A Love to Last

Untitled Part 6

Vincent leads me to....a really nice black car

"Wow!  Ang ganda ng sasakyan mo a" 

"Well, I was an accountant before" at tumango nalang ako sa sinabi niya

Habang nasa byahe kami ay binalot ng katahimikanang ang kotse. I make sure to give him directions but also try to savor the quiet of the evening.

"So, uh...Bakit gusto mong maging editor?"

"Hmm...Bata pa lang ako hilig ko ng magbasa and that's my passion I also want to help tell others' their stories. To make their dreams to relities." 

"Hey, me too!"  He smiles at me, I'm almost weirded out about how nice he's being though I'm not complaining. "Being an editor was a hard choice for me. I came from a STEM background at alam ko hindi malaki ang sahod but something.....changed my life. Pagkatapos noon ay napagpasyahan ko na I couldn't just keep being an accountant. Then, I realized I want to make a difference for the people. Help them with their stories." pagpapatuloy pa nito

"What change your life?"  bigla niyang hininto ang sasakyan na ikinabigla ko

"It's not something I want to talk about right now" 

"Sorry" 

"Nandito na tayo" 

"Oh, right. Thank you sa pag hatid sa akin Vincent"  at bumaba na ako sa sasakyan niya 'Mukhang nagalit siya dahil sa tanong ko kanina'

Papasok na ako sa gate ng biglang tinawag niya ang pangalan ko at nilingon ko siya

"But, still....I worked really hard to get here and I know you did, too. Good night, Roxanne" pagkatapos niyang sabihin yun ay umalis na siya and that made me smile.

*******

It's been a couple days since Nathaniel's reappearance an din some ways, I'm starting to get used to it. I mean, it's nice having companion.

"Good morning, Roxanne" 

"Good morning!" but in the others ways it's getting kind of odd. Minsan kasi ay nauuhaw ako kaya kukuha ako ng tubig sa kusina pero nakita kong gising pa si Nathaniel---he had the  a cat on his lap at may binubulong siya sa pusa pero as soon as I walked in, he stopped. Bakit? Anong pinaguusapan nila?

And of course, Nathan is still following me around..kahit sa office ay sinusundan niya pa rin ako. I'm having to get used to Vincent's glares, too. Pero sa araw na ito, gustong sabihin kay Nathan na hindi niya kailangang sumama sa trabaho ko.

"Nathan, Pwede ba tayong mag usap?" 

"Sige, ano ba yung pag-uusapan natin?" 

"Uh...You need to find something else to do. Hindi yung palagi ka nalang sasama sa akin sa trabaho." 

"Nakaka istorbo na ba ako sa trabaho mo?" 

"Hindi naman sa ganon, Gusto ko lang na may mapag kaaabalahan ka"

"Yeah..I'm sorry Rox." 

Mabuti naman at naintindiha niya, He doesn't take any offense, he's actually kind of apologetic.

After taking it over a little, we decided that he could stay home and find some things to do like using my computer.

"Sige, Nathan mauna na ako" 

********

"Roxanne, can you get me a coffee?" 

"Uh..yes! Wait lang" 

It's Friday and Vincent is looking especially strained. His brow is furrowed and he's typing furiously at his computer. Dapat kasi, importanteng project ito pero the author isn't meeting deadlines kaya mainit ang ulo ni Vincent ngayon. Maraming due at the end of the day and Vincent's taking it into his own hands. 

"Roxannneee!!! Where's my coffee?!"

"Yes, sir!" nagmamadaling pumunta ako sa desk dala yung mainit na coffee, I trip over at aksidente kong natapon kay Vincent ang mainit na kape

"Oh my gosh! Sir, I'm so sorry! Hindi ko po sinasadya!" mabilis na kumuha ako ng paper towel at pinahid ito sa suot niya pero lumayo siya 

"Ano ba Roxanne! Wala ka na bang magawang tama?!" napayuko ako sa biglang pagsigaw niya "If you want to work here, you got to be more serious about it. More responsible. You need to--" 

"Vince! Don't be so mean" natigil ang pag sesermon sa akin ni Vincent dahil sa biglang pag sulpot ng isang babae. She's a sweet older lady, scolding Vincent like a Mother would.

"Uggghhh!"

"You know, you made some mistakes before." at biglang na kalma si Vincent, It's weird.

"Be nice to the new girl, Vince and please magbihis ka ng bagong polo" then, the old lady  turns to me and smiles and heads back off.

**********

After that incident ay naging mas busy si Vincent, his taking it into his own hands and as for me, well, wala akong ginagawa..nakaupo lang ako at pinapanood siya.

"May maitutulong ba ako?" 

"Not now, Roxanne" he brushes me off coldly. Hindi ako sigurado kung nasaktan ako sa ginawa niya  naiirita ako sa kanya. It seems like whenever he's stressed he goes into "SOLO MODE" at ang parang perspective niiya sa buhay ay "If you wnat something done right, do it yourself" which is not good! Haay!  Kalma Roxanne...kalma... Subukan mo uli magtanong, ok? 

"Sir Vincent, I'm supposed to help you. Gusto ko meron akong gawin"

"Roxanne, please!" sabi nito na hindi manlnag ako tinapunan ng tingin

"I thought you were training me" 

He stop typing and sighs. Finally, he looked at me with tired eyes.

"Look, na appreciate ko ang tulong na inaalok mo pero I can't afford to lose any time right now, Roxanne"

"That's not fair! Meron pa naman akong magagawa diba? Even filing."

"Well, maybe I would have let you if you weren;t being so immature about it"  at nag umpisa na naman itong mag type

IMMATURE.....IMMATURE.......IMMATURE.....IMMATURE..

"What makes me immature?" he stop typing again and looks up at me, with harsh but his expression pauses and hesitates for a moment. 

"You can't do this yet. You are not ready"

"How can I be ready if you weren't teaching me?"

"I don't know, but you've been distracted and very clumsy and i can't take risks right now" then his eyes returns to the monitor. Kung may masasabi ako ngayon, yun ayang pagiging rude niya. I compose myself with a short breath before speaking up.

"Vincent, Gusto ko man lang tumu---"

"Please, Roxanne. Just stop. not now!"

"Fine! I'm going home for the day" at mabilis kong iniligpit ang mga gamit ako and Vincent quickly stops typing and turns to me, shocked at mabilis itong tumayo upang pigilan ako

"No, no..Wait Roxanne" nasa harapan na ako ng pintuan palabas sa office "Just stay, ok? I will teach you....Just stay" 

"I can't work with someone who don't trust me" and I move forward didn't bother to look back. The office ladies looked me with concern, but I can't bring myself to talk to them. As I walk outside, I realized the stunt that I pull and I guess it's too late to turn back and to my surprise, the black cat from before is sitting right in front of me. I pass her by and started to walk my way home.. Yeah.. What I did was pretty bold and I regret it already at sigurado akong sesante na ako bukas. Akala ko I was standing up for myself but turns out that maybe Vincent is right, I really am an immature person......