#BreakTheIceTheSequel
"Breaking ice for the second time around will be the hardest."
-x-
Thank you for the editing opportunity. But when a moment arrived that I must choose between to live or to die, to further save myself from anymore damage – resigning is the best resort.
Because. . . I don't want Melchizedek Jesus Crux to fucking read my novella.
Not him. Or I die.
She was really tempted to get that resignation letter on the top of her boss' table the next day, but was surprised to see no Miko in the lobby, his own cubicle, o kahit sa hallways.
All smiles tuloy siyang nagpunta sa sariling pwesto.
ABSENT SI MIKO! Yehey.
Sana ma-fired ito sa pag-absent para mas magiging masaya si Jhi– gods, ano bang pinag-iisip niya?
Act cool, Jhing. Just go with the flow, and get your goals intact.
Do not get distracted.
She downloaded a big file on her computer, kaya habang naghihintay, she went to the pantry to get her coffee. Sobrang saya niya, almost skipped her way but abruptly stopped – when she saw. . . him.
He sat on a corner, a coffee tumbler on hand while typing something on his laptop, backpack on his side.
Also, she didn't know Miko was capable of wearing eyeglasses. . .but who the hell cares?!
Gumawa siya ng kape, and she hated the feeling of a pair of eyes studying her every move. Lumingon siya sa pwesto ni Miko, iniisip na iiwas ng tingin ang lalaki sa kanya.
But lo and behold, he didn't even blink.
He just stared at her.
Tinaas pa nito ang coffee tumbler na hawak.
And then smiled.
Ookkaaayyy, the plan backfired.
ABORT MISSION.
Iniwas ni Jhing ang tingin kay Miko, at nagmadali palabas ng pantry. Para na nga siyang hinahabol nang masamang espiritu kaya mabilis siyang bumalik sa pwesto.
July talked to her a bit, pero ang nagawa lang niya ay ang tumango.
She couldn't do this – no. Hindi niya kayang ipabasa sa lalaking 'yon ang novella. The resignation letter. . .it was tempting to print it.
Good thing, half day lang si Miko. Before lunch, he was already nowhere to be found. Not that she wanted to know why he wasn't in his cubicle. Nasama lang kasi siya sa lunch conversation.
"May meeting daw sa client niya."
"Client? Eh di ba illustrator natin siya?"
"Bawal may sariling client, girl?" natatawang sabi ni July. "Tsaka ang chika ko yayamanin daw 'yun. May sariling business. Baka past time lang niya 'tong work or something. Ni-recommend daw siya ng higher ups, eh."
"He's actually good, infairness," sabi ng isa. "Sumisilip ako pag gumagawa siya. Mabilis tsaka maganda. Cute ng color palettes."
"Cute rin siya," another one said which made Jhing almost cough her food out.
"Guys," sabi na lang niya pagkatapos uminom ng tubig. "Change topic."
"Hmm, bakit?" A knowing smile on July's lips. "Touchy subject ba?"
My gustong malaman si July. Jhing can feel it. She's a writer after all. Writing and reading body language is an expertise of hers.
And nope.
July won't have any answers or confirmation.
Wala naman kasing iko-confirm!
Jhing returned the smile. "Baka kasi nangudngod na 'yung tao sa lupa dahil pinag-uusapan siya."
"Okay lang 'yan! Aalagaan ko naman siya—"
"Ay, buntis ka ate," natatawang sabi ni July at hinawakan ang tiyan ng buntis nilang kasamahan. "Teenager lang ang peg? Isusumbong talaga kita sa asawa mo."
"Nag-appreciate lang ng God's work, eh."
It was a pain that Miko's presence was near her – but a torture that even without him, he still managed to get into Jhing's circle of life.
Paksyet.
The day became slower than usual, inip na inip si Jhing, she wanted to go home already. Tempted siyang buksan ang novella manuscript niya, but too afraid of re-reading it again. The struggle was real.
Her day ended with a thank you from an author that received her 'tip' for the day.
The story is great but the chapter endings were a little stiff. May kulang talaga. Write boom factors sa last part ng chapters. A cliff hanger, o bitin feel. Lagyan ng revelation, a question, or an answer.
Cliffhanger is cruel yet an entertaining way to get your readers think about your story too much, they'll be damned not to read the next chapter ASAP.
This is just a suggestion, you're still free to change or keep whatever you think might work for your own story.
She was hoping, sana ganoon din sa totoong buhay. Wala kasing ka-spice spice ang buhay niya. Sobrang stiff. May kulang.
Sa sumunod na araw, Miko was present.
It was uncomfortable, lalo na't nagtataka siya kung bakit parang pa-bata nang pa-bata ang itsura nito. Was it because of his simple black shirt, khaki shorts and boat shoes get up? Or something else?
But who cares?!
As she walked towards her cubicle, naging interesting ang phone niya – lalo na't nag-text ang Nanay niya. 'Nak, hiya c bunso manghingi. Meron kba dyn konti? Kelngn ng 1k pra sa subj nya. Pacenxa na.'
Pagkaupo sa pwesto, she replied, 'syempre naman, Nay. Papadala ako by break time o mamaya bago umuwi.'
A 'salamat daw sabi ni bunso, kumain ka nang maayos para di magkasakit, ha?' reply was enough for Jhing to smile. Pagkababa ng phone sa mesa, napangiwi siya nang tumama ang daliri sa mainit na mug ng kape.
A hot coffee on her table?
She called July, asked her if it was hers. July laughed at her. "Nasa mesa mo kaya 'yan. Alangan sa akin? Sa'yo yan."
Tumawa si Jhing. "Thank you sa kape."
Tinitigan siya ni July, then nodded unsurely as response.
Habang iniinom ang kape, she received another email from MJ Crux. No Facebook? No problem! May work email naman na kahit may makabasang iba, keri lang!
Jusko.
Pwede ko na bang mabasa novella mo?
Hindi siya nag-reply. But after a few minutes, nag-email ulit ito with a new thread. Nagkakalat talaga ang lalaking 'to sa email niya, eh!
Okay ba ang timpla? :)
Wait.
Halos mabulunan at mabuga ni Jhing ang kape. Napalayo pa siya sa computer dahil may tumulo mula sa labi niya sa gulat.
She stared at the mug of coffee, at the email – then lumingon sa pwesto ni Miko na diretso ang tingin sa sariling computer.
Tangina?!
July was her savior when she asked if she can sip from the coffee, na sinabi niyang 'sige, kahit ubusin mo na' that got Jhing, her second thank you for the day.
Free coffee on her table? Never again.
Work was going smoothly until lunch came, narinig ni Jhing ang pagtayo ni Miko at pag-unat. Not that she really cared, but his voice was loud enough to be heard by everyone.
"Lunch out tayo."
Lahat napatingin, except Jhing who became magically interested on her keyholder.
"Libre mo?" another asked.
"Awtsu." He laughed. "Kabago-bago ko lang dito libre agad? Wala pa akong sweldo."
"Ikaw nag-aya."
"Kapag ako nag-aaya, KKB dapat," natatawa nitong sabi.
Tumawa ang ilan.
"Kuripot."
"Hindi kuripot," said Miko. "Nag-iipon."
"Para saan?"
It was a shame Jhing didn't saw Miko's sheepish smile when he said, "para sa kinabukasan," dahil masyadong interesting ang keyholder niya.
"Yun oh, future plans ni Melki," Facio said.
"Tara, tara! Gutom na ako!" pag-aya ni July, kinalabit siya in the process. "Tara! Jhing!"
Jhing wanted to ignore July, pero nakakainis lang na hindi niya suot ang earphones. Eh di sana, nakapagpanggap siyang hindi niya narinig, di ba?
Kitang napaka-interesting ng keyholder niya, eh.
So she slowly turned to her workmates, ready to go na ang lahat, siya na lang ang nakaupo. Kahit anong pilit niyang iwas kay Miko, kita pa rin niya ang mukha nito who was waiting for her reaction.
She gave them an apologetic smile.
"Hala, hala, bakit hindi ka sasama? Sama ka na!"
May ilan ding nagprotesta. She was about to open her mouth nang magsalita si Miko. And Jhing disliked hearing Miko talk.
"Op op op, a moment of silence," he said with a smile. Kung nang-aasar si Miko, medyo effective dahil naaasar si Jhing. "Magsasalita na si Miss Blanco. Makinig tayo."
Was he mocking her or something?
Jhing ignored him. "May gagawin kasi ako."
"Mamaya na 'yan! Kain muna!"
"Babawi ako next time," she said.
Facio arched his brow. "Sa birthday ko sasama ka dapat!"
Jhing nodded. "Oo."
"Tara!"
Hindi pa sila nakakalayo sa pwesto – natigil ang lahat nang magsalita muli si Miko.
"Hindi na pala ako sasama."
Everyone shot a look towards him.
"Ikaw nag-aya, ikaw hindi sasama?"
Ngumiwi ito. "Ah, eh. . ." Lumikot ang mata ni Miko bago biglang humawak sa tiyan, at mas lalong dinistort ang mukha. "Sumakit tiyan ko."
July was the only one who laughed.
"'Kay," the other said. "Tara, kain. Jhing," she called. "Hindi talaga sasama?"
Mula sa mga katrabaho, napalingon siya kay Miko na nakatingin din sa kanya, nakahawak sa tiyan, acting poorly.
He will never be an actor.
Kung mananatili siya sa cubicle, at nandito rin si Miko. . . they'll be left alone.
She stood up, at lumapit sa grupo. "Sabay ako." Halos mauna na nga siya patungo sa elevator. "CR ako sa baba."
"Effort?" July said. "Sa baba pa talaga?"
"Exercise na rin."
Nasa lobby na sila ng floor, nang mapatigil ang ilan dahil humabol si Miko.
"Ako rin!" he said. "Mag-CR din ako sa ibaba."
The fuck? What the hell does he want?
"Bakit sa baba mo pa ilalabas 'yan?" natatawang tanong ni Facio.
"Nasa checklist ko kasi maglabas ng sama ng loob sa lahat ng floor sa building," sagot nito. "Sisimulan ko sa ground floor, paakyat."
That gained some laughter, a few 'yuck ano ba Miko!' and high fives.
It was too late to back out when they entered the elevator. Sumiksik si Jhing sa dulo. Nakipagbiruan naman si Miko sa mga katrabaho, almost the center of attention.
Amazing how he was already at ease with everyone.
Oh di siya na.
"Ay wait," July suddenly said, nilingon si Jhing. "Nalimutan ko hugasan 'yung mug."
Jhing saw Miko looked at her then to July, then to her again. Nahiya siya bigla, at hindi na hinayaang magsalita pa si July tungkol sa mug. Or the coffee.
Not in front of Miko, no.
Biglaan siyang sumama sa lunch out. Thankfully, Miko didn't change his mind of not joining. Although, she saw him looking at her – at them – as he walked towards the bathroom as if his stomach wasn't hurting.
To be in a group is better than to be alone, knowing he's nearby, right?
The whole lunch out, Jhing tried to act normal.
Nang makabalik sa office, her eyes accidentally fell on Miko's empty seat. And no! Her eyes weren't searching for him, okay?
Ang weird lang na wala 'yung tao hanggang mag-uwian. . .wait, what?
Wow, ano 'yun, wala pang 1 week sa office, nasanay na sa presensya?
Oh fuck it, Jhing.
Another cup of coffee waited on her table the next day. Hinayaan niyang lumamig ito. Not that she hated the coffee or him, or something.
Ayaw lang niyang magkaroon pa ng connection.
But Miko had other plans for himself, of course. Sa sumunod pang araw ulit, hindi na basta kape sa mesa ang ganap. He personally went to her, smiling, and a mug of coffee on his hand.
Nanlaki pa ang mata ni Jhing dahil napatingin ang ilan sa kanila!
"Coffee?" he said, oblivious of the surrounding.
Heat was creeping on Jhing's body when she stood up, at halos kaladkarin si Miko patungo sa pantry. Not minding na tumatapon ang kape. Nang makarating sila sa pantry, napatingin ang ilang nakatambay doon sa kanila.
Mas lalong nahiya si Jhing.
Pero hinayaan na niya. Binitawan niya si Miko, at hinarap.
"Ano 'yan?"
And heck, he was smiling!
"Kape." Inabot nito ang mug sa kanya. "Para sa'yo." Jhing answered with a sigh then he added, "ayaw mo ba ng kape?"
"Ninenerbyos ako sa kape," mabilis niyang sagot.
"Ah. . ." Tumango ito. "Ninenerbyos ka ba ngayon?"
There was playfulness in his voice and she hated it! Ugh.
Gusto na niya bumalik sa pwesto, o umalis ng building at umuwi na lang. Magtago sa gilid ng apartment niya at huwag na magpakita pa. Kahit kanino. Lalo na sa lalaking nasa harap niya.
Cause she hated that smile of his. She hated that look.
She hated everything about this.
"Don't talk to me," sabi na lang niya. "Huwag kang magsalita. Ayaw kong marinig ang boses mo. Kahit 24 hours lang."
Miko's forehead creased. "Ano naman mangyayari sa akin kung magawa ko 'yun? Anong makukuha ko?"
"Ewan. Kahit ano."
"Kahit unicorn at barbie?!"
Tumaas ang kilay niya.
Weird. Iba ang naiimagine niyang first na pag-uusap nila sa personal. Not like this. Not like they're. . .friends or something.
"Really?" her voice with sarcasm.
She avoided his eyes when he laughed. Too manly for his look.
"Seryoso nga na hindi ako magsasalita?"
The talk was nonsense. Umirap siya at lumagpas. "Ewan."
"Paano kapag nautot ako tapos nagtanong kung sino umutot, tahimik lang ako?"
Gods. Nilingon niya ito. "Yan talaga issue mo?"
Miko's lips thinned as he said, "Pwede?"
"Ewan ko sa'yo."
Bago pa makalabas si Jhing sa pantry, Miko held her elbow. Sa gulat, napatingin agad siya sa kamay nito na inalis din agad ang hawak. Fuck. She couldn't stop her heart from pounding.
It was just a single touch!
"Kakausapin mo ba ako?" asked Miko. When she made a weird look, he added, "kapag hindi ako nagsalita. Kakausapin mo ako?"
"Bahala ka," ang sabi na lang ni Jhing at lumabas na ng pantry.
She didn't want to get too close with that Miko.
Please. Ayaw na niya.
Kaya naging panatag ang loob niya nang wala si Miko hanggang Friday sa office. Wala rin ang mga boss kaya enjoy ang karamihan sa dinalang remote controlled helicopter ng katrabaho.
Until Monday came, everyone – including Jhing, widened their eyes when they saw Miko, wearing a black mouth mask. May white design ito na horizontal 3, nagsisilbing 'labi' ng mask. And Jhing wanted to claw her eyes out when Miko held a whiteboard with writings that said:
GOOD MORNING WORKMATES! Ｏ(≧∇≦)Ｏ
_____
Thank yoouuu sa mga insights niyo tungkol sa first five chapters. :D