Lie To Me (Lie Series 1)

Chapter Eleven

"Here." Mikael handed me a cup of coffee. "It's black, don't worry." He added.

"Thanks." I said, a bit laughing.

Well, at least ngayon ay natatandaan n'ya na ang gusto kong kape. Ilang beses n'ya na kasi akong binilan dati na hindi ko naiinom. He got upset because of that and I had to explain that I don't like flavored coffee.

It weirded him at first but understand that not all people have tolerance for sweets, and unfortunately, I was one of those.

"How was it?" I asked him.

Katatapos ko lang i-present ang plano ng team namin para sa susunod na project ng kumpanya.

It will be under a well-known brand of bags and will be released for their summer collection.

Mataas ang expectation kaya mataas din ang pressure. But I trust my team and I know we did everything we could.

"I like it. I like how you came up with that idea. Tama nga naman, it's for summer collection. Most people are traveling that time and it will be more convenient for them with that kind of hand carry bag. Hindi hassle dalhin pero marami ang pweding paggamitan." Ani n'ya. "Your team never failed me." Dagdag n'ya.

"Thanks. We really did our very best, glad that it's paying off well." I said.

Ilang linggo rin naming pinag puyatan yun. We made sure that we can give a great justice for this project.

Tumango-tango naman ito. "It's almost lunch time, let's eat outside." Anyaya n'ya.

Hindi na ako tumangi, I called out for team. Tuwang-tuwa naman ang mga ito.

We dined in on an eat-all-you-can restaurant, occupying a 15 seater long table.

"You should eat a lot, para naman tumaba ka." Mikael said while putting fish fillets on my plate.

"That's my role, bad. Back off." Hanz butted in. We invited him too.

"Possessive." Mikael commented.

I laughed.

Hanz arched his brow. "Iniingatan ko lang s'ya sa mga katulad mo." Ani nito.

I was Mikael's turn to arch his brow.

"Mga kagaya ko?" He asked.

"Oo. Mga kagaya mo, h'wag nang tanungin kung ano dahil pareho nating alam kung ano ang sinasabi ko." Hanz answered.

He put some kaldereta on my plate. My favorite.

"Ouch. Grabe, ganyan pala ang tingin mo sa akin. Grabe talaga." Mikael acted as if he was pained. Nakahawak pa ito sa kanyang dibdib. Pero hindi na s'ya pinansin ni Hanz.

I was just laughing at the side. It's fun watching them bicker.

I moved to the next table of foods and put some vegetable salad on a separate plate.

I'm good with what I have and returned to our table. Sumunod naman ang dalawa.

"Iyan lang kakainin mo? Malulugi ka." Mikael commented.

Tatlong putahe lang kasi ang nasa plato ko tapos ay iyong salad.

"Paki mo ba? At bakit ba ang daldal mo?" It was Hanz who answered. He pulled my chair closer to him.

Mikael, once again, arched his brow.

"Are you her Dad?" Asar nito. "Nagtatanong lang e." Dagdag pa nito.

"You two aren't close enough for you to act like that towards her. If you forgotten." Hanz said.

"I'm her employer and I think this should be normal." Mikael said.

Sa-sagot pa sana ni Hanz pero pinigilan ko na. We were in front of my team and they might misinterpret them.

Well, they are always like that. Para silang batang away-bati. At ang madalas nilang pag-awayan? Ako.

Mikael love teasing Hanz using me. Alam n'ya kasing hindi tatahimik ang huli pag ako na ang pinag-uusapan. And in Hanz defense, he know Mikael too well to let him speak to like how he did to other girls.

Yes. He's that over protective. And for Mikael, ginagawa n'ya lang 'yun pag kasama si Hanz. At pag wala, he's so professional.

"Babalik pa naman ako pag hindi pa ako busog." I said para matigil na ang bangayan ng dalawa.

I was sitting in between them, tapos iyong ibang ka-team ko ay nasa tabi na ni Hanz at sa harap namin.

"Mahina talaga kumain si Ma'am, Sir. Parang baby." Ruth said, my assistant.

"Ay oo, Sir. Pag may pakain nga sa team, kung hindi dalawa, isang peraso lang ang nakakain n'yan. Parang diet lagi." Laglag pa nung isa, si Camille.

"Eh nabubusog agad ako e." Sabi ko lang.

Mikael raised his fist. "Ganito lang siguro kalaki sikmura mo." Ani n'ya.

Umurap naman ako.

"OA mo." Sabi ko. Hindi ko na sya pinansin at kumain na lang. Ganun din naman ang ginawa nila kahit paminsan-minsan ay may nasisingit na kwentuhan.

"Ayoko na, busog na ako." Tanggi ko kay Hanz ng lalagyan pa sana nito ng pasta ang plato ko.

"Kunti palang nakain mo." Ani n'ya.

I shook my head. "Marami akong nilagay na rice. Ang bigat-bigat na ng tyan ko." Sabi ko.

Tumango naman ito at nagpaubaya na.

"Anyways, guys. I'd like to congratulate you for a job well done. Our clients are so impressed by your ideas. And I thank you for giving your all for this project." Mikael spoke. Natahimik ang lahat at nakinig.

"I also like to congratulate your leader for a great presentation. Grabe, napaka-solid ng team n'yo." Dagdag n'ya.

He was also patting my shoulder which Hanz slapped away. Mikael just smirked.

Gosh these two.

"And for that, I will give you all a time to relax. I will let your team to have a vacation leave for 3 days, all expenses paid. Just tell me where you want. Basta within the country lang, huh?" Pabiro pa nitong sinabi ang huli.

Everyone jumped at happiness and excitement. First time makaka-tangap ng reward ang team namin kaya hindi na nakapagtataka.

"Thank you." I said. Kumindat lang ito sa akin tapos ay tumigin sa gilid ko.

I mentally faced palm myself.

"Salamat, Sir. Matagal na namin pangarap makapag-outing eh. Di lang matuloy-tuloy." Daryll said, one of my graphic designers.

"It's no big deal. Alam ko naman na pinaghirapan n'yo 'yung lahat. Lalo na siguro ikaw, for sure Jia here bugs you a lot." Ani n'ya.

What?

Issue 'to!

"Hindi naman po, Sir. At saka mat katulong naman ako. Itong si Russel po." Ani nito.

"Oh, s'ya na 'yon?" Mikael acknowledged.

"Opo, Sir. Magaling po s'ya. Actually po s'ya po halos gumawa ng designs." Daryll said.

"Ganun ba? Well, it was nice meeting you Russel. And good job." Makael said, he was smiling.

"Thank you, Sir." He answered.

For a moment, I forgot that he's here with us; that for almost two weeks, he's working with my team.

It slipped my mind. I was so occupied by the project and with the childish stunts of Hanz and Mikael. I forgot that he was there, sitting at the last chair of this table and constantly glancing on us. Observing us silently.

I sighed.