Chapter 4: "What if I do?"

                                   Andrius

     "So, I've heard about the news this morning. Muntik mo na raw alisin si Mark sa trabaho," agad kong tanong kay Herrick nang maabutan ko siya sa kaniyang office habang may tinitipa sa kaniyang computer. I did not bother to knock. No point in doing that. We are best friends for long that I can do things like that without being fired.

     "News spread like wildfire as they say." His sigh indicates annoyance. "I was close to firing him had that Lorraine interfered." Nagsalubong laagad ang kilay niya ng banggitin niya ang pangalan ng bagong sekretarya.

     Napatawa ako ng mahina pero sapat para marinig niya iyon. "Ano bang ginawa niya? Did she stop you literally right on the spot? I mean, sumunod ka ba nang sinabi niyang, 'No, don't fire him.' Ganoon ba iyon?" I am half teasing him. I know he won't oblige to commands like that. As what he said over and over again, he is the boss of his own life.

     "Of course no. What the hell are you thinking?" Oh, 'di ba sabi ko ang daling mapikon nito. Haha.

     "If that was not the case, then what is it?" tanong ko sa kaniya.

     "I told her to bring the sample cloth that Mark guy prepared but what I received was another type; a good thick sample from where the hell she got it, " inis nitong sagot.

     "If that's the case, why haven't you talk to her?"

     "I did, man. I did. Only was that, after I dismissed Mark and she defied me." He adjusted the tie. It's a sign that he is exhausted, vexed, or mad. "I told her if that Mark would make a single mistake, then I would bring her down with him. Magsama silang mabulok sa kung saan man sila mapunta," sabi niya.

     I stiffle a laughter and I saw him from my peripheral view, sending daggers to my direction. This often happen. Tatawa ako dahil sa kaniyang pagtatagalog. Alam naman niya. Iyon nga lang ay slang na ito. Marahil dahil he spent his years before sa America. His mother is half-british and half-Filipina. Ang namayapa namang ama niya ay isang pure American. Ang 'Garrison' ay isa sa mga pinakasikat na pangalan sa buong bansa. Their company holds the richest clothing globally with an estimated annual amount of $2billion in each major company which is here in the Philippines and the other one is New York, America.

     "Sorry, man. I just couldn't hold my laughter when it comes to your speaking in Tagalog. It just feels odd. Ang ibig kong sabihin, yes, okay naman dahil it was still the same construction as before noong hindi ka pa pumupunta sa America but now, never mind," tatawa-tawa kong saad.

     "Fuck off. Get out of here before I slit your throat," pagbabanta nitong saad. Tumayo na ito sa kaniyang pagkakaupo at akmang susuntukin ako sa mukha nang kumaripas ako ng takbo. Hindi pa man nakakalabas ay sumigaw ako. "That new secretary of yours is a chick. Why can't you make her preg—" Hindi pa man ako tapos sa pagsasalita nang makita kong may lumipad na marker papunta sa akin. Mabuti na lang at mabilis ang reflexes ko at madali ko itong nailagan. Ha, gonggong.

     Napailing akong pumasok sa aking opisina. Herrick is fun teasing to sometimes not until he decided to throw whatever he sees in your direction. Buti na lang at marker lang ang nandoon. Speaking of marker, sa sekretarya siguro iyong binato niya. As far as I know, Herrick is not a fan of writing when he took hold of the company. He used to write a lot when we were at school. Napagkamalan pa nga ang sulat niya ng isang professor namin na sulat-kamay ng babae raw. But after his father passed this company to him, ayaw na niyang magsulat. Nakakaubos daw ito ng oras. Naintindihan ko naman. Ikaw ba naman ang mag-asikaso ng sandamakmak na trabaho. Tignan lang natin kung hindi ka aantokin. Buti nga at hindi ko pa nakita miski ni isang beses na natulog si Herrick habang nagtatrabaho. He's a workaholic type of person.

     "Hi, Andrius." I saw her standing at the door. I know her. Just as how much I know her affiliation with Herrick. Not that I consider her someone dangerous or some sort. Well, not to the extent of considering her a threat to the company and Herrick's private life. However, I consider her a threat to my personal space.

     "What are you doing here, Melissa? Hindi ba dapat nasa ibang bansa ka at nag-aaral ng medisina? Or you failed again? Tell me, how many money do you like your parents to spend on you para lang may maipagmalaki sila na perpekto at matalinong anak?" I am trying to compose myself.

     "That's rude. Is that your best welcome greeting to love ones?" She said while pouting. As if that action made her cute.

     "First of all, you are not a loved one. Second, you don't deserve a welcome greeting." pambabara ko sa kaniya. Her presence alone irks me. Kahit hindi pa siya magsalita kung maramdaman ko na malapit lang ang kaniyang presensya sa akin ay naiinis ako. Idagdag mo pa ang mukha nito na puro kolorete at nagmumukhang clown na dahil sa kapal ng make-up. God, save her.

     "I thought we are more than just friends. Don't you consider me as a younger sibling?"

     "Don't dream about it, Melissa. Please get out of my room," inis ko pa ring sabi sa kaniya.

     "On the second thought, we can't consider the part of being siblings. If that's the case there would be incest which is highly illegal." Hindi ko na pinakinggan ang kaniyang sinabi.

      I rummage through the cabinet which contains the plan that was revised on the corner of my office. I personally asked this from the manager of their branch upang makita ko ang type of cloth na ibinigay ni Lorraine kay Herrick as sample one.

     I must say, the type of cloth matches the country perfectly. The blueprint of the next building on the other hand, lacks information. Nakita ko si Melissa na pilit binabasa ang papers. Nagmumukha na itong giraffe dahil sa taas ng leeg nito. Tinakpan ko nga at mabilis na ibinulsa. Bahala nang mapunit.

     "What are you trying to be secretive about? Were you even listening to me?" Anger was evident in her voice.

     "Don't put your nose in other people's business Melissa. Back- off at baka makalimutan ko pang babae ka," pagbabanta ko rito.

     "Ouch, that hurts. In what way are you going to hurt me? Did you forget what happened between us?" She mocks. Ito ang rason kung bakit galit na galit ako sa babaeng ito. Palagi niyang hinahalungkat ang nangyari sa amin noon.

     "Happened between us? You got me drunk. I don't know what I was doing. Who knows you put a date rape drug there just to bed me. Ano bang kailangan mo sa akin? Money, body, or both?" Nanglilisik ang mata na tanong ko.

     Tumingin siya sa aking mukha. Without breaking eye contact ay lumapit siya sa akin. As if it the movement would made her hot. "I want both Andrius," sabi niya habang hinahaplos ang aking mukha. Nakakakilabot.

     "Well, sorry to say for the nth time but I don't want the same with you. Alam mo kung anong gusto kong mangyari? Return to where you belong. Just get out of my sight already before I kill you," Pagbabanta ko sa kaniya. Buti naman at sumunod ito although I know she wasn't moved by what I said.

___________

     "Bestieee, kumusta naman ang work mo? Sorry I haven't been involved in your love life, ha. Wala kasing masyadong signal sa probinsya." Pinagsasabi nitong love life?

     "The pot calling the kettle black, " bato ko sa kaniya. Alam naman naming pareho na wala rin siyang love life.

     "At least nagkaroon na ako noon," she said in a matter of fact. "So, how is your live life? May improvement na ba?" She asked. I just rolled my eyes.

     "There is no such thing as love life so don't expect that. About naman sa trabaho, aside sa buang na CEO, I don't have any other comments." I lie on my back. I'm trying to get some sleep here tapos dumating ang bruhang ito.

     "Wow, you must be so tired. Ang dami siguro ng heavy work, ano?" Tanong ni Amanda but I just ignored her. Ang bigat na ng talukap ng aking mga mata. Gusto na talaga nilang magpahinga. Mukha ng na-sense naman ito ni Amanda dahil sinabi niyang, "Sleep well sis. Dream good." *Hayst, pati ba naman sa tulog ay gusto niya akong guluhin* I thought later when I saw a figure in my dreams, ordering me around.

__________________________________________

 

                                 Amanda

I am scrolling through my F******k, trying to search for that Herrick guy but to my disappointment, wala siyang F******k although there were some other people women specifically who caught pictures of him. That includes unnecessary details like their crushing on Herrick.

     I search him on the web and was surprised. I mean, alam ko namang mayaman siya but not to the extent of knowing he is an heir to large amount of money. Nahihilo ako kakabasa sa mga impormasyon kaya kumuha muna ako ng tubig.

     Nang bumalik ako sa aking inuupuan, narining kong may pinagsasabi si Bestie pero hindi ko masyadong marining. Lumapit ako sa kaniya at inilapit ang aking tenga sa kaniyang bibig.

     "Bwisit ka talaga, Herrick. Bwisit." Natawa na lang ako sa kaniyang pinagsasabi. She sleep-talk sometimes.

     Bumalik na rin ako sa aking pagkakaupo. When my phone rang, I almost dropped it, buti na lang at naki-cooperate si reflexes kaya nasalo ko ito.

     "Where's Lorraine?" He asked without preamble when I answered the call. Wow, ha. Kung makatanong parang asawa, I thought to myself.

     "Why?" Agad kong tanong pabalik. Mahirap na at baka kunin na naman niya ito.

     I was surprise when he said the next thing, " I'm dropping by. Where does she lives? You there right now?" Sunod-sunod nitong tanong.

     "Oo, nandito ako sa apartment ni bestie. Binabantayan ko siya," sagot ko na lang kahit sa totoo niyan ay nagpapalipas lamang ako ng oras dito. Knowing bestie, I know she can handle most of the things on her own. Ibinaba na niya ang tawag. Tignan mo ito, wala talagang manners. Hindi man lang marunong mag-bye.

     I decided na maidlip muna. I'm kind of tired too pero not to the extent of Lorraine's tiredness. Our farm in the province was quite a lot to handle but base on my best friends behavior, I think mas mahirap sa company na bago niyang pinagtatrabahuan.

     Moments later, nakarinig ako ng katok sa pintuan. Aga ko 'yung binuksan. Tumambad ang mukha ni Herrick. He seemed perplex, his eyes looked down on me lackadaisically, whole figure screams authority. I opened the door for him. He was welcomed by the snoring face of Lorraine. Yes, nagtatrabaho ako sa kaniya pero mas bago ako kaysa kay bestie. My job is to look out for Lorraine dahil iyon ang ipinapagawa ni Sir Herrick.

     *"Hi, Sir," bati ko sa boss ni Lorraine nang nakita ko ito sa school. Wala na masyadong tao ngayon dahil uwian na at napansin ko siya na parang nagtatago. Takot siguro na makita ng mga fangirls niya. He motion for me to come closer. Ano kayang kailangan nito? Sinabihan niya akong may iaalok siyang trabaho.*

     *"I need you to update me where my new secretary went or who she is with," ang saad nito. Umakto akong nililinis ang tenga. Baka nabingi lang ako.*

     *"Ha? But I'm not always with her. And why the hell would you want me to look out for her?" Sunod-sunod kong tanong.*

     *"It's just a simple job. It won't taint your friendship," cool nitong sabi habang ibinulsa ang dalawang kamay.*

     *"You still haven't replied my previous question, Sir. Why do you want update for my bestfriend. Gusto mo ba siya?" The words came out before I could stop them.*

     *"What if I do?" Balik tanong nito. Tignan mo nga 'tong taong 'to. Ako ang unang nagtanong pero sinagot din niya ng tanong. Ang— wait what? Did I hear it right, gusto niya si bestie? "Nah, I don't. I just don't want to be infected with virus or other sickness that might be associated with her," bawi naman nitong sabi.*

     Umupo si Herrick nang nakaharap sa natutulog na Lorraine. Wala siyang kaalam-alam na minamasdan pala siya nito. Tinignan ko si Herrick. Ang mukha niya ay nababalutan ng misteryo. Hindi mo mawari kung anong nasa isip niya pero sa palagay ko'y natamaan ito.