Crashing

PROLOGUE

INT. Fig & Field Therapy - DAY

"Wow, early bird" Mia teased.

"Early bird, o dito na natulog?" pang-aasar pa ni Kae, na kasalukuyang kararating lang din sa opisina at naghahanda na para sa pagbubukas nito.

I looked up from my monitor, half-smiling. "It's almost seven—kayo pa nga ang muntik nang ma-late," I chuckled, gathering the papers I printed from the printer.

"Fyi! Na stuck ako sa Wilson, rush hour kaya kanina," Mia slightly pouted, taking her seat on her place next to mine. Tahimik palagi ang office sa mga ganitong oras especially if we don't have clients booked in the morning, It's usually just filled with the banters and chatter of Kae and Mia habang naghihintay at nagpe-prepare kami para sa mga kliyente.

Kae chuckled, shaking her head. "Eh kung maaga kang umaalis, edi sana maaga ka ring dumadating. 'Di mo gayahin si Aza, hindi na umaalis, dito na natutulog," she laughed, wiping her desk as she settled her things down, which made me chuckle softly and shake my head.

I usually just start my day early, ewan ko ba. Nasanay na siguro akong natutulog at nagigising ng maaga o kaya sadyang wala ng pag-asa ang sleeping schedule ko. Hindi katulad noon na ang pinaka maaga ko nang tulog ay umaga na rin. Lalo na't morning shift pinili ko, parang wala na talaga akong choice kundi mag-adjust. At this point, hindi ko na rin alam kung maaga akong gumigising o hindi na lang talaga natutulog.

"Hindi ba pwedeng malapit lang condo ko dito? Tsaka mas di hamak naman akong masipag gumising kaysa sa inyo," I teased, stapling the papers I had gathered, occasionally glancing at my computer to check for incoming emails or appointments.

Mia let out a laugh. "Bigyan ng award 'yan! 'Employee of the Month: Maagang Nagigising Edition.'"

I rolled my eyes, smirking. Well, may point naman ako. I mean, I'm not exactly the model employee, but I do show up. Early pa nga, kahit madalas may eyebags na parang overnight delivery. Siguro nga mas madali lang talagang maging "masipag" kung five minutes lang ang layo ng higaan mo sa trabaho. Convenience over discipline? Maybe. Pero at least, present.

"Basta ako, nakatulog o hindi, papasok ako." I added, waving the stapler like a trophy before placing it back on my desk. My inbox was still blessedly empty—no early-bird clients, just the usual quiet buzz of fluorescent lights and the distant clack of Mia's keyboard.

Morning peace. The calm before the chaos.

"Speaking of papasok! Grabe naman ang latest!" Mia chimed, the calm before the chaos nga. Kae and I exchanged a quick look—the kind that said, eto nanaman po tayo—bago ako sumandal ng bahagya sa upuaan ko at dinala kay Mia ang tingin na halatang sabik sabik na.

"Ano na naman 'yan? Hindi ko pa nga nauubos kape ko, may tsaa na naman?" Kae chuckled, her eyes still focused on her computer, fingers typing away at who-knows-what, pero ang tenga ay halatang nakikinig din kay Mia—who was already giggling while staring at her phone, all too excited for whatever chika she was about to spill.

Mia didn't even sit down. Tumayo sya sa harap ng mga lamesa namin na para bang nasa press conference, habang hawak hawak ang cellphone na parang nagsisilbing ebidensya.

"As in, grabe 'to. Parang teleserye na low-budget pero high-stakes," she exaggerated, eyes wide with mock drama. I raised an eyebrow, already intrigued despite myself. Kae, snorted, still pretending to work, reached for her coffee like she was settling in for a movie.

"Simulan mo na bago pa tayo bulabugin ng mga kliyente," Sabi ko, propping my on the desk as Ieaned my head towards my closed fist, my attention fully on Mia and whatever she's dropping.

"Actually! Hindi naman siya chika—more of a request, at para sa'yo!" Mia exclaimed, pointing a hand at me. I raised an eyebrow. Para sa'kin? Ano na naman 'to?

"Ano na naman 'yan?" I asked lazily, slumping against my seat.

"Eh kasi, kanina bago ako umakyat dito, may sinabi 'yung isa sa desk clerk na may possible walk-in daw mamaya. Hindi naka-sched, pero urgent daw. Ang tanda ko, referral siya from some engineering firm. Di ko rin gets kung bakit sa'tin napunta."

Kae looked up from her monitor, brow furrowed. "Engineer na magpapa-psych consult?"

"Oo. Wala namang binigay na full info. Baka for clearance or something? May contractor pa daw na involved. Nagmamadali rin daw 'yung rep kaya hindi rin na-explain nang maayos. May urgent site visit ata or whatever. Ewan." Mia shrugged, clearly just relaying what she overheard.

"Ano namang kinalaman ko diyan?" Saad ko at nagtaas ng kilay, arms crossed in front of my chest.

"Ikaw 'yung tatanggap kung sakaling tumuloy sila!" she said with a sheepish grin that made me roll my eyes. "Dali na! Fully booked na 'ko this afternoon, tapos ang labo pa ng context. Third party referral pa. Ayoko na ng komplikado."

I glanced at Kae, who had already turned her swivel chair away like she wanted no part of it. Napasapo ako sa ulo. Mukhang ako na talaga 'to.

I sighed, then nodded slowly. Trabaho naman 'to, kaya sige na.

"Sige na nga. Pakisabi na lang sa desk clerk na tawagan ako agad kung sakaling dumating sila. I'll try to fit it in my schedule," sabi ko habang binubuksan ang calendar, checking the remaining slots for the afternoon.

"Ano nga palang name ng firm?" I asked, not even looking up yet from the screen.

"Lim and Reyes Construction daw ata. Familiar ba?" Mia asked, still typing something on her laptop.

Hindi ako sumagot agad.

Maybe. Maybe not.

Pero may kung anong pakiramdam na parang may na-trigger sa loob ko — something small, like a sound you don't notice until it echoes.

"Wala lang," sabi ko, trying to sound casual. "Parang narinig ko na somewhere."

"Sikat naman pala, oh. Five-star ratings pa," Kae said as she turned her monitor to face us.

Naka-display sa screen 'yung official website ng firm — sleek layout, neutral tones, and a clean logo that looked like it belonged in some glossy architecture magazine. Projects lined the homepage: malls, offices, high-rise condos.

"Pang-big time," Mia muttered. "Mukha ngang walang sablay 'tong kumpanyang 'to." I leaned in a little, just enough to read the firm's name again.

Lim and Reyes Construction.

Familiar? Maybe. Pero baka rin kasi madalas lang marinig 'yung mga ganitong pangalan sa mga development projects. Or baka napadaan na 'to sa email inbox ko before. I blinked, then looked away.

Hindi siguro mahalaga.

"Nice. At least mukhang walang magiging issue kung tumuloy man sila," I said, reaching for my mug as if to signal I was done thinking about it.

But somewhere between the bottom of the cup and the open calendar on my screen, a small thought stayed lodged in the back of my mind.

And I chose not to look too closely.