The Perfect Tandem

Kabanata 5

Thanatos Ambrosia

"Ms. Nativid-" Napatigil ako ng makarating sa cubicle niya.

Right. She's on leave.

I bit my lip. Don't call her. Don't call her.

Shit.

Before I knew it, my phone was ringing. Nahigit ko ang hininga ko nang masagot niya.

"Sir naman, kakalapag ko lang. May papagawa ka na agad?"

"Idiot. You're on leave, I'm not gonna give you work."

"Oh. okay. Why'd you call?"

"Just. . . checking on you."

"Ah. Everything okay?" ani nito sa normal nitong malambing na tono.

"Yep." No.

"Okay. Bye po!"

"Enjoy." Binaba ko ang tawag.

I looked at her empty table. I cleared my throat and fixed my necktie before going to my own office.

⇠ ❃ ⇢

Aleera Natividad

"You're beautiful, New York!"

I spread my arms. Saktong sakto na mahangin. Ah! Freedom!

I think it's been too long since I felt this.

Shani laughed. "First time mo mag-off, right? Buti pinakawalan ka ng boss mo."

"Oo nga e. Thanks to you, nandito ako. Sa buong pagtatrabaho ko kasi sakaniya, hindi ko naisip magliwaliw e."

Kakababa lang namin ng van at pareho naming hinihila ang maleta namin ngayon papunta sa hotel. Nasa taas kasi nakatayo yung hotel. Medyo matarik ang daan paakyat. Pero gosh, yung view! Mahamog pa. Ang ganda ng mga puno!

Ngayon ko lang na-realize na tuyot na tuyot ako sa bakasyon. Sobrang nakaka-overwhelm ito.

"If I didn't know better, I'd really think you have a relationship and you're just both keeping it."

Napahalakhak ako at umiling. "That won't happen."

She shrugged. "That's what most employees think, too. They just don't say it out loud."

"I know him-too much kaya hindi ko papatulan."

She grinned. "You never thought of being with him? That's bullshit."

"Technically, I'm with him for almost five years." To think of it, him and my work has always been my priority. Siguro, I was really set off to maintain my reputation about being his perfect secretary. Ma-pride ako, and I honor my word so patuloy lang ako nabuhay sa ganoon. Weird, cause I'm not complaining. Although, nakakapanghinayang lang kasi dun na umiikot ang buhay ko. Wala na ata akong social at personal life. Ganun lang lagi ang routine ko.

Sumingkit ang mga mata niya at tila may naisip. May lumitaw na ngisi sa labi niya. "Your world revolved around him for years, I say it's time to change that."

⇠ ❃ ⇢

"Cheers!" We shot the tequila we're holding. The music got even wilder.

Holy shiz. I can't believe I'm partying and about to get wasted. Honestly, nakakahilo yung dancing lights but I think the people here are used to it.

We're at a classy yet wild bar in New York. To quote Shani, maghanap daw kami ng boyfriend na afam, which I laughed at.

"I didn't know Filipinas could be this stunning," a British man said.