The Least Compatible Signs

28: Connor

Lunes, sobrang dami ng tao sa first floor ng building. Gustuhin ko mang maghagdan ay masyadong mataas ang floor na aakyatin ko.

Habang naghihintay ay binuksan ko ang phone ko and checked my email. I also opened my IG account.

Last night, I followed theleastcompatiblesigns on IG.

Matutulog na ako no'n nang muli kong bisitahin ang profile niya.

Nagsunod sunod ang story niya. Puro type text lang and it's all about unrequited love.

The quotes are on point at sobrang ganda ng pagkakasulat.

June Ten ang pangalan ng user na si theleastcompatiblesigns. I decided to search it on Google and there, I found out June Ten was actually an indie writer in America.

Having known of that, I decided to follow the account. Di ko pa rin naman sigurado kung yun nga ang legit at official account ni June Ten. Bukod sa wala itong followers ay wala rin itong post.

Pero wala namang mawawala. Nakakatuwa lang ang mga stories niya. Mukhang malalim ang pinaghuhugutan.

I know nothing about love at mukhang marami akong matututunan sa kanya.

Naghintay lang ako sa pagbaba ng elevator habang patuloy pa rin ang aking pagbabrowse. Ilang sandali pa ay nakababa rin ito sa ground floor.

"E-excuse po, nagmamadali lang po." rinig kong sabi ng isang babae.

Napalingon ako and saw one of Baliw's team members. Marami siyang dalang publication at halos hindi na makita ang kanyang mukha.

"Hana?"

"Ay kayo po pala Sir Patrick. Good Morning po." bati niya.

"Tulungan na kita." sabi ko at kinuha ang ilan sa kanyang mga dala.

"Naku, Sir wag na po." she declined pero wala na rin siyang nagawa. Nakuha ko na rin ang iba sa dala niya.

Sabay kaming pumasok ng elevator.

"Para sa'n ba 'to?" I asked.

"Publications po na pinahiram ni Ms. Tang sa city library. She said to bring these files to the conference room. May meeting with the client po kasing naka-schedule today and she needs this in her presentation."

Napatingin ako sa isa sa mga publication na dala ko. Hindi ako maaring magkamali.

These are some of the publications where McDonnald Group was featured. How did she know about this?

"Were you asked to reasearch for these publications?" I asked Hana.

"Di po Sir. Si Ms. Tang po ang  nagbigay sa akin ng list."

"I see."

So she really is doing her job well? Mukhang seryoso talaga siyang makaalis ng kumpanya.

Nang makarating kami sa 10th floor ay sinalubong kami ng dalawa pa sa team members ni Baliw.

"S-sorry Hana, naiwan kami ng elevator e." pagpapaumanhin ni Grace dito.

"S-sir Patrick kami na po ang magdadala ng publications sa conference." sabi sa akin ni Georgy nang mapansin niya ang dala ko. Ibinigay ko naman sa kanila ang aking dala.

"Salamat po, Sir Patrick." they said bago tuluyang umalis.

Dumiretso na ako sa aking opisina.

I opened my laptop and started to work.

***

Lunch time, nagkita kami ni Travis sa ground floor. We're heading to the same cafe na pinuntahan namin nung isang araw.

Nang makarating kami sa coffee shop ay umorder na kami ni Travis.

Nakita pa namin si Pen na nakaupo sa may sulok. She's reading that book again.

"Hi Miss, mind if we join you?" biro ni Travis sa kanyang kapatid.

Napangiti naman si Pen, "I don't own this place so do I have a choice?"

Travis sat beside her sister. Ako naman ay sa harapan niya.

'Stress and Depression 101' that's the title of the book Pen is reading.

She's no Psychologist. In fact, Pen is a Financial Management graduate.

Pen had a traumatic past.

The day na namaalam ang Mommy ni Caroline ay binisita niya kami along with Travis.

We were playing hide and seek. I can clearly remember what happened that day.

Ako ang taya. Naiwan ako sa labas at nagbilang hanggang sampu habang sila namang tatlo ay isa isa nang nagtago.

Right before I finished counting, we heard Pen screaming.

We looked for her at nakita namin siyang nakatulala sa labas ng kwarto ng Mommy ni Caroline.

And yes, Pen was the first one to saw the lifeless body of Caroline's mom.

It was a shock for her. Ilang buwan din siyang hindi makausap. That's when her parents decided to bring her to the USA.

Doon nila pinatingnan si Pen. Nakarecover din naman siya at umuwi ng Pilipinas five years after the incident.

I took a sip on my drink nang bigla siyang magsalita.

"By the way, Connor. Nakita ko pala si Ms. Tang the other day. She's from your department right?"

"Yes, why?"

Isinara niya ang librong kanyang binabasa, "How is she?"

Napakunot ang aking noo sa kanyang sinabi, "What?" maging si Travis ay nagulat.

"Is she sick?" nag-aalalang tanong ni Travis kay Pen. I wonder, close ba sila ni Baliw?

"I'm not sure but the last time I saw her, she's sad at mukhang depressed. I gave her my contacts but she's not reaching out and I can't help but to worry."

Mula noong huli naming pag-uusap last Friday ay hindi ko pa ulit siya nakakausap.

Sabi ni Pen ay malungkot daw si Baliw. Pero bakit?

"S-sorry di ko alam e." sagot ko kay Pen.

"Ganun ba?" malungkot na sabi ni Pen sa akin. Mukhang nag-aalala talaga siya.

Hindi ko mapigilang hindi mapaisip. What made that crazy girl sad? Is it about our fight? If so, bakit?

Ako ba ang may dahil? Do I need to apologize?

Nagulat na lang kaming dalawa nang biglang tumayo si Travis.

"Mauna na ako." sabi niya at saka umalis. Naiwan kaming dalawa ni Pen.

After a few moments of silence, muling nagsalita si Pen, "Connor, can you do me a favor?"

"Ano?"

"I'm really worried about Ms. Tang, Connor. That day, she's busy with her phone and all of a sudden, nabitawan niya yung phone niya. Nangingilid yung luha niya. I think it's something serious. So I'm just wondering if you can talk to her? She seemed so depress and since you're her boss baka mag open up siya sa'yo."

Hindi ko alam ang isasagot ko kay Pen.

I'm fully aware that there's a gap between Baliw and I. Lately, we've been so awkward. I don't think mag-oopen up siya sa akin.

Huminga ako ng malalim, "I-I'll try." sabi ko kay Pen. Ngumiti naman siya sa akin.

I really don't know what to tell Baliw, but for Pen's sake I'll try my best to at least comfort her.