CHAPTER 7 The One Who Stayed

Pasado alas-nuwebe na ng gabi nang tuluyang tumahimik ang executive floor ng Boromeo Group.

Patay na ang ilaw sa karamihan ng cubicles. Wala na rin ang karaniwang ingay ng mga telepono, printer, at nagmamadaling empleyado sa hallway.

Iisang opisina na lang ang maliwanag.

Kay Athena Valeria Boromeo.

Sa labas ng glass office nito, nakaupo pa rin si Nick Sarmiento sa kaniyang desk. Nakatutok sa laptop, tahimik na inaayos ang schedule nito para kinabukasan.

Paminsan-minsan ay napapatingin siya sa oras sa ibabang bahagi ng screen.

9:18 PM.

Napatingin siya sa loob.

Hindi pa rin tumatayo si Valeria.

Kanina pa nitong alas-sais natapos ang huling meeting, pero mula noon ay hindi na halos gumalaw sa pwesto. Isang tasa ng kape, laptop, ilang folders at contract documents lang ang kaharap nito.

May sandwich siyang iniwan kanina.

Hindi ginalaw.

Napatingin si Nick sa basurahan sa ilalim ng sariling desk.

Then back at her.

Interesting.

Kinuha niya ang maliit na notebook sa drawer at may isinulat.

Hindi tungkol sa schedule.

Hindi tungkol sa meeting.

Isang simpleng observation lamang.

When stressed, she forgets to eat.

Isinara niya agad ang notebook nang biglang tumunog ang cellphone ni Valeria.

Through the glass, nakita niyang napatingin ito sa screen.

Nagbago ang mukha nito.

Sinagot ni Valeria ang tawag.

“Yes, Dad.”

Nick's fingers stopped over the keyboard.

Hindi niya marinig ang nasa kabilang linya.

Pero rinig niya si Valeria.

“Yes. I already received the report.”

Tahimik.

“No, Dad. The project isn't delayed.”

Another pause.

“I know.”

Napansin ni Nick ang pag-ayos nito ng upo.

Kanina ay nakasandal lamang ito. Ngayon, tuwid na ulit ang likod.

Parang nasa board meeting.

“I understand.”

Huminto si Nick sa ginagawa.

“No. I'm not making excuses.”

Tahimik ulit.

Pagkatapos ay bahagyang tumigas ang panga ni Valeria.

“Dad, that isn't fair.”

Nick slowly looked up.

Ilang sandali bago muling nagsalita si Valeria.

“I know Kuya wouldn't have allowed it.”

There it was.

Nick leaned back slightly.

So that's where it hurts.

“I said I'll handle it.”

Silence.

“Yes.”

Another pause.

“I won't disappoint you.”

Pinatay ni Valeria ang tawag.

Ilang segundo lang itong nanatiling nakaupo.

Pagkatapos ay padarag nitong inilapag ang cellphone sa desk.

Napapikit.

Then the phone rang again.

Hindi nito sinagot.

Second ring.

Third.

Sa halip, tumayo si Valeria.

Mabilis.

Masyadong mabilis.

Nabangga ng braso niya ang basong nasa gilid ng desk.

Bumagsak iyon.

Crash!

Tumayo agad si Nick.

“Ma’am Valeria?”

Walang sagot.

Lumapit siya at kumatok nang dalawang beses.

“Ma’am Valeria?”

“I’m fine.”

Binuksan niya nang bahagya ang p***o.

Nakatayo si Valeria sa harap ng desk habang nakatingin sa basag na baso sa sahig.

“I said I'm fine, Nick.”

“Opo.”

Hindi siya umalis.

Instead, pumasok siya at lumuhod para pulutin ang malalaking bubog.

“Leave it.”

“Ako na po.”

“I can do it.”

“Alam ko po.”

Valeria looked at him.

Nick continued collecting the broken pieces without another word.

“Then why are you doing it?”

“Baka po kasi mahiwa kayo.”

Simple.

Matter-of-fact.

Walang drama.

At somehow, iyon ang lalong ikinatahimik ni Valeria.

Napatingin siya sa kamay niya.

“May housekeeping naman.”

“Late na po. Bukas na lang natin pagurin sila.”

Napaangat ang isang kilay ni Valeria.

“Tayo?”

Napahinto si Nick.

“Ah…”

He adjusted his glasses.

“Kayo po pala.”

Valeria almost smiled.

Almost.

“Careful, Sarmiento.”

“Opo.”

Tinapon ni Nick ang mga bubog sa trash bin bago tumayo.

“Uuwi na po ba tayo?”

“No.”

“Tapos na meetings ninyo.”

“I know.”

“Tomorrow na lang po ’yung contracts.”

“I know.”

“Then…”

Napatingin sa kaniya si Valeria.

Nick immediately fell silent.

A few seconds passed.

“I still have work.”

“Opo.”

“Go home.”

Nick nodded.

“Opo, Ma’am Valeria.”

Naglakad siya patungo sa p***o.

“Nick.”

Huminto siya.

“Yes, Ma’am?”

May ilang segundong nag-alinlangan si Valeria.

Then—

“Never mind.”

Nick studied her face.

“Okay po.”

Lumabas siya.

Hindi nagtanong.

Hindi nangulit.

Exactly as he'd intended.

Almost twenty minutes later, napatingin si Valeria sa labas ng office.

Nandoon pa rin si Nick.

Nakatutok sa laptop.

Kumunot ang noo niya.

Lumabas siya.

“Nick.”

Agad itong napatingala.

“Ma’am Valeria.”

“What are you still doing here?”

“Working po.”

“I told you to go home.”

“Opo.”

“And?”

“Tinatapos ko lang po ito.”

“Nick.”

Tinanggal nito ang kamay sa keyboard.

Valeria crossed her arms.

“Don't tell me you're waiting for me.”

Hindi sumagot si Nick.

“Are you?”

“Hindi naman po sa gano’n.”

“Then what?”

He hesitated.

“Sabay na lang po tayo.”

“Why?”

Napakurap ito.

“Late na po.”

“So?”

“So…”

Nag-isip ito.

“Mas tipid po sa gas?”

Valeria stared at him.

“Company car ang gamit natin.”

“Oh.”

She almost rolled her eyes.

“Try again.”

Nick adjusted his glasses.

“Wala na po akong maisip.”

Despite herself, Valeria let out a short laugh.

“Ang pangit mong magsinungaling.”

For the briefest second, something flickered in Nick's eyes.

But it disappeared before she could notice.

He smiled awkwardly.

“Sorry po.”

Valeria shook her head.

“Go home.”

“Opo.”

She turned back toward her office.

This time Nick spoke.

“Ma’am Valeria.”

She glanced over her shoulder.

“Hindi naman po kita pine-pressure umuwi.”

“Then what exactly are you doing?”

Nick shrugged.

“Waiting.”

The answer caught her off guard.

“Why?”

“Wala lang po.”

“Nick, nobody waits until ten at night for ‘wala lang.’”

“Tama po.”

“So?”

Nick was quiet for a moment.

Then he smiled.

“I don't mind.”

That was all.

No speech.

No advice.

No attempt to convince her to rest.

Valeria looked at him for several seconds.

“Suit yourself.”

“Opo.”

She went back inside.

Nick watched the door close.

Then the faint awkwardness disappeared from his face.

Slowly, his eyes shifted toward the cellphone on Valeria's desk.

Her father's call.

The comparison.

Her brother.

Her reaction.

One by one, the pieces were beginning to fall into place.

Noted.

It was nearly ten when Valeria finally gave up.

She closed her laptop and looked through the glass.

Nick was still there.

The idiot had actually waited.

She collected her things and stepped outside.

“Let's go.”

Nick immediately stood.

“Ready na po kayo?”

“Don't sound too excited. Hindi kita binigyan ng promotion.”

“Opo.”

He reached for her laptop bag.

Valeria pulled it away.

“I can carry this.”

“Opo.”

Nick let go without argument.

Three seconds later, Valeria handed it to him anyway.

“Thanks.”

A small smile appeared on his face.

“Welcome po.”

They walked toward the elevators.

For once, the silence between them wasn't uncomfortable.

Valeria leaned against the elevator wall after they stepped inside.

Nick pressed the basement button.

Neither spoke.

Until—

“Nick.”

“Yes, Ma’am Valeria?”

“Do you have siblings?”

He glanced at her.

“One.”

Valeria nodded.

“Older?”

For the first time that night, Nick's pause wasn't part of the act.

“Mas bata.”

“Oh.”

The elevator continued descending.

“Close kayo?”

His eyes stayed on the changing numbers.

“Sakto lang po.”

Valeria hummed.

Lucky him.

Nick saw her expression reflected on the stainless-steel elevator door.

“Miss n’yo po kuya ninyo?”

Her gaze snapped toward him.

Nick immediately lowered his head.

“Sorry po. Hindi ko dapat tinanong.”

“No.”

Silence again.

Valeria looked away.

“I do.”

Nick waited.

“He was annoying.”

A weak smile touched her lips.

“Bossy. Arrogant. He thought he knew everything.”

Nick said nothing.

“Pero…”

She swallowed.

“He was supposed to be here.”

The elevator doors opened.

Neither moved for a second.

Then Valeria stepped out.

Nick followed.