis!! ANG LALA NI ATE GERL!!

I went straight to the elevator with my fists clenched, at nang mabukas 'yung elevator my fists were immediately, unclenched. Ay, wala palang word na ganon.

"Jerome!" Sobrang saya ko nung nakita ko siya na hindi ko nang mapigilan na i-hug siya. I let go immediately after realizing na halos hindi na pala siya makahinga sa sobang higpit ng hug ko. "Ay, sorry." We both giggled.

"It's okay. I came kasi wala pa pala yung boss ko, mamayang 9 pa raw pala siya darating. How was it pala? Are you okay?"

"Hay jusko Jerome. It was a nightmare. She was a nightmare. Stress ako ha." I said as I brushed my hair with my hands.

He chuckled. "I heard she was pretty tough. I thought you'd be an exception since close kayo, pero, I guess not." I faked a smile. Can everybody stop talking about how 'close' Ara and I are?

"Ay oo nga pala, saan ka pupunta ngayon?" Jerome added.

"Sa Starbucks. Nagpapabili ng brewed coffee si halimaw." I replied and rolled my eyes.

He laughed. "Ganun ba? Samahan na kita."

The elevator opened and we were off to Starbucks. It was just across the street anyway. Medyo mahaba yung pila, but the time was used well since Jerome gave me some advice to deal with Ara's attitude habang naghihintay sa turn namin. He told me na if I stayed away from Ara's personal stuff and if I kept quiet while she was at work, I'd do just fine. According to him, natutunan niyang Ara is a very private and work-at-peace type of person with the help of his co-workers na nag-w'work sa floor ni Ara. Which reminds me, wala pa pala akong friend sa work namin besides Jerome. I should really start talking to people.

But I'll deal with that tomorrow. Or maybe the day after that. Or maybe next week. For now, I'd have to deal with my ex-best-friend-turned-halimaw.