"Good morning, ma'am," bati ni Kris sa kanya pagkapasok nila ni Alden sa MUNDO.
Itatama niya sana ang pagbati nito kundi lang sumingit si Leo.
"Good morning, Mrs. Faulkerson."
Dei smiled at him and threw a pointed glare at Kris. "Matuto ka kay Leo."
Alden amusingly pulled his wife to him and led her towards the VIP elevator. He remembered the times Dei denied him as her fiance. Tapos ngayon, wagas kung makapagsabi ng Misis.
"Pa-kiss nga?" he smilingly asked her when the elevator started moving up.
*****
Abala sa pag-aayos ng dokumento si Jhake sa computer, when his chat box popped up on the screen. Agad na tumayo siya at iniwan ang trabaho pagkabasa sa chat ni Alden.
Kris' visitor, Joyce Ching.
Patakbong lumabas siya sa lobby ng MUNDO at dahan-dahang pumasok sa kalapit na cafe. He grabbed a newspaper at the doorstep, and carefully settled himself on the seat next to Alden. Tulad niya, may hawak din na newspaper si Alden na pinantakip ng mukha, habang pinanonood si Kris at Joyce sa kabilang mesa.
"Kanina pa ba sila?" medyo pahingal niyang tanong.
"No. Just a few minutes..."
"Paano mo nalaman na bumisita?"
"The twins."
"Ah..." patango-tango si Jhake. Tiyak, may nagpost nito sa employee's portal at nabasa ng kambal. "Hindi ko sila makita ng maayos."
Alden watched Jhake tear an eye-size hole on the paper and peeked on it. Sinundan naman agad ni Alden ang ginawa niya.
"Brilliant," Alden remarked. Kasi wala nang sagabal sa panonood nito.
They held their breath when Joyce reached over the table to cup Kris' cheeks. Then Kris held her hand and brought it on his lips. Napakurap ang dalawang nanonood.
"Can you pinch me?"
Malakas na pinihit ni Jhake ang hita ni Alden.
"Fuck! That hurts!" pigil-sigaw nitong reklamo na ikinatuwa niya.
"Kris definitely likes that girl."
"And I will definitely not forget what you did to me, Jhake." Alden muttered as they continued to watch Kris and his date.
Ni minsan hindi pa nila nakita ang kaibigan na nagpa-sweet sa babae katulad ngayon. Kris was holding Joyce hand while they took a sip of their drinks, their eyes gleaming with happiness. Halos hindi makapaniwala sa nakita ang dalawang magkaibigan.
"Bagay sila..."
Sabay na tumango sina Alden and Jhake sa boses na iyon. Then their head whipped towards the back where Dei was smiling widely at them.
"Kayo ha..."
"It was his idea!" At nagturuan pa sa isa't isa ang dalawa.
"Jhake pinched me, Dei." Dagdag pa ni Alden. "It fucking hurts."
Dei was about to throw a glare towards her boss when they heard someone clear his throat nearby. So they looked at the front. Nakahalukipkip na nakatayo sa harapan nila si Kris. He looked as if he was demanding a proper explanation from them.
"We are here to support your lovelife," sabay na sabi nina Alden and Jhake.
*****
Kinagabihan, pinaghalong lungkot at tuwa ang namayani sa buong restaurant kung saan ginanap ang Farewell party ni Dei. Tumayo siya sa inuupuan at isa-isang tinignan ang mga mukha na dumalo sa party.
She smiled. Marami nang memories ang nabuo kasama ang mga ito sa dalawang taon na pagseserbisyo niya kay Jhake kaya naman bilang pasasalamat...
"May 20% discount kayo sa shop kooo!" Then she cheekily added. "Kapag nagpurchase kayo ng 3k minimum!"
"Bibili kami kapag tinaasan ni Mr. A ang sahod!" Allan grinned.
Lahat ng mga mata napunta sa mukha ni Alden na halos hindi maipinta ang mukha.
"Joke lang!" bilis na bawi ni Allan sabay nilunok ang kaba.
"Cam, ikaw na bahala kay sir Jhake. Mabait iyan. Generous, understanding, at higit sa lahat, friendly. Hindi sasakit ang ulo mo kay Jhake kundi sa mga kliyente niya. Alam mo na iyan~"
Cam chuckled from her seat.
"Sir Jhake, I love you po..."
Alden quickly cleared his throat and straightened his back on his seat.
"Bilang boss at kaibigan, syempre. Kung maka-react naman ang isa dito..." Dei playfully pinched Alden's cheeks. Sabay pinanggigilan ito.
Titig na titig naman ang mga tao sa paligid. No one would dare to do that to the owner. And he was even starting to smile back at her.
Ah, kaya naman pala naging misis... they all thought.
"Iyong totoo. Mami-miss ko talaga kayo lahat, guys. Mami-miss ko ang trabaho na'to. Mami-miss ko ang team activities na'tin. Mami-miss ko ang buwanang suweldo..."
Habang nililista ni Dei sa isip ang mga mami-miss niya, biglang naalala niya ang ina. Pagkatapos ng kasal hindi na niya ito nakita, maski makausap man lang sa telepono.
"Dei..." She felt Alden's arm around her waist. "You can always visit MUNDO anytime you want."
Nagulat si Dei ng maramdaman ang luha na dumaloy sa pisngi niya. She was not aware that she's close to crying.
"Ngingiti na 'yan! Ngingiti na 'yan! Ngingiti na 'yan" her friends chanted, trying to cheer her up.
It didn't take long for her to smile.
"Dapat talaga bumili kayo sa shop ko kapag nagbukas na 'ko. Kundi iiyak na talaga ako," she joked.
Once she's settled back on her seat, Alden dragged his chair closer to her.
"Dei..."
His warm breath grazed deliciously on her ear. "Hmm?"
"You have me. No matter what happen, you will always have me." He smiled. "Always by your side. I hope this will comfort you..."
Dei faced him and caressed his cheek against her palm. No man knows her like he does. No one man can read her like he does. No man can give her the emotions like he does.
"You make me love you even more, everyday..." And despite the people watching them silently from their seat, she leaned forward and kissed him on the lips. "I love you, Alden."
Imbes na humiyaw, nagpipigil ng kilig ang mga nanonood. Because they don't want to startle Mr. A, who was yet to recover from such public display of affection. Umabot nga sa tenga ang pamumula ng mukha nito.
*****
