Fading Echoes

Nueve

"Welcome back, Miss Irene!"

"Glad you're back miss!"

"Warm welcome to you, miss I!"

At marami pang pagbati mula sa mga empleyado nila. Irene just got back to the office after almost a year of hiatus. Inihatid siya ni Greggy sa opisina niya, he's carrying his wife's handbag while clinging to her waist. Bakas sa mukha ng mag-asawa ang saya sa mainit na pagtanggap ng opisina sa pagbabalik ni Irene. 

They also threw a small yet meaningful welcome party for her. May mga nakahanda na ring mga pagkain sa hallway.

"Whose budget is this? the company's or employees?" she whispered as she leaned on her husband. Dahil ayaw ni Irene na pinagkakagastusan siya ng mga empleyado nila. She'd rather spend money for them instead. 

Greggy chuckled, "don't worry, it's on us" he answered. Tumango naman si Irene at ngumiti uli sa mga empleyado. 

"Thank you so much for your warm welcome. I'd like you to know that I appreciate your efforts a lot. I've been receiving reports from the finance department and I am grateful you never disappointed me. You kept your work ethic upheld even during my absence. And now that I'm back, I am more than excited to work with you all again" she said in her short remarks. Pumalakpak naman ang lahat, Greggy stared at his wife as if she's his proudest possession.

"Sir! Grabe ang lagkit ng titig!" asar ng isa, hinanap naman ng mata ni Greggy kung sino iyon, isa pala sa mga scholar nila. Irene and Greggy made sure that while they provide work for their employees, they also make their dreams do come true. Lalo na sa mga kabataan nilang nagta-trabaho para sa kanila. At isa iyon sa mga pinagkasunduan nilang mag-asawa, to provide scholarships to those who are in need. 

"Ikaw na naman, Charles!" pagtawa ni Greggy. Irene is just smiling the whole time. 

After the short welcome party, inihatid na ni Greggy sa sariling opisina ang asawa. He closed the door as he followed his wife on her desk. Everything's neat as she wants her office to be. Kung paano niya 'to iniwan ay gano'n din niyang dinatnan. 

"So, good luck on your first day..." he smiled, Irene sat down on her swivel chair and felt it. She looked at her husband who's sitting at her table. "Thank you for this, Greg. You don't know how much this means to me" she sincerely thanked him.

Greg stared at his wife for a second at tila ba natauhan ito, "Okay, so... I should go back now to my office. call or text me if you need anything or if something comes up"

"Okay, have a great day ahead at work" Irene smiled, tatayo pa sana siya to give her husband a kiss on the cheek pero tumayo agad si Greggy at pumunta sa pinto. "You too, Irene" he smiled and left the office.

Nang makabalik si Greggy sa opisina niya ay agad siyang nagtrabaho to distract himself. Heaven knows how hard his decision could be. 

Just like any other ordinary day, mabilis natapos ang araw nila sa trabaho. Dinaanan na rin ni Greggy ang asawa sa opisina niya. 

"Si Irene? may meeting ba?" Greggy asked his wife's secretary, Jane. 

"Ah, wala naman po sir. Nagre-review lang po siya ng audits" Jane answered. Greggy nodded at pumasok na. Irene didn't even notice her husband's presence dahil talagang nakatuon ang atensyon nito sa tambak ng papeles na nasa mesa niya. 

Greggy cleared his throat to get his wife's attention. 

"Ang busy naman for a first day," he teased, nakatayo lang ito sa harap ni Irene while both of his hands are on his pockets. "Oh, sorry. I didn't notice you there." Irene replied and continued reading.