Conceding Affinity (Affinity #2)

Up To Me

I glanced at the clock and realized that it was already twenty minutes after lunch. Hindi ko namalayan ang oras. It's Sunday and I'm always half day during Sundays.

I leaned my back on the swivel chair and took a deep breath. Dalawang gabi na lang ay deadline na ng mga reports. I'm only half way to finishing everything, as much as I want to finish this, half day lang talaga ang office tuwing Sunday. Ipagpapabukas ko na lang ang trabaho ko.

I saved the file that I'm working on before shutting down my computer. Sunod kong inayos ang mga nakakalat na papel at inilagay ang tamang papeles sa kani-kanilang folders.

Kinuha ko ang bag na nakapatong sa maliit na sofa bago lumabas ng office. Apple was obviously waiting for me to come out. Nakapatong na ang shoulder bag niya sa ibabaw ng desk at mukhang kanina pa handang umalis. She was obviously waiting for me to be finished. I like Apple. She's nice and very dependable. Yun nga lang ay mahiyain.

"Ma'am." tumayo ito at bahagyang nanlalaki ang mga mata. She was instantly attentive.

"Didn't I tell you na umalis ka na kung tapos na ang working hours mo?"

Namula si Apple sa sinabi ko. "S-sorry po. Baka po k-kasi kailanganin niyo pa po ang tulong ko."

I sighed. She's really nice. At hindi pa ma-reklamo. Hindi tulad ng dati kong personal assistant. Napairap na lang ako. "Next time then. Let's go. Sumabay ka na sa akin pababa."

Tumango siya. Nauna akong maglakad at mabilis na sumunod naman siya agad sa akin. Pinindot niya ang down button para sa aming dalawa at tahimik na tumayo na lang ako.

"Ah, ma'am. Tumawag nga po pala si Mr. Logan Montello." my head immediately turned to her. Nakatingin siya sa akin.

Logan called?

"What did he say?" kunot noong tanong ko.

"Ah. He wants to speak with you daw po. Hindi na daw po kasi kayo sumagot sa e-mails niya at sinusubukan niya daw po kayong i-contact through facebook pero si rin daw po kayo sumasagot."

"You should have told me the moment he called." nakasimangot na sabi ko.

Matagal ko nang hindi nakakausap si Logan. Naging busy ako kaya hindi ko na nasasagot ang e-mails niya. I also changed my number and it must have slipped my mind to mention it to him. Kung paano niya nalaman ang office number ko ay hindi ko alam. Maybe he searched me on google and saw it in the company profile? Or maybe someone named Savion gave it to him?

I haven't seen him for years. Ang alam ko ay nasa Japan pa rin siya hanggang ngayon.

Namutla ang mukha ni Apple. She looked guilty. "S-Sorry po. Ang sabi niyo po kasi sa akin ay hindi kayo tumatanggap ng kahit anong tawag tuwing Sundays. Sorry, ma'am."

"That's fine. Just give him my personal number and have him call me."

Saktong bumukas ang elevator door nang sumagot si Apple. My mind drifted to my plans this Sunday. Wala kaming lakad ni Savion. I'll probably stay at home and get some sleep. Tomorrow will surely be a long day.

Walang bakas ng pagkakagulat sa akin nang makita ko si Luke na naghihintay sa labas ng building. It's like I already knew I was going to see him. I was starting to get used to his unsolicited presence again even when I know I shouldn't. This is bad. It's wrong.

I don't know if he sensed me coming but his head turned and his eyes immediately found me. Tumalon ang puso ko nang makita ko na naman ang dimple sa pisngi niya. Just like that... My day felt suddenly complete.

"M-Ma'am, una na po ako." nahihiyang paalam ni Apple. Pilit na inalis ko ang tingin kay Luke Dashiel at inilipat sa personal assistant ko.

"Alright, Apple. Take care."