Anna
We've been fighting since last night.
One of our helpers had to leave due to a family emergency, while the other one was out sick. For a week now, Marco and I had to do everything on our own. It was a stressful time to say the least.
He had already joined our company and we had been sitting together for at least an hour everyday. He would discuss some basic concepts to me and that would be my chance to clarify matters that I've come across in my various meetings and readings.
It was pleasant, at first. I was already enjoying our "quiet" breakfasts and our regular interactions at work. But adjusting back to life in Manila was taking its toll on him.
The other day, he was grumbling the entire trip from our office to a Makati restaurant for a meeting with a supplier.
"We haven't moved for the past 40 minutes! Damn it. An hour for 8 effin kilometers?! The hell is this."
"I told you not to schedule a meeting in Makati on a Friday," I said.
"Ito lang yung free time natin pareho that matches the schedule of our contact," he replied still pissed off. When we finally arrived, the supplier was also late and we had to wait another hour. "Filipino Time. Such a waste of my day. You know in Europe it's not like this. Kung dun tayo nagmeeting, kanina pa ako and I would've walked out on a late person."
I kept quiet then because anything I say would just agitate him.
Another time, it was the internet. "Why the hell is this so slow?! This passes standards? How am I going to get anything done?!"
These days though, I've earned his ire. "Anna, your shoes! Can't you bring them in once we get home? Why do you have to leave them out here on our hallway?!"
"Sorry, habit."
"Habit?! Ilang buwan na tayo and I remind you everytime!"
I shrugged, "Eh I forget eh. If I remembered, magagalit ka ba ng ganyan?"
"Anna -"
But I've already walked out on him. Magmukmok ka diyan mag-isa mo.
And because I was irritated that he yelled at me like a child, I didn't include him when I ordered for dinner to be delivered.
So, he got mad again.
"You didn't order for me? Do you want me to starve to death?"
I rolled my eyes, "OA mo 'no? You can survive weeks without food as long as you have water. Here o." I handed him a glass of ice cold water.
"So what? I won't have dinner? Tubig nalang?"
"May kamay ka di ba? And you have a functioning phone? Call them. You can even pick out your favorite food," I gave him a smile, then left to eat my dinner in peace at the patio.
But last night came to a head.
We were both exhausted from our chores at home and this project we were completing at work. Add to that, Marco had to report to his office every so often to monitor his ongoing projects there as well.
