Black Cats

Chapter Ten

Zed Montoya

MATAPOS ang meeting, umalis agad si Charmaine ng opisina. Galit ata. Hindi nagpaalam sa amin na uuwi na siya.

Umiling na lang ako. Sinarado ko ang laptop at kinuha na ang mga gamit ko. Tumayo na din si Andrew.

"Is Charmaine okay?" tanong ko.

"Pardon me for my cousin's weird behaviour," maasim na sabi ni Andrew, "She's an introvert."

"Everyone in the office is trying their best to reach out. Palagi namin siyang niyaya ni Danica na lumabas para maglunch. Kaso palagi siyang tumatanggi. Tuwing meryenda, mas gusto magkulong sa office niya. Kung hindi pa tumapon ang inumin at pagkain sa table, hindi pa siya lalabas para sabayin kami sa dinning area. Charmaine is very professional. Probably too much. Outside office matters, she'll have none of us."

Bumuntong-hininga si Andrew.

"Naglalaway si Haru at Miko sa French macaroons ni Charmaine. Tinitignan ng Project Assistants ang pagkain niya tuwing meryenda tapos walang nahahalata ang pinsan mo. Ayaw mamigay."

"What do you want me to do about it, Zed?"

"Well, I'm sorry for barging in," paninindigan ko, "But if your cousin is going to work here everyday, I'm not going to let her ignore us as if we don't matter. Charmaine must learn how to make friends. Otherwise, I may have to put up a Toxic hazard sign on her door to cautious everyone."

"Zed. Zed. Zed." Pumikit si Andrew nang mariin. "If this issue is not detrimental to the work quality of the institute—" Pinutol ko ang sasabihin niya.

"But it is! You see, I am trying my best to lighten up everyone given our difficult and challenging work environment. Kapag lumala ang toxicity na dala ni Charmaine, kapag may hindi siya nakasundo sa mga staff, dagdag mo pa ang hirap ng trabaho namin, hindi na ako magugulat na may gusto mag-resign sa kanila. So yes, this is a problem we cannot ignore."

Asar na asar ako nang bigyan ako ni Andrew ng ngisi. "Charmaine is a tough nut to crack. My cousin is bigger than the iceberg that sunk the Titanic. Are you suggesting you wanted her to befriend everyone? Gusto mo siya kaibiganin?"

"What's wrong with that? A person needs to feel safe and belong."

"I strongly advice against it. Hindi mo siya kilala, Zed. Leave her alone. She simply does not make friends."

Humalukipkip ako at tinaasan siya ng kilay. "Then, I will teach her."

Andrew giggled. "Aren't you so determined?"

"She's just scared, I believe. But I made her laugh for sometime, I know I can wreck the walls that surround her."

"Is she really worth it?"

"Yes," tinagis ko ang bagang, "Between you and Charmaine, I think she's more capable of creating meaningful relationships."

Doon lang nawala ang mayabang na ngiti ni Andrew. "Shut up. Hindi mo ako kilala."

"Exactly, Andrew. Exactly. Ilang taon na kita kasama, hindi pa rin kita kilala. Call me crazy, I could not careless. But when I saw her smile on the park, under the sun, I knew it was real and she's not faking it. Unlike someone I know."

"I've always hated you, Montoya."

Huminga ako nang malalim. "I know and it made me so glad. You care for no one but yourself. Charmaine is not like you. I can feel it. She's just shy and scared that it comes out as snob and insensitive. Kailangan niya ng totoong kaibigan."

Ngumiti siya ng sarkastiko sa akin. "At ikaw ang magiging totoong kaibigan ng pinsan ko? Ha! For all I know, people like you craved ego boost. Gusto mo ipatunayan sa lahat na ang bait mo. Anghel. Santo. Ayoko na ginagalaw mo ang mga bagay na hindi mo naiintindihan. Sa totoo lang, galit ako sa 'yo. Kaya sige. Hahayaan kita sa gusto mo. In fact, let me give you a motivation." Andrew took his car keys from his pocket and dangled it in the air. "Charmaine is not capable of calling you a friend. Prove me wrong and my Mustang BULLITT is yours," he jangled the keys louder and faster.

Umuwang ang bibig ko. Nasilaw ako sa susi matapos itong tamaan ng mga ilaw sa kisame. "And what do you want from me if I lose?"

"I want you and Danica to resign," gigil na sabi niya, "Tatanggalin ko kayong dalawa sa Narra Environmental Institute."

"Andrew, this is crazy. I don't need your stupid Mustang to prove something."

"Are you sure about that?" lumawak ang ngiti niya, "Trust me. You and I needed to seal this deal. Kapag ayaw mo na kay Charmaine, sabihin mo sa kaniya ang tungkol sa pustahan natin at magagalit siya sa 'yo."

"Bakit ko naman gugustuhin na galitin ang pinsan mo?"

"Charmaine will not let you off the hook so easily once she loved you. Her anger will be your shield, your saving grace."

Napalunok ako.

"On my end, I want you and Danica out of my sight."

Tinagis ko ang bagang at kinuyom ang kamao. Kumakabog nang malakas ang dibdib ko sa takot.

"Fine, Andrew," pikit-mata, "You and I have a deal."