Jacob
I noticed that she wouldn't look my way when she arrived in the morning.
She'd come in, put her bags down, get one of the smaller bags and then disappear for a bit. I eventually figured out that it was her time to put on her makeup. Then, she'd come back looking glowing and smelling like the most vast rose garden and sit down, then she'd face me and smile.
That was my cue to say a quiet "Good morning".
It started off like that. Until it got to the point when I saw that she dressed well and I was taking notice. So, I started saying, "You look nice today."
She'd give me an awkward smile and say thanks.
We started chatting in the morning about where we lived, traffic, the weather... random, mundane stuff. Her answers were short, often dismissive.
"How long does it take you to get here?" I would ask, talking about her travel from home to work.
"About 30 minutes."
"Same time going home?"
"No. Longer."
Only a few times would she ask my answer to the same question.
Until one day, she came in looking a little distracted and when I asked, "How's your morning going?"
She replied, "I hit my car sa wall ng parking. Look."
Then, she proceeded to show me photos from her phone. I cringed. "Ang laki but at least sa side lang and you didn't get hurt."
She brushed off that comment and we proceeded to discuss options to have it fixed.
I spent more and more time thinking of Sabina and how to get her to open up to me.
"Crush lang naman," I told some of my office friend when they noted how often I mentioned her.
"Jacob ha. Crush lang. Let me remind you, may girlfriend ka."
"Oo nga! Gusto ko lang makilala. She seems very interesting," I commented. "May boyfriend ba yun?"
"Wala. Pero ikaw may girlfriend," my colleague reminded.
"Crush nga lang kasi."
Yes, crush lang.
Sabina had this certain mysterious air about her that drew me in and I want to solve it.
Was I playing with fire? Sure.
But life would be boring without a little thrill.
I knew my boundaries. I didn't intend to cross them... but I intend to enjoy it a little. Just a little.
