It's a Friday and the end of the month. Tambak ang trabaho ko today at may deadlines pang kailangang habulin. To say that I'm stressed would be a fvcking understatement.
Idagdag pa ang napakademanding at perfectionist na head ng kompanya. Sumasakit na rin ang ulo ko dahil sa kulang sa tulog. Nagkalat pa ang mga papeles sa ibabaw ng aking mesa. I forgot how it looked like without the mess.
The sound of paper hitting my office desk made me look up from my computer screen. Nagliparan ang ibang papel bago mahulog sa sahig. My eyes followed the papers bago ibinaling ang tingin sa taong nakatayo sa harapan. Isang nakangiting mukha ng assistant ko ang sumalubong sa akin.
She made a peace sign with her fingers ng makita ang iritable kong mukha. She knows. Of all people, she knows I hate it when people just barge into my office without my permission. Lalong lalo na ngayon na tambak ako sa trabaho.
Inginuso niya sa akin ang magazine na ibinagsak. It's one of those glossy showbiz magazines featuring models,actors,actresses, and all those people that are rising in their industry. Why she's showing me this, I've no idea.
It's their latest issue. Nasa cover page ang mukha ng isang sikat na babaeng aktres. She's wearing a white dress with a big smile. Ang alam ko ay kabi-kabila ang mga projects niya.
Aside from being an actress, she is also a dancer/choreographer. Marami ang tumatangkilik sa mga pelikula at telenobela niya. I know this because she's become a household name. Kahit sa opisina ay usap-usapan ang galing niya sa pag arte at pagsayaw.
She's a multimedia star, they say.
Nagtataka kong muling binalingan ng tingin ang assistant ko. She sighed before opening her mouth as if she's about to say something. Muli niyang itinikom ang bibig at nagkamot ng ulo when she saw the intensity of my glare.
"Okay. Turn to page 10." Tahimik na nagtatanong ang aking mga mata. I picked up the magazine and flipped the pages until I reached page 10.
It's a photo of a couple.
Centerfold.
Pareho silang nakatayo at nakatawa. Their background is blue and there's a pot of a flowering plant sa kanan. The man's arms are wrapped securely around the woman's tiny waist. The same woman in the cover page.
Dito ay nakasuot na siya ng isang pulang off-shoulder top at puting pantalon. Samantalang ang lalake naman ay naka baby blue na button down shirt na nakatupi hanggang siko ang sleeves at itim na slacks.
Sa gilid ng picture ay may nakaquote na marahil ay sinabi ng aktres sa interview.
"I couldn't be more blessed. I never knew what true love is until I met him."
Automatikong tumaas ang kaliwang kilay ko sa nabasa.
Could she be more cheesy?
Agad kong binura ang kaunting inis sa aking mukha bago muling iniangat ang tingin sa aking assistant na nag aabang sa aking reaksyon. She reads more into every expression in my face kaya maingat ako.
"What is this Callista?" I asked her in a steady voice na sinagot niya lamang ng pag ikot ng mga mata. I almost ripped them out of their sockets. She may be my assistant but often times, she acts as if it's the other way around. Mabuti na lamang at efficient siya bilang empleyado kundi ay matagal ko na siyang pinalitan. Plus she's a friend.
"Duh. Looks familiar?" Muli kong tinignan ang magazine. I bit my tongue to keep myself from saying something I might regret. I took a deep breath before talking. I don't know what she's trying to achieve here.
