New Secretary

TAHIMIK lamang na naghintay si Mason sa kapatid na si Harper habang namimili ito ng lenses sa isang sikat na optical dispensery sa Quezon. Sa hindi alam na kadahilanan ay bigla na lamang tumayo ang balhibo sa likod ng kanyang leeg para mapabaling siya sa kanyang likuran. Ang huling nakita niya ay ang pagsarado ng pinto bago muling itinuon ang atensyon sa kapatid habang hinahagod pa rin ang leeg.

Marahil nakita ni Harper ang kanyang naging reaksyon kaya ito napatingin sa kanya pagkatapos sa kanyang likuran. “What? What happened?”

Patuloy na hinagod ni Mason ang batok at napaismid. “I think someone just cursed me just now.”

Mahinang natawa si Harper bago napailing-iling. “You're overthinking, Kuya. ‘Yan ang mga napapala ng taong puro bahay at trabaho lamang ang alam na puntahan. Why don't you live like Kuya Alex?”

“Don't compare me with Alexander, you know I hate those things,” wika niya, ang tinutukoy ay ang libangan na pagpunta sa bar gabi-gabi.

“I know, and I don't fully suggest you going to bars and such,” pagbibigay-diin ni Harper at pinulot ang bilog na lense at sinukat. “I just mean that you should go out sometimes. Like going to the beach. Date a woman.”

“Oh, due to my hectic schedule, I'm afraid I can't do that, Harp,” ani Mason at tiningnan ito kung paano ngumiti sa harap ng salamin habang suot ang bilog na salamin. “It looks good on you.”

“I know right,” pagsang-ayon ni Harper at ngumiti. Nang mapagtanto na sinabi niya lamang iyon para maiba ang usapan ay tiningnan siya nito nang masama mula sa salamin. “And I also know what you're doing, Kuya. You are changing the topic so I can shut my trap. I know you, and it won't work on me again so drop it. Just go out, okay? Come with me and my friends next itinerary. Kuya Oliver and Benjamin is always there to manage our company if you're away. Besides, Ate Anja is so into you for a year now. Why don't you date her already? You're not getting any younger. You're turning thirty this year for pete's sake.”

“Well, about that...” panimula ni Mason ng idadahilan at napaismid. “I'm not in a hurry to be married and as the oldest of the Staurs, it's my responsibility to manage the company and not Oliver and Benjamin. They have been pressured a lot in their field. I don't want them to think that the advantage of being the oldest is I can do whatever I want when I can. I don't want that to plant in their mind and it's not that easy.”

“Whatever, Kuya.” Umingos si Harper at eksaherada na nagpaikot ang mga mata. “I'm going to buy this round eyeglass because it looks good on me.”

“That's what I said, it looks good on you,” pagsang-ayon ni Mason, nakangiti na inilabas ang kanyang card, at ibinigay dito.

Nakangising tinanggap ni Harper ang kanyang card at iwinasiwas sa kanyang harap. “I'm going to buy two of these and one aviator one.”

Napangiti si Mason at tinanguhan ito. “Suit yourself, princess. Two or more, I don't care. Just bring me back to the company to get my laptop because I will go home and rest.”

Napatili si Harper at namili ng iba pang eyeglasses. Abala si Mason sa pagtitig sa engganyo ng kapatid nang makatanggap siya nang tawag mula sa kanyang sekretaryo. Agad na sinagot niya ang tawag.

“Yes, Mark? Has something bad happened while I'm away?” bungad ni Mason.

“No, Sir. I called because I am resigning as your secretary effective immediately. I got a job offer in a higher position last week and I've been thinking about accepting since it was my calling, Sir. I hope you understand,” sagot ng kanyang sekretarya para makapagpatigil sa kanya nang ilang segundo. “I left the resignation letter on your desk and won't be in your care starting tomorrow. It was good serving you, Mr. Staurs.”

Nang marinig ang tunog senyales nang pagbaba nito ng tawag ay napatingin si Mason sa cell phone at kinumpirma na si Mark ang kanyang nakausap. Mark is a very efficient secretary and finding like him would be hard for him as the boss.

It was so sudden, he couldn't help himself but feel sad and that pang of regret. He had treated his employees fair and square and hearing his secretary resigning while on the phone was dispiriting. It was such a waste because he couldn't affirm Mark in person and wish him good luck on his new job.

“Kuya, you're frowning again. Is it about work? It's already past work time and you should be thinking about dinner,” dire-diretsong wika ni Harper para mapatingin siya dito.

“Mark has resigned just now,” pagbibigay-alam ni Mason para mawalan ng kataga si Harper.

“What?!” Harper exclaimed.

“He did. He did it over the phone,” sagot ni Mason at ipinakita ang kanyang cell phone sa kapatid.

“Oh, my God, that's too bad, Kuya,” ani Harper at nag-aalala na tumingin sa kanya. “You can't work on your own. Without a secretary and with a hectic schedule is beyond troublesome for you. I can't imagine you thriving alone on this. Tomorrow, I will definitely find you one. Let me help you.”

Tumango si Mason sa bunsong kapatid. “Okay. But for now, let's get going. Now that I don't have a secretary, I will surely have a big day tomorrow.”

“Don't you worry my dear brother because I will find you one in an instant,” pagtitiyak ni Harper para makapagpangiti sa kanya nang malapad. “You can count on me on that one.”

---

NAPAHAGOD si Mason sa sentido nang makarating siya sa opisina kinabukasan. Panandaliang nakalimutan niya ang biglaang pag-resign ng sekretarya kaya naman hindi siya nakapagkape at nakakain nang maayos nitong umaga. Naghalo-halo rin ang kanyang schedule at dahil sa sobrang dami ng kanyang dapat gawin ay hindi niya na alam kung ano ang dapat na unahin.

There are papers waiting for approval everywhere. Signing of wages and giving a go sign to the publication team for the newspaper to be distributed tomorrow. And lastly, he still has a ton of articles to check and approve today.

“Damn...” ang tanging naiusal na lamang ni Mason habang nakita niya ang tambak na gawain sa mesa.

Mark was surely efficient and a good secretary. Now that he's gone, he couldn't know where to start. And it was evident that he relies on Mark so much otherwise the lack of his presence will not affect him so much. At hindi niya ikakaila na napalapit na rin siya sa sekretaryo at ito ang naging pinakamatagal niyang nakatrabaho.

Sapagkat wala na siyang magagawa sa desisyon nito. Even though he was sad about Mark's abrupt resignment, he's happy that he's going through a new and upgraded pace in his life. All he could do right now is send Mark his good luck via email.

Napagpasyahang unahin ni Mason ang mga papel para sa pagbibigay ng senyas para sa diyaryo at magazine na ipapalabas bukas. Nang makitang biglang bumukas ang pinto ay napatingin agad si Mason sa babaeng suot ang ternong itim na slacks at vest habang suot ang itim na pointed heels. Unti-unting itinaas niya ang tingin at nakita niya ang nakakaakit na kurba ng babae at tuluyang itinuon niya ang mga mata sa napakaamo nitong mukha.

Her hair was waving as she stepped inside her office and her bangs were complimented by her round glasses, her figure was adorned by her formal black uniform but it good enough to make her look enticing. Yet it wasn’t her figure that held his attention the most, it was her eyes. Those deep brown eyes that was now looking straight at him and for a moment, he forgot to breathe. He could feel the animosity in her aura and the way she strongly stood in front of him.

Who is this woman?

Ascertainment was dancing through her eyes as she held his gaze. There was something in her that felt good and bad at the same time that he couldn't pinpoint what or weigh what is more or less. Her presence struck him as a very firm and goal-oriented woman that others should not be messing with, unlike other women who had lust behind their lashes as soon as their eyes landed on his existence.

Mason had to admit that the woman standing in front of him was indeed one of a kind. Or special as others had called it. Nevertheless, he wouldn't deny that she had caught his attention, to the point where he found himself staring at her more than he intended.