WITH HER STEPS, her high heels tapped on the floor, loudly. Creating a sound that breaks the silence in the navy and white colored hallway. Kasalukuyan niyang tinatahak ang hallway na magpupunta sa kaniya sa mismong opisina ng CEO ng kompanya kung saan siya nagtratrabaho.
Her posture was screaming professionalism; from her walk to how she put her chin up. Lahat ay praktisadong-praktisado at nakuha sa ekspiryensya.
Ngunit hindi lang ito ang dahilan kung bakit niya nakuha ang maging sekretarya ng mismong nagmamay-ari ng kompanya. Michelle knows that it was all credited to her hard-work and experience for the past five years na iginugol niya sa dating kompanya na pinagsukan niya. In which, hindi nagpapatalo when it comes to the business industry at nanatiling kasama sa top ten bago at matapos niya magtrabaho para roon.
While still making her way, napapahigop ng hangin si Michelle dahil sa sakit na nararamdaman niya sa kaniyang likod. It seems that she overwork herself again since the anniversary of the company happened three days ago. She couldn't get a rest since after the anniversary, balik-trabaho muli.
Nang makarating ng pinto, she knocked on the door for three times, bago naghintay na marinig ang sasabihin ng kaniyang boss.
"Come in."
A deep voice with a hint of raspy on its edge that came inside of the office room was enough for Michelle to hold the knob and twist it before pushing it, lightly - enough to create a creaking sound. Before she stepped inside when the space was wide enough for her.
Habang naglalakad patungo sa kinauupuan ng kaniyang boss - which sa mismo nitong lamesa na nakalagay sa gitna ng kwarto, she inspected his looks - slightly wincing after her stare lands in his appearance.
With a messy hair, quite bloodshot eyes, beard growing, and disheveled expensive suit. Walang tao ang hindi makakapansin kung gaano pagod at busy ngayon ang kaniyang boss. Bigla tuloy siyang naawa dahil sa kalagayan nito.
Dahil masyado siyang na-distract ng pagka-awa niya, she didn't caught how his tired and bloodshot eyes lights up nang mapagtanto siya ang pumasok sa opisina. Ngunit, agad naman itong nawala nang makita ang folder na may logo ng kompanya na kaniyang yakap-yakap.
"Please don't tell me that that folder will be added to my pile of work," he sighed. He let his back crash to the backrest of his swivel chair while combing his black messy hair in frustration.
Michelle smiled, out of sorry. Hindi dahil sa ideyang dadagdagan niya ang trabaho ng kaniyang boss, kung 'di dahil sa nakikita niyang pagod na pagod na nga ito.
Without speaking, she placed the folder on his table. She made eye contact with her boss before replacing her smile with a genuine yet worried one.
"It's a request from Mrs. Wagner...Your mother, to be exact."
Her boss raised an eyebrow in confusion. Still staring at her, he grabbed the folder off on the table and pulled away his gaze to see what was inside of the said folder.
"A letter?" he blurted out. Bago pa man dumulas paibaba ang liham ay kinuha niya na ito sabay lapag ng folder sa lamesa. Sumulyap muna siya kay Michelle bago ito binuksan. Two ticket were displayed to him.
Nilabas muna niya ito mula sa envelope kasabay na rin ang liham at pinakita ito sa kaniyang sekretarya.
Letting out a sigh, he unfolds the letter and silently reads it.
Hello, my son.
This is your mom. I know that sending a letter is an old thing, but I know this is more efficient than sending you a message or an email since you can't accidentally ignore this. Ang gusto ko lamang sabihin sa 'yo, please take a little rest, my child. You did very well in celebrating our company's anniversary. I and your dad thinks that you deserve some time for yourself and time to relax.
Don't worry about the company. Hindi pa naman kami ganoon katanda ng dad mo kaya kami na muna ang magpapatakbo while you're in a vacation. Alam kong nagtataka ka kung bakit dalawa ang ticket, if you're brave enough...why don't you invite Michelle? But, if she declined, you must still go since I don't take 'no's' or 'buts' as an answer. Well, that's all, my child. I just hope that you will take a break from your work.
- From Your Worried Mother :(
He can't help but shake his head - smiling at the letter, especially at the sad emoticon before folding it again.
"Tickets?" patanong na naging saad ni Michelle nang makita ng malinaw ang hawak ng kaniyang boss.
"She sends a letter para i-suggest na naman na kailangan ko munang mag-take ng break from work to relax," her boss answered with a tight smile while waving the tickets before throwing them on the table, lightly.
Tinaasan naman ni Michelle ng kilay ang kaharap. "I don't think it is a bad idea," she started before gesturing him with her hand. "Lalo na't kapansin-pansin na."
He raised a brow in amusement bago nabigay ng isang nakakalokong ngiti. "You're the one to talk."
Michelle shakes her head, but a smile on her lips.
Three years. Tatlong taon na rin ang nakalipas nang sinimulan niyang magtrabaho para kay Aiden. Whenever she saw him in a business magazine before she became his secretary, wala ni isang beses na hindi siya humanga rito. Kung magpapaka-totoo siya, nakaramdam siya ng ka-unting pagkainggit sa mga natatamasa ng kaniyang boss, ngunit sa mga panahon lang na sobra-sobra na ang nararamdaman niyang pagod o hindi kaya sabay-sabay na lumilitaw ang kaniyang mga problema.
Masasabi rin ni Michelle na wala na siyang ni katiting na pagka-inggit para kay Aiden. At kung ipapaliwanag niya ito, sasabihin niya sa kung sino man na proud na proud siya para sa kaniyang boss. Iyong proud na nararamdaman ng mga magulang sa mga anak nila, gan'yan na gan'yan ang palaging nararamdaman ni Michelle sa mga achievement ng kaniyang boss.
After finding herself coming back to Earth, napansin niya ang postura ni Aiden; mga mata hindi alam kung saan titingin, malakas na paglangap at pagbuga ng hangin, at ang isa sa mga mannerism nito - ang pagtapik-tapik nito ng hintuturo sa lamesa na wari'y lumilikha ng isang himig.
"May sasabihin ka ba sa'kin, Boss?" tanong niya. Tinaasan niya ng kilay ang ginawa nitong pasulyap sa kaniya.
When Aiden can't find the words that will be perfect for the situation, right now, kinuha na lang niya muli ang mga ticket sa lamesa at hinirap ito kay Michelle upang ipakita.
"Ilang tickets ang hawak ko?" tanong niya.
Michelle found the question ridiculous, even the serious expression on Aiden's face asking it.
"There are two tickets, Boss."
Nodding his head to her response, Aiden points himself.
"Ilan naman ako?"
"Boss... Are you talking about how many people have the same name as you? Or how many people who looked exactly like you?" pabirong tanong ni Michelle, finding the whole situation amusing.
"That's hilarious," pabalang na tugon ni Aiden. Ngunit kahit gano'n man ang naging tugon niya sa biro ni Michelle, hindi pa rin 'yong ang magiging rason para hindi siya ngumiti.
"What I'm saying is that...Gusto kitang i-invite, not as my secretary, but as a company," pagsisimula ni Aiden na nakatingin sa dalawang tickets between his index finger and middle finger - na para bang ang dalawang tickets na ang pinaka-interesadong bagay na nakita niya.
Because of his action, Michelle raised a brow in amusement before smiling.
"I'll be glad to become your company. But, before you invited me, nauna na si Mrs. Wagner through email."
Aiden loosened his grip on the tickets that it falls on his table as he stares at Michelle with mouth agape.
"What?"
Bago ulitin ang sinabi, pekeng umubo si Michelle at mas lalong pinatuwid ang kaniyang pagkakatayo. "Before I ordered to give you the letter, Mrs. Wagner personally sent me an email about your vacation. Sinabi nila that I must go with you to make sure that you will really go," pag-uulit at pagpapaliwanag na rin niya dahilan para makarinig siya ng isang mabigat at malalalim na buntong-hininga kay Aiden.
"Did she just order you?"
"Depends on how you visioned it," Michelle shrugged.
Matapos niyang sabihin 'yon, katahimikan ang sumunod na bumalot sa opisina ni Aiden. He just stares at the independent and smart woman in front of him. He gulped, unconsciously when their eyes met. This situation is making him feel mixed emotions that he can't clearly describe. But, one thing for sure, he's aware of the obvious fact that his heart beats faster than he can feel it thumping on his throat that causing him to gulp again.
"Kung napipilitan ka lang, Aiden, it's fine to say it. Ang mahalaga ay makakuha ka ng pahinga. You really need it," ngiting saad ni Michelle matapos mapansin ang naging gawi ni Aiden.
"Hindi ako napipilitan. It's just..." pagpuputol ni Aiden sa sinasabi bago tumingin kay Michelle. "Nevermind." sabay turo kay Michelle. "You...you also need a break."
Nakurap-kurap si Michelle habang ang tingin ay na kay Aiden pa rin. She raised a brow before smirking, playfully. "Hindi naman ito mapupunta sa isa sa mga bangayan natin, 'di ba?"
"It might be."
Tumango na lamang si Michelle sa narinig na tugon. Ngunit hindi nawala ang palarong pagngisi niya.
"So, when will it be?"
Agad namang nag-lean foward si Aiden upang masulyapan ang date of reservation bago bumuntong-hininga.
"Tomorrow."
"Gusto na talaga nila Mrs. Wagner na patayuin ka sa upuan mo," pabirong saad ni Michelle.
Aiden let himself stare at Michelle before smiling, dopily.
"Sure, they are."
It was past seven when Michelle finally got to go home. Sa totoo lang ay maaga siya ngayong nakaalis ng trabaho, maybe because of the fact na magti-take siya ng break from work and will accompany Aiden to Boracay.
Switching on the lights, she was welcomed by silence and greeted by the modern design of her house. At dahil napagplanuhan niyang kumain sa labas bago umuwi, dumiretso na lang siya papunta sa kaniyang kwarto.
Being the only survivor from a car accident, nilabanan niya ang sakit ng pag-iisa. With no one to hold on - kung minsan para bang sumusuko na siya sa buhay, no one to lean on - kung minsan para gusto niyang maging mahina, and no one to share what she feels.
She let out a shaky breath when a painful throb appeared on her back. Kahit naghihilom na ang sakit ng pagkawala ng pamilya niya, she was now facing a new pain. Kung emotional pain ang ibinigay sa kaniya ng aksidente, physical pain naman ngayon ang bigay sa kaniya ng pagkaka-overwork niya upang malimutan unang sakit na nararadaman niya.
"Great job, Michelle. You worked yourself hard, again," mapait na bulong niya bago napasinghal sa sakit nang maramdaman niya muli ang sakit sa kaniyang likod.
She pushed herself to walk towards her bed while letting out a painful grunt as she sat down - head bow down. She looked at the floor, tiredly and painful before tears seems automatically flow down on her boh cheeks as she bit her lips. It feels like someone poured a bucket of cold water over her head that made her realize that the pain is unbearable...and the fact that she is not okay.