Sunbathe Under The Thunderstorm

Chapter 6: Mad ocular

Saglit ko siyang tinitigan. There was something mysterious about Yno that I couldn't point out. Kahit na nagbibigay siya ng mga opinyon sa ganitong bagay at magaling siyang makinig, hindi siya nagbibigay ng tungkol sa kanya. There was something about his vibe, or maybe because he was trying and that made him looked so weird.

I was just thrown back to reality when Catherine made a hissing sound. "Alam mo, Ms. Athena, kahit walang nakakaalam na may ugnayan kayo dati ni Sir Koa, ramdam na ramdam ko yung tensyon sa pagitan niyo." She even slapped the air. "Kahit kayo yung partner dito sa pag-lead sa amin, parang may competition pa rin? Ayan ba yung rason kung bakit kayo naghiwalay?" Her voice might seem unsure but she just hit the spot for me to look back at those times.

But before I could respond to what Catherine said, my phone beeped. Nang tingnan ko ito ay bumungad sa akin ang message niya. Speaking of the devil. . .

Koa:
Can you come back to the office earlier? I need you here.

I rolled my eyes after reading Koa's message. Kahit hindi ko sabihin kay Catherine ay natawa na siya agad kaya dali-dali siyang nag-ayos ng gamit niya para maghanda sa pagtayo namin.

Pabalik na|...

Pabali|...

Pabalik na po, Sir.

The moment I sent it, I stood up and walked out from the canteen with them. Malapit lang naman ang Jocson Resto kaya mabilis kaming nakabalik sa office. Si Catherine at Yno ay bumalik na sa kani-kanilang cubicle samantalang dumiretso naman ako sa head of market research unit. Then cleared my throat as a sign that I was already in front of this busy person. Pwedeng nagbi-busy-busy-han lang!

Nang maiangat niya ang tingin niya ay mabilis sa alas kwatro pa siyang tumayo. Koa removed his coat and rolled up his sleeves just in front of me. That gave me an access to his a bit veiny arms. Napatingin ako saglit doon.

Koa snapped his fingers annoyingly. "Get ready," he uttered.

"Why?" I sounded hesitant and stubborn with my tone.

"The marketing department allowed me to do ocular. And that's today."

Mabilis kong kinuha ang shoulder bag ko at bumalik sa harap niya. "Saan tayo?" tanong ko habang kinakapa ang susi ng kotse sa loob ng bag. Hindi ko yata nalagay sa isang pouch. So I struggled a bit because he seemed in a hurry.

"We'll use my car. I'll drive." Napataas lang ang kilay ko at hindi na naman nakapagsalita dahil bigla na lang siya umalis sa harapan ko.

Lagi na lang! Manners, Sembrano! Manners!

My eyes rolled. Wala nga akong nagawa kung hindi sundan na lang siya hanggang parking. Nang mapansin ko ang kotse ni Koa, nakita kong nakatingin siya sa akin at naghihintay.

A smirk suddenly formed on my lips. My brilliant mind thought of something as I sashayed my way to him. At imbis na buksan ko ang pinto sa passenger seat ay dumiretso ako papuntang back seat. Without talking to him, I leaned backward and relaxed myself.

Pinigilan kong matawa nang marinig ko na parang may sasabihin siya pero hindi niya na naituloy. Malakas ang buntonghininga niya bago siya nakapagsalita. "Sleep, so you'll have energy for later."

I just slapped the air and had no time to speak. Masyadong komportable ang inuupuan ko kaya hindi ko nga namalayang nakatulog ako. Which was the best decision I made today.

Hindi ko akalain na pagbabang-pagbaba ng kotse at magsisimula na ang kalbaryong haharapin ko. There was no minute that we didn't argue. There was no minute that our ideas clashed just by choosing the right palette or even just the direction of the showroom we were imagining. Idagdag mo pa ang pagod sa buong pag-iikot. So tired. So mad. So sad. So disappointed. Ayan na lang yata ang mga emosyong nararamdaman ko nitong mga nakaraang araw. Stressed na nga sa trabaho, dinadagdagan pa nitong si Koa. This ocular in one of the most famous furniture store became so frustrating with him. Walang sawang batuhan ng mga ideya, iringan, at asaran. And at this moment, I was feeling the rage towards him!