Chapter Thirteen.
“I Knew It”
“That would be all, thank you.” Nagsitayuan ang mga miyembro ng board at nagpaalam sa isa’t-isa bago lumabas ng board room. Naiwan naman akong mag-isa habang nakatingin lang sa kawalan, nag-iisip ng kung ano-ano. I’ve been finding it hard to focus these past few days. Buti na lang at andyan si Claire para ipaalala lahat ng mga kailangan ko pang gawin.
I’m not usually this disoriented. I was brought up by my father in ways, where before anything else, I know what I’m supposed to do, to be where I want to be in my life. I am always goal-oriented. I want things lined up for me because I’d rather not make reckless decisions I will regret someday.
Pero bakit ganito ako ngayon?
Maybe because of the kiss we’ve shared just a few days ago. That bothered me. And it bothered me that it bothered me.
I’m supposed to be working my ass off right now instead of wondering about some kiss. Bakit ba pagdating sa kanya, nagiging big deal ang lahat?
Napapikit ako ng mariin bago bumuntong hininga. Maya-maya ay pumasok si Claire sa board room. She offered me a smile, “Sir Chance, good morning po.”
“Yeah,” I nodded, absent-mindedly. Ngumiti ulit siya, “May problema po ba Sir?”
Napanguso ako. In times like this, wala akong mapagsabihan ng kahit ano. I can’t tell my family or friends that I am bothered about a girl dahil paniguradong aasarin lang nila ako kaya mas lalong sasama ang mood ko. Hindi ko naman pwedeng kausapin si Eleanor dahil siya nga itong nagdala sakin sa ganitong sitwasyon. And because I can’t tell anyone about my little childish problem, mas lalo ko lang naaalala na mag-isa pa rin ako. Hanggang ngayon.
How sad.
And tragic.
Binalingan ko si Claire. Siya lang naman ang madalas kong kasama. Even if I am temperamental and moody (according to the great Eleanor Gonzales), wala naman siguro siyang magagawa kundi tiisin lahat ng yun. After all, I’m her boss and she should follow my orders.
“It’s nothing, Claire. I think I can handle it.” I chose not to share it with her. Nakakahiya pa din naman. A guy sharing his crap of a problem to a girl―her secretary, even? That’s gay bullsht!
Tumango na lang siya pero hindi naalis ang tingin niya sakin. And I know that look. She’s trying to keep herself from laughing.
“Ano nga pala ang kailangan mo?” Napatayo siya ng tuwid na parang may naalala.
“Oh right, Sir. Nasa office niyo nga po pala ang kapatid niyo, si Ma’am Fier. Hinahanap po kayo.” She stated. I heaved a sigh. Tumayo na ako then I ran a hand through my hair bago bumalik sa office ko. Sinundan lang ako ni Claire.
Pagkapasok ko ng office, nakita kong nakaupo na si Fier doon in her usual self which screams ‘elegant’. Nakabagsak lang ang buhok niya. Napatingin siya sa akin nang marinig ang pagpasok ko bago ako taasan ng kilay.
BINABASA MO ANG
No Strings Attached
General Fiction[For my beloved Chance Lucas Sandoval] Chance Lucas Sandoval meets Eleanor Kai Gonzales in the most unlikely place, and you can guess that the most unlikely thing happens. He agrees to date other women, as Eleanor has stated, to help him move on wit...
