Kabanata 1

"Mr. Almacen cancelled his lunch meeting with you for today, Sir," I informed while standing in front of Lucan's table. 

Prente siyang nakaupo habang suot ang malamig na ekspresyon sa kanyang mukha. "His reason?" 

"Emergency, Sir. He didn't give any specific reason."

Lucan reached his forehead and started massaging his temples. "Cancel our reservation in the restaurant," utos niya

"Sayang naman, sir."

He frowned. "What?"

"We can still use the reservation. Let's have lunch, Sir." The corner of my lips stretched for a wide smile. "Tayong dalawa, since Mr. Almacen can't make it." 

He eyed me with his sharp eyes. But after almost half a year working with him, I'm not bothered by it any longer. There are times that he's really scary. Ngunit nangyayari lang iyon kapag may empleyado siya na pumalpak sa kanyang trabaho. 

Pero ngayon, hindi niya 'ko madadala sa tinginan niyang iyon. My smile didn't even falter while he seems killing me using his stares.

"Do you want me to end our contract after five months, Ms. Romualdez?"

"No, Sir. You can't do that. You've been saying that for five months already but I'm still here." I confidently looked back at him. Matapos ay lalong tumamis ang aking ngiti. 

Nalukot ang kanyang noo. "Stop it. I'm tired of your shits, Ylana."

"Ako nga hindi napapagod," I murmured. 

"What?" His tone raised a bit.

Mataman akong umiling. "Dapat kasi, Lavern na lang tawag mo sa 'kin, Sir. Para Lavern lang, walang mapapagod sa pamilyang 'to!"

"What the fuck are you talking about?" His face contorted like it wasn't earlier. Though that doesn't makes him looks ugly. In fact, I like him more when he's like this. Mas gusto ko ito kaysa naman sa hindi niya ako pinapansin. 

"Nothing, Sir. You sure I'll cancel the reservation? Private room pa naman 'yon tapos tayong dalawa lang," I muttered while wiggling my brows, insinuating something. "Pag-isipan mo muna."

Nanliit ang mga mata niya sa akin. Tila mapuputol na ang pising iniingatan niya. 

So I gave up annoying him... for the meantime. "Alright. I'll cancel the reservation, Sir."

"Good--"

"Pero sabay na tayo mag-lunch. Para naman mayroon tayong quality time." Humagikhik pa ako na kaya't lalong nainis si Lucan.

"Ms. Romualdez! Fucking get out of my office, now!" 

Dali-dali akong lumabas ng opisina ni Lucan habang bahagya pa ring natatawa. 

You're so killjoy, babe.

I was chuckling while walking towards my table, just a few steps away from Lucan's office. 

In those months that I'm working with him, this is our routine. Everyday, I'll try to annoy him or flirt with him... konti lang naman. Dalagang pilipina tayo rito. 

And Lucan being a killjoy, syempre, hindi siya makikisabay sa trip ko.

He'll either give me a sharp stare or ignore what I'm doing.

I'm fine with that. Really, I like him... a bit. I'm not expecting him to like me back. That's too fictitious. The least thing I can do is to be thankful because he's not firing me despite my crazy acts.

The first time he got annoyed at me suddenly flashed back in my mind. It was weeks after I got hired. 

"Do you have a girlfriend, Sir?" I suddenly asked after telling him all his schedules for the day.

Matalim na bumaling sa akin ang kanyang mga mata. 

"What is it to you, Ms. Romualdez? Why don't you just do your work and be efficient?"

"I was just asking, Sir. Kung wala... baka naghahanap ka, pwede akong mag-apply. If you want, you can avail one week free trial, Sir."

Nahihiwagaan siyang napatingin sa akin at hindi sumagot. 

"So, do you have a girlfriend?"

I caught how his jaw clenched as his eyes darkened. "I have none, Ms. Romualdez. At isang salita pa mula sa 'yo, sa tingin ko ay mawawalan na rin ako ng sekretarya. Now, get out of my office and go back to your fucking table!"

Hindi lang iyon ang huling beses na nasigawan niya ako dahil sa mga kalokohang pinagsasasabi ko. Ngunit habang tumatagal ay nasasanay na ako sa kanya. Siguro ay nasasanay na rin siya sa akin kaya't minsan ay hindi na lang din niya ako pinapansin. Though I prefer him shouting at me than ignoring me like I am an air. Para akong tangang salita nang salita habang siya, walang pakialam.

I shook my head and stopped myself from reminiscing.

Binuksan ko ang aking laptop at akmang babalik na sa trabaho nang mag-ingay ang aking phone. 

I instantly fished my phone from my pocket. Agad ko namang sinagot ang tawag nang makita sa screen ang pangalan ng aking kapatid. 

"Ysabella," I called her name after answering.

"Ate," she whined like she isn't just a year younger than me.

"Why? I'm at the middle of my work, bilisan mo. Kapag ako nakita ng boss ko, patay tayo pare-pareho." 

Sumulyap ako sa pinto ng opisina ni Lucan, remembering how he mercilessly fired one of his employees after he caught him talking to his girlfriend over the phone in the middle of working hours on a very busy day. 

"Wait, where are you? I thought your exam is today?"

Ilang sandaling natahimik ang kabilang linya. "Hindi ako nakapagexam, Ate." 

"Ano?" Bahagyang tumaas ang aking boses. 

"W-wala pa kasing bayad tuition ko, Ate."

Agad na kumunot ang aking noo at marahas akong napahilot sa sentido. "Bakit hindi mo sinabi sa 'kin?"

She's on her last year in college already. Ilang buwan na lang makakagraduate na siya, ngayon ay sasabihin niya sa akin na hindi siya pinakuha ng exam dahil sa hindi bayad ang lintik na tuition?

"Akala ko mapakikiusapan--"

"Mapakikiusapan!" Nagtitimping pinutol ko ang salita niya. I tried to lower my voice even my throat is already itching to shout. "Paano mo gagawin 'yon, Ysabella! Jusko naman! Dapat sinabi mo sa 'kin," sambit ko na may diin ang bawat salita. 

"Kababayad mo lang kasi ng tuition ni Yarrah."

Mariin akong napapikit. "May pera pa naman ako, Ysa. Kailan ka raw pwedeng kumuha ng exam? Makakahabol ka pa ngayon?" 

"Basta raw nakabayad, ate. Pero baka bukas na ako makapag-exam."

Marahan akong napailing. I tsked. "Mag-uusap tayo sa baha--" 

"About what, huh?" 

I heard a familiar voice asked using a deep voice that made me stilled. 

Agad kong naibaba ang phone. I didn't even know if I ended the call or what. Napatayo ako at napaharap sa pinanggalingan ng boses na iyon.

I saw Lucan standing just a few steps ayaw from me. Madilim ang titig ng kanyang mga mata.

"S-Sir." I swallowed as I slowly placed my phone behind my back. 

"It's still office hours, Ms. Romualdez. I'm just informing you in case you aren't aware of that." I sense a hint of sarcasm in his voice. Kaya't bahagya akong napangiwi. 

"S-sorry, Sir. My sister called, s-she need--" 

"The hell I care with your sister?" He cutted my words. 

I lowered my head, admitting that this time, I am wrong.

"I was calling you through the intercom yet you're not answering."

Muli pa akong napangiwi. Hindi ko narinig. "I apologize, Sir. I didn--"

"Lucan."

I heard another deep voice but it wasn't familiar. Kaya't kaagad akong nag-angat ng tingin. 

"Mr. Miller," tawag ko matapos makilala ang dumating at tumawag kay Lucan. 

He nodded at me. He's one of Lucan's client. Madalas siya sa kompanya kaya at kilalang-kilala ko na rin siya. 

He's wearing his usual black suit. My eyes darted at his wavy hair who really looks like a wig but I know it's not because why would he even wear a wig? At sa tingin ko ay hindi naglalayo ang edad nila ni Lucan. 

He really looks familiar, like I've seen him before but I can't figure where. Or maybe I've seen someone who looks like him. I really am not sure. 

"Are you scolding your secretary again?" he asked as he walked towards our direction while his hands were in his pockets.

"Office hours, Miller yet she's using her phone. You know how I hate those who are..." Lucan trailed off as he started massaging the bridge of his nose. Matapos ay dismayado itong umiling.

Mr. Miller chuckled. "Come on, Luc. Chill. Let's just start our meeting." 

I don't know but there's a hint of something in Mr. Miller's voice. Like he's insinuating something other than what he said. And I find the way he said those words... soft.

Lucan's jaw tightened once more without leaving my eyes. "Check every department if they're doing their supposed jobs. Then have an early lunch, Ms. Romualdez."

I blinked after hearing his words. After what I did... he'll ask me to have an early lunch?

Hindi man lang niya ako hinintay na makasagot at agad na akong tinalikuran. 

"Stop stressing your boss, Miss." 

Namilog ang aking mga mata nang matantong kay Mr. Miller nanggaling ang mga salitang iyon. Matapos ay agad na siyang sumunod kay Lucan patungo sa opisina nito.

I slowly let my body fall on my chair while my mind's on Lucan. He's always like that. I mean, in those five months that I'm his secretary, I find it weird that every time he has a meeting with Mr. Miller, he'll always send me somewhere far from his office. 

Siguro, akala niya ay hindi ko nahahalata na tila may illegal silang transaksyon na ayaw nilang may ibang makaalam.