"O, tara na. Nag-iintay na sina Cherry at Chelo sa may elevator." Patricia said when she approached Janine's desk.
Janine had been busy working all morning that she barely noticed the time. The only break she took was when she briefly stood up to use the toilet and refill her water bottle. She looked up from her computer then at Patricia and the clock on her desk. "Lunch break na pala?"
"Oo. Halika na. SIgradong mapupuno na naman yung mga murang restaurants sa baba kung hindi tayo magmadali." Patricia said.
Janine was about to prepare to go with Patricia when she saw the lunch bag next to her purse. "Ah sige, mauna nalang kayo. Bilhan mo nalang ako ng caramel frap. Blended whip with an additional pump of mint syrup." Janine said while giving Patricia some money. "Salamat." She quickly added, before Patricia could react.
"Patring!" Cherry called Patricia.
"Dali na! Manlilibre daw si Manuel." Chelo said.
Patricia glanced at Cherry and Chelo then turned to Janine, "Sigurado ka? Malaki ata yung bonus na nakuha ni Manuel. Sayang din yun."
"Yes. Sige na. Don't forget yung frap ko, please."
"O, si Janine?" Chelo asked when they got into the elevator.
"May baon sya."
"Baon?" Cherry, who was standing on Patricia's left side, glanced at her. "Kelan pa nag-baon yun?"
---
"Bakit? May nakalimutan ka?" Janine asked. Miguel had just returned to his apartment when he called Janine. This was the beginning of their nightly video calls IF they didn't see each other the whole day.
"Wala naman. Itatanong ko sana kung anong gagawin mo bukas ng umaga?"
"Hmm. Babalik na ako sa office."
"Sigurado ka? Di ko na pala na-check yung temperature mo kanina."
"Wala na akong lagnat."
"Sure ka? Mas mahirap kung mabinat ka. Ganito, what if sa sunod na araw ka nalang pumasok. Give yourself one more day to rest."
"Ang dami kong dapat tapusin sa office. Kulang yung resources ko sa laptop ko kung mag work from home pa ako ulit."
"Di mo ba pwedeng ipa-email nalang sa yo?"
"Hindi naman ako boss para gawin yun. Plus may meetings din ako mga clients ko."
"Ah"
"Hindi nalang ako mag-j-jogging muna."
"Ah, nag-j-jogging ka ba?"
