Ako naman yata ang nababaliw. I can't stop thinking about him. The funny thing is, we’re still together and I can’t stop myself from thinking about earlier. Bago ko pa lang siyang nakikilala pero at home na agad ako sa kanya. I’m like in a roller coaster ride. I felt happy but still haunted by my past. I'm scared.
"Hey. We're here," Sigaw niya na ikinagulat ko naman.
"Thanks for the ride," I smiled. "Bukas na ba ang building or ikaw pa ang magbubukas?" Pang-aasar ko.
"Sira ulo," padabog niyang sagot sa akin.
Bigla yatang nagbago ang ihip ng hangin. Kahapon at kagabi, ang sweet niya tapos ngayon ang cold na niya ulit. Pinapakiramdaman ko kung pagbubuksan niya ko ng pinto pero nadisappoint ako nung nakita ko na naglalakad na siya papasok ng building.
Nakasimangot akong lumabas ng kotse. Nakita ko na tumigil si Gabriel at nilingon niya ako. Hindi siya humahakbang. Nanatili lang siyang nakatitig sa akin. Sumenyas siya na bili
Gabriel’s Point of View"Second day pa lang kitang kasama pero grabe na ang impact ng personality mo sa akin. Ano ba ang meron ka? Your smile? Your words? Or maybe your whole being.It feels so strange, imposible naman na magkagusto ako sa kanya."Natapos na akong maligo pero wala pa rin si Anna."Saan ka na ba nagpunta, Anna?" nakatitig ako sa upuan niya.Hinanap ko siya sa buong opisina. Wala sa pantry. Wala sa comfort room."What?! Wait! Bakit ko ba siya hinahanap? Malaki na siya. Siguro naman kaya na niya ang sarili niya."Halos kakaupo ko pa lang nung biglang bumukas ang pinto."Sir?" tawag nung guard."Bakit?""Si Ma'am Anna po kasi..." Bigla akong napatayo. Kinakabahan ako."Bakit? Anong nangyari?!" pasigaw kong tanong."Nahihilo daw po siya."“What? Where is she?”“Nasa lobby po, Sir.” Kabado niyang sagot.Hindi ko na hinin
"Anna?" seryoso niya akong tinawag."Yes Gabriel?""Sit!" utos niya sa akin"Lakas maka-aso, a." Bulong ko sa sarili ko.Nag-angat siya ng tingin sa akin. Siguradong narinig niya ang side comments ko. Me and my big mouth, lagot ako nito."Ililipat kita ng office." Panimula niya pero bumalik naman agad ang tingin niya sa mga papel sa ibabaw ng mesa."Ha?" Gulat kong tanong. “Bakit?”Shit! Ito na yata ang parusa ko."If you're thinking na bababa ang rates mo, don't worry, it’ll stay. Everything will stay as it is. You’re still my lucky secretary. Hindi magbabago ang rates and privileges mo. I just want to move you to Miss Jean's department. And that means, may additional na trabaho na ibibigay sa iyo. I think you can handle it.""As you wish..." sagot ko bago ako tumalikod."Hey Anna?""Yes? Do you need anything else?" seryoso akong sumagot.Natigilan siya sandal. Siguro a
"Ililipat ko muna si Anna sa department ninyo," binigyan ko ng diin ang 'muna' para ipaalam sa kanilang dalawa na pansamantala lang ang desisyon ko. "Pwede mo siyang utusan na gumawa ng ibang trabaho na gawain ng isang secretary. Bawal mo siyang utusan na lumabas ng building not unless pumayag ako. She's still my secretary kaya on call siya. Don't give her something that has to be done continuously para okay lang kung bigla ko siyang kailangan. Am I clear, Miss Jean?" Pina-hintay ko sa kanilang dalawa si Manong Pepito, para masubaybayan sa paglilipat ng mga gamit. Parehas silang umupo sa sofa. Naiinip na siguro si Anna sa pag-iintay kaya inilabas niya ang earphones at nagpatugtog. Anna’s still interesting for me. Kahit naka-earphones, naririnig pa rin namin ni Miss Jean ang kanta. The song’s familiar even if it’s slightly inaudible. Her eyes are closed. Its’ obvious na ninanamnam niya ang bawat linya ng kanta. I can almost see her dance. I didn't kno
“You’re mine,” he said and it did not stop repeating in my mind. I wondered if he’s always this possessive of his secretary.“Anna?” sumilip si Lance sa likod ng computer monitor ko. “Coffee break or Soda break? Anong mas gusto mo?”“Soda na lang,” I said simply.“Okay, my treat. Think of it as a welcome present,” Lance smiled. “Tara!”Sabay kaming lumabas ng office at pumunta sa pinakamalapit na coffee shop.“Do you smoke?” he asked when we were seated at a patio table.“Dati, pero I quit.”“Bakit?”“Health problem – asthma,” I smiled shyly. It’s not something to be proud of.“Wow, sakit mayaman!” he exclaimed.“Ano naman ang nakaka-wow sa asthma?” I asked. I hope he could tell that I am offended by his reaction.“Wala naman,
“Ano kaya ang issue ni Gabriel at ni Lance? Bakit pati ako nadadamay? If I’ve known how big of a deal this would be, I won’t even consider working here,” I asked myself.“Is she the new slut?” said the girl in the red dress.“Siya na ba ‘yun? I didn’t know Sir Gabriel liked low-class girls now.”“Sana ako na lang,” another girl, who’s wearing a lot of make-up, said. “Mas mukha pa akong tao kesa sa kanya.”“Saan ba napulot ni Sir Gabriel `yan? Wala na ba mapagpilian?” someone from the back said loudly.While walking to my table, I can hear everything they’re saying. I kept my eyes on the floor while they continue talking. I didn’t say anything, I would likely to add fuel to the fire. What’s important is I didn’t do anything bad. Who are they to judge me? I don’t have any clue about what they’re saying. Wh
I went back to my table right after finishing the food provided. The phone started ringing when I got back. I answered the call immediately.“Come to my office,” Gabriel’s voice echoed in my ears.“Coffee?” I offered.“No,” he said. “Miss Jean already took care of my coffee. You were eating when I called earlier, siya na pinagtimpla ko. I didn’t ask kung sino kasabay mo. I don’t think kailangan ko malaman,” he said before he handed me a red sticky note.“That’s the password you needed, ‘stayawayfromanna’. Please send the file to the e-mail address also written on the paper,” he said while he kept his eyes on the papers in front of him.“Anything else, Boss?”“Nothing more. You can go.”Gabriel didn’t bother me for the rest of the afternoon. I was loaded with paper works, but sometimes, I can’t stop thinki
“Hi,” he said when I looked at him.“Hey,” Dianne answered his greetings instead. “You ordered these?”“Yes,” he answered and sat beside Dianne. “I was in the neighborhood, felt hungry, and found this place,” he explained.“If you don’t mind, I’ll go ahead,” I said in monotone. “I’m not hungry anymore.”“Why?” pagtataka ni Dianne.“I’m not feeling well.”“What?” Gabriel almost shouted. “I’ll drive you home. I’ll just get the car.”He was about to stand, but I held him down. “No, don’t bother. Walking distance lang naman `yung bahay ko.”“I insist. I couldn’t bare eat when you’re out there walking on your own. I’m just worried. Please, let me drive you home.”“I’m good on my own. Don’t let me
“What the –” I exclaimed. “Is this real? Or did you learned photoshop when I wasn’t looking.”“Photoshop? You know I hate computers,” Dianne rolled her eyes.“I don’t want to go to work, Dianne!” I covered myself with the blankets and screamed.“Pumasok ka, mahiya ka naman sa boss mo!”“Ayoko! It’s too late for not being shy”“Well, at least call him to tell him you’re thankful.”“Good idea. I’ll call him and tell him that I’ll skip this day.”I picked-up my mobile phone and pressed the speed dial to Gabriel Anderson’s number.“Damn!”“What is it again?” Dianne, who is now beside me again, asked.“My line’s cut. Can I use your phone, please?”“I would, but I don’t have any signal. My phone’s still for Spain