The Best Spare (Be My Girl)

Chapter 1

Like as always, as soon as the clock hits 6, the three of us save the files and turn off our computers. Audit season is done. I can not deal with more numbers as of this moment. Right now, all I want is to have my long hot bath and sleep. I've been sleep deprived since this year started. It was a good thing that they hired two more accounting staff or else, I have to divide myself again just to finish the audit requirements as well as the current tasks I have.

"Shit. Tang-ina." 

I laugh as soon as I heard my staff cursed in both languages. Buti nalang talaga, office hour is over or we'll get penalized for speaking vernaculars. We are an international accounting firm so speaking in native language even if we are the back office is still a big no-no. And though we are not yet one of the top 5 in the country, we are slowly getting recognized especially for multinational companies who were lured here to invest. 

"Why what happened?" I had to asked as she was so annoyed that she drop her bag in the desk a bit loud than usual.

"Microsoft happened. Goodness. I have to wait for 12 more minutes before this system gets updated." 

"Aww..I'll wait for you at the lobby." 

"Nope. Au, can you drag Eli to the club first instead of having her wait for me at the lobby? She'll probably think a thousand of excuses by the time I get there. "

"Got it." said Aurora, Au for short. She was hired, 2 weeks after Amy, the girl who we hired to assist for one of the companies.

"What? I made a promise so I'll go with you," I pout trying to defend my thoughts earlier. Goodbye long bath. Goodbye long sleep.

"Nope. For the past four months of knowing you, you always find ways to run back to your place and sleep. We were not able to find fault in your logic because we were both tired. So, we'll grab this chance that you still can not think of any valid excuse."

Got me no choice. Andito na e. The three of us went to a bar near our office to unwind and relax and pat ourselves in the back that we survive the audit, year end, final ITR, monthly submissions and the 1st quarter ITR. Buti nalang, they agreed to go the bar where we'll just listen to the band and eat.

"Yes. Pwede na ulit bumalik sa Tagalog. Isang linggo din yun." ani Amy na kunwari ay naiiyak pa bago ininom ang nasa shotglass na soju.

"Mga what time pala tayo uuwi?" I asked. Ramdam ko na kasi na nahihilo na ko. I forgot to drink or eat any product with milk bago ako nainom. Ang bilis tuloy ng epekto ng soju.

"Please Eli. Kahit ngayon lang, let's drink till 12. Gusto kong magrelax. Nastress ako sa dami ng requirements ng audit this time at sa late nilang response buong audit season. Gets ko naman na hindi lang tayo yung ino-audit nila e. Pero girl, sobrang dikit sa deadline yung reply at comment nila. Sakto pa na may bagong reports na nirerequest yung management." reklamo ni Amy. I saw Au and she's also drunk pero tahimik lang at kinoconsole ni Amy. 

I look at my watch and it is already 11 kaya nagdecide na ko to tell them that we are leaving in 10 minutes. Nakaiyak naman na si Amy. Kaya lang, paano ko siya hahayaang umuwi knowing she's drunk? I have no problems kay Au since her boyfriend will pick her up. Pero between me and Amy, I have no choice but to  bring her home. 

"Hi Miss. Hindi pa ba kayo uuwi? Pwede na namin kayong ihatid," nakangising bati ng isang lalaki na sinundan ng dalawa pa. Hindi naman sila mukhang hoodlum and all three of them really looks handsome but on her estimate, they are all college students. From the looks of it, pare-parehas ding lasing ang mga 'to. I look at Amy who is sleeping while Au is outside fetching her boyfriend. Medyo kinabahan ako sa sitwasyon namin at kung sakali, magkakaroon kami ng eskandalo dito pag nagpilit silang tatlo.

"Elsie? Elsie Martinez?" 

Napatingin ako sa may-ari ng boses na'yon. How relived I am that our savior just came. 

"Attorney Legaspi? What are you doing here?" Nakangiti kong bati with emphasis sa word na attorney. Agad namang lumayo ang tatlo.

"Oh. Are those three with you? Is that Amy?" Bati pa nito.

"No. Honestly, I am thankful you approached us. Amy is a bit drunk and I don't know how to handle those three kids."

"Ah. Kala ko naman boyfriend mo na ang isa sa mga 'yon."

"Attorney. They looked like college students. Do I look like a pedophile to you?"

"Come on. You look like in senior high school. Kung looks lang din naman, malaki ang laban mo."

"For that, I'll treat you for a coffee on Monday, Attorney."

"I look forward to that. Pauwi na ba kayo? Sumabay na kayo saken. Looks like Amy needs to go home na rin."

"We'll just get a Grab, Attorney. Okay lang."

"Nonsense. Mahal ang pamasahe ngayon. Mahihirapan ka pang magbook since it's weekend. I am just waiting for my son. Hayaan mong magkaroon ng pakinabang ang batang yun. Sumabay na kayo. Hindi niyo kasama si Aurora?" 

"Uhm, kasama.." pero bago ko pa natapos ang sasabihin ko ay tumunog ang cellphone ko at nakita ko ang message ni Au na uuwi na sila bago pa nila makasalubong si Atty. Legaspi. 

"Pero, her boyfriend already pick her up."

"Ah. I, see."

"Dad?" bati ng isang parating na lalaki. 

Hmmm...he kinds looks familiar pero hindi ko mawari kung saan ko siya nakita. Anyway, I switched my eyes to Atty Legaspi para hindi na rin obvious na natitig ako sa anak pa ata niya.

"O, andito na siya. Shaun, these are Amy and Elsie. Both from accounting department. This is my son, Shaun."

"Hi."

"Hello."

Napatawa na sana ako pero pinigilan ko ang sarili ko. Nagbow din kasi siya in response pero ang seryoso kasi ng aura niya kahit na gwapo ng mukha. Model material. Wait. Shoot. I already know him. OH EM GEE! Amy will kill herself once she found out about this. 

"I am just telling them to get a ride with us. You're not busy today, right?"

"Do I have a choice?" Shaun asked his dad. Napatigil pa nang saglit si Atty Legaspi bago sumagot ng "None" na ikinangiti ni Shaun. Naku naman. Excuses asan kayo? Hindi ko kayang sumabay sa dalawang to.

"Can you help her? I think she's drunk." Sabi pa ni Atty Legaspi. Nagpapanic na ang brain cells ko. Wala akong maisip na valid na excuse para hindi sumabay sa kanila.

"Uhm, Attorney. You don't have to bother. We can ride Grab from here naman. Mabilis sa area na 'to ang Grab or Taxi." Napatigil ako kasi tiningnan lang ako ni Attorney at hindi agad nagsalita. Sa halip, si Shaun ang nagsalita.

"It's nothing. And you'll spend the night arguing with Dad. I rather not go against him today." 

"See? Walang problema. Let's go." sabi nalang nito at naglakad na palabas ng bar.

Napalapit naman ako kay Amy at tinulungang alalayan din ito after kong masiguro na wala kaming naiwan na gamit. 

We're riding in the same car as Shaun Legaspi. The freaking Shaun Legaspi. One of the sought after bachelors in the Metro. Dalawa lang ang anak ni Attorney Legaspi na Chief Legal Counsel sa office, one is a psychiatrist and the other one is owns a farm. Dude. Ang accomplished ng mga anak niya.  

So, the Shaun Legaspi, one of the pretty face in magazines these days is also a psychiatrist. How cool is that? No wonder, he is one of the most sought after bachelors right after the actors today.  I think I am starting to like this guy as well. I mean, I like him as the psychiatrist son of Attorney Legaspi. Wala akong idea na that psychiatrist is also a model. 

Stop, Eli. Sobrang crush siya ni Amy. And Amy might kill me once she found out I have a crush on her crush too. Wait. Love pala. Love daw ni Amy si Shaun at hindi lang crush.

"It's nice meeting you Eli. I heard a lot about you from Dad." Nakangiting sabi pa ni Shaun while they were heading out.

Bigla akong namutla. Don't tell me, kinwento rin ni Attorney sa anak niya na crush ko ang anak niya? At that moment, parang gusto kong iwan nalang si Amy sa kanila at tumakbo pauwi or anyway na malayo sa kanila.