Meeting Halfway (Under Revisions)

Road Thirteen

*ELMO*

"Good morning Elmo!" I heard Janella's lively voice when she stepped inside my office, my poor secretary following her.

Pinagbilin ko sa sekretarya kong hindi pwedeng makapasok si Janella sa opisina ko ulit.

But knowing Janella, following rules isn't her style.

"Sir...pinagsabihan ko naman po si Ms. Salvador na bawal siya pumasok sa office niyo pero ayaw niya po talagang makinig sa'kin" my secretary reluctantly reasoned out.

"It's fine you may now go" pagtaboy ko sa sekretarya ko palabas.

Janella's eyes followed my secretary's back and waved a little goodbye sign to her when she finally went out of the room.

Ng tuluyang makalabas ang sekretarya ko, Janella turned to me with a lively smile.

I averted my gaze away from her and focus on the report I am checking.

"So, do you miss me? Have you seen my online messages to you last night? Oh yeah, silly me, I've forgotten you literally SEENED them" she stated with animosity in her tone, giving emphasis on the "seen" word.

"Ms. Salvador, ilang beses mo ng pinapahirapan ang sekretarya ko. Is it your habit not to heed to any rules?" I countered without lifting my eyes on her. Patuloy lang ako sa pagtipa sa keyboard ko.

"Back to Ms. Salvador huh? So what happened to Janella, Mr. CEO?" she asked leaning forward to my table.

I removed my glasses and look at her with a straight face. "Let me make myself clear Ms. Salvador, what happened during those 3 days shouldn't happen in the first place. Besides, napilitan lang akong tawagin kang Janella and treat you nicely, is because Ate said so." I answered while looking directly at her eyes, trying my best to sound with conviction kahit hindi naman totoong pinakiusapan ako ni ate.

Her playful smile faded and she faked a cough to regain composure. Bumalik ulit ang pilyang ngiti sa mukha niya.

"Do yourself a favor Ms. Salvador and just forget about it. Now, I want you to get out of my office right now dahil marami akong dapat gawin, besides you're not supposed to be here" masungit kong taboy sa kanya.

Pero imbes na matinag sa pagsusungit ko, nagsimula itong maglakad paikot sa workstation ko.

"You know what Mr. CEO, you've got a spacious office room but this is so boring, let me do a makeover of your office one of these days, you know just adding a bit of color to your monochromatic office room" she suggested while roaming around my office.

She turned to my desk and she caught something that made her gasp aloud.

"Wow, you're still keeping that picture frame with my photo Mr. CEO, I'm not surprised, I know how my lovely smile affects my admirers positively. Kaya pala sobrang inspired ka sa trabaho" she said and took the photo frame then put it to the side of the desk where I am facing. "Perfect" she whispered, then turn to me smiling.

"I'm not one of your admirers Ms. Salvador and hindi ko kailangan ng inspirasyon mula sa picture mo dahil matagal na akong inspired at ganado sa trabaho ko" I retorted against her own resolve.

She just shrugged off her shoulders. "If you insist Mr. CEO, but you know what, it's okay to admit na attracted ka sa'kin Elmo, I won't take it against you" again, she flashed a playful smile, her eyes glittered with mischief.

Iniwas ko ang tingin sa malawak niyang ngiti at napalunok. "Don't worry Ms. Salvador, I use my brain over my heart"

Hindi ko alam kong imahinasyon ko lang yun pero parang biglang naging malungkot ang ngiti ni Janella pero sandali lang yun dahil nakangisi na ulit ito.