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, busy rin ako."

Being his secretary is not just an 8:00 am to 5:00 pm duty. It could go beyond that. I am compensated generously, but if he is looking for someone that can provide Luki stability and family like environment, that- that's something even I cannot guarantee.

Napalunok ako.

"Alam ko gets mo yung point, Sir. So again, how are you so sure that I can help?"

For once, hindi agad sumagot si Damian. I guess, hindi dahil hindi niya alam ang sagot, bagkus, sa tingin ko, pinipili niya ang tamang salita.

Hinayaan ko siya. We just let the silence set in.

Parehas kaming nag-iisip.

...

Naputol ang usapan namin nang may kumatok sa p***o.

The sound broke whatever weird tension had settled between us.

Sabay kaming napalingon nang bumukas iyon.

Pumasok si Teresa, carrying the exact little person responsible for page seven.

Lucas Gabriel Villareal.

Luki.

Thirteen months old and apparently already capable of disrupting legal negotiations.

Nakayakap siya sa balikat ni Teresa, one small hand holding a small doraemon stuffed toy. Cute.

Medyo gusot ang itim niyang buhok. Which is his normal appearance, by the way.

Kahit anong ayos yata ni Teresa roon, may sariling decision-making process iyong buhok ng bata. Regardless, gwapo pa rin. Dugong Villareal ba naman.

He is wearing a blue polo. With his round rosy cheeks. His distracted deep brown eyes are busy looking at the his toy.

At sa paa?

...

Isang medyas lang ang suot niya.

Tumikhim ako para makabawi sa kung ano mang naging diskusyon namin ni Damian kanina, bago magsalita.

I looked at Teresa.

“Please tell me fashion choice niya ’yan.” Bungad ko sa kaniya.

She sighed.

“Tinanggal na naman po, ma'am"

Of course. Thirteen months old at may strong opinions na tungkol sa fashion.

“See?” I looked at Damian, very slightly.

“Questionable judgment. Hindi reliable witness.”

Luki's head rose when he realized I was the one speaking, I guess? He proceed to look at me, trying to move away from Teresa's arms.

Nang sumakses ang bata, just like that, nagbago ang mukha niya.

Iyong tahimik na batang nakasandal kay Teresa suddenly came alive. His dark eyes widened. His entire little body shifted toward me before Teresa could even move.

“A-ah!”

Then both hands reached.

“Ara! Ara!”

Oh. There goes my resistance.

Napangiti ako agad.

“Hello, bossing.” Magaang bati ko dito.

Lumapit si Tere. I barely had time to arrange my arms before Luki practically launched himself towards me.

“Easy, Luki." I said. Mainit iyong maliit niyang katawan nang mapasandal sa dibdib ko.

One little arm remained against my shoulder.

The other one? Immediately went looking for trouble. Unfortunately, nakita niya ang ID lace ko.

Hinila agad ng bata.

“No.” saway ko sa kaniya.

He looked at me. Wide dark eyes. Innocent expression.

Sinungaling.

Nasa ganoong posisyon siya nang hiinila niya ulit.

“Luki, ikaw ha. Pumipilyo ka ng gwapo ka." Saway ko sa kaniya.

Aba, ngumisi lang ng bata. Apat na maliliit na ngipin ang sumilip.

Oh, great. Cute ang kriminal. Kuha mo ang gigil ko.

“Company property ’yan.” Inform ko sa kaniya na para bang gets na niya iyon.

“Ara.” Banggit niya. Ang cute! Naku.

“Hindi valid defense ang pangalan ko.”

“Mukhang hinahanap po kayo kanina,” sabi ni Tere.

“Ako?”

Tanong ko sabay taas ng kilay. Well, not out of pagiging mataray. Just, genuinely curious.

“Opo. Pagdating po namin sa floor, puro ‘Ara’ na.”

I looked down.

Busy na siyang pinaikot iyong ID ko, brows slightly furrowed. Heh. Very serious business yan?

“Luki." Kuha ko sa atensyon nito.

"Hindi ka ba busy? Thirteen months old ka na. Maghanap ka ng trabaho.” Panggogoyo ko. Aba, hindi porket cute ka, panalo ka lagi ha.

“Ara!”

“Exactly, oo. Networking lang ambag mo.”

A quiet sound came from the other side of the room.

I immediately looked at Damian.

“Did you just laugh?”

“No.” Agad niyang sagot.

“Sinungaling.” Irap ko.

Luki stopped playing with my ID.

His gaze had moved past me. I followed where his gaze landed. At ay talaga naman. Sa kape. Workaholic in the making din ata ang batang ito ha.

His entire body leaned toward it.

“A-ra! A-ra!" Bigkas nito. Cute. Literal na magkaka-baby fever ang kahit sino. Kung hindi lang umaabot ng kape.

“No, Luki. It's coffee. It's not good for you ha, pang gatas ka pa lang." Pangaral ko.

Aba.

He tried to reach for it again.

“Ah! Ah!”

“Hindi sa ’yo, akin yan." But oh boy, he's persistent.

Kanino ka mana ha? Sinecure ko na lang ang pagkakahawak ko sa kaniya. Kahit maglikot likot ka diyan, Luki. Hindi ka mananalo.

Mini Damian ka ha. At dahil hindi niya makuha ang gusto, sandali siyang nanahimik. Akala ko okay na nang—

“Ma!” Bigla akong napatingin sa kaniya.

Nakatingin na pala ang bata. Big, innocent eyes looking up to me.

Ewan ko kung nagkamali lang ako ng dinig....

Tinawag ba akong mama?

...

Excuse me?

Ilang sandal ko pang unti-unting prinocess ang mga nangyayari.

Kanina wife position lang ang vacant.

Bakit biglang may motherhood responsibilities agad?

May nag-update pa ng job description ko?

Seryoso.

Kailan nagkaroon ng role expansion?!

✤