The Dreamers

VIII

"Ayoko na!" Eds shouts in the middle of the workday.

I laugh and throw a crumpled piece of paper at him. 

"Malapit na, konting tiis na lang." 

We are all stressed out as the launch for the Pay-It-Forward project is nearing. This was the week-long event we proposed. Sobrang dami lang talaga ng activities, kaya madaming kailangang asikasuhin. Kahit ako napapagod na, gusto ko na magsabi ng masasamang mga...words.

Aimee moved to hug Eds from the back, "Hang in there, bebe. After nito, mag-samgyup and videoke tayo!"

Pau seconds, "Hey, oo nga! I need a break. Tara, later?"

"Game!" I shout. "Kailangan ko nang ilabas lahat ng stress, kung hindi baka makasapak na ko."

"Oy, anong meron dito? Nagtatayo na ba kayo ng union?" Jess barges in our area.

I laugh, "Oo, ikaw ang una naming papatalsikin kasi wala kang silbi."

"Ain't that the truth." Javi spoke from behind Jess.

Nagulat kaming lahat nang makita si Javi. 

It's been two weeks since he left SV for a regional conference. I study him and he seems relaxed. Aba malamang, kahit naman wala siya dito e katakut-takot na revisions ang inabot ng proposal namin. Parang di din sya nawala. Presensya lang nya ang nakabawas sa stress ko.

He suddenly turns to my direction and our eyes meet. I immediately look away. 

It's been more than a month since our conversation in the car, but I remember it clearly. How embarrassingly honest I was. Ako lang naman yata ang awkward because he's still his usual annoying self.

"O may pasalubong si Mayor para sa lahat." Jess drops the paper bag in our common area and all three of them scramble towards it. Sumali na din ako para di halatang naiilang.

"At bilang kapalit, sino ang maguupdate kay Papi Javi sa PIF launch?" masayang tanong ni Jess.

All of us went back to our seats and pretended to be busy. Eds picked up his phone and dialed someone. Aimee did the same, and Pau grabbed a folder and walked out of the common area. I pretended to type something on my computer.

I hear Javi laugh and Jess grumbled. "Hoy, bat kayo nangiiwan! Ano ba yan!" 

He started walking closer towards us. I realize na may kausap talaga si Aimee and Eds (or baka sila ang magkausap) at akmang gagayahin ko sila nang biglang ikutin ni Jess ang upuan ko para mapaharap sa kanya.

"Ay palaka ka." I exclaim in surprise.

"Valerie Anne, dahil ikaw ang walang kausap at alam mo both ang communication and execution plan for the PIF launch, I volunteer you as tribute." Jess cooned.

I feel Javi was looking at me so I avoided his stare by glaring at Jess.

"Ako dapat may pinakamaraming pasalubong." I say and Jess laughed.

I stand up, grab my notebook and laptop, and moved to follow Javi to his office.

I sat opposite him, fired up my laptop, opened my notebook—all without looking at him—and was about to start speaking when he beat me to it.

"Nakakamiss din pala, ano."

Ano daw, put****na.

I look up and see him looking at me while smiling.