Nobela ni Oxy G

✤ Hindi ako nakatulog. Hindi dahil excited akong maging asawa ni Damian Villareal. Gusto ko lang linawin 'yon. Nakahiga ako sa kama at nakatitig sa kisame ng studio condo ko sa The Linear Makati. Yung kisame ko nga pala ay may maliit na bitak sa bandang kaliwa na apat na buwan ko nang sinasabing ipapaayos ko. Pero, ayun, hanggang ngayon nagtititigan pa rin kami. Hindi naman major kaya hinayaan ko na lang. Well, priorities. It is now 2:43 A.M. Sa bintana ko, kita ko ang ilaw ng maraming opisina sa Makati CBD. Dati, pinapangarap ko lang makita ang ganitong city lights view. Maganda sa mata, totoo. Pero ang hindi nakikita mula rito ay kung ilang tao pa rin ang gising sa likod ng mga ilaw na iyon. Ilang empleyado ang humahabol sa deadline. Ilang executive ang hindi pa umuuwi. Corporate hub talaga ang Makati. Napatingin ako sa bedside table ko, nakapatong ang itim na folder na responsable sa insomnia ko. Katabi nito ang planner kong nakabukas sa monthly budget page. My

◇◇◇◇“Ara…” “Sleep ka na, bossing.” I kissed the back of his palm slowly to let him know I am still there.His eyes never opened. His hand opened and closed once before finally settling against Teresa's.When the door closed behind them, the office felt strangely quiet.No baby babbling. No sippy cup. No tiny criminal attacking my ID.Just Damian.Me.And the contract.I sat down.The black folder suddenly looked different. Same pages. Same clauses. Same fifty million.But now there was a face behind page seven.I reached for the pen.“Fine.”Damian's eyes narrowed slightly.“Fine?”“Huwag kang excited.”I turned the pen slowly between my fingers.“Hindi pa ako pumapayag.”“I didn't say you were.”“Good.”I pulled the contract closer.“Let's pretend for five minutes na hindi completely insane ang proposal.”Damian returned to his chair.His posture changed almost immediately.Back straight. Attention on me. Yep, CEO mode na uli.“Go on.”“Conditions.”“You haven't agreed.”I placed th

05: Trust-based hiring?!◇◇◇◇With all my interactions with Luki, Ara lang talaga ang tawag niya sa akin. I am used to it. Of course, I like it that he likes me as well. “Ano'ng sinabi mo?” He pointed urgently toward the cup. “Ma!” I glanced at Damian. Then Luki. Then the coffee. “Hindi ako sure kung tinawag mo akong Mama o gusto mo lang magkape, pero parehong no.” Then, his ower lip came out. "Aba, kailan ka pa natutong magpacute?" Puna ko pero mas lalong ngumuso ang bata. “Luki, alam kong cute ka na. At mas may iku-cute ka pa pala. Okay, information overload." Those already-round cheeks puffed slightly. His dark eyes started becoming suspiciously teary. I looked at Damian. “Your nephew is threatening litigation, sir” "He wants your coffee.” “I know! But nope, a big no, Luki.” Damian folded his arms. “You're negotiating with a one-year-old.” “I am establishing boundaries.” “He's one.” “Never too early, Sir.” Luki reached for it again. “Ah!" I moved the coff

04: Seryoso, kailan ako nagkaroon ng role expansion?!◇◇◇◇ I cleared my throat and looked down.“Hindi ko pa rin naiintindihan kung bakit ako.”“Lucas knows you.”“Hindi dahilan iyon.”“He trusts you."I looked at him. “Baby siya.”“And?”“Kinagat niya ang sapatos mo nung Saturday.”“He's teething.”“Exactly. Trustworthy witness.” For a second, may amusement na lumitaw sa mukha niya.Not a smile.Pero close.Ha. One point, Castillo.Nanalo man ako sa bangayan na iyon, pero hindi ko pa rin magawang makumbinsi ang sarili ko. I started tapping my hands lightly on my lap.Thinking."Sir... Really... How sure are you?" I asked as I adjusted the folder on my lap. Mababakas ang pag-aalangan sa boses.His brows pulled together. Bago pa man siya makapagsalita, tumikhim ako at dinugtungan ang tanong ko."How sure are you about me? Sa dami ng options, sir, sa dami ng ibang tao." I gestured vaguely between us."We work together, sir. You are busy." I pointed myself. "And because I work for you

03: What is this about?!◇◇◇◇"Sir, before we continue this banter, would like to remind you of your 9 am Singapore meeting."Automatic na sabi ko nang makita ko ang reminder sa watch ko.Nakita ko siyang kinuha ang tablet niya, ilang sandaling nag-scroll. I just let him. Boss, doing the CEO things.Habang ako, sinusubukang bigyan ng sense ang mga nangyayari."Their deal is good. We have to fly to Singapore one of these days, please block it in my calendar, Elara." Maayos na paalala ni Damian.Yep. That's how he is most of the time. Isa iyon sa ilang buwan na siyang nakikipag-negotiate. I guess, nakuha na niya ngayon ang gusto niya."Ight, blocking it now." Simpleng sagot ko na lang habang ako naman ako nag-ayos ng schedule niya sa tablet.Binigyan niya ako ng ilang minuto, bago siya uli magsalita."Okay, so going back?"Huminga ako ng malalim.“Hindi ko pa rin gets.” Turan ko. Totoo, hindi ko talaga maintindihan.“Which part?”“Bakit ako?”Natahimik siya.Ayan. There it was.Si Damia

02: Limampung milyon?!◇◇◇◇“Fifty million.”Napakurap ako.“Anong fifty million?”“Pesos.”“Alam kong hindi kilo.”Bahagyang nag-igting ang panga niya.“Fifty million pesos. One year.”Napatitig ako ng ilang segundo.“You're offering me fifty million pesos...”“Yes.”“...to marry you?”“Yes.”Huminga ako.Dahan-dahang kinuha ang phone ko sa mesa.Then I smiled at him.“Okay.”May kaunting satisfaction na lumitaw sa mukha ng loko.“Good.”Dinampot ko rin ang folder.Then I slapped it lightly against his chest.“Okay na alam kong baliw ka talaga.”Nawala ang satisfaction sa gwapong mukha niya.“Elara.” May tonong hindi ko mapagtanto.“Find another woman.”“You're not finished.”“I am.” This is crazy. What if live prank pala ito? Tapos oo agad ako?!I need a break, pero hindi naman sa ganitong paraan. Napailing ako.Pabukas na ako ng pinto nang—“No. Hear me out a little."There it was. That voice.Kalmado.Mababa.Hindi malakas.Pero iyon ang boses na nagpapatahimik sa meeting room