Vince tried to forget about what happened over dinner, pero mukhang nadala pa niya iyon sa trabaho kinabukasan. He's still thinking about Moira when he got to work.
He heard a soft knock on the door. It opened and his pregnant assistant entered.
"Vince," Rose called. "The meeting will start in five minutes," paalala nito sa kanya.
"I know, Rose. I made a reminder."
"Usually kasi, kapag ganitong oras, nasa meeting room ka na. May problema ba? Mukha kang preoccupied."
Umiling siya. "It's nothing. Pupunta na 'ko. Thanks."
"Do I still need to be there?"
"Hindi na."
Ilang linggo na rin siyang mag-isa kapag pumupunta sa meetings, dahil ayaw niyang mapagod si Rose. Kabuwanan na kasi nito. Speaking of which, kailangan pa nga pala niyang makahanap ng temporary replacement. Magli-leave na ito in two weeks.
"Rose, how's the hiring going?"
"Ay, oo nga pala. I already picked some applicants. Kung gusto mong i-review yung mga resumé nila, iiwanan ko na lang sa desk mo mamaya."
"Hindi na. Ikaw na ang pumili. May tiwala naman ako sa 'yo," he told her before leaving the office.
Rose had been his assistant for almost 7 years. Mas matanda ito sa kanya ng anim na taon at ngayon nga ay malapit na nitong isilang ang pangatlo nitong anak. Her opinions matter to him dahil kadalasan naman, nasa tama ito. Madalas maganda ang kalabasan ng mga desisyon nito.
Inihatid niya ito sa cubicle nito. Nadatnan nila si Red doon.
"I have a meeting," bungad agad niya. "Come back later."
"I didn't come here for you. I came to see Rose."
Nagkatinginan sila ng assistant niya.
"Why?" he asked his sister-in-law.
"Baby stuff," she said curtly.
--
Agad na pinaupo ni Red ang sekretarya ni Vince nang makaalis ito.
"Baby stuff?" kunot-noong tanong ni Rose. "Baby ko o baby mo?"
"Alibi lang 'yon," sagot niya. Humila siya ng bakanteng upuan at saka naupo roon. "I'm here to ask you a favor."
Rose rolled her eyes. "Ano na naman?"
"May temp na kayo?" she asked.
"I was about to choose one nang dumating ka." Rose showed her the resumés. "Sabi ni Vince, ako na raw ang pumili."
"Tamang-tama." Kinuha niya ang mga iyon at saka itinapon sa basurahan.
"Hey!"
"I already have someone. And it's already approved by Vince."
Tumaas ang kilay ni Rose sa sinabi niya. "Kung approved nya na, e di sana alam ko."
"He knows her. Sa iisang university kami pumasok."
"Her?" Lalong tumaas ang kilay nito. "Ex nya ba yan?"
She smiled. "Not really, pero may something sila before. I need to make this happen, Rose. Nakapangako kasi ako dun sa girl na ihahanap ko sya ng trabaho."
"Jusmiyo naman, Red! When will you ever learn to separate work from your personal business?"
She pouted. "Please, Rose? Alalahanin mong isinunod ko sa pangalan mo si Kylie."
"Bwisit na 'to, idinamay pa ang anak!"
"Sige na kasi! I feel bad for her. Na-harass kasi sya dun sa mga una nyang trabaho. I just don't want her to go through the same thing again."
"Kaloka ka! Tinubuan ka na ba ng konsensya?"
"Effects of motherhood."
Rose sighed. Mukhang hesitant pa rin ito. But Rose rarely says no to her. On extreme cases lang. Hindi man niya ito madalas kausap ay magaan ang loob niya rito. Parang ate na ang turing niya rito. She's been with the company for ten years.
Kayang-kaya nitong makipagtarayan sa kanya. Her witty comebacks make her day.
"Magaling ba naman 'yan? Kilala mo naman si Vince. Ayaw sa ignorante. Dapat mabilis ang pick up nyan."
"Yes, matalino 'to," she assured her.
"Okay. If she can come tomorrow, with her resumé and requirements, then I'll give her the job. Pero kapag ito pumalya, kasalanan mo ha?"
"Oo. Ako na'ng bahala kay Vince, if ever."
Nang makakuha ng go signal mula kay Rose ay agad niyang tinawagan si Moira. She told her to come to the office the next day. She didn't tell her kung ano ang trabahong ibibigay niya. Pakiramdam kasi niya ay uurong ito kapag nalamang bilang sekretarya ni Vince ang ibibigay niyang trabaho.
The next day, Moira came to the office ten minutes earlier than expected. And she was horrified with her outfit. Ni hindi niya ito matagalang tingnan. Moira Carlene looks like an old couch that is about to be thrown. Panira ng overall impact ng office niya. Kanina nga ay mukhang masusuka na rin si Vico sa hitsura nito.
"Ano'ng nangyari? Bakit nalosyang ka?"
Moira looked at her clothes. Saka kumunot ang noo nito.
"I don't see any problem with my clothes."
"Carlene, dinaig mo pa ang manang sa suot mo. Hindi naman ganoon kalamig sa office, so you could lose your coat. And those shoes are too clunky for my taste."
"I'm here for work, Red. So don't mind my clothes."
Nailing siya. "I can't help it. You're an eyesore."
To her surprise ay bigla itong tumawa.
"That's what I'm hoping for."
"May kinalaman ba 'to sa... alam mo na?"
Tumango ito. "Yep. I don't want to risk it. Mas mabuti na yung magmukhang unappealing, kesa maka-attract ng unwanted attention."
"But you're safe here. Walang manggaganon sa 'yo rito, 'no."
"I can't be too careful kasi."
She sighed. "Okay, fine. Anyway, did you bring the requirements?"
Iniabot nito sa kanya ang brown envelope na hawak-hawak nito. Nandoon na ang ilang kopya ng resumé nito, ID pictures, NBI clearance, and photocopies of her government IDs.
"Ihahabol ko na lang yung iba," sabi nito.
"It's okay. Okay ka na sa 'kin and Vince doesn't need to interview you anymore, so let's just talk about your salary."
"Wait. Why would Vince interview me?"
"Oh, right. I forgot to tell you. You'll be working as his assistant. I already told him yesterday. And he already agreed."
Pagkatapos na pagkatapos niyang kausapin si Moira ay si Vince naman ang kinausap niya. She already sent him a copy of her resumé. She knew how unnerving it was for him. Kahit pilit nitong itago ay lumalabas pa rin sa mukha nito na hindi ito kumportable sa ginawa niya.
But when she told him about the hardships that Moira faced during her previous employments, mukhang naapektuhan ito. He said he'll consider and then later that day, pumayag na ito. He even offered to raise her paycheck. Naloka siya sa amount.
Iniabot niya rito ang kontrata at ang papel na naglalaman ng siswelduhin nito.
"It's a special arrangement so if you say yes to us, we'll contact an agency para mag-handle sa 'yo. Standard pay ang makukuha mo sa kanila, but in reality, triple noon ang makukuha mo."
Nanlaki ang mga mata nito nang makita ang kikitain nito. Kahit naman siya ay nagulat din. It was too lavish for an assistant. Kahit si Vico ay hindi nakaranas ng ganoon kalaking sweldo.
"Red, this is too much."
"If you have any complaints, talk to Vince. He's the one who made that offer."
--
Nag-alangan si Moira. Mukhang napasubo siya. Kung alam lamang niyang magiging assistant siya for Vince, hindi na sana siya tumuloy. But she will have to face him eventually, so might as well do it sooner. Para lumipas na kaagad ang kaba niya.
It will only get worse kung patatagalin niya.
So, nagpasama siya kay Red papunta sa office ni Vince. Inihatid siya nito hanggang sa cubicle ng current assistant nito, na heavily pregnant na. Hindi rin nakaligtas ang outift niya sa mapanuri nitong mata at matalas na dila.
May conference call pa raw si Vince so she waited for ten minutes pa. Parang may kung anong gumapang sa batok niya nang marinig niya itong magsalita sa telepono.
The meeting ended. His assistant, whose name is Rose, announced that she's about to come in. Saka siya nito pinapasok.
Nanlalamig na ang mga kamay niya. Halos hindi niya maiikot ang doorknob. She exhaled and gathered up her courage to open the door.
--
Huminga ng malalim si Vince. Katatapos lamang ng conference call niya nang i-announce ni Rose na naghihintay sa labas ng opisina niya si Moira. This is a bad idea, Vince. Dapat talaga hindi ka nakikinig kay Regina, pangaral niya sa sarili.
Hindi niya mawari sa sarili kung bakit aligaga siya. It's been ten years since he last saw her, and he doesn't even like her back then. So bakit siya nagkakaganito? He should act professionally and deal with her like an employer. Nothing more.
Inayos niya ang sarili nang bumukas ang pinto. And in came Moira...
--
Pinamulahan si Moira nang padaanan ni Vince ng tingin ang suot niya. Maybe she does look horrible in her clothes.
"Good morning," she greeted. Laking pasalamat niya na hindi nanginginig ang boses niya.
"Please, have a seat," sabi nito.
She sat on the chair across him.
"What brings you here?"
"Uhm, I just have a few concerns regarding the salary." Ipinatong niya ang papel sa desk nito. "Two months lang ang itatagal ko rito and yet, the salary I'll be receiving is good for 6 months."
"And that is bad?" kunot-noo nitong tanong.
"Well... I just want to clarify kung ano ba ang trabahong gagawin ko?"
Sumandal ito sa upuan at saka nag-de-kwatro. "You will arrange my schedule, take my calls, go with me on important meetings... the usual stuff."
"And?"
"Nothing more."
"But it's still too much."
"Miss Aguilar, if you think that you're not worth that much, then just say it. But I'd like to tell you that you're only here for two months. And I was told that you don't have any means to earn that kind of money any time soon. Think of this as doing you a favor. At ang tanging kapalit lang ay pagbutihin mo ang trabaho mo for two months. You will have no leaves during that period and I don't like tardiness or absence. Now, will you take the offer or not?"
Siguro ay nasobrahan lamang siya sa pag-iisip. Natakot na kasi siya. Parang ang lagay kasi, magkakaroon pa siya ng utang na loob dito. But she needs the job. Ang ganda pa ng sahod. Covered na siya for a few months. Kahit hindi kaagad siya makahanap ng panibagong trabaho ay may gagastusin pa rin siya.
"I'll take it," sa wakas ay sabi niya.
Vince stood up and held out his hand. "Then welcome to the company, Moira."
She almost flinched as she took his hand.
"It's Carlene now. Nobody calls me Moira anymore."