Le Penchant

30| car crash

"I just hope that by time, I'm yours to take too."

Were the words that followed on what he said, it kept ringing in my head over and over again. Like an obnoxious echo in an endless hall, paulit-ulit akong binagabag ng mga salitang 'yan.

I was just at awe unto how he handled the situation so well, my outburst was out of line pero siya... Siya 'tong mas nagpursigi pa, and I couldn't help but be overwhelmed. It also didn't escape my mind, how worried I was for a brief amount of time, kasi baka sumuko siya. Baka umayaw siya bigla sa'kin. But it's been two weeks since that little incident happened, pero walang nagbago sa kaniya.

He may just be the definition of consistency.

"Engineer Hesquintes, your coffee," I thanked Aya and took a sip from my coffee.

Calixto.. He might just be too good to be true...

But am I ready? Am I really ready?

Bumuntong hininga ako, tulala akong nakatingin sa screen ng laptop ko. I can't help but think, why is it that there's a part of me deep down, that wants to be ready.. Isn't everything going by, yet again, too fast?

"Engineer, I've already sent you your schedule for this week via email. I'm also arranging your agenda for this month, since it was given ahead of time," Aya informed me, tumango ako sa kaniya at muling nagpasalamat.

I admired her for already acting like a professional. I was thankful na siya ang pumalit sa posisyon ni Dylan sa pagiging sekretarya ko. Though, baka lumipat rin ng kompanya si Aya, since matatapos na ang term niya rito.

"Oh and Engineer, Sir Calixto dropped by awhile ago to give you this," tumaasa agad ang ulo ko para tignan siya.

Aya walked over my desk and placed a black ecobag on it. Tumaas ang kilay niya pero wala na siyang iba pang sinabi pagkatapos nun.

"Hindi niya mabigay rito?" I cleared my throat, patay malisya akong nagtanong.

"He said that he'll be occupied by meeting with firm's corporate lawyer," she answered.

I slowly nodded.. "Uh, Alyanna," I spoke, calling Aya by her full name. "W-wala nangyayari sa'min," mabilis kong sabi.

She stifled a laugh, nodding afterwards. "Okay, Engineer," I faked a cough nervously, muli akong sumulyap sa kaniya. "Hindi ka ba... Magtatanong?" I sounded so obvious, my gosh!

"Engineer, I'm not in the position to ask," she smiled at me, she was just so formal with me.

Pero parang napahiya ako do'n ah!

I felt that I was getting flustered, tumango ako at umaktong busy sa harap ng computer ko, I kind of missed Dylan and our endless banters, siguro kung siya ang narito baka hanggang matapos ang trabaho ko inaasar pa rin niya ako.

Paulit-ulit na sinusulyapan ko ang pagkaing nasa desk ko, I only got the chance to eat it when Aya finally left the office.

Hindi naman sa gusto ko siyang paalisin, baka kasi mahalata niya lang ako.. Kung hindi pa nga ba halata.

"Aga ng out ha," pinisil-pisil ni Shirley ang braso ko nang magkita kami sa lobby ng firm.

"Masipag kasi."

"Sus, may jowa na kasi," she teased.

"Tsk."

Lumingon siya sa likod ko. "Oh, a-ayan na pala siya. Uh--sa lounge area muna ako, Ingat!" Mabilis siyang bumeso sa pisngi ko at nagmadaling umalis.

My eyes followed Shirley, kumunot ang noo ko. Iba 'yung dinaanan niya 'a, hindi naman 'yon 'yung way papunta sa lounge area ng mga employees.

Napatingin ako sa likod, Calixto and Kevin were walking side by side. I noticed how they were both deeply indulged with their conversation, seryoso siguro ang pinaguusapan nila. Calixto's lips rose up when his eyes caught mine, marahan siyang kumaway sa'kin. I waved back.