I Saw You

Chapter 33: Not a Bad Thing

But I could be that guy to heal it over time
And I won't stop until you believe it
'Cause baby you're worth it

{ Not a Bad Thing | Justin Timberlake }

-

I was blankly staring at my laptop when someone knocked on the door of my office. Nilingon ko agad ang pintuan at nakitang pumasok si Volt doon. He greeted me with a smile. Umayos ako sa pagkakaupo at ngumiti rin ng tipid.

He is wearing a white long sleeves na nakatiklop hanggang siko, partnered with his usual black slacks and leather shoes. Ang silver na relong ibinigay ko sa kanya noong panahong kami pa ay suot niya. Bahagyang nag-tagal ang tingin ko doon bago muling inangat ang tingin sa kanya.

His dark black eyes look playful. Unang kita palang sa kanya, malalaman mo agad na buhay na buhay ang utak nito. He really haved changed.

"Here are the reports due today..." aniya sabay lapag ng isang itim na folder. "Naisend ko na din sa email mo ang soft copy."

Tumango ako. "Thank you, Volt."

Volt and I are now workmates. Ilang taon na din simula nang maging magkatrabaho kami. Months after his return, he pursued his course. Matalino at responsable ito kaya hindi na nakaka-gulat na nahabol niya ang mga naiwang subjects at naka-graduate agad, with Latin Honors pa. After his graduation, he immediately applied in our company. Dahil magaling naman itong si Volt ay dalian din siyang nakapasok. He is an asset of the company, marami nga ang gustong piratahin siya but he is eager on making a name here. He got promoted immediately after five months of his stay.

But before all that, he talked to me first. Pinlantsa muna namin ang gusot sa pagitan naming dalawa. He doesn't want to work without having a truce with me. Buwan nga din ang inabot bago ako tuluyang pumayag na makipagkita sa kanya at makipag-usap. What happened between us and his family is all in the past now. Napag-usapan na iyo't napagdesisyunang 'wag na ungkatin pa. I forgave him and his family for what they did. Although, it affected me so much and the people I love, I am glad that everything is fine now. And despite not following his mother's order, he chose to live on and stand up for himself and not for anybody else.

Humalukipkip siya at pinagmasdan ako ng may multo ng ngiti sa labi. "You look really stressed right now, Cash. Is there anything I can do to help?"

Stressed is an understatement. I have been recently promoted. And the pressure as the company's heiress is really weighing down on me more. Hindi ko pa ramdam iyon noong una ngunit dahil sa pagbabalak ni Dad na bumaba sa pwesto ay mas lumaki ang responsibilidad na bitbit ko. I have to attend every meeting, at hindi ako pupwedeng basta lamang na umaattend. I need to know every bit of detail with regards to the meeting kaya't ang dami kong kailangang basahing reports. 

I shook my head. "Mag-focus ka nalang sa iyong trabaho, Volt."

I know he is busy too. He is already one of the bosses now.

"I'm just worried, Cash. Ilang araw ka ng nagkukulong dito sa opisina. Hindi na kita nakikita na lumalabas kahit para kumuha lang kape. Hindi kagaya noon na nakakausap ka pa namin sa pantry. Namimiss ka na nina Trina dahil hindi ka nakakaraan doon. Do you even know I got promoted?"

Madalas nga'y dito na rin ako nagpapalipas ng gabi tutal ay mayroon naman akong bathroom dito at pamalit na damit. I could also easily ask my secretary to go buy me clothes if I need to. Madalas din ay nagpapadeliver nalang ako ng makakain.

"This will pass," I told him. The phrase I tell myself every day. Ngumuso siya. "Nangangayayat ka lalo sa ginagawa mo, Cash. Kumakain ka pa ba sa tamang oras?"