Month of December. Sobrang busy namin, doble sa pagkabusy last month. Halos wala kaming tulog ni Irene noong mga nakaraang araw sa pag check ng year-end party. Lahat naman ng employees naghahanda, sadyang mabigat lang yung gawain ni Irene.
"Hon can you check this one for me please? I just need to go to Iris for some minutes"
"Sure, go na. Malapit na naman na tayong matapos"
Nginitian niya ako bago lumabas ng office. Kinuha ko yung mga papers na nakalagay sa desk niya. She's been checking the invitation letter for the guests na gawa nila Kate. And seems like wala na namang mali sa dates, names and activities na nakalagay dito.
"Hmm andaming guests, mukhang mga bigatin pa"
Napasandal ako sa table kasi naalala kong ako pala ang date ng COO. Wala nang atrasan ito, next week na ang party. Hala next week na! Wala pa akong isusuot. Titingin na lang ako mamaya sa boutique malapit sa Vega Arcade. I wonder if may isusuot na si Irene, hmm baka nga meron na. Si Iris at Kate kasi nag shopping na last weekend.
"What are you thinking?"
Napatingin ako sa pintuan at nakita si Irene na may dalang box. Agad akong umayos ng tayo at pinuntahan siya para kunin ang dala.
"Ako na, wait Christmas decors?"
"Yeah she told me to decorate the office, tss she said this place is too plain"
Well may point ang kapatid niya. But I like it, office naman ito so plain is normal. Although mas okay na mag decorate since holiday season na. This will also be the first time na gagawin ko to kasama si Irene so mas exciting.
"Are you up on decorating the office with me?" tanong ko
Nabigla ito sa tanong ko, tumango siya kinalaunan. Ngumiti ako bago ipatong ang box sa center table. Medyo malaki kasi ito, baka siguro dahil sa mini Christmas tree na nakasilip na sa loob ng box. Inuna ko na itong ilabas, Irene suggested to put it beside the doorway. Para yung unang makikita ng mga papasok ay yung Christmas tree.
Busy ako sa pagkakabit ng sanga nang biglang maramdaman ko ang mga kamay ni Irene sa aking balikat.
"Yes?"
"I have a surprise for you later"
"Surprise? Hindi naman natin monthsary hon" biro ko
"Tss never mind, I love you"
After saying that she kissed my cheek before going back to the center table. Her random I love you's and sudden kisses makes me weak. I just tried to go back with what I am doing.
Hindi naman ganun katagal magset-up ng Christmas tree kasi medyo maliit lang siya. Tinulungan na ako ni Irene magkabit ng mga Christmas ornaments. Ako na ang nag-ayos ng lights at garlands na pwedeng ilagay sa labas ng office. Pagpasok ko ay napangiti ako, ang ganda ng decors. Buti na lang binigay samin ni Iris.
"It looks pretty" she said
Nakatingin rin ito sa Christmas tree, I quickly take out my phone and took a picture of her admiring the decors. Gosh she's splendidly beautiful without even doing anything.
"Czari stop taking pictures of me na"
"Why? You looks so pretty din kasi it needs to be captured"
She smirked and rolled her eyes.
"Oh really? I know I'm pretty so let's go na because I still need to show you something"
Hinila niya ako agad palabas nang maayos ko ang mga gamit namin. We went in the elevator, I leaned on the wall kasi magsasara na pero biglang sumingit si Miss Charlie at nginitian kami pareho.
"Hello lovebirds, how are you two hmm?"
Nanlaki ang mata ko at tiningnan ang repleksyon ni Irene sa salamin. Kita ko kung paano niya irapan si Miss Charlie.
"You really love gossiping aren't you?"
"Oh Louise bakit ba ang init lagi ng ulo mo? I almost forgot we're friends back then ha"
"We were until you left my sister"
She's pertaining to Iris? May something talaga sila ni Miss Charlie back then hmm. Mukhang hindi kinaya ni Miss Charlie si Lolo Gregory dati.
"Aww come on, cut me some slack. You know how much I adore Iris, until now I still do- as a friend nga lang. I already apologized to you and your sister. I explained myself na rin so why can't we be friends again?"
Seems like she's serious of reconciliation kasi bakas iyon sa mukha niya. But my girl acted like she did not hear anything, when the door opens she quickly glanced at me and pulled me out. Diretso kaming parking lot at naiwan si Miss Charlie na nakatayo sa labas ng elevator. I suddenly feel bad for her.
"She seemed serious earlier hon" panimula ko
I'm the one who's driving, medyo nastuck kasi kami sa crossing. Hay sobrang galing talaga ng timing kung kailan pauwi na.
"And so? I don't get why she wants to bring back the friendship she threw away in the first place"
"Maybe she had no choice before. Leaving someone is a choice, a hard one honey. If Iris was hurt I am sure Miss Charlie's hurting too when she did it"
"Why are you on her side?"
"I am not on anyone's side here Irene, you know I have a point right?"
"You do but it will not change my mind. I will not accept her again in our lives, I know she likes you too so why should I let her in?"
"Alright, relax na hon"
I tried squeezing her hand kasi ang lalim na ng paghinga niya. Looks like masama talaga loob niya kay Miss Charlie which is understandable. Pinaandar ko ulit ang kotse kasi okay na yung flow ng byahe. We reached high rise tower.
Pagkapasok sa unit niya agad itong dumiretso sa kwarto. I sighed before sitting on her sofa. Inalis ko ang coat at sapatos ko, I badly want to lay down na. Nakakapagod ang ginawa namin this week.
"Hey hon"
I looked up and saw her holding a box. Wait I know that kind of box, it's for dresses.
"Your dress?" tanong ko
"See for yourself" sabi nito
Tumabi siya sakin kaya binuksan ko ng dahan-dahan ang box.
"Wow"
I saw a red low cut dress with a checkered coat. Meron ding belt na nakalagay sa gilid nito.
"It's yours hon, mine's at the house. I'll get it tomorrow" bigla niyang sabi
Balak ko pa naman pumunta sa boutique but I do appreciate her present. Ngumiti ako at sinimulang tingnan ng maigi ang mga damit.
"Do you like it Czari?"
"I love it hon, thank you. Matchy ba tayo ng outfit?"
"Not really but if you wanted to maybe we could go for a shopping tomorrow"
Hmm shopping tomorrow? Saturday? SM Calamba or San Pablo? Baka matraffic lang kami. And I do not want to spend her day offs onto that.
"Nah I just want to see your dress, let's just relax tomorrow Irene"
She smiled and gave me a nod. Sinukat ko na rin yung damit kong susuotin next week and kasya naman siya sakin. Napagdesisyunan din namin na magpadeliver na lang for dinner kasi masyado na kaming pagod para magluto. We decided to eat Korean food, so nag order kami sa Seoul Kitchen. Few minutes of waiting dumating din ito.
Irene and I are busy eating when we heard the buzzer rang. Ako na ang pumunta sa main door at nagcheck sa monitor. It's Kate holding something, wait dejavu ata to hahaha. Binuksan ko ang pinto at agad siyang pumasok na wala man lang sinasabi. Ngayon ko lang narealize na case ng beers pala ang dala-dala niya.
"Let's fucking drink tonight. Nakakastress this week girls, let me take a breath with you tonight" she said
Base sa tono ng boses niya mukhang hindi ito good mood, I know her voice when she's happy and right now looks like she isn't.
