Le Penchant

21| worth

"You don't have to wait for me, may trabaho ka pa ata—" natigilan ako ng lumabas si Calixto sa kotse niya para harapin ako, we drove our way back to the firm separately.

Kinailangan ko kasing bumalik para kunin ang iba sa mga gamit na naiwan ko, pati ang magpaalam sa emergency meeting na nakita kong kaka-email lang sa'kin ni Dylan. I don't think I'd be able to work especially if there's an article that's spreading out there about me.

I was drained. It felt as if my energy got sucked out of me.

"You can go home early without asking for permission, I was the one who called for an emergency meeting, I cancelled it a minute ago. Wala ka ng natitirang trabaho ngayon," he said, leaning sideways on his car.

My brows knotted, he seem to read my expression. "I already called Dylan," paliwanag niya.

I nodded hesitantly, there was a giddy feeling that was creeping it's way to my stomach. I lifted my hand to tell him that I was going inside the firm, but he grabbed my arm gently as he examined it.

May mga panibagong kalmot roon at gasgas dahil sa nangyare kanina. Marahan ko namang binawi ang kamay ko, I felt conscious, so I let my eyes roam around to see if anyone was staring.

"Treat that," kalmado niyang sambit, nagiwas ako ng tingin. "What? Should I buy another first-aid kit?"

"N-no!" I quickly said, nakita ko siyang ngumisi.

"K-kunin ko lang gamit ko," natataranta kong sabi, umalis na 'ko agad ro'n at nagmadaling pumasok sa firm.

Calixto urged that he wanted to accompany me while I get my stuff, but I insisted that he would stay down. Wala pang isang araw ang lumilipas, kapag nakita kaming magkasama ay baka magmukhang kinokumpirma ko lang ung issue na kumakalat sa'min. He didn't even have to wait for me, kung gusto niyang umuwi ay umuwi na siya.

But he was so keen with his words, mukhang hindi siya magpapatalo kung sinubukan ko pang humindi sa kaniya. So, I just let it be.

Marami pa rin ang nabubulungan nang makita ako, I ignored it all. Nangyari na, hindi ko na pupuwedeng bawiin pa ang nabasa nila. Kakailangan ko pa rin namang harapin ang mga 'yan, kaya bakit ko pa papatagalin?

I heaved a sigh once I reached my office, I was confused when it was slightly open. Sino namang nag-iwang bukas rito? Si Dylan lang naman ang my susi sa opisina bukod sa'kin.

I was ready to barge in my office, pero natigilan ako nang marinig ko ang boses ng isang architect at engineer na under sa team ko.

"Ako dapat ang nasa posisyon na 'to 'e! See Delgado? I wasn't wrong at all, pera lang talaga ang habol no'n," I heard Architect Montes say.

Napakuyom agad ang kamay ko sa narinig ko, handa na akong pumasok pero mas pinili kong makinig pa sa iba nilang sasabihin.

"Chill ka lang Montes, masisisante na rin 'yan tapos pepetisyon natin ung posisyon mo," I recognized the voice that replied, it was Engineer Delgado, one of my trainees.

"Did you know? She was hand-picked by Calix, because he knew her background, that man is so kind. He made him her charity case," she scoffs, narinig ko pa ang paghampas sa mga gamit ko.

Napalunok ako at nagpatuloy sa pakikinig.

"What? Alam niya ung sa pagtanggi ni Engineer Hesquintes sa Ildefonso Enterprise?"

"Yeah, my friends gossiped about how Calixto always does that! Nalaman ko rin 'yan nang marinig kong mag-usap-usap ang mga big bosses—ang mga head departments! Dagdag pa ung napakarami niyang problema sa buhay, brineak pa ang fiancé, akala siguro papatulan siya ni Calixto! Papakawalan rin nila 'yang charity case ni Calix, kawawa naman," she giggled.