"Tell him to leave."
"Pero---"
"Do what I said."
"Okay po."
Suzy Madrig, my primary secretary, left my office after I told her to do so. I continued checking some business plans while I was listening to a classic song. But someone interrupted what I was doing just because he wanted to give me a pizza.
"You simply ruined my day!" I almost shouted.
"Akala ko kasi gusto mo ng pizza." His facial expression was telling me that he was sad but I didn't care. All I knew was that I didn't want him to come near me.
"I can buy pizza whenever I want and I don't need you to buy me a pizza. I don't need you." I couldn't understand myself kung bakit inis na inis ako sa kaniya kahit na wala naman siyang ginagawang masama sa akin.
"I must go. Enjoy your pizza," malungkot niyang sabi.
"Okay."
And when he left my office, I regained my enthusiasm and continued checking the business plans on my desk. When I felt hungry, I ate the pizza that he gave to me. Then, I silently thanked him for it.
"Ma'am?"
Tuluyan akong nagising nang marinig ko ang boses ng secretary ko. I had slept in the office after eating the pizza.
"Hmm. Why?"
"Dumidilim na po sa labas. Wala po kayong dalang kotse, 'di ba? Kailangan mo na pong makahanap ng masasakyan ngayon. Tayo nalang din po ang nandito. Naka-uwi na silang lahat."
"Grabe, napasarap ang tulog ko. Thanks for waking me up, Darlene."
"Welcome, ma'am. Mauna na rin po ako."
"Take care."
"Kayo rin po."
Nag-ayos na ako ng mga gamit ko kaagad matapos makaalis ni Darlene. I texted my driver to pick me up before I went outside the office. But to my surprise, I saw someone waiting for me.
"Hatid na kita."
"My driver is on his way and---."
I wasn't able to continue what I was about to say because I received a text from my driver.
He couldn't make it.
"Oh, ano raw? Masusundo ka ba?"
"No. Magta-taxi nalang ako."
"Get in. I'll drive you home."
"No, Sai. You don't need to do this."
"I want to do this."
"I can manage. Magta-taxi nalang talaga ako. Ayaw kong magka-utang na loob."
"Don't think like that. Para namang hindi ko kaibigan si Gara na kaibigan mo rin. Hindi ka magkaka-utang na loob kapag nagpahatid ka sa akin. At isa pa ako naman ang nag-alok."
"Okay."
Ayaw ko nang humaba ang usapan kaya pumayag na rin ako na magpahatid. We were both quiet the whole time we were together inside his car. I didn't have something to say so I kept quiet. When we reached my house, I thanked him sincerely. Then, he went away.
At the back of my mind, I was thankful that he was there for me. But at the same time, I was sad because I knew that he would not be happy if he kept on pursuing me. Naiinis na rin ako sa sarili ko kung bakit hindi nalang ako maging masaya at tanggapin siya sa buhay ko. There was the feeling of uncertainty. I knew that I wasn't ready to let him in.
"Idaaaaa!"
"Garaaa! Why are you here?"
I immediately came near her to give her a hug. "Why are you here, ladybug?"
"Anong ladybug? Pero dedma na. I'm here dahil dito ako matutulog sa bahay mo! Tabi tayong matulog ah!"
"Sure! I'm grateful na dinalaw mo ako. Kumain ka na ba?"
"Hindi pa nga eh hehe."
I freed her from my hug. "Magbibihis lang ako ah. Mauna ka na sa kitchen."
"Sige-sige. Tapos magkukuwento ka kapag matutulog na tayo ah?"
"I will."
Tumuloy na ako sa kuwarto para magpalit ng pangbahay na damit.
I didn't waste any time after fixing myself. Dumiretso ako kaagad sa kitchen at masayang naupo sa favorite spot ko. Everything was ready since I had Manang Apple with me. Sobrang sipag niya at ramdam ko talaga na may malasakit siya sa akin. I was with her since I was seven years old. Nang mag-decide ako na tumira na sa sarili kong bahay ay sumama talaga siya sa akin. Masuwerte ako dahil hindi niya ako pinababayaan.
"Manang Apple, kumain na ho tayo."
"Busog pa ako, Ida. Katatapos ko lang kumain ng cassava cake na ipinadala ng anak ko kanina. May itinira ako para sa'yo. Kunin mo nalang doon sa kabilang table."
"Salamat ho!"
"Walang anuman, hija. Sa sala lang muna ako ah. Manonoood lang ako saglit ng paborito kong teleserye. Tawagin niyo lang ako kapag may kailangan kayo."
"Sige ho, manang. Maraming salamat ho," sabi ko sa kaniya bago ako ngumiti. Masaya na siya basta mapanood niya lang ang paborito niyang teleserye.
"Kain na tayo, Ida."
"Let's eat. Medyo gutom na rin ako. Tikman mo 'yang pork adobo ni Manang Apple, sobrang sarap."
After putting some rice on her plate, she did what I said. "Yum! It tastes great ah. Manghihingi ako lagi ng pork adobo sa'yo hehe."
"Kung malapit ka lang sa area ko, ako pa mismo maghahatid sa'yo lagi. By the way, how are you? How's married life?"
"I'm good. Masaya na mahirap ang married life. Masaya dahil I'm with the man I love. Mahirap dahil hindi maiiwasan ang tampuhan minsan at marami pa akong hindi alam bilang isang asawa. But I'm doing my best. After all, I really love my husband. Ikaw, kailan ka ba mag-aasawa?"
I smiled at her. "Matagal pa siguro. Boyfriend nga wala pa ako."
"Eh, nandiyan na rin naman si Sai ah. Ikaw nalang ang hinihintay," sambit niya bago ngumiti.
"I'm not yet ready," pag-amin ko. I was not yet ready that's why I didn't want to give Sai a false hope.
"Soon, you'll be ready. I just hope na sana mahintay ka ni Sai."
Napa-isip ako sa sinabi ni Gara.
"Kumain na nga lang tayo. Eat well! Mukhang maraming niluto si manang para sa atin."
"Eat well too."
I wanted us to focus on our dinner first. Makakapagkuwentuhan naman kami bago matulog. We had beef steak, pork adobo, chicken curry, chopsuey, and fresh papaya with us.
Time passed so fast. Nang matutulog na kami, binuksan niya ulit ang usapin tungkol sa amin ni Sai. It seemed that she really wanted him for me. I just told her again that I was not yet ready. Hanggang sa napunta ang usapan sa pagkakaroon ng baby. Gusto niya raw magka-baby para makita ang mini me niya at ng asawa niya. Pero ako, hindi ko pa naiisip ang bagay na iyon.
We decided to sleep when it's already ten in the evening. Dapat kasi maaga palang nasa office na ako to do my stuff. She even said nga na masiyado na akong subsob sa trabaho samantalang mayaman na raw naman ako. I just said to her that I was doing what I love.
Itinuloy ko lang ang mga dapat kong gawin nang nasa office na ako. Being the heiress of my family's business was never easy at all. It might be also a reason why I couldn't find time for love. Or maybe it's just me who didn't want to get involved in a romantic relationship with someone. Sometimes, I really couldn't understand myself.
"Ma'am Ida, you need to sign this."
"I'll review it first. I'll just call you once it's ready."
"Okay, ma'am."
Kristine Kordon, one of my secretaries, left my office after she had handed me the papers. To be honest, hindi ko pa nababasa ang pinapipirmahan niya kaya kailangan ko pa talagang basahin kahit tamad akong magbasa. When you're in the business industry, you really need to be very careful as you can. Maraming mapagsamantala kaya hindi dapat magpalinlang.
"Ma'am? May bisita ka po."
"The who, Suzy?" I asked curiously. I wasn't expecting any visitor.
"Sai Santos, ma'am."
"Let him in."
"Sige po."
"Thanks."
After a few minutes lang kaharap ko na si Sai. Pinatuloy ko na sa office ko dahil baka may importanteng sasabihin. He sat on the chair in front of my desk with a smile on his lips.
"What brought you here?" I asked before I slightly smiled.
"Just checking if you're okay."
Bahagyang tumaas ang kilay ko sa sagot niya. I thought he was up to something important.
"I'm okay. How about you? Aren't you tired?"
"Tired of what?"
"Tired of coming here."
"No. I won't get tired of coming here to see my sunshine."
"Hmmm. Do you think your sunshine is happy every time you're here?"
I couldn't continue my work because of him and that's not making me happy.
"I'm not sure."
"Oh, okay. I'm sorry but I need to continue my work. I really need to focus. I'll call Kristine to assist you. If you need something, just tell her. Is that okay?"
"May pupuntahan din pala ako. Sorry sa abala. Bye."
"Bye."
Nakahinga ako nang maluwang nang umalis na siya dahil sa wakas wala ng istorbo.
"Miss, hindi ka puwedeng pumasok!" rinig kong sabi ni Suzy.
Before I could stand up, she had already entered my office. I chose to compose myself and smiled at her.
"How can I help you, miss?" I asked calmly kahit na hindi ko nagustuhan ang bigla niyang pagpasok sa office ko. Sosyalin siya manamit at kumilos. Baka may kaya sa buhay.
"Finally," tipid na sabi niya bago ako tinitigan mula sa paa hanggang ulo. I didn't feel any awkwardness. Akala niya siguro ma-i-intimidate ako sa kaniya. That wouldn't happen.
"Again, how can I help you?"
Bigla niya akong tinaasan ng kilay. "So, you're the woman."
"Then?" I asked sarcastically. Hindi siya marunong sumagot sa tanong. Kung anu-anong pinagsasabi.
"I'm Sai's ex-girlfriend," may pagmamalaking sabi niya with her chin up.
"I don't care. You may go." I didn't have time for her nonsense so I had the urge to be salty.
"You're a b*tch!"
"I still don't care," walang emosyon kong sabi.
Sinenyasahan ko si Suzy na tawagin ang mga guard para paalisin na ang ex-girlfriend ni Sai.
"No need to call the guards because I'll leave this stinky place immediately..."
Hindi ako umimik at hinayaan lang siyang maglakad palabas sa office. Sumunod ako to make sure na aalis na talaga siya.
"By the way, I'm Olga Iyalde."
"I don't care," walang emosyon pa ring sabi ko bago isinara ang pinto ng office ko.
Ila-lock ko na lagi ang pinto para walang makapasok na Olga.