KABANATA APAT [NOT ANYMORE]

BREAK TIME… Bumuga ng malalim na buntong-hininga si Vesper habang nakapangalumbaba siyang nakaupo sa harap ng kanyang office table na nasa loob lang din ng opisina ni Kane. Cubicle iyon na may harang na salaming hanggang dibdib ang taas.

Sinulyapan niya ang lalaking abalang-abala sa kung ano mang dokumentong binabasa nito. Nakayuko ito at may hawak na ballpen sa isang kamay.

Bahagyang umangat ang isang sulok ng bahagi ni Vesper habang palihim niyang pinagmamasdan ang lalaking siyam na taon din niyang pilit na inaalis sa kanyang isipan.

May mga puting buhok na ito na hindi naman nito pinagka-abalahang takpan ng kulay itim na tina and honestly? He looks better in his black mixed with gray hair.

Inalis niya ang kanyang paningin sa laki saka nilaro-laro ang mga kukong napipinturahan ng pula.

Sumilay ang walang buhay na ngiti sa kanyang mga labi habang pinagmamasdan niya ang mga daliri.

Okay, she's doing fine. She didn’t cry. She didn’t throw the coffee at his face.

Progress. She’s doing it well.

Vesper’s phone buzzed. Bahagyang niyang inangat ang likod mula sa kinasasandalang swivel chair para abutin ang kanyang cellphone.

It was a text message from her Dad.

[“How’s your first day, Vee? Be good to Kane. Take the Bar next year, okay?”]

Umikot ang mga mata ni Vesper kasabay ng pag-ismid. Mabilis na tumipa ang mga daliri niya ng sagot.

[Don’t worry, Dad. I'm a good girl, remember. And so far, so good.”]

Ise-send na sana niya ang kanyang reply nang bigla siyang mapakunot-noo. Sumimangot si Vesper saka mabilis na binura ang message at gumawa ng bago.

[“He’s an ass. But I got this, Dad.”]

And she sent the message.

She looked at the frosted glass of Kane’s office. She could see his shadow. Still busy with whatever he's been reading for an hour now.

Umismid si Vesper.

She was done being the fifteen-year-old girl who listened to him. She was twenty-four. She had a law degree she didn’t want. And it’s time for her to show him who he's messing with.

Naningkit ang mga mata niya bago muling inalis ang paningin sa lalaki.

And she heard he was planning to run for congress this coming election. That’s good. Just perfect.

—----

“Kumusta first day ng bagong secretary mo? Did you talk to her about the bar?”

Umikot ang mga mata ni Kane. Kausap niya sa cellphone si Roman, ang ama ni Vesper.

Kasalukuyan pa rin siyang nasa loob ng kanyang opisina sa city hall. Wala si Vesper dahil may pinakuha siyang folders sa babae sa kanyang campaign manager.

“She’s competent.” tila pagod na pagod na sagot ni Kane sa walang buhay na tinig.

Isang mahinang tawa ang kanyang narinig mula sa kabilang linya.

“That’s it? Competent? Kane, she listens to you. You’re the only one she ever listened to.”

Sa halip na sagutin pa ang kaibigan ay tinapos na niya ang tawag saka hinagis ang cellphone sa couch. Pabagsak din siyang umupo saka nahahapong sumandal roon. Nasapo niya ang sariling noo at hinilot-hilot iyon.

“No, Roman. She listened to me once. And I broke her.” halos pabulong na ani ni Kane sa kanyang sarili saka nagpakawala ng malalim na buntong-hininga.

Napaunat siya ng upo nang biglang makarinig ng tatlong katok mula sa nakasaradong pinto ng kanyang opisina.

At bago pa man siya makahuma ay bumukas na ang pinto.

It was Vesper. She was holding two folders.

“Mayor,” pormal na usal ni Vesper nang tuluyan itong makalapit sa harapan niya. “Your schedule, your campaign briefings, and your pending ordinances.”

The thick folders landed with a thud as she dropped it on his table.

Kane looked at the folders then at her.

“Ms. Del Valle,those are not office-appropriate attire. And the knock policy. Use it.” aniya na ang tinutukoy ay ang satin blouse nitong hindi naka-butones hanggang gitna ng dibdib.

Vesper tilted her head and smiled but it didn’t reach her eyes.

“Good thing I’m not here to be appropriate, Mayor. Dad said I have to train under you but he didn’t say I have to obey the dress code. And what's wrong with my clothes? I think I look perfect in this.”

Train…

The word tasted like “Goodnight, Mayor” from nine years ago.

Kane leaned back. Tiningnan niya ng matiim si Vesper na taas noong nakatayo sa harapan niya.

“Train under me how? To file papers? Or to finally take that damn bar exam you’re running from?”

Vesper froze for a second.

“It depends…” malamig ang tinig na sagot ni Vesper bago siya nito tinalikuran at humakbang pabalik sa mesa nito.

Kumuyom ang mga palad ni Kane habang sinusundan ng tingin ang babae. His pen snapped when he noticed the trousers pulled tight across her butt.

‘Shit.’ Kane silently cursed.

“Ms. Del Valle.” tawag ni Kane sa babae na napahinto naman sa paglalakad ngunit hindi nag-abalang lumingon sa kanya.

Napailing si Kane. She really has changed.

“Yes, Mayor?"

“Your father seems to think you listen to me. Do you?”

Ilang sandaling umiral ang katahimikan sa pagitan nilang dalawa bago narinig ni Kane na nagsalita si Vesper. Pumihit pa ito paharap sa kanya at binigyan siya ng tila nagyeyelong tingin.

“I did. Once. Nine years ago.”

Then she turned around and walked back to her table.

Ilang sandaling nakatitig lamang si Kane kay Vesper na tila walang anumang itinuon ang atensiyon sa computer na nasa harapan nito.

Huminga ng malalim si Kane saka sumandal sa kanyang swivel chair.

She doesn’t listen to him anymore. Why would she? The last time she did, he told her she had milk on her lips and pushed her to New York.

Isang mapait na ngiti ang sumilay sa mga labi niya.

Yeah, right. Why would she listen to him again?