Stonehearts 7: Ruby

Twelve

With the sudden shift of the things in my career, I got really busy. It helped that I'm working under someone I know, it made me feel at ease, not anxious whether I'm doing my job right or not.

The only thing I hated about it is that I had less and less time for Bryce. Ilang beses niya kasi akong inaya lumabas for lunch pero hindi na kaya, malayo kasi sa opisina ko ang bago kong deployment. Kapag sinasabi ko naman na magkita kami ng gabi, laging hindi siya pwede kasi ang oras dawn a 'yon at para kay Aya.

I felt cheap whenever he tells me that. Para akong kabit na nakikihati sa atensyon at oras niya. Pero wala ako sa tamang luga para magreklamo, dahil ginugusto ko naman lahat ng ito.

"Arcie, pwede ikaw na lang magtanong kay Sir Sage kung paano ang gusto niya rito? Naka-leave raw kasi ang head ng IT department niya, wala namang may alam na iba. Ang advice sa'kin d'on, si Sir Sage na lang daw ang kausapin."

Napahinto ako sa pagbabasa ng emails at nagtaas ng tingin sa ka-team ko. It's already no secret that Sage and I go way back. Hindi ako ang nagsabi pero si Sage mismo. I got no violent reaction, contrary to what I've been thinking. Sinabi pa ng ani Sir Ray na maganda nga raw dahil ibig sabihin may advantage kami sa pag-handle ng account nila.

Sage treats me differently compared to his other employees. Pansin ko 'yon at pansin ng lahat 'yon. He's usually pissed about everything, yells a lot, and pretty much glowers at everybody, except me. When I told him that he should put me in the same category with the others, he just laughed at my face and told me, "I can't do that to my baby sister."

Which explains why everyone thinks of me whenever shit starts to hit the fan around this place. Or kapag may kailangan silang tanungin kay Sage, sa'kin sila lumalapit. You can call me the modern Mercury, the messenger of Sage.

"Okay sige. Tapusin ko lang 'to." tugon ko saka ko sinabi na i-send niya na lang sa'kin 'yong mga tanong niya.

I was skimming my emails, targeting the most important when my phone vibrated. I mindlessly took it and swiped to read. I almost dropped my phone when I saw Bryce's name there.

Bryce: Rubs, can we meet at six pm today? Aya's going to go to a party with her boss and I need to keep myself busy just so I won't think much about it.

My hands shook upon reading it. The rational part of me wanted to turn him down. Pakiramdam ko para akong pampalipas oras, a distraction from the real thing.

But the stupid side of me battled, if I don't grab this one. Ano lang ang mayroon kami? Ito lang naman talaga ang kaya niyang ibigay sa'kin.

Me: Sure. Saan tayo mamaya?

Bryce: Baskin-Robbins na lang.

Anywhere with you is far more than okay.

Me: Sure, just tell me which branch and I'll see you there.

Hinintay ko munang i-text niya sa'kin kung saan bago ako tumayo at magpunta kay Sage.

I stepped inside his office once his secretary announced me in, "What's up?" he asked without looking at me.

"May questions daw kasi 'yong kasama ko tungkol sa isang memo. Wala raw kasi IT Head mo kaya sa'yo na lang ako magtatanong."

"Wala bang bibig mga kasama mo? Bakit ikaw na lang laging nagpupunta sa'kin?"

Bahagya akong natawa saka inokupa ang upuan sa harap ng mesa niya. "Ang sungit-sungit mo kaya. Malamang lahat sila takot sa'yo."

He stopped working on his laptop to glare at me. But I stuck my tongue out which made him chuckle. "Una, maarte ako. Ngayon masungit naman? Ano pa ba ang mga pwede mong sabihin sa'kin?"