Euphoria: Dosage of Rhapsodies

Chapter 27

Agad kong itinulak palayo sa akin si Israel. Nanginginig ang mga palad ko na itinago 'yon sa likod ko. I don't even know why I'm quivering like this. Dahil siguro ito sa kape na ibinigay sa akin ni Julia kanina. Damn!

"Have you not been instructed to act as a professional towards your workmates?" As I came back to my composure, I asked him straightforwardly. "Hindi mo yata alam na ang office romance ay prohibited sa workplace. That's what written on the contract I signed."

For a second, he grinned. "Sigurado ka bang office romance ang tawag sa ginagawa natin? Or are you just assuming things like that?"

My jaw literally dropped. Ang kapal naman ng mukha niya para ipamukha sa akin na ako pa itong assumera? Pagkatapos ng ginawa niyang pang-aakit sa akin, lalo na 'yong huling sinabi niya kanina! Hindi ba office romance 'yon?!

"Forget the thing I said earlier. I'm just joking around."

I didn't waste my saliva to reply, instead I walked outside of his office. Lumabas muna ako at naghanap ng lugar kung saan makalalanghap ako ng sariwang hangin. That conversation I had with Israel really suffocated me. Kainis! Ibang-iba na talaga siya sa dati, e. Kung noon ay napagdaanan ko nang kainisan siya, may mas idodoble pa pala 'yon ngayon.

Naputol ang pag-ra-rant ko nang makatanggap ako ng tawag from Eli. I was wondering if how could he find some time to give me a call, e ang alam ko ay whole day ang practice niya ngayon.

"Why? Aren't you busy?"

[My schedule is forever free for my girlfriend.] I heard him chuckling on the other line. [I just called you to remind you that I'll set a dinner date for us later.]

"Ahh." A moment of silence enveloped us before I continued, "Uhm, I'm not sure if I'm able to arrive later. Mas lalo kasing nadagdagan 'yong trabaho ko no'ng hindi in-accept ni Israel 'yong proposal ko na sa resort n'yo ganapin 'yong wedding. I have to seek other places to contact before this day ends."

[Bakit naman siya hindi pumayag? Gusto mo bang ako na ang kumausap sa kanya?]

"No, no. He has a reason naman kung bakit niya ayaw pumayag. Resort nga naman 'yon ng artista, exactly not an ideal place for the wedding kasi overcrowded ang lugar. But don't worry, I can manage to accomplish my work."

[Are you sure you don't need my help? I have a lot of ways to convince him.]

"Just focus on your practice, Eli. That's what matters."

[Okay. Bye, I love you!]

"I love you." Before I ended the call.

Napasandal ako sa inuupuan kong bench habang pinagmamasdan ang paligid. Ang daming umiikot na bagay sa isip ko ngayon, hindi ko na tuloy alam kung alin sa mga umiikot na 'yon ang uunahin kong isipin. 

I think things have become more complicated since the day I became part of the wedding team. Hindi ako manhid para hindi maramdaman na nagiging pabigat lang ako sa trabaho nila. Because obviously, wala naman akong naitutulong at wala rin naman akong future sa career na ito. I just wish everything will end swiftly so, I can go back to the box where I came from. I'm so sick of socializing with people who don't have the same passion as mine.

"Overthinker ka pa rin, 'no?"

Suddenly, a guy came in and didn't hesitate to sit next to me.

"Mawawala lang siguro ito 'pag may nakapag-imbento na ng lunas." I chortled. "Why are you here, Harold?"

"Galing ako kay Israel. He called for some important matter."

"About the venue?"

He nodded. "Sinabi ko na rin sa kanya na hindi n'yo na kailangan pang humanap ng resort for the wedding venue. Napag-usapan na namin ni Celine na sa church na lang kami magpapakasal. Besides, 'yon din ang gusto ng parents namin."