Surfiet Affection

Chapter 14

"Micaaa!"

Dali dali namang pumasok ang secretary ko sa aking opisina. I have to make sure if that man is really working here.

"Yes, architect?" Sabi ni Mica pagkapasok niya.

"Hmmn! W-who is the head of engineering department?" I asked. I don't know how to react if she will answer that it's Cush or not. Pag hindi sasapakin ko talaga si Max. Pero pag oo? Di ko na alam kung anong gagawin ko. Alangan naman sisantehin ko siya? No, it's very unprofessional.

"Aah! Si Eng. Monterola po" she smiled while answering. Why the hell is she smiling?  Maybe it's not really Cush. I mean there's a lot of Monterola in engineering.

"First name?" I asked assuring if my thoughts are right.

"Pharoah Cush po" she said, still smiling. Habang ako ay ninakawan ng hininga. So totoo nga? Oh my goddddd.

"Bakit siya?" wala sa sariling sabi ko.

"Po?" she asked, shocked of what I said.

I told Mica that it's nothing and she can go back to work. While me, still thinking about Cush that he is working here. Here! In our company.
After our lunch I went to the  board room for the meeting. This is my first meeting since I started working here last Monday.

I roamed my eyes around, looking for Cush. Not because I want to see him but his the head of engineering, of course he should be here ! Though I want to him too, a little.

I seated in my assigned  chair and played with my pen while waiting for the others. Well, I'm just a little bit early since it's my first meeting. Until the room is slowly filled with the board members. I greet them and so they are.

I was shaking my hands to Mr. Salvador when my eyes suddenly drifted to the man behind him. Wearing a white dress shirt with two buttons open to revil his chest a bit. His wearing a designers watch. His holding a pen on his hand and that's why I saw his veins. Nag-angat ako ng tingin sa kanya dahilan para magtagpo ang aming mga mata. Bakas sa kanyang mala kapeng mata ang pagkagulat pero agad 'ding nakabawi at nag-iwas ng tingin sa'kin.

Abah! Dapat lang na ikaw ang ma-awkward noh!

Nakaupo na ang lahat, at lahat iyon ay nabati ko na maliban sa isa. Si Cush. Nakatingin sa'kin ang ibang board at mukhang hinihintay na batiin ko din ang head ng engineering. Put yourself together, Samm! Ngumiti ako sa kanya at inilahad ang kamay para batiin siya.

"Good afternoon Eng. Monterola." I said, waiting for him to accept my hand.

"Likewise, Arch. Jison."  he said in very formal tone.

I don't know what to feel. I don't understand what I feel to be exact. Am I nervous? Disappointed that he really works here? Nagsisi ba ako kung bakit mas piniling kong wag makarinig ng kahit ano tungkol sa kanya. Am I happy? I don't know!

Napatayo kaming lahat ng pumasok ang isang babae at kasunod nito ay ang CEO ng kompanya. Miss Beth, my father's secretary gave me a small smile and so I did. My father gestured his hand for us to be seated. Nailang pa ako ng umupo siya sa harap ko. Nananadya ba siya o ano!?  Nagsimula ang meeting tungkol sa mga project ng kompanya. Bagong village sa Cavite which my current project. Isang mall sa probinsya na ang company namin ang gagawa. We also talked about the cost for it's construction, the materials to be use and the number of people we may need.

"Eng. Monterola? In estimation, about how many years the village in Cavite will be finish?" biglang tanong ng CEO, si Dad.

"About 4 years sir, but if we have a lot of workers, we can finish it before the estimated years." pormal na sagot naman ni Cush. I was just listening to thier conversation but definitely not looking to Cush, which is seated adjacent to my seat. Mukhang wala na nga akong magagawa tungkol sa pagtatrabaho niya dito lalo pa't nandito na nga talaga siya bago pa ako umuwi galing New York.

Ilang sandali pa ay binigyan kami ni Miss Beth ng mga snacks namin. Sandaling itinigil ang meeting kaya 'yong iba ay may kani-kanila ng mundo at nag usap-usap. Nanatili lang ako sa upuan ko at nagbibilang ng tupa kung kailan matatapos ang break namin. Si Cush naman ay may kausap na, kasamang engineer siguro.

Uminom ako ng tubig mula sa bottled water at ibinaba iyon. Hindi ko alam kong ano pa ang gagawin ko para malibang ang aking sarili. Binuksan ko nalang ulit ang folder na nasa harap ko kahit pa nabasa ko na 'yon kanina. Kailangan ko lang talaga I divert ang sarili ko sa ibang bagay para pigilan ang sarili na tingnan si Cush. It was so awkward to be with the man you almost married! It's so fuckin' awkward as hell. Ni hindi ko siya matingnan bilang kasamahan sa trabaho. Alam kong kailangan kong isantabi ang personal na bagay ngunit Kay hirap gawin. Di naman kasi ganoon kadali 'yon.

Kinuha ko ang phone ko sa bag ng magvibrate iyon dahil sa tawag. Di pa naman tapos ang break kaya sinagot ko iyon at tumayo para makalayo ng kaunti sa iba.

" Yes, baby?" malambing kong sabi. The person on the other line giggled when he heard my voice. Ahww! I missed him so much.

" I missed you. When are you coming back?" he asked. May bahid iyong pangungulila. Namiss ko din naman siya kaya lang may trabaho ako dito sa Pinas. Inaasahan ako ni Dad at Mom.

"Baby, I just left. But we can FaceTime whenever I'm free, okay?" I said in a very sweet voice.

"Excuse me Arch. Jison" napaigtad ako ng marinig ko ang baritonong boses na 'yon. I turned around and he was there standing in front of me, holding a tumbler. I just realized that I was there near the water dispenser. Bat naman siya kukuha ng tubig doon e, binigyan naman kami ng bottled water. Tinanaw ko ang mesa kung saan siya nakaupo at tama nga ako di niya ininom 'yong tubig niya. Nagpapansin ba siya? Well, I don't care.

"Oh sorry" tumabi ako at binigyan siya ng espasyo. Naalala ko may kausap pala ako sa phone. "Baby, I'll call back later,okay? I have to go. I love you" usal ko at tuluyan ng umalis doon at bumalik sa upuan ko. Nang bumaling ako kay Cush ay tapos na siyang kumuha ng tubig at diretso na ang tingin sakin. Naka kunot ang noo at mukhang pinagsakluban ng langit at lupa. Kung makatingin sa'kin parang may ginawa akong masama sa kanya.  Na parang nagkasala ako sa kanya. Abah! Siraulo talaga. Inirapan ko siya at sakto namang balik na kami sa meeting.