A Far-fetched Love ✓

AFL 39 ✓

"Good morning, Mon-mon ko!" bati ng gaga kong best friend pagbaba ko mula sa kwarto. Bumalik na kasi ito sa bahay matapos magalsa-balutan no'ng nakaraan dahil sa inis kay Kael.

She was wearing an apron, and a hand fitting potholder on her right hand. Beside her was Kael, who was smiling from ear to ear as he fry scrambled eggs. 

Agad naman akong napangiti. Whatever they talked about a few nights ago, which I didn't bother to ask because I really am a fan of conversation privacy, prolly caused the cool and good treatment they're having for each other now. 

"Good morning," Kael greeted, winking at me, as he placed the platter of fried eggs on the table. 

"Good morning, Mon," I heard someone greet me from behind. 

I didn't bother to turn around, nor to greet back. It was Cholo after all. And there's nothing good in the morning if it's his face that I'd see. Ewan ko nga ba't nandito 'to nang ganito kaaga. Nakakasira ng araw. 

"Kain na tayo," sabi ko na lang bago naupo. 

Agad din naman silang nagsipag upo. Si Kael sa tabi ko at 'yong dalawa sa harapan namin. 

We were about to grab our bite when Kael's phone suddenly rang. He turned to look at me then to Cholo and Kai to excuse himself for a while so he could take the call. 

He went outside, prolly to get a better signal since the corners of my home wouldn't lend him one. 

Took him several minutes before he came back, smiling triumphantly. 

"T'was Melo," he told me even without me asking who it was. 

Tumango lang ako bago nagsimulang kumain ulit.

"Can we talk after breakfast?" he whispered, nudging me on my arm.

Though a little curious why he was asking me for a talk, I just gave him a thin smile as a yes. I'd know later anyway, so why blow him with a question of what's it about?

After eating, Cholo volunteered to wash the dishes. At syempre, dahil daig pa ng best friend ko ang pagiging higad sa jowa nito, nagsumiksik ito sa lababo para lang tulungan si Cholo. 

Kami naman ni Kael, lumabas ng bahay para mag-usap. 

"Melo called earlier," panimula niya. 

"Sabi mo nga—"

"He asked if you're still up for a position in the HR Department, 'cause he's laying off....useless employees...that's what he told me," he laughingly said. 

Sa hitsura pa lang ng best friend niya, halata nang makakapagsalita ng mga gano'n sa mga empleyado kaya hindi na 'ko nagulat sa 'useless'. 

Napabuntong-hininga ako. Hindi ko kasi talaga alam kung bibitawan ko ba 'yong trabaho ko ngayon. Although there was a part in me that wants to, and there was also a part that I don't want to. I prefer Industrial setting over Educational, yes. But I was not up for the workfield adjustment if ever I'd say yes to Kael.

"Hindi ko pa alam, Kael. Kasi—"

"HR Head. That's the function he's offering to you," he said, which caused my mouth to gape open due to amusement. "I gave him a copy of your Curriculum Vitae. Told him you're taking up your masters in Clinical Psychology. And he's more than willing to hire you. Tho a little off your board, 'cause you want to run on your degree's Clinical field, but it's a great offer, isn't it?"

It really was a great offer. So great that I didn't hesitate to give it a shot and I just found myself grabbing a bite with Melo over lunch. No matter how much Kael wanted to accompany me, he couldn't, for he has prior appointments concerning their family business. Kaya mag-isa lang ako. Actually, tatlo kami. Ako, si Melo at si Sirach, his secretary.