LISE
On my first day of work, I was with Nel online.
I kept asking kung okay na ba ang itsura ko and she kept saying na maganda pa din ako.
I know I looked good and very professional sa suot na brown blazer, cream button-up long sleeved shirt at brown slacks pero I was still very nervous.
I can handle the job.
It's the people I'm worried about.
"Lise, you'll be okay. Friendly ka naman and I'm sure na makakasundo mo ang mga katrabaho mo." Pampalakas-loob na sabi niya.
"What if sila ang hindi friendly?"
"Eh di huwag mo silang pansinin. Nandun ka para magwork at hindi para makipagclose."
Tumigil ako sa pagkakalkal sa purse at tiningnan ko siya.
"Since when did you become so mature?"
Tumawa si Nel at gumaan ang pakiramdam ko.
Alas-kuwatro ng hapon sa Canada at nagulat ako ng makitang online siya.
Day off niya daw at nanonood siya ng TV series na The 100 sa Netflix.
"Basta, don't think too much at baka maloka ka niyan. You'll be fine."
"Hindi na kasi ako sanay eh."
"I know at malaking adjustment for sure pero kayang-kaya mo iyan. Matalino ka at saka sigurado ako na you won't have any problem getting along with your coworkers."
"Bakit mo naman nasabi iyan?" It sounded like I was fishing for compliments.
The truth was I'm a bundle of nerves at the moment.
Hindi nga ako nakatulog ng maayos dahil kung anu-ano ang pumapasok sa isip ko.
Kesyo baka hindi ko sinet sa tamang oras ang alarm at baka tanghaliin ako ng gising.
O di naman kaya baka maout-of-place ako kasi hindi ko alam kung kaedad ko ba iyong mga makakatrabaho ko o baka mga millenials na sila at hindi ko kayang makipagsabayan sa mga trip nila.
"Lise, you're intelligent and very capable. Hindi ka naman siguro nila iha-hire kung you're not the right fit. Isa pa, you're personable and congenial. If I may see so myself, it's a big bonus na you're a very beautiful woman."
Yung last words niya made me smile.
As in labas lahat ng ngipin dahil ramdam ko na hindi niya ako binobola.
"You're good for my ego, Nel."
"Alam ko. Kaya nga nagustuhan mo ako dati di ba?"
Since we started talking, the two of us fell into a routine.
It felt like the old times.
Hindi ako nanibago sa kanya at mukhang ganun din siya sa akin.
Ang gaan ng pakiramdam ko at hindi ako naninimbang.
I didn't feel like I have to filter what I was going to say.
She was still the same old Nel na madali kong nakagaanan ng loob.
I also noticed na malimit siyang magsabi ng mga bagay na I easily interpret as flirting.
Hindi ko alam kung sinasadya niya pero I admit I like the way she made me feel.
Perhaps I shouldn't read too much into it lalo na at vulnerable ako dahil sa nangyari sa akin pero there's a part of me that was longing for validation.
BINABASA MO ANG
6ix Days (Lesbian Story)
RomanceSix Days. That's all it took for the past to catch up with Chanel. But unlike her nineteen-year-old gullible self, she knew she had to turn her back on the past if she wanted a better future. Along came Maricar--a newcomer to Canada whose presence i...
