Between You & I (GxG)

General Manager

Pagkasundo sakin ni Chloe, pinauna ko na sya paakyat para ipaalam kay Kieffer na nandito nako. Ipinahanda ko narin yung clothes ko kasi naka blouse lang ako at jeans.

Pipindot palang ako sa elevator when I felt a hand touched mine. I turned to see Krull Otazu. Smiling like a teenager seeing their dream kpop idol for the first time. It’s creepy.

“Ms. Jan. Buti nalang nakita kita.”

“And…” I slid my hand off her grip. “So…?”

“Hindi yata ikaw naka receive ng CV ko kaya ic-clear ko lang kaya ako nandito.”

“I received it.”

“So sinave mo number ko?” kumikislap yung mga mata nya nung tinanong nya yun.

But I remember, I didn’t.

Sinabihan ko lang na ibalik sya sa company.

“No.” I plainly answered.

“Aray naman.” pagkasabi nya nun, may lalaki na matangkad yung lumapit sa kanya. He looks formal like a business man and his perfume is so strong. Muntik pa akong masamid.

“Whoa Krull who is this goddess oh my freaking God.”

Well, nice assessment tho.

“I should go.”

“Wait, Jan. Wag ka matakot, this is Drake. My cousin.”

Hindi naman ako natatakot e. Nababahuan ako sa matapang nyang perfume. Gosh.

“Nice. I really need to go.” Inexcuse ko na sarili ko at paalis palang ako nung nakasalubong ko si Kieffer.

“Babe.” nag aalala syang lumapit sakin at ininspeksyon ako na parang may nawawala akong bahagi ng katawan. “Okay ka na ba? ‘bat lumabas ka ng hospital?”

“Babe?” and that was Krull. Diko nalang sya pinansin at kinuha ko yung damit ko kay Kieffer. Sya yata nagdala instead of Chloe.

“Ayoko makulong dun. Aalis nako.” sabi ko sabay pasok ng elevator.

“Jan, wait.” Pumasok din si Krull leaving all of them out. Sumara na yung elevator at wala rin namang dumagdag pa. Not even Kieff.

There was short silence bago sya nagsalita. “Boyfriend mo?” di nalang ako sumagot. “He looks nice. Mabango. Mayaman.”

“You like him?” tanong ko.

“I’m into you.” she answered honestly. Eto nanaman yung dibdib ko. Dapat nilubos ko na pagpapacheck up eh.

Bumukas yung elevator sa floor niya pero di sya lumabas. May pumasok lang na iba. Paakyat yata. “Diba floor mo yun?” tanong ko.

“Di nako empleyado magpapainterview lang mamaya. I want to have some happy ride in elevator with you first.”

Charmer.

Oh gosh.

“5th floor yung interview-han.” sabi ko.

“Bayaan mo na ‘ko Jan. Last na ‘to. Di na kita kukulitin. Just let me enjoy this moment. Crush na crush kasi kita kaso—”

“Mukha bang boyfriend ko si Mr. Anderson?” natigilan sya sa tanong ko. Bumukas na yung elevator sa floor ko at binigyan ko sya ng last small smile. “He’s my cousin.”

To be clear. Hindi naman sa ayaw kong naipa-pair kay Kieffer. Ang awkward lang isipin na namimistake nila ako sa cousin ko. Naglakad nako sa office ko at sinundan narin ako ni Chloe.

“Ma’am. Ikaw na ba mag iinterview mamaya?”

“No. Let Kieffer handle that.”

“Okay po ma’am.” she said at umupo ako sa swivel. “Coffee po?”