Chapter 6: Be well-mannered

     Awkward. Kasalukuyan kaming nasa kusina ng hotel. As what I've said high class itong hotel na pinag-stay-an namin kaya may kusina ito na kasinlaki ng dalawang apartment na inuupahan ko. Nakaupo lang kaming tatlo at pinapalibutan ang mesa. Nasa kaliwang bahagi ako habang si Herrick nama'y nasa aking kanan pero metro ang pagitan habang nasa harap naman namin si Andrius na pinagsasalit ang atensyon sa aming dalawa ni Herrick. Tinignan ko si Herrick at nakapangalumbaba lamang ito habang nakatitig sa kawalam na tila ba'y wala itong pakialam sa paligid. Inikot ko lang ang aking mata.

     Narinig kong tumikhim si Andrius bago nagsalita. "Mind telling what the hell happened?" Bumaling ang atensyon niya sa akin. Alam niya sigurong hindi sasagot itong isang kasama namin na patuloy lang na nakatitig sa kawalan habang pinapalo ang mga daliri sa mesa.

     "Nothing that should concern you. It's not as if may ginawang kababalaghan," sabi ko habang binibigyan ng matalim na tingin si Herrick. Hindi lang dapat ako ang sumagot dito sa kaibigan niya. Ano siya, sinuswerte? On second thought, wala nga pala kaming dapat e-explain. Hayst, self.

     "What's your say with it Herrick?" tanong niya rito. Akala ko hindi na sasagot si Herrick pero umimik din ito.

     "We did nothing don't worry," kaswal ma sagot nito. "but actually, something happened before you found us in that position," dagdag niya. Wait, what? Akala ko ba okay lang ito?

     Nilingon ko siya at pinandilatan. He just smirk at me. "Do you know where I got these bruises?" The question was for Andrius but he got his gazes to me na parang nang-aasar.

     "I wouldn't ask here bro if I know," inis na pahayag ni Andrius. Isa pa ito, eh. Kung hindi niya pa kami pina-explain hindi siguro ako malalagay sa kahihiyan ngayon.

     "Well, before that happened," nambibitin nitong saad. "something happened between my secretary and me." Umusad siya ng upo papunta sa akin habang umakmang hawakan ang likuran ng aking upuan.

     "WHAT/ANO?" Sabay naming saad ni Andrius. Tinignan ako ni Andrius. Binigyan ko si Herrick ng matatalim na tingin pero hindi niya iyon pinansin.

     "Sorry, did I hear it right? May nangyari sa inyong dalawa ni Lorraine? As far as I know hindi naman ako inabutan ng oras nang lumabas ako so I assume it was a quickie then?" Ano? Pinagsasabi rin ng isang 'to?

     "What the hell. Pinagkakaisahan niyo ba ako?" Galit kong tanong habang naka-cross ang mga kamay.

     "Hindi," sagot ni Andrius. "But seriously, in all honesty, may nangyari sa inyo?" Hindi makapaniwalang tanong niya sa kaniyang boss.

     Before Herrick could finish his stupid attempt of making things funny ay inunahan ko na siya. "Nothing happened between us okay," I clarified. "I just hurt him because I went accidentally in the shower and--" Naputol ang aking sasabihin ng magsalita si Andrius.

     "You went to the shower and he was there?" Umarko ang labi nito. "So may nangyari nga?"

     "Are you an idiot or not? Just let me finish talking." Nagnod naman ito kaya itinuloy ko na ang pagpapaliwanag. "So I went ACIDENTALLY in the shower. Akala ko naman kasi wala ng tao dahil hindi nakalock ang pintuan but when I turn my gaze, nagsho-shower si Herrick and it just so happens that there is no shower curtain separating him."

     "So that explains the swell in his forehead? I don't see why it could lead to that unless natakot ka kasi lumapit siya sa 'yo." He looked to Herrick to ask for confirmation. Ang tatay niyo naman ay nagnod lang habang nakacross-arms. "So you see his thing?" Andrius is now starting to laugh. Ano ba namang pjnag-iisip nito.

     "That's an obvious question," pambabara sa kaniya ni Herrick. "Of course she saw that."

     "Hindi ah. I mean yes nakita ko pero hindi." Maski ako ay hindi maintindihan ang naisagot ko. "My point is... I didn't really see his thing... For long."

     "But that doesn't change the fact that you've seen his. Nag-ano ba kayo?" Ano ba naman itong mga tanong ni Herrick.

     "Anong ano?" Tanong ko pabalik.

     "Of course may nangyari," sabat ni Herrick. Boredom is running away his mind. Arghh, this is taking too long. Aren't we supposed to be dealing about stuffs concerning our business trip? "We nearly make-out," cool nitong saad habang ginagawang unan ang kamay.

     "I don't think that's the right word Mr. Herrick. Make out is never the right term. I almost kicked you out."

     "You did kick me but not to the point of my being out. But you still seduce me." Sinabi niya iyon habang tinitignan ako. Eh, mokong pala ito eh. Tinignan ko siya mula ulo hanggang paa. Although his face is an inch from me, I managed to scan his whole. He plants a smirk when he notices that. Sinong mag-aakala na may ganito palang side ang kinikilalang Herrick ng lugar?

     "No thanks. I'm good," I said, turning my face away from his.

     "Why do you sound disgusted. Sa mukha kong ito, mapili ka pa." Narcissist. Para namang hindi slang mag-tagalog.

     "Anong oras pala ang business meeting, Andrius," pag-ibaba ko ng topic. I sense Herrick moved away from me which is good. His position was awkward.

     "Change topic ka lang, eh," sabi ni Andrius while pouting. Awhh, he looks cute. I wanna pinch him pero ayaw ko siyang sabihan nun. For all I know, may lahi rin itong Herrick. "But to answer your question, we would be having the meeting at 9 in the morning—"

     "So that means you have to rest early 'coz we still have work to do," pagputol ni Herrick kay Andrius, his eyes focused on me while both his hands interlocked above the table.

     "Okay, Sir. Got that." I stood and began walking away.

     "That's rude, Ms. Reyes. You should notify us if you're leaving during our discussion." Napaikot ako sa aking mga mata.

     "But Sir, we just finished what we're talking," I said without turning my face back, which means I stood with my back facing Herrick's back also.

     "Even so. You need to be well-mannered which means oblige what I say as long as it does not hurt you physically or mentally."

     *That goes against my mental being.* I thought but decided not to say it aloud. I rolled my eyes once again before sitting next to Herrick. Narinig kong tumawa ng mahina si Andrius so I glared at him. Mas lalo lang itong tumawa.

     "Shut up," ani Herrick.

     "Sorry, I just can't keep my laughter specially to your secretary." He doesn't sound sorry to me at all.

     "Sir, can I already go?" tanong ko kay Herrick. His position was still the same but he kept a straight face to me.

     "You can go." Hayst naman. Pinabalik lang ako para rito.