The Waiting Game

32.

            Tell me what's inside of your head. No matter what you say I won't love you less, and I'd be lying if I said that I do. —Shawn Mendes, Like to Be You (2018)

            INILAPAG ni Exequiel sa kanyang lamesa ang papeles na binabasa niya at tinanggal ang suot-suot niyang eyeglass nang pumasok si Misty sa kanyang opisina at bitbit-bitbit nito ang progress report na kailangan niyang tingnan.

            "Boss, ito na 'yung pinrepare nilang progress report from last week na pinaayos mo ulit," sabi ni Misty bago i-abot sa kanya iyon. "Tapos pala Boss, maitanong ko lang ha, may sakit ba si Miss Blaire?"

            "Why'd you ask?" tanong ni Exequiel habang tinitingnan ang laman ng progress report.

            "Ang lamya-lamya niya kasing tingnan at mukhang pagod na pagod din," sagot ni Misty.

            "She's not ill," sagot ni Exequiel. "She's just tired from work," dagdag niya bago i-abot kay Misty pabalik ang progress report. "Tell them to fix it again at hindi ko sila binabayaran to give me that kind of crap. They're supposed to give me this week's progress report two days from now and they still can't fix that damn progress report from last week."

            "Sure, Boss," sagot ni Misty.

            "Are Blaire and Lara still not back from the café across?" tanong ni Exequiel.

            "Dumating na po, Boss, kaso si Lara kinukulit na naman 'yung receptionist," natatawang kuwento ni Misty.

            "That little girl is really getting naughtier and naughtier every day, and it's going to be harder since Blaire's leaving," sagot ni Exequiel bago abutin ang telepono.

            "Po? Aalis si Miss Blaire?" tanong ni Misty.

            "She's flying to Paris to rest," simpleng sagot ni Exequiel. "Misty, do your job before I lose my patience with these people," malamig niyang utos before calling the receptionist.

            "A-Ay, oo nga pala, Boss," sagot ni Misty at nagmadaling lumabas ng kanyang opisina.

            Agad namang sumagot ang tinawagan niya sa kabilang linya. "Yes, Boss?" sagot ng nasa kabilang linya.

            "Tell my daughter to stop pestering you so that you can do your job," maawtoridad na utos ni Exequiel at narinig naman niya sa kabilang linyang sinabi ng receptionist sa anak niyang hinahanap na niya ito.

            At narinig din niya ang pagprotesta nito na gusto pa nitong manatili roon. Tsk, namana pagiging friendly ni Devan, isip ni Exequiel.

            "Give Blaire the phone," utos ni Exequiel sa receptionist.

            "Ma'am, phone po," rinig ni Exequiel na sabi ng receptionist kay Blaire.

            "We'll be back in a sec. Kung kinakailangang kaladkarin ko 'to, gagawin ko," natatawang sabi ni Blaire sa kanya and just like that, Exequiel laughed as well. His scary and bossy aura disappeared because of Blaire; because of a woman.

            "Thank you, Wife," sagot ni Exequiel pagkatapos niyang tumawa.

            "No need to thank me. Sige na. We'll be there," sagot ni Blaire at binaba na nito ang tawag.

            True to Blaire's words, ilang minuto lang ay nakarating na ang mga ito sa kanyang opisina. "Sweetie, I told you to stop bothering my employees while they're working," nakakunot ang noong saway ni Exequiel sa kanyang anak.