Paano Aaminin?

Life as we know it

I am browsing rate exhange and stocks flow today when one of the secretaries knock.

"Mr. Pangilinan" iniangat ko ang tingin ko sa babaeng tumawag sa'kin.

"We need to visit different departments today para naman makilala niyo yung mga subordinates niyo. My name is Gwen. I'll be your temporary secretary habang hindi pa bumabalik si Michael" tumayo ako at inilapag yung tab sa mesa.

"Thank you. Please lead the way" magalang namang tumango si Gwen. She showed me areas and after each visit she ticks it off her checklist. IT Department, Marketing Department, Administration, Legal Department,Accounting and Finance Department.

Isang oras na rin ang nakalipas after starting at 7:30 am.

"Ah sir last department na po tayo. Human resource. It's a team of three people. Tatlong babae." Tatango tango lang ako. Sa siwang palang kase ng pinto I already saw her. She's focused on what she's doing . Tumigil lang din naman siya noong kumatok si Gwen sa bukas na pinto.

"Hi guys, our new country manager is here. This is Mr. Donato Pangilinan."Pakilala niya sa akin.

"He will oversee the company as well as the offices around Philippines starting today." Tumingin siya sa akin.

"Sir our HR people here are Xia, Sera and Sharlene. Si Sharlene po yung HR manager so in case you want to review company process,policies and benefits you can call them. Nasa phone directory po ng direct landline niyo lahat ng department head contact  details."

"Good morning po sir" the lady named Sera said.

"Kumusta po sir? It's nice to meet you" Xia followed Sera's greeting however my eyes remained  to Sharlene.

She's wearing a leather pencil cut skirt and a peach sleveless satin top.

"Good morning Mr. Pangilinan" too stiff I see.

"Gwen can you send a calendar invite to me and miss San Pedro for a complete employee package reviews? Gusto ko ding makita kung anong developments saka changes yung naiplement na sa risk management plans natin. Please bring a copy of our current policies and procedures at lunch time"

Nakita ko kung paano niya ko pandilatan ng mata.Sorry Shar that's not going to work. Nagkatinginan yung mga kasama niya.

"Done sir." Sagot ni Gwen after maiayos yon gamit ang tab niya.

"Ladies it is indeed nice to meet you. I will be in touch in case I need assistance but for the meantime I will meet with Miss San  Pedro to discuss changes and developments I want to apply" I shake their hands one by one except Shar.

Pagkatapos na pagkatapos ay dumiretso na ko sa unang meeting with clients.
Time went by quickly. Pinipigil kong ngumisi at tumawa. Shar looks so serious. Not me though if there's anything... I am happy. Happyng happy!

"Hindi ka talaga iimik?" Tanong ko.

"Excuse you?" Mataray niyang sagot.

"Ang sabi ko how are you?"

"Ok lang ako Donny. Tapusin nalang muna natin tong review sa policies." Pansamantala kong tumahimik at saka tumabi sa kanya habang iniisa-isa niyang ipaliwanag yung laman ng binded na policy. Kung tutuusin hindi ko kailangan ng tulong niya. I already had a read pero kating-kati lang akong kausapin siya.

Tinignan niya ko ng matalim noong maramdaman niyang sinagad ko na yung pwede kong sagarin sa personal space niya.

"Konting space naman. Nasa office tayo"

"So?" Tumikhim ako. "Nobody can see us"

"Pwede kong magfile ng sexual harassment. Wag kang isip bata" napausog ako. Sa halip tuloy na maging way to ng pagaayos namin, naging totoong trabaho.

"Anong procedures halimbawang may nakadispalko ng malaking pera?" Seryoso kong tanong.

"Records, investigations, eto basahin mo" pormal niyang iniabot sakin yung papel"

Nauulol ako sa katahimikan. "Shar can't we really talk?"

"About what?"

"About us" simple kong sagot.

"Wala naman tayong dapat pag usapan" I sense aloofness to her tone.

"Marami Shar. Sobrang dami."

"Kung sasayangin mo lang din pala oras ko, Antonio babalik nalang ako sa pwesto ko" I was taken aback when she called me 'Antonio'. She sound like my mum when she talks to dad. Odd I don't hate it though.

"Nagtatrabaho pa rin naman tayo. Anong problema dito"

"No we aren't. Gusto mo pag usapan yung personal issue natin diba?"

"So may issue nga?" She stopped what she's doing.

"Let's go eat lunch outside" yaya ko.

"Ayoko"

"Sabi ko nga kaya nagpadeliver ako ng Mornay lobsters, sugpo saka freshly cut sashimi" seafood always work.

I watch as her lips formed into a thin line. I looked at her intently. Nag iisip siya. Huminga pa ng malalim. Pinigil kong matawa. I thought she changed. Turns out she's still that little girl I know at least that's what I observed until...

"No, thank you. May dala kong food saka diet ako"

"Come on hindi naman nakakataba yung food na inorder  ko"

"Salmon is fat"

"Yeah but good fat and besides you are so skinny. What diet are you talking about?"

"Mr. Pangilinan if you don't really want to finish reviewing these policies today, babalik na ko sa pwesto ko. Because of the upcoming holiday tambak ang trabaho ko. If you'll excuse me" tumayo siya. Napatayo din tuloy ako.

"I will leave these papers here. Please feel free to ask Xia or Sera for help" she excluded herself.

I can only nod and watch her walk away. Sinungaling ako kung sasabihin kong hindi ako nasaktan but she has all the rights to get angry. I forgot to keep in touch. I just thought friendships will always stay no matter how less you talk.

I can do better than this. This is life as we know it. Buti nalang second chances exist and I believe I can make it work.

I am living next to her, nothing can go wrong. I said I will take her back and I will.

______________

Author's note:

Hi thank you sa pagbabasa. Aksidenteng napublish ko to kagabi kaya kailangang gawan ng paraan. Tight ang schedule ni mamsh pero kakayanin. Sabi nga ni Shar "Gagawan ko lagi ng paraan"

Iaupload ko yung kasunod later this afternoon. Bitin din ako e.

Rasenggaaaaaan