My Boss is a Freak (Published under Pop Fiction)

37: Mira

The restaurant where Doc Vince brought me was nothing short of what I expected. In fact, mas magara pa ito sa ini-imagine kong pagdadalhan niya sa akin on our first dinner date.

The air was filled with pleasant music created by a chorus of stringed instruments. Rose petals were scattered on the floor. How Doc Vince managed to set up a candlelit dinner on such a short time, I didn't even know.

"Akala ko ba, this dinner was just out of your free time?" biro ko sa kanya.

Ngumiti lang ang gwapo kong date. "This is our first-ever date. I didn't want it to be spent on a crappy restaurant."

I shook my head, smiling nevertheless. "Effort ha?"

"You're worth every effort, Mira." He drew a chair for me, smiling.

Lahat na yata ng nerve endings ko ay kinikilig dahil sa mga pinagsasabi ni Doc Vince. I never knew that doctors could be this romantic.

When we were both seated, Doc Vince resumed the conversation. "So, how are you, Mira? Sorry if it took me this long to take you out. I could barely go home from the hospital."

I smiled. "Okay lang, Doc. Thanks for those flowers, by the way."

"My pleasure." He returned my smile. "Hey, do me a favor and just call me Vince, okay? Pakiramdam ko, nasa ospital pa rin ako dahil sa tawag mo sa akin."

Bahagya akong tumawa. "As you wish, Vince."

"Now, that's better." He grinned, reminding me of his brother. Sir Vren and Vince look an awful lot like each other.

"You know what, Mira? I sent you a message maybe three days ago, asking you out, but for some reason, you didn't reply. Not that I mind, of course. I know how busy you are. I'm just glad na natuloy na tayo ngayon."

Three days ago? Same time I went to EK with Sir Vren? What a coincidence.

"Is that so? Wala kasi akong na-receive na message galing sa'yo three days ago, Vince," I told him. Ayoko namang isipin ni Papa Vince na seen-zoned lang sa akin ang message niya.

"Really? That's weird," he replied with a confused expression. "Anyway, like I said, okay naman na 'yon dahil kasama na kita ngayon."

I smiled at him. Kaunti na lang talaga, hindi ko na mako-contain ang kilig na nararamdaman ko.

Vince and I began eating, having small talk at the same time. I learned a lot about him – including how even as a small boy, alam na niyang gusto niyang maging doktor paglaki, and the difficulties that came along with that dream because as the eldest son, he was expected to inherit Medialink.

"Ah, so dapat pala, ikaw ang nasa pwesto ngayon ni Sir Vren?" I said in mild surprise.

Vince nodded, smiling. "Dad got mad at me for a while, but eventually, natanggap niya rin na pagdodoktor talaga ang pangarap ko. He even had AMMC built as a sign that he's finally supporting my endeavor as a doctor."

"Cool," I said, wondering how awesome it would be to have mega-rich parents. Ako kaya, papatayuan din nina Mama at Papa ng auditing firm kung nagkataon na filthy rich ang angkan namin?

For my part, I told him how I wanted to be a nurse as a kid, which later evolved to a desire to be an entrepreneur, which eventually led up to me taking up Accountancy.

"Sayang naman. Kung nag-nurse ka sana, eh 'di kukunin ka namin sa AMMC," biro ni Vince sa akin. "Then you'd be working with me, not with my moody brother."

"Sinabi mo pa. Napakasungit pa naman ng kapatid mo," natatawang sagot ko sa kanya. "Ganyan na ba talaga si Sir Vren ever since?"

Vince shook his head. "Vren was actually a lot more easygoing back then."

"So, hindi siya super sungit dati?"

"Not really," Vince said. "He's already got an attitude, but at least he still got time playing in a band and all."

Muntik ko nang maibuga ang iniinom kong iced tea (I refused Vince's offer of a glass of wine) dahil sa narinig ko. "Si Sir Vren, miyembro ng banda?"

Vince chuckled at my surprise. "Yup. It's called Grey Light, and Vren is the lead vocalist as well as the rhythmic guitarist. Mostly they play slow rock and ballads."

I tried to imagine Sir Vren singing and playing guitar, but I just couldn't conjure an image of him not wearing suit and slacks.

"I know it's hard to believe," Vince said as if reading my thoughts. "But before Medialink Vren was a different version of my brother."

"Ang dami ko palang hindi alam tungkol kay Sir Vren," komento ko.

"That doesn't surprise me." Vince smiled. "Kahit ako nga na kapatid niya, hindi siya lubusang kilala. Vren is one heck of a secretive person. Hindi naman siya ganyan dati. In fact, he used to be a happy young man."

I wondered why. What happened to Sir Vren, enough to turn him into the moody person that he is now?

Gustuhin ko mang magtanong pa ay mukhang magiging intrusive na yata ang dating ko. After all, Sir Vren is my boss, and to know some of these personal details about him without even his knowledge already seemed inappropriate for an employee like me.

But somewhere within me is the desire to get to know Sir Vren better. Noon pa man, despite his scary, serious front, alam kong may lighter side din ang boss ko.

Hindi ko naman ipinagwawalang-importansya ang mga ginawa niyang pagtulong sa akin — he could've left me fuming at the busy highway on that Monday morning of our first meeting but he still brought me to the hospital, and to top it all, he even hired me as Medialink's new AD head. Alam ko naman na kahit hindi niya 'yon sabihin, that was his "act of sorry" for me. When I hyperventilated, he took me to AMMC. And three days ago, I had one of the best times of my life, with him at an amusement park.

Those may be simple things, but they showed that somewhere deep within him, may soft spot din si Sir Vren.

Yet for some unknown reasons, after that blissful day ay bigla na niya akong iniwasan. So how do I get the chance to know him better?