Three years ago, Mika and Ara decided to part ways and take on the world without each other. But when challenges and struggles forced their paths to cross once again, they slowly realize that it was another chance for them to finally begin again.
Nang makarating na kami ulit sa building, hindi na sumama sakin si Jerome sa floor ni Ara kasi mag-n'nine na rin. I breathed deeply before entering Ara's office. Dahan-dahan akong pumasok at nakita kong nakaupo na si Ara sa desk niya at may kausap sa phone. Hindi na ako nagsalita, I placed the coffee on her table and stood in front of her.
"Okay, so kailan na 'yung schedule ng production nung bagong design? Ah, okay, okay. Wait, pero hindi ba sa Wednesday pa darating yung bagong stocks? Talaga? Sige, that's great. By the way, is there any chance na ma-improve pa natin yung soles nung running shoes natin? We have complaints kasi, tsaka..."
Though she didn't mind my presence, kahit salita lang siya nang salita without acknowledging me, and kahit nakakagago siya, I was still okay with it. Kung ganyan ba naman karami yung iniintindi mo, it'll be no surprise na magiging halimaw ka talaga. I mean, there's no valid excuse para maging rude at halimaw ka, pero, somehow, I understand kung bakit siya ganun. Nakakainis pa rin siya though.
Nang matapos na siya sa phone call niya, bumalik siya sa computer niya at parang walang pake na nakabalik na ko. Tumagal pa ng mga... siguro mga ten years bago siya magsalita. Charot.
"Andyan 'yung desk mo." She pointed at the white desk against the window. "Truth is, wala naman ako masyadong ipapagawa sa'yo, so, most of the time dyan ka lang."
"Okay..." I didn't exactly know how to respond. Akala ko ba tataas yung sweldo ko based on my performance? Tas wala naman pala siya ipapagawa?
"Oh, and I'd really appreciate it if tahimik ka lang. Ayoko ng maingay."
I did the my-mouth-is-zipped gesture. "My lips are sealed."
She nodded and grabbed the coffee on her table. "Okay. Thanks for the coffee."
"AYUN!" I exclaimed. "You're welcome!"
May manners naman pala talaga e. Ayaw lang ipakita. Haaay.
I walked towards my desk and sat on the really comfy and really huge office chair. I played with the tilt tensioner a little bit at nagpaikot-ikot nang saglit. My desk was an L-shape leaning against the large window dito sa office. Nasa pinakadulo 'yung printer at nasa kabilang dulo naman 'yung computer. May mason jar na may konting pencils at isang black na pen sa tabi ng printer tapos may malaking space sa gitna. Siguro naman pwede ko i-customize 'to. I think I'll just bring pictures tomorrow to put it on my desk.
I turned on the computer and I immediately noticed the wallpaper -- it was a picture of a moon.
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It looked beautiful. Naisip ko kaninang palitan 'yung computer wallpaper ng picture ng family ko pero, 'wag na pala. Maganda naman pala 'yung wallpaper, I'll just find someplace else to put my family's pictures.
I played around with my computer and customized it a bit. Since wala pa naman pinapagawa si Ara, nag-Facebook muna ako, Twitter, Instagram, minsan nag-d'drawing sa notepads galing sa drawer, minsan tin'text si Ciennang. Ang boring naman pala dito.
Three hours had passed, and it feels like I'm dying of boredom. Sumisilip ako sa kay Ara every now and then, sobrang busy talaga niya. Pero, hindi ba't kaya siya kumuha ng assistant, ay para mabawasan 'yung mga ginagawa niya? Wala naman siyang pinapagawa sakin... hay.
I decided na gamitin na lang 'yung photobooth dito sa computer ko and magpicture. I chose the filter with the hearts and posed. Peace sign, pout, smile, tongue-out. I scrolled through the different filters again and chose the one with the birds. Again, I posed. Half-smile, wink + tongue out--
"AY TONGUE INA!" Napatayo ako kasi biglang nakita ko sa camera na may nag-appear na silhouette sa likod ko. For a second there, akala ko nga multo. Well, close. Si halimaw lang pala. I held my chest and turned around to look at her. "Nakakagulat ka naman!"
Kumunot ang noo niya sa'kin. "Kawawa ka naman, nagulat ka. Dalhin na ba kita sa ospital?"
I gave her a smile bilang pang-asar sa kanya. "Nakakatawa ka. Ha. Ha. Ha. Natawa ako. Grabe. Ha. Ha. Ha..... Ha."
She pinched her nose. "Baho ng hininga mo." She uttered and turned her back on me.
"Luh. Baka sa'yo yun. Tandaan, malapit ang ilong sa bibig!"
She rolled her eyes at naglakad na papaalis. "Bahala ka dyan. Take your lunch. Be back at 12."
"YES MA'AM!" I said at nag-salute. She looked at me, rolled her eyes, and left. She's not so bad after all, I mean, halimaw pa rin talaga siya, pero, ang sarap pala niya asarin.
I exited Ara's office and saw the employees outside na naghahanda na para sa lunch break nila. Pupuntahan ko sana si Jerome, but I remembered, sinabi niya sa'kin kanina na 12:30 pa lunch break niya. Hm, I guess I'll be alone.
I entered the elevator along with a few other employees. I stared at the number at the side as it goes down.
"Hi!" Someone, obviously a girl, said. Napalingon ako. It was a girl with beautiful pink hairlights and a really spot-on eyeliner. "Ikaw 'yung bagong assistant ni Ate Ara 'no?"
I nodded.
She smiled. "Hannah." She lend out her hand and I shook it. "Ikaw si Ate Mika, diba?"
"Hi Hannah, and, yes. Paano mo nalamanan?"
She giggled as the elevator opened. Sabay kaming naglakad papunta ng canteen as she greeted other employees. I honestly can't wait for the time na magagawa ko na rin 'yun, na may friends na rin akong officemates ko other than Jerome. It'd be nice to have a bunch of people, or even just someone, to talk to while I'm dealing with halimaw.
Hannah started speaking again nang nakapila na kami para kumuha ng food. "Well, I'm one of Ate Ara's many cousins, and, syempre, kahit hindi naman ako masyadong mahilig sa sports, todo support ako sa kanya. So, I watch some of her games and nakikita rin kita dun. Ang galing mo, Ate Mika! Favorite ko 'yung ganun mo," She did the gesture of a block. "The best."
I chuckled. "Thanks." We grabbed our food and found a table.
Nang makaupo na kami, I decided to ask Hannah more about her since wala pa ko masyadong alam sa kanya. "So, Hannah, ilang taon ka na?"
"Eighteen." She smiled. "I just graduated Senior High School, ABM. And right now, I'm helping out Ate Ara's management before ako mag-college. Well, ginagawa ko naman 'yun dati pa tuwing may bakasyon, pero, I'd just really like to be a part of it someday." She looked around, then looked at me. She, again, smiled. "Ikaw, ate? Ilang taon ka na?"
"25. I know, ang tanda ko na."
She laughed. "Ate Ara looks much older than you, though. Ang workaholic niya! 'Yan tuloy, mukha na siyang thirty years old."
I threw my head back and laughed with her. "Palagi pang galit. Ayan, nagkaka-wrinkles na." Hannah continued laughing as she slaps the table, trying really hard to contain her laughter. When she was done laughing, I asked her a question that surprised even me. "By the way, are you and Ara close?"
Her laugh slowly faded out as she sat properly. "Mmm... medyo. Siguro. I don't know. Dati, she was very close to all of us, sobrang close naming lahat na mag-p'pinsan. Pero, busy na siya ngayon e. We all are. I guess we just, grew up."
I frowned. Ang lungkot naman nun.
"But it's okay. It's life, diba?" Hannah added as she smiled once more, making it really hard for me to tell if it's fake or not.
Nang matapos na 'yung lunch break ko, I found out na never pala kumakain sa canteen si Ara, palaging may baon, or kumakain sa labas. That was according to Hannah, at least.
Later that afternoon, wala rin ako masyadong nagawa. Wala talagang pinapagawa si Ara, and I don't know if I should be happy about it.
Pinauwi niya ako ng mga 6. I went home with Jerome and told Cienne everything that had happened.
