Waves Of Her

Chapter 9: Beyond

CHAPTER 9

"Earth to Anastasia!" pagtawag sa akin ni Resthin malapit sa may tenga ko.

"Ay, gwapo!" halos mapatalon naman ako sa upuan sa gulat.

Ibinaling ko ang paningin ko sa kaniya. It's lunch break so nasa may lounge area kami ngayon sa 4th floor at nagpapahinga. 

"Where, Tasia? Mind sharing?" maloko niyang tanong habang taas-baba ang kaniyang kilay.

Resthin Nayeli Ortiz. Siya ang pinakaclose kong kaibigan sa lahat ng mga nakilala kong katrabaho dito sa AllRise. We met way back our job interviews.

Sa takot na walang maisagot sa interview kinabukasan, nagreview at nagresearch ako no'n buong magdamag tungkol sa mga possible questions pati na rin sa mismong job description ng pag-aaplyan ko 'cause like I said, it's not related to the degree I hold.

I can pretty much handle answering questions on the spot but my mind just won't let me rest with never ending what if's and unfortunate things that could possibly happen.
 
And for some reason, pareho kami ni Resthin no'n na tumatakbo papunta sa loob ng building dahil late na nga kaming dumating but to our surprise, kami pa pala ang maaga.

I don't know what happened but there's been an hour of delay, which I was thankful for because I met my best friend.

To pass some time back then, we awkwardly started a conversation as strangers but after a while, we grew comfortable of each other. Na para bang matagal na kaming magkakilala kung magkwentuhan kami no'n. She's bubbly and kind kaya naman agad kaming naging close. 

Sa HR Department siya kabilang as a HR Recruiter at katulad ko, tatlong taon na rin siyang nagtatrabaho dito.

"Nasa ilalim ng dagat." wala sa sarili kong sagot.

I boredly rested my chin on my hand as I watch a flock of people busily walking down the street - holding umbrellas, some are running - through the transparent windows of this building.

Umuulan kasi ngayon. Hindi naman ganoon kalakas pero sapat na para makuha ang atensiyon ko. Natetempt tuloy akong lumabas. Gusto kong magtampisaw sa ulan.

I heaved out a sigh.

Ansarap siguro sa pakiramdam na maglakad ulit na parang normal lang. 'Yong feeling na wala kang iniisip na bagay na hindi maiintindihan ng iba kasi magmumukha ka lang na baliw.

Yesterday, we received a memo invitation about an upcoming program for all employees in line with mental health awareness month. Kaya kami nandito ngayon.

"What ghorl? Is he a sea creature?" naguguluhan niyang tanong.

Natawa naman ako saka napailing-iling. She doesn't get jokes and sarcasm that well.

"Maybe" I shrugged.

Sinundan ko siya ng tingin nang dahan-dahan niyang ilagay ang kaniyang kamay sa balikat ko. Pagkatapos ay niyugyog niya ako ng pagkalakas.

"Tasiaaa, what's happening to you ba? You've been quiet lately! And you don't share things with me na. Malapit na ako mag sulk niyan." nguso niya sa akin.

Aray ko, naalog ata utak ko. But oh my! She's so cute when she speaks conyo. She's half-Puerto Rican and was raised there until she was 15 years old that's why she can't speak straight Tagalog yet.

"Resthin, 'wag ka na magtampo. My mind just keeps wandering off lately" ani ko.

"¿Qué volá? [What's up?] What's bothering you, sister?" nag-aalala niyang tanong with an accent.