That late Sunset in 2017

02 | unseen connections

2017 ¦ 10:23 PST
Pasig City

What's up with this Brain Chip Interface now? It shifts my mood from focusing on Charmy's outfit to staring at the empty office chair in front of me. I recall the moments when Uncle Speed and great grandma were right here, seemingly just a few moments ago. I'm lost in thought, perhaps catching their eyes with my vacant stare.

"Are you okay, Sir?" Charmy asks, her suspicion warranted. She looks at me with concern, my gaze locked on the empty chair. For all I know, Great Grandma is still sitting there.

"Ano Ken? Tulala ka na naman? Kanina ka pa ha?" Madame Rhona's irritation is palpable as she approaches and takes a seat between us. "Nangingilid pa luha mo d'yan. 'Wag kang iiyak ha at sasapakin kita d'yan."

Tang ina mo, madame. Sinisira mo pa ang moment ko.

I activate my BCI and engage my mind to regain composure. I swallow my tears, realizing that the 3-in-1 brown coffee I'm sipping is still warm. I take moderate sips, the warmth soothing my nerves.

"Oh ano na, Ken? Buhay pa ba?" She persists. I respond with an appeasing tone. "I'm just tired, sorry na. Marami akong nagawang laptop kagabi eh. Hinayaan kasi ako nina Jomari i-setup 'yon lahat."

"Ay, kaya pala ha? Sinasabi ko na nga ba. Loko-loko talaga 'yang mga kaibigan mo." She impatiently stands up, shaking my office chair. "Bakit hindi ka magpatulong sa mga 'yan? Praning ka! 36 na laptop 'yon, Ken. Nagpapauto ka na naman eh!"

I maintain, "That's basic! It takes me only four hours. Ni pag-format nga ng Windows 7 sa isang laptop eh inaabot na sila ng limang oras. Abunado pa ako ng pag-aantay sa dalawa. Bakit ko pa iaasa sa mga islogo na 'yon? "

That word means slow. This stifles Charmy a gentle giggle upon hearing the term. I turn to her. "Oh! You're here pala. So happy to meet you again."

"Sus! Kunwari ka pa. Suplado ka nga pabigla-bigla." Madame Rhona nudges my arm. She glances back at Charmy. "Oh ayan, he's happy to see you again daw. Pasensya na sa bata ko ha? Medyo mato-tokhang na mamaya."

Charmy chuckles, "Ah wala 'yon, madame. By the way, ahm it's been a week na din. Good morning po, Sir!" She greets me with a wave. Aguy! That promiscuous stare caught me off guard. I poke her back. "Well good morning too, Ms. Charmy! How's your first day? Does she frighten you here?"

She grins, still locking eyes with me. "I'm fine with Madame Rhona, unlike you, Sir. She's such a kind person to work with." Sucks! Unlike me? Maybe the incident I caused earlier still lingers in her memory.

My brain chips analyze our conversation—it's just 'plastikan,' superficial niceties. It takes me back to the day when I dissed her at Ciudad de Victoria, Bulacan.

"The fact na habang umaandar ang sasakyan, you escaped and ran onto the three idols. You forced them to sign your notebook by kneeling in the pedestrian lane and stopping their legs. Do you have a right or privilege to invade their private space? ANO KA, SASAENG FAN? WALA KA SA HULOG, BATA!"

I cringe at that memory! She had to perform her part-time sideline for madame's food stall, but she chose stupidity. She admits that fault, yet why does her cuteness still make me feel guilty sitting next to her?

"What department are you from?" I divert with another interrogation. She zips her beaming smile into a cold one and recalls, "I'm from madame's department, preferably Executive. I was the receptionist earlier in the lobby, Sir, if you noticed it."

"Eum! Want to join us here for a coffee? Almusal? Saluhan mo kami dito." She disagrees to my entreating request by unzipping back her mild smile. "Ahm no thanks Sir. I have to go, excuse me."