Vexed 04: Reunion With Ex

David’s P.O.V.

“Vanessa?” I asked her again, just in case she didn’t hear me the first time.

“Yes, sir.” She paused for a while before she continued, placing her right hand on her chest. “Vanessa Jimenez.” Vanessa smiled at me, then she looked down and away. Para ngang nahihiya pa siyang makipag-usap sa akin, o baka hindi lang siya komportable.

At some point, didn’t she recognize me? Well, what a great reunion with my ex-girlfriend here! I’m happy to see her again, really. No sarcasm added.

“Have a seat, please.” I motioned her to get closer and occupy either one of the two upholstered accent chairs in front of me. “I’m David—Engr. David Cristoff Rivera.” My lips formed a thin smile, as I wore my eyeglasses again. Of course, I extended my right arm for a handshake.

She widened her eyes at an instant. She looked like her jaws instantly fell off the floor with how her mouth hung open. It seemed like she also forgot to blink, totally speechless. I guessed that she was really shocked on what I had just said. After all these years, who could have ever thought that we would see each other again?

Disbelief crossed her face as she remained silent. I even caught how many times she swallowed hard, with her chest moving up and down. Hindi siguro siya makapaniwala na nagtagpo na naman ang mga landas naming dalawa.

“Hey, Vanessa? Are you alright?” I chortled, waving my right hand in front of her.

Kanina pa kaya naghihintay ‘yong kamay ko, I wanted to tell her. I found her reaction cute, but not enough for me to fall in love with her once more. It looked like I wouldn’t have that so-called secretary-with-benefits relationship here, though.

“I—I’m sorry, Dave. Oh, I mean… s-sir,” Vanessa stuttered. She accepted my hand as her face flushed. Dalawang kamay niya pa talaga ang pinagsalikop niya sa kanang kamay ko dala ng katarantahan.

“It’s okay. It’s been a while… so, how are you?” I asked her while scanning her curriculum vitae. Now, business should take place. “You took up Business Administration in *QDMC Exclusive School for Business and Finance?”

“Yes, s-sir.” I felt her uneasiness while Vanessa was talking to me. She couldn’t even look at me straight in the eyes while biting her lower lip.

“Hmm, what if we drop the honorifics here? If you’re not comfortable with calling me sir, then feel free to call me Dave instead.” I genuinely smiled at her.

For me, I had already forgotten what happened to us a long time ago. If she would pass this interview screening, then she would have to work for me. Ayoko naman na maiilang ang secretary ko sa’kin. I had lots of priorities right now and that was the last thing I could think of here.

“I’m sorry, Dave. I—I just can’t believe that I’m talking to you right now. I mean, again… and after all these years. As in, face to face! To think that I didn’t even recognize you, really. You’ve changed a lot, but you’re more handsome than before! Oh, I’m sorry… I’m just carried away.”

Vanessa bowed her head, trying to hide her blushing face. Kung hindi lang siya nandito para sa trabaho ay iisipin kong nakikipaglandian lang siya sa’kin.

Lifting my head because I actually liked her compliment, I wouldn’t give her a plus since this was supposed to be a pure applicant interview. She had gotten sexier too, but I didn’t like her to be one of my flings as our time was definitely over!

I would not ask myself for any what-ifs, dahil ang tagal na rin niyon. Hindi man maganda ang naging closure namin noon, pwede naman kaming magsimula ulit nang bago ngayon—fresh and way too far from what we had before.

“It’s okay. Hmm, you’ve graduated last 2013 and worked at a semiconductor company until the end of 2014,” I said as I continued scanning her work experiences. “Would you mind if I ask about what did you do last year?”

Although attentive, Vanessa sighed before answering my question. “Well, I went to different Asian countries, such as Taiwan, Cambodia, and Japan, trying my luck to work abroad. Actually, I worked in Singapore for six months last year, from April to September, but I didn’t include that experience in my curriculum vitae since it wasn’t in-line with my course.”

“What work?” I raised my eyebrow while biting the end of my signature pen. It was actually Ate Diane’s Christmas gift for me, with an embossed David Cristoff on it.

Vanessa was slowly freeing herself from any tension. At the same time, she was somehow making me feel curious about her… hanggang sa para na lang kaming magkaibigan na nag-uusap dito. Na parang hindi niya ako magiging boss.

“AutoCAD Programmer. I brought my certificates, in case you wanted to see them.” She confidently smiled at me, raising her portfolio.

Well, I liked that! It was a bonus skill for a secretary.

“No need, I trust you. So, you knew how to do *AutoCAD drawings?” I wanted to make sure. Hindi naman siguro magiging kalabisan kung titingnan ko kung gaano siya kagaling dito.

“Not only AutoCAD drawings, Dave! I can even maneuver the latest *Autodesk 3DS Max software!” Vanessa said with conviction. I guessed that she was proud enough. Mukhang may ibubuga naman siya.

“Woah, okay! Then, let’s see.” I eagerly clasped my palms altogether. Then, I opened my drawer, gave her a laptop, and an average blueprint. “Do it, Vanessa. I’ll give you ten minutes.”

“Sure thing.” Nakangiti naman niyang kinuha ang blueprint at mabilis na sinimulan ‘yon sa binuksang laptop. A few minutes went by and Vanessa was already done.

Wow, she was adept! I was impressed that she just did it in less than ten minutes—knowing that it was really far from a Business Administration skill.

Pinahanga niya ako at mukhang malayo na siya sa pagiging cheer leader noon na ang tanging alam lang ay mag-cut ng klase at mag-practice para sa cheering competition nila. Kung papipiliin ako kumpara sa dalawang nauna, Vanessa did a damn great job at hindi ko iyon maipagkakaila.

“I’ll go straight to the point, Vanessa. You’re now hired as my secretary! You can start to report tomorrow morning.” I told her, with a sincere smile on my face.

“Really? Thanks, Dave! Oh, I mean… S-Sir Dave!” Vanessa blushed again. She was clearly uncomfortable with what slipped through her lips, despite her excitement.

“Hey, I said that it’s okay with me! Call me Dave if you’re more comfortable with it. Well, how about you? Do you prefer any other names aside from Vanessa?”

“Vanessa will do.”

“Alright, so I’ll see you tomorrow then. Don’t be late! I hate latecomers,” I demanded as we shook our hands again.

“Yeah, I promise I won’t. Thanks again for the opportunity! It feels surreal.”

“No, it’s nothing. You earned it. But for now, I think you should go back to Trixie. She will be the one to discuss some important items to you, such as Employee Orientation Program and the likes.”

Vanessa just nodded while fixing her things. At some point, hindi pa rin siya makapaniwala sa mga nangyari. Seven years later, here we are and she would be my secretary.

She stood up, headed towards the door, and was about to leave… when she turned around and asked me. “Hmm, Dave? C-Can I ask you something?” Vanessa shrugged her shoulders, somewhat hesitating.

“Yeah, what is it?” I frowned. I was busy reading Melissa’s emails, but I guessed I already had an idea what Vanessa’s question would be all about.

“Did you… hmm, perhaps… did you already forget about… you know, our—” she stammered. Yumuko na lang si Vanessa, so I helped her finish what she started.

“If you’re talking about what happened to us way back our high school years, the answer is yes. I’ve already forgotten about it… long time ago! We should start all over again—fresh from everything that we had in the past. I’m happy to be working with you, Vanessa… and I hope you do, too.” I smiled at her.

“Okay, hmm… same here, Dave. I’ll go ahead,” Vanessa bade her goodbye before finally leaving my office. That was when I blankly stared at something.

Yes, I had really forgotten about what happened to us and Vanessa was already forgiven. Its extent was just a handful of deceitful sand, compared to the whole ocean floor of betrayal that I would never ever forget!

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*QDMC Exclusive School for Business and Finance is just a fictional counterpart for Adamson University.

*AutoCAD is a commercial computer-aided design (CAD) and drafting software application.

*Autodesk 3DS Max, formerly 3D Studio and 3D Studio Max, is a professional 3D computer graphics program for making 3D animations, models, games and images.