Life Series #1: Onto Better Things

Chapter 7

It's Friday now and I'm still confused with what happened at the elevator. Just what did Mark mean that I'm doing 'things' to him? I tried asking him about what he said at that time but the elevator door opened at our floor at agad naman siyang lumabas doon. He then locked himself in his office.

A few days have passed but it seems that he was avoiding me. He didn't seek another one on one conversation with me and whenever I tried to get him to myself palagi nalang na may tao sa office. Kaya hinayaan ko nalang. Kahit naman siguro magkaharap kami hindi ko din alam ano ang sasabihin. Baka bigyan pa ni Mark ng ibang meaning. Baka akalain niya na interesado ako sa kanya kapag nagtanong ako.

What changed was the fact that Brian and I actually became friends. After that incident in the cafeteria kung saan hinatak ako ni Mark palayo sa kanya, he seeked me out sa office namin dala-dala ang budget proposal na signed na ng boss niya. I apologized for what happened and he said na naintindihan naman niya si Mark. He even said that Mark is just jealous which is bullshit.

"Sasama ka sa team building bukas?" Brian asked me while eating the ice cream he was holding.

Nasa convenience store kami sa baba ng office for a little break.

"Oo naman. Bantayan 'yun tapos for free pa," I answered as I remembered the announcement the office made yesterday. Annual team building ng office since it was a long weekend and it will be held in Cebu.

"Pass ako eh. OT kami sa accounting kasi andami ng back logs," Brian said still eating his ice cream.

"Seryoso ba? So buong dept niyo hindi kasama?"

Brian nodded just when my phone vibrated to indicate that I received a message. I looked at it and it was Aya looking for me. Kailangan daw ako sa office.

"Mauuna na ako, Bri. Hinahanap na ako."

When I arrived at the office natataranta na si Aya.

"Tin! Tin, please help me!"

"Anong problema mo?" I almost laughed at her panicking face. Parang iiyak na siya.

"Kasi I need this signed by Sir Lawrence," she held up a few folders. "Deadline in 15 minutes."

"Oh tapos?"

"Bad mood siya, Tin. When I tried to get this signed tinignan lang ako ng masama."

"And?" Still not getting why kailangan niya ako. Ano ba ang magagawa ko sa bad mood ni Mark?

"Alam mo ikaw Summa Cum Laude ka ba talaga ha? Bakit ba ang slow mo?"

Nang-insulto pa talaga.

"Gaga ka kasi! Sabihin mo ng diretso!"

"Ikaw magpa-sign please!" Pagmamaka-awa ni Aya sa akin.

"Hala! Ayoko! Baka ako mapagalitan 'nun," kaagad na tanggi ko. Ako pala ang gagawing shield eh.

"Tin, maawa ka please. Kailangan na talaga 'to ngayong araw. Maglo-long weekend, Tin. Please naman maawa ka sa friend mo. Mapapagalitan ako ni Sir Ryan," she said pertaining to the head of the Auditing Department.

"Bakit ba kasi ako?" I asked irritated. Kung kailan pa hindi kami nag-uusap ni Mark.

"Sa'yo lang naman tiklop si Sir Lawrence eh," Aya said with her hands clasped together. Kulang nalang luluhod 'to.

I sighed and took the folders she was holding.

"Yes! Yes, you're the best. Sana masarap tulog mo mamaya. Sana masarap ulam mo palagi."