-
Complicated
-
"Can I join you for dinner, Sir? If you don't mind." Natigilan ako sandali sa pagliligpit ng mga papeles at lumingon sa babaeng nakatayo at pinapanuod ako.
Ramina Gutierrez. My newly hired assistant. Sa loob ng dalawang buwan niyang pagtatrabaho sa DVI ay wala akong mairereklamo sa kanya.
Una kaming nagkita sa anniversary party ng kompanya. She was introduced by her father who was Xandrei's business partner. Two weeks after that, nakapasok siya ng DVI bilang kapalit ng dati kong assistant. At first, she's civil. Pero kalaunan ay madalas ko na siyang nakakausap.
It wasn't hard to like her. She knew where she stands. A woman who has confidence and capable of being independent. She's easy to get along with and doesn't mix business into personal matters.
Hanggang sa namalayan ko na lang na palagay na ang loob ko sa kanya which I find very unusual. My former employees never dare to talk casual topics with me aside from their job. Ram was different.
Ngumiti ako sa kanya. A simple dinner wouldn't hurt. Hindi naman iyon ang unang pagkakataon na sasabay siya sa akin. Sometimes, we'll dine with some of my employees. Hindi naman ako malupit. Iyon lamang ang unang impression ng mga nagtatrabaho sa DVI at wala akong balak baguhin.
"I won't mind, Miss."
She smiled at me. Hindi ako mangmang. Hindi ako manhid. I could see her admiration towards me. Ngunit ayaw kong patulan. I can't offer her anything aside from employee-employer relationship. I could consider her as a friend and nothing more. I belong with someone else. Then and until now.
"I like you, you know. You're my type. Silent but deadly and domineering. You got me really curious." Sinabi niya 'yon sa akin dati ng pabiro. Birong ang dating sa akin ay totoo.
Umiling na lang ako at sinabayan ng mababaw na tawa. "I'm not the ideal type. Your taste sucks."
Naging mas malapit kami. Magkaibigan. Ngunit katulad ng gusto kong mangyari, hanggang do'n lamang. She reached the point of being vocal towards me. Ngunit madalas ay tinatawanan ko lamang iyon. I made it clear that I have no interest. Ipinagpasalamat ko na rin na hindi niya ipinilit.
"What's with you and your secretary?" Tanong ni Xandrei sa akin nang bumisita siya sa DVI.
"Nothing."
"Your answer is too cliche."
"We're just friends."
Natawa siya. "You sound like some playboy actor. We aren't on showbiz, brother. Tell me a fact."
Huminga ako ng malalim. "I'm telling you a fact. Huwag mo akong kulitin. Kailan ka ba babalik at nang makapagbakasyon naman ako?"
"Changing topics, huh? Why? Nahihirapan ka bang pamahalaan ang kompanya natin? I doubt it."
Of course, being a CEO isn't a piece of cake. Ngunit dahil nagagamay ko na ang pasikot-sikot sa negosyo ay wala halos kaming nagiging problema. Napapansin kong napapadalas ang pag-t-take over ko kaysa sa pamamahala ni Xandrei. Hindi ko naman magawang magreklamo. Not that I didn't want to be in this position. Naisip ko lang na mas karapat-dapat siya rito.
"I'm a family man, Gelo. Ikaw ang single sa atin kaya mas marami kang oras para magtrabaho."
"I'm studying. Don't you want to give me a little consideration?" Matabang kong tanong.
"Hey, naranasan ko rin naman 'yan. I was fifteen when I had my first job and I started at the bottom. Malupit si Papa. Mas maswerte ka pa sa akin." Nakangisi niyang tugon. "Malapit na ang graduation mo. May gusto ka bang gawin? Perhaps plan a party. Xandra will be delighted."
