STRANGER

9 - Magandang Dilag

Deanna.

I'm really having fun right now. There was no plan to go out tonight but Valerie was smart enough to tell me that it is Jessica's birthday. She insisted that I go with her to unwind and relax na din.

Buti na lang at pumayag ako sa kakukulit nya sakin na sumama dito. May pakinabang din naman paminsan minsan itong assistant ko.

Ex assistant na pala dahil malapit na syang palitan ni Jessica, haha.

My phone keeps on blinking, it is Cassandra again. Haist, hindi pa rin talaga sumusuko ang isang ito. She's been calling me non stop kanina pa. She is inviting me to her friend's party but I declined. Iniiwasan ko nga sya.

After ng auction night, she constantly called and invites me to join her sa mga activities nya. May out of town shooting kasi sya sa Subic at isinasama nya ako dahil alam nyang gustong gusto ko na mag beach.

Even if the offer was tempting, I said no. Ayoko uling mapagkamalan na ka-date nya doon besides I don't like mingling with showbiz people. Masyadong mga plastic.

At siguradong madami na namang paparazzi nakatambay para kumuha ng mga pictures at sumagap ng tsismis. People will talk agad pag nakita nila akong kasama ni Cassandra which doesn't bother me honestly.

Sanay na akong masabit kung kani kanino ang pangalan ko. Kaso makukulit ang mga taga media, baka hingan pa ako ng interview, huwag na.

"Boss, may lakad ba kayo tonight?" Valerie asked when she came in to my office earlier.

I checked the time, almost 7 o'clock na pala. Gusto na sigurong mag Friday out nitong isa.

"Wala naman. I plan to stay in, watch movie or maybe read a book plus a glass of wine." I replied as I took my glasses off.

Wow, planado na agad boss D ah.

I closed my eyes muna bago kinusot kusot ang mga mata. Napagod na sa katitingin sa screen.

"Ano ba namang klaseng Friday night yan boss?" she asked sabay upo sa harapan ko.

"May problema ba tayo kung wala akong lakad?" balik tanong ko sa kanya.

"Weekend na bukas kaya pwede na kayong mag relax. Wala naman na kayong appointment dahil nag cancel na si Mr. Tan." sabi nya.

Nag isip ako, hmmmn. Oo nga, bakante ang Sabado ko for the first time. Pwede pala akong magpuyat ngayon. Pero saan naman kaya ako pupunta?

"Boss?" Val interrupted me.

"Where would I go? I already turned down Cassandra's invite. I don't want to call my other friends naman. Baka may mga sariling lakad na sila. It's not in my nature to gatecrash." I replied.

"Sama ka sa akin boss. Nag ayos ako ng files today at nakita ko sa resume ni Jessica na birthday nya pala tomorrow." she said.

"Really? Wow. Ang bilis ah." wala sa loob na sabi ko.

When Val mentioned that it was Jessica's birthday, naalala ko yung first encounter namin last year. Isang taon na nga ito.

"Ang alin po ang mabilis boss?" nagtatakang tanong nya.

"Ah wala. Did she invite you?" agad na sabi ko.

Hindi naman kasi alam ni Val na birthday ni Jessica when we first met.

"Nope. I called her earlier para batiin ko na sya in advance. Last day nya ngayon sa work tapos may despidida party pala sya tonight kasama mga office mates nya at mga kapatid sa resto bar malapit lang dito." sagot nya.