Chapter 14

"I... Good bye, sir!" mabilis na saad ni Jade at kaagad na tumakbo palabas ng opisina ni Greg.

Hawak-hawak niya ang kaniyang dibdib dahil sa mabilis na pagtibok ng kaniyang puso. Sa kabilang banda ay nagtataka naman si Greg sa naging aksyon ng kaniyang sekretarya. 

Nang maging malinaw sa kaniya ang nangyari ay napahawak siya sa kaniyang labi, naging mabilis din ang pagtibok ng kaniyang puso at hindi niya namalayan na isang ngiti ang sumilay sa kaniyang labi.

'She's cute,' turan ni Greg sa kaniyang isipan matapos muling lumaro sa kaniyang isip ang naging ekspresyon ni Jade kanina lamang. Bahagyang lumaki ang mga mata ni Jade at kasunod 'non ay ang pamumula ng kaniyang dalawang pisngi.

"Jade?!"

"Ahh!"

"Haha, bakit masyado ka naman yatang nagulat?"

"Ha? Wala... Wala," saad ni Jade at kasabay 'non ay ang sunod-sunod niya na pag-iling.

"Are you blushing?" tanong ni Elle habang nilalapit ang kaniyang mukha sa kaibigan.

"No... No, I'm not!"

"Whoa! Your so defensive!" natatawa pa rin na saad ni Elle. 

"It was nothing," saad ni Jade ng bahagyang kumalma na ang kaniyang sarili. "By the way, what are you doing here?"

"Ohh, I need the signature of Mr. Greg."

"Ohh, okay. Just go in his office."

"Alright. Bye," turan ni Elle. Nagtungo na siya sa opisina ni Greg at ng pumasok ay kaagad siyang nagtaka ng makitang nakangiti ito sa kawalan.

Muling sumilay sa kaniyang isipan ang naging reaksyon ni Jade kani-kanina lamang paglabas sa opisina ni Greg at ang reaksyon naman ng kanilang boss.

'Did something happened to the two of them? Why does Jade blushing? And... Why does sir Greg smiling differently? Weird,' turan ni Jade sa kaniyang isipan.

***

Sa paglipas ng ilang araw ay sinusubukan ni Jade na huwag masyadong makausap o makasalamuha ang kaniyang boss. Hanggang ngayon ay hindi niya pa rin ito nakakausap tungkol sa nangyari sa kanila sapagkat hindi niya rin alam ang kaniyang sasabihin.

"Hello, Jade!"

"Ohh, hello, Ken."

"Can you please bring this to our CEO?"

"Me? Why?" tanong ni Jade habang hawak-hawak ang isang paper bag.

"Ahm... because your his secretary?" 

"Ohh, right!"

"Haha, you seem to be absent minded this days. Are you okay?"

"Yes, I'm just thinking somethings. Anyway, I'll give this to him."

"Thank you!" masayang saad ni Ken at nagpaalam niya.

Nagpakawala muna ng buntong hininga si Jade bago pumasok sa loob ng opisina.

"Good afternoon, sir. Mr Ken from the Management Department ask me to give this to you," magalang na saad niya at inilapag ang dalang dalawang paper bag sa mesa ni Greg.

"Its right on time!"

"I'll get going now, sir."

"Wait, Ms Wetzel."

"What is it, sir?"

"Take this," saad ni Greg habang inaabot sa kaniya ang dalawang paper bag.

"Pardon, sir?"

"I said take this. I'm sure you know Mr. Montes, right?" Kaagad naman na tumango si Jade sa tanong ng kaniyang boss.

"Today is his birthday and it will held to a hotel at nine in the evening. He said that I can bring someone to accompany me too. His a great business partner therefore I must be present in his special day. And I want you to come with me."

"Ohh... but why me?"

"Because your my secretary." Bahagyang napa-irap naman si Jade sa hangin dahil sa sagot ng kaniyang boss.

'Yeah, right! I'm your secretary! Gusto nga kitang iwasan tapos ikaw pa 'tong gumagawa ng paraan para makasama kita!' inis na turan niya sa kaniyang sarili.

"Pwede po bang 'wag na lang akong sumama?"

"No!" mariin na saad nito habang nakangiti. Maka-ilang beses na kinumbinsi ni Jade ang kaniyang boss ngunit hindi naman ito pumayag sa gusto niya.

"Alright, sir." 

"Thank you Ms Wetzel, I'll just call you."

"Yes, sir."

***

"Oh my gosh! Are you two finally dating?"

"What are you saying, ate Ryl?! We're just attending a birthday party!"

"Haha. Don't worry Jade I will make sure that you'll be prettiest among the lady in there. Let's make him drool to your beauty."

"Oh, come on! I'm not even the celebrant!"

"Hahaha, just relax and I will take care of you," nakangiting saad ni Zhyryl habang sinisimulan ng ayusan si Jade. 

Hindi ganoong marunong sa pag-aayos ng sarili si Jade lalo na kapag tungkol sa make up o paglalagay ng kung ano-ano sa buhok kaya nagdesisyon siyang magpatulong kina Zhyryl at Gwen. Alam niya na engrande ang selebrasyon na magaganap kaya kailangan niyang maghanda. Ayaw niya rin naman mapahiya ang kaniyang sarili at ang kaniyang boss.

"Hey! What are you two talking about?" tanong naman ni Gwen habang kasalukuyang tinitingnan ang susuotin ni Jade. "Whoa! This dress is really nice! The fabric is so smooth and I like the heels. Who give this to you, Jade?"

"Ohh, it's from his boss. They are having a date!" Zhyryl said excitedly as she giggled.

"I told you its not a date!"

"What's going on? Do you like someone now, Jade? Do you like your boss?" pang-aasar na tanong ni Gwen kaya mas lalong nainis sa kanilang dalawa si Jade.

"Both of you just please shut up!"

"Hahahaha, she's pissed now. Tell me, Ryl, mukhang may alam ka sa nangyayari. Who's her boss? Do you have a picture? Is he handsome?"

"Actually, I take a quick picture of him. Look at this!"

"You did what?" tanong naman ni Jade ngunit hindi siya pinansin ng dalawa.

Ipinakita naman ni Zhyryl ang larawan kay Gwen ngunit mukhang hindi masyadong naging interesado si Gwen sa kaniyang nakita.

"His really handsome, right?"

"Nah!"

"What did you say?"

"Well, he have looks but his not my type."

"Hey! His off limits, okay? His just for Jade."

"I don't like him anyway. His too good looking and a good boy."

"That's why I like him for Jade. His charming, kind, manly and smart. His a whole package!"

"Nah! I like the bad looking guys."

"Ha! Kaya ka muntik ng mapahamak, eh! Don't trust easily the bad looking guys because most of them are really bad."

"And that's the trill! I also enjoy more being with a bad guy because they show their true self than to a good looking guy but have a bad intention or just attack you on your back." Kaagad na natahimik naman si Zhyryl sa sinabi ni Gwen. Kahit si Jade ay sumang-ayon na rin sa kaniya.

'But sir Greg is really a nice person. I also like his personality now. His friendly, caring, he have a beautiful smile, he have a soft lips... Wait, what?' kaagad na umiling si Jade at iwinaksi ang kaniyang naiisip.

Sa kabilang banda ay patuloy pa rin na nagtatalo sina Gwen at Zhyryl sa katangian ng lalaki na gusto nila.

"Hey, that's enough!" saad ni Elle at doon pa lamang tumigil ang dalawa sa pagtatalo.

"Jade will be the one who will choose the man that she will love. And it won't be just based on the looks of a person. Kailangan niyo munang kilalanin ang magiging partner niyo. You must both love each other in a way that you both accept each other personalities and you're happy by being together. Its easy to find a boyfriend or a girlfrined this days but remember that it's hard to find someone that will love you unconditionally. Kaya dapat huwag tayong magpakatanga kung dumating 'yong araw na magmamahal tayo. Do you understand it?" Wala sa sariling napatango sina Jade, Gwen at Zhyryl sa sinabi ni Elle. Bahagya rin silang naninibago sapagkat mukhang ang seryoso ni Elle.

"Enough with the talking. Ayusan niyo na si Jade. The party will soon begin and sir Greg might be here any minute."