Jacob
I couldn't get her to respond.
When she opened up to me about that issue with her car, I barely got anything out of her again.
We were back to our morning chats, safe topics, but nothing would tell me about what she really thinks. And I was interested.
At least I made her smile.
One time, I left a few pieces of dark chocolate for her at her desk. It was part of the pasalubong of a friend of mine, who just arrived from abroad, and I decided to get her some.
When she saw it, she asked, "Uy, what's this?" I told her where it came from and what type of chocolates they were. "Oh! That's nice. Thank you. Dark chocolates are my favorite."
An opening.
"Really? I think I like white ones better."
"Mmmkay." Then, she turned to her monitor, munching away on her chocolate, effectively ending any conversation.
Basag na naman yung opening ko. But, she smiled. And now I know she likes dark chocolates.
So, the next time, I got her other chocolates. "Sorry, no dark ones today eh."
She still smiled and said thank you.
Slowly, I found topics to broach. Like the place she was staying at. We went on to discuss property values and how it was like living away from home.
"Why are you asking? Are you moving out?"
A first! She asked me something! "Yes. I just got a notice that my condo is for turnover na."
I started asking where she got her furniture and if she had recommendations. Her face lit up. "Yes. I got some pieces in places where it's not so expensive!"
And every day since then, I would strike up conversations about furniture pieces, if I don't find anything else. I even got her to go for coffee.
One day, I noticed she had two phones and said as much.
"One for family and close friends, one for everyone else," she explained.
"What? Like a burn phone?"
Sabina chuckled. "Well, exactly like a burn phone."
"Wow, you're creepy pala."
Her eyes widened. "Excuse me! It protects me from creeps."
She hesitated but eventually told me that she had someone stalk her and for security purposes decided to keep a private line for only close friends and family. "I don't know. Sobrang daming creep sa mundo."
"Why? This is not the first time?"
"No. Unfortunately."
I frowned, pondering what she said and looking at her. "You grab attention kasi. But have you ever considered that maybe you also do something to attract it?"
She immediately looked incensed. "WHAT?"
"No, I mean kasi... di ba? Kung paulit ulit baka lang you have to think about how you act as well?"
"Ugh! That's so typical. Blame the victim."
Okay, wrong choice of words. I just wanted to understand it from another angle but I guess it was wrong.
"Hindi ko kasalanan and there's nothing about my actions that made 'attract' these guys, okay? Kung bakit nila ginagawa yun, malay ko!"
"Eh what if gusto mo naman yung guy? Would you still call it stalking or harassment?"
Her eyes widened even more if that was possible. "It all boils down to consent. Kahit gusto ko yung tao, if it crosses certains lines I don't like, yes, that's still harassment."
"I'm just trying to understand. Wag ka magalit."
"Well, you're asking the wrong questions."
Sabina
Hindi ako tanga.
I know that he's been trying to get my attention and I also know that there is some interest on his part.
Like I said, guys hindi ako tanga.
Our desks were so close together that I gathered some relevant information, most importantly: he had a girlfriend.
At dahil wala akong interes sa mga ganyang drama, I already set my boundaries with him, especially when I was warned by my teammate. "Jacob has been asking about you daw. Mag-ingat ka diyan ha."
Noted, with thanks.
Alam ko naman yun. A few times, I heard him telling stories with his teammates after office hours and they were discussing how he liked the thrill of the chase. "Mas exciting eh." He also shared how he once had a woman in his place when his girlfriend called to say that she was on her way. "A few minutes lang yung gap nila, paalis yung isa, padating yung girlfriend ko."
I rolled my eyes in my seat.
I had to admit, he was an interesting conversationalist. I liked that he didn't shy away when I got too effusive with anything I was talking about and he shared some of it as well. I also liked the attention in the sense that he would scramble to get me anything I need without me asking.
Case in point: I came to work one day with a massive headache and as soon as he found out, he pulled his drawer and took meds and essential oils. "Here o. What do you want?"
Ganyan siya. So, when one day he asked me for coffee after lunch, I went and actually enjoyed the conversation.
Imagine my dismay at this turn. Blame me for harassment. Gago rin eh. Sapakin ko kaya? Kaya lang baka ma-HR ako.
I avoided conversation with him but sent him readings on harassment with a note, "It is not my fault." (Yes, he had my number bec we worked on a project the earlier week and ended up exchanging it. He's on the burn phone)
The following day, there was a cupcake on my desk. "I'm so sorry. Please accept my apologies. - Jacob"
I nodded but kept him at a distance still.
But, like he said, he liked the thrill of the chase, and unconsciously, by keeping my distance, I provided that.
