Saving Harper

Holly

The day after, I had a solid 8 hours of sleep, but in a way I still feel like shit because of the kiss. A little. I really felt stupid kaya di ko kinayang mag trabaho sa area ko. I was now invading the board room kasi I won't be able to concentrate with work kung aaligid ng aaligid si Xavier. I was just partially working dahil most of the time I'm just going back into thinking about what happened and trying to convince myself at the same time not to think about it. Oh the irony of things I'm doing to myself.

In secret, nag baon ako ng soju sa tumbler ko (which took 3 bottles to fill it up to the brim) and I was already drinking it after my 10am meeting here. Kung wala lang ako meeting mamayang hapon baka umuwi nako para uminom pa. What am I turning into? Natawa nalang ako. Papagalitan kaya ako ng boss ko pag nalaman nya yung pinag gagagawa ko ngayon?

Actually, first time ko tong ginawa dito sa office and it's kind of exciting. Lasing na kaya ako by the time na mag meeting ulit ako ng 4pm? That would be a sight for the people here.

"Anong ginagawa mo dito?" Franco entered the boardroom.

"This room is taken. Pumunta ka sa ibang lugar." I said as I continued typing an email not looking at him.

"Harper, may meeting kami ng department ko. Go mope somewhere else." He took a seat across me.

"I'm not moping, I'm working." I said seriously.

I was kinda moping. Ano pang tawag mo sa umiiwas sa fake-boyfriend nya at nag baon pa ng alcohol sa opisina? Somehow I feel that only alcohol will make me get through the day. E paano kaya tomorrow? Or the day after that? After two weeks of this, alcoholic nako for sure.

"Sige wag kang gumalaw dyan, if you don't mind being in the same room with 15 rowdy graphic artists." He snickered. As he said that, his staff began filing in lahat nagdadaldalan. Including Xavier. I just saw him enter the room sa peripheral view ko as I typed the last sentence in my email.

"Hindi ka sasagutin non gago. Pustahan? Itsura mo palang sa itsura nya. Masyado syang maganda para sayo." One guy said arrogantly to Xavier, I think his name was Brian? Ako yata yung pinaguusapan nila.

"Bakit hindi mo sya tanungin?" Xavier confidently pointed at me. It looks like he was already saw me bago ko sya nakitang pumasok.

Nagulat yung Brian nung napansin nya na nandito pala ako. Natawa si Franco. "Gusto ko din yun malaman." Hirit nya. 

Tinaasan ko sya ng isang kilay. "Wag kang chismoso Franco."

Tumayo na ko para hayaan ko na sila mag meeting. "So maam, may pagasa ba si Arnaiz sayo?" Hirit ulit nung Brian as I was about to exit. Xavier just smiled knowingly, not taking his eyes off me waiting for what I was going to say.

Hindi ko alam kung dahil ba sa soju pero humirit ako. "Turuan nyo muna manligaw." Tumawa silang lahat kay Xavier ng pang asar then I was out of the room di ko na tinignan kung anong reaction dun ni Xavier.

I got a text message from him bago pa ko makalakad papunta sa area ko that made me smile.

📱Xavier Arnaiz: Wag mo kong hinahamon masyado. 😉

📱Me: Makinig ka dyan.

Lunch came and the food delivery was brought in by our receptionist.