Lasta Sanco (A Collaborative Novel)

Chapter Three

Workmates

Ariadne

"Oh... I guess all companies are quite the same, at least that's what I heard."

"Ahaha! Yeah, but I do think that we had it more passionate here in this company, every designated job is well done."

"It's nice to hear that Miss. Lorie."

"Our company has a great sales too, we just need more employees since there's only a few here."

"Did our company just started recently, Miss. Lorie?"

"Hm! Hm! Yes, you're right. That is why we did a hiring, your presence is really important for the development of the company."

"I'm glad to hear that Miss. Lorie, I look forward to working with you." Bahagyang akong yumuko at ngumiti habang siya ay mahinhin ulit na natawa. "Me too, let's be friends."

Napangiti naman ako lalo do'n at masayang tumango sa kaniya. Sobrang hinhin ni Miss. Lorie at ang sweet ng ngiti niya. Kalmado lang siyang kasama at talagang professional ang tindig niya.

Thank goodness at nakita niya ako agad before ko pa siya makita. Feeling ko tuloy na-save ako sa sobrang kaba kanina. Geez, I'm saved, thanks for praying for me, Mari! Thanks Lord!

Patuloy kaming naglalakad sa hallway, patungo sa pinaka-office room kung saan kami mag-wowork. Si Miss. Lorie na ang nagbukas at saka kami pumasok sa loob.

I felt amazed, sobrang busy lahat, ang daming computers at employees na nag-wowork, may mga naguusap naman sa gilid at nag-kakape 'yong iba sa kabilang gilid naman.

I feel the work vibe here.

"This will be your desk, I'll be right infront of you, just peek at my desk just in case you need something."

May mga ilang paperworks na sa tabi ng computer. May lalagyan rin ako ng mga folders sa gilid at it's clean, "thank you so much Miss, Lorie."

"Hm! Hm! Well then, I'll be on my desk, have a nice time on your first day."

Sinundan ko na lamang ng tingin si Miss Lorie na tumungo sa desk niya. She's right, her desk is infront of me. Of course hindi ko naman siya makikita dahil may harang sa pagitan namin, just like some typical kind of office vibe. Ngumiti pa muna si Miss. Lorie sa'kin at saka siya naupo.

Naupo na rin ako sa harap ng desk ko. In-explain naman na sa'kin ni Miss. Lorie ang takbo ng trabaho ko. Tiningnan ko rin ang isang folder dito na nakalaan talaga para sa'kin for more instructions. Naka-open na rin ang screen ng computer ko so all I need to do is to open the gmail and start these paperworks.

Before naman kami pumunta rito, na-tour na ako ni Miss. Lorie. Good thing at alam ko agad ang mga pasikot-sikot rito, nakabisado ko naman. She's also good at explaining. Tiningnan ko pa ulit itong folder na nilaan ni Miss, Lorie so I could guide myself with this.

Nakapagstart naman ako ng maayos at smooth. Geez, I knew I could do this, nape-pressure lang siguro talaga ako since bago palang ako dito.

"No way! Is that you, Delfei?"

Huh?

Napalingon tuloy ako sa gilid ko, umupo siya sa swivel chair sa tabi ko habang may malawak na ngiti sa'kin.

Wait.. no way..

Is this... Hector?

Really?

Nakatulala lang tuloy ako sa kaniya, pino-process ko pa yata sa utak ko ang lalaking nakatabi sa'kin ngayon. In the end, in-ignore ko lang siya at nagpatuloy sa pagta-type as if I didn't see anyone right there.

"Oi! Ba't mo ako binalewala?" Bigla niyang pinalo ang desk ko na nagpabigla sa'kin! "Eh?"

Ay weh?

"Eh? Si Hector ka nga?" Nagtatakang tanong ko pa. "Of course it's me! Ang daya, ilang weeks palang naman lumipas after graduation, nakalimutan mo agad ako?" Tinuro niya pa ang sarili niya at mukhang disappointed dahil nakalimutan ko raw siya.

As if namang makalimutan kita.

"Oh.. Hi," nakangiting ani ko at kumaway saglit, "Sorry, akala ko, imagination lang kita e." Awkward pa akong natawa kaso siya, natawa talaga. "What? Ahahaha! Why would you think that? Well, by the way, I'm so happy to see you, may ka-close ako agad sa work, baguhan lang din ako dito e, apir!"

Nakipag-apir naman ako sa kaniya, medyo may pagka-childish nga pala ang mga arte niya minsan. But it's just how he acts friendly to anyone. "It's nice seeing you too," nakangiting ani ko.

"Ahaha! Let's have lunch together, mamaya, treat ko."

Napatitig pa ako sa kaniya saglit, I can't believe he's asking me, a thing he never did before.. well, hindi naman nga kasi kami close, but I admire him secretly. A part of me felt happy hearing his invitation.

Sa huli ay casual akong ngumiti sa kaniya, "sure, salamat."

"Crimson, may kailangan sa'yo si Gonzalez," agad na tawag sa kaniya ng katrabaho namin. Nilingon niya naman ako agad at kumaway sa'kin. "I'll see you later, Ariadne! Ahaha!" Agad din siyang tumayo at tumakbo papunta sa lalaking 'yon.

Bahagya nalang akong napangiti habang nakatitig sa kaniya. Masaya siyang nakikipagusap sa co-worker namin.

I can't believe he's here... He's still gorgeous and admirable. It feels like a great moment to be in his presence.

Well it's not as if we're meant to be just because he's here, gosh, what am I thinking? I feel happy but it's not like before.

Lagpas na yata ako sa word na acceptance para masabing wala talaga akong pag-asa sa kaniya. Hindi na rin ako bata para magpakita pa na kinikilig ako everytime he's near me. Casual lang akong nakikitungo sa kaniya, I think that's enough. Besides I know he has a girlfriend, he's so happy with her, thinking something dreamy about him is just nonsense. Though it hurts but I guess I'm used to it. I'd been like that since highschool.

Maybe someday I'll meet the man that is right and meant for me, wala pa siya siguro ngayon, hindi ko trip maghintay so punta nalang siya sa'kin.

I'm just happy that he's happy. It's great to know that we're co-workers, that means I'll be working with him. I look forward to that. We will be workmates, nothing more. I won't wish for anything anymore too. Being dreamy about him before in my HS and college life is I think.. is enough.

It's sound sad, but I'm sure I'll move on. I don't wanna' make this sound more saddening anymore.