The Calm and the Storm

14

14

There are really moments where you feel so happy that you could not hide your smiles.

Para na siguro akong timang sa loob ng opisina. Ilang araw na akong nakangiti nang mag-isa. I would always replay every memory I have with Jeno Emmanuel since the day we decided to become a "thing."

My parents are strict but they don't really care about me, especially that they are always gone. Kaya naman hindi talaga ako nakaranas na magtago.

Ngunit ngayon, para akong teenager. Jeno Emmanuel and I are dating. We decided to keep it lowkey. He has no problems with that though. I was just the one who insisted.

Wala akong sinabihan maliban kay Aida. I kept it as a secret to anyone, lalong lalo na ang Ate ko.

My thoughts were cut short when someone knocked on my door.

"Come in."

Pumasok si Annabelle habang may dala na napakaraming folder.

"Saan ko po ito ilalagay?" she asked.

"Diyan na lang sa may sofa. I will review it later."

"Sige, po."

I continued to review the papers on my laptop. Inilagay na ni Annabelle ang mga folder doon. Pagkatapos ay lumapit siya sa desk ko.

"Ma'am, half of the month lang po 'yan. Ginagawa pa namin ni Jaypee 'yung mga natira," tukoy niya sa mga report na bitbit.

"Okay. Just take your time."

Akala ko ay aalis na si Annabelle, ngunit nagtaas ako ng kilay nang ngumiti siya habang nakatingin sa akin.

"What's the matter?"

Humagikhik siya. "Wow, Ma'am."

Kumunot ang noo ko. "Why?"

Tinuro niya ang mukha ko. "Ang blooming mo yata ngayon."

My eyes widened. I tried so hard to act normal but I unconsciously blinked a lot of times. I pursed my lips and rolled my eyes instead.

"You are just hallucinating," sabi ko.

"Naku, Ma'am, hindi po! I mean, blooming ka naman talaga kahit noon pa, pero ngayon, no offense, mas naging lively ka po." Tinaas-baba niya ang kilay.

"Annabelle," I called with force. "I believed your business is done."

Tumawa siya. "Sorry, po."

Nag-salute pa siya bago lumabas ng opisina. Tsaka ko mahinang sinampal ang parehong pisngi. Kinuha ko ang compact mirror ko sa bag at tiningnan ang sarili.

Mas naging blooming nga ba ako?

I shrugged the thought and continued to work.

Nang lunch na ay nagpa-deliver ako ng pagkain sa loob ng opisina. Talagang plano kong tapusin ang mga dapat na gagawin bukas hanggang sa weekend dahil may plano kami ni Jeno Emmanuel na mag-date.

We never really had the opportunity to go out. I always told him that I'm fine or I'm busy but my anxiety just couldn't risk the possibility of being caught kahit wala namang masama.

I was in the middle of my lunch while reviewing something on my laptop when my phone vibrated. Kinuha ko ito at kaagad na napangiti na parang timang nang mabasa ang text.

Mr. J: Kumain ka na?

Para naman akong teenager nito. Nanghihina ang mga tuhod ko. And he's just asking if I already ate! Ang hina ko naman pala.