Somebody That I Used To Know

Chapter 16

Currently in bed, day off namin, kasi bukas na 'yung Christmas party. I'm quite excited since laging may something interesting na ginagawa 'yung company every Christmas party, ginawa na namin kahapon yung something interesting na 'yun.

Last year, ang daming balloons na makakapal sa hallway or kahit saan, nakatapon or nakasabit pa man 'yan. When one of the employee accidentally popped one, nakita niya na may paycheck na nakalagay and she started screaming.

Siyempre people got curious sa commotion na ginawa niya and everyone started asking her. She answered naman what she found sa mga balloons and everyone started popping all the balloons. Parang hunger games nga. Minimum of one thousand pesos daw nilagay nila for every balloon sabi sa akin ni Clark after that. Hindi na ako magtataka kung bakit halos magpatayan ang mga employee.

Though mali 'yung ginawa no'ng babaeng unang nakakita. Dapat wala siyang sinabihan. Edi sana tiba-tiba siya. Kaso she'll look weird, kasi siya lang nagpa-pop ng balloons and eventually, makyu-curious din 'yung iba but still, para siyang may headstart if she just kept her mouth shut. I did not join the balloon popping party, did not join any games din kasi hindi nabunot 'yung name ko. That's how they choose the players kasi sa mga games, bunutan.

My phone beeped kaya hinanap ko siya. Nakalagay pala under my pillow. I opened the message and it was from Clark.

Reminding you that it's our company's Christmas Party tomorrow and you aren't excuse, no excuses are allowed. You should attend or else... I'll do something you would not like.

P.S. Your project with Theo will start on January 5, next year.

I will attend naman. Anti-social mode is off for tomorrow, I guess. Regarding sa work ko with Theo, he told me that day Theo and I ate sa caf.

After work I immediately went to the highest floor to see him. Dumeresto ako sa office niya since doon na lang daw kami mag-uusap. Dalawa lang kasi kami kaya no need for the conference hall.

Pagkarating ko sa office niya ay nakita ko siyang nagliligpit na ng gamit. "Need help?" Tanong ko sa kaniya. Marami-rami rin kasi 'yung dapat niyang iligpit. Halatang marami rin siyang ginagawa. Daming nakakalat na files. Hindi lang ako ang sandamakmak ang gawiin ngayon!

"Kind of," Sabi niya habang inaayos 'yung mga folders at pinagpapatong-patong.

"Nasaan ba secretary mo?" Hindi ba dapat tinutulungan siya ng secretary niya? Not that tingin ko sa secretary niya ay yaya pero she should help him. I think.

"Home already, may personal matters siyang aasikasuhin. Early out." So that's her reason? Hmm... I can't judge her since hindi ko alam 'yung reason niya. Hindi ko masasabi tuloy if shallow lang or hindi pero knowing Clark, hindi naman niya papayagan na umalis 'yung isang employee sa trabahon without any valid na ka-excuse-excuse na reason. "Hey, I thought you would help me?"

"I just asked you if you need help, wala akong sinabi na I'll help you." Hopia 'to.

Tumingin siya sa akin nang matalim. Ngumiti ako nang pilit sa kanya at nilapitan siya. Tinulungan ko siyang ayusin 'yung mga files.

"Anong sasabihin mo?" Tanong ko sa kanya, habang sino-sort ko 'yung mga international transaction files.

"About Theo," Umpisa niya.

"I'll work with him?"

"How did you know?" Nanlaki pa 'yung mata niya, hindi talaga makapaniwala na alam ko na.

"Had an unplanned lunch with him kanina." Sabi ko sa kanya and I narrated the necessary details, hindi na kasali 'yung kumain siya ng Carbonara using toothpick and other information.