Chapter 7: Vexations
Erin
"Gaaah! El! Magkwento ka naman! Best friend mo ako kaya dapat updated ako sa mga nangyayari sa buhay mo!"
Napanganga ako sa ginawang pagda-drama niya. No, wait. Scratch that. Pagwawala ang tamang salita, e. Sanay na ako sa mga ganitong pangyayari sa buhay ko but it' hella annoying! Ang aga-aga niyang nagsisisigaw. For sure, abot 'yung sigaw niya mula rito hanggang sa office ni Mr. Del Valle. Sa lakas at tining ba naman ng boses ng babaeng 'to.
"Shut up," pandidilat ko sa best friend kong si Gwen. "Mamaya ko na lang ik-kwento, pwede? Now, leave me alone. Shoo!" Nag-hand gesture pa 'ko as if I'm really shooing a stray puppy in front of me.
"Uh? Did you just shoo me? El naman!" She grunted in dismay. I shook my head and calmly sat on my swivel chair. Nilagay ko na rin ang bag ko sa desk at binuksan ang computer ko. Ang sakit ng katawan ko tapos ang gulo-gulo niya. Naku naman.
"Gwen, shut up, or else. . ." I glared at her. My head spun and I stoop down my head to the desk.
Sobrang sakit ng ulo ko at nahihilo pa ako. Hindi na ako kumain ng almusal dahil sa wala akong gana at nagmamadali akong pumasok. To think na nasabi ko pa kahapon na mago-overtime ako ngayon. Kumusta naman 'yon? Gad. Office affairs mixed with sultriness is one of the spice of my employee life and I shall face the consequences of this dynamical decisions.
"Ladies, tama na ang chikahan. Trabaho muna. Marami pa tayong tatapusin at pag-uusapan. Good luck nga pala sa theme ng presentation natin, Erin." Isa pa 'tong madada rin. Oo na nga. Ulit-ulit? I massaged the bridge of my nose and reached for my bag, rummaging it to find my medicine kit.
"Oh, Hannah, kumusta na pala 'yung format para sa document version ng presentation natin? Uunahin mo ba 'yon or you will let Erin finish the design first so you can easily come up with better ideas?" Lumapit si Drew sa cubicle ni Hannah. Itinigil ko na ang pagtingin sa kanila at ipinagpatuloy ang trabaho ko.
I think, magf-fit dito kapag blue or bright red? Or maybe I could try with some dark colors? Hindi naman necessary na maging masyadong lively especially–
"Erin?" My concentration was interrupted when I heard someone mentioned my name.
"I'm working. What is it?" I uttered monotonously without looking away from the screen.
"Sure, sure. Ibibigay ko lang naman sana itong strawberry cake sa'yo kasi alam kong favorite mo ito, 'di ba?" Agad namang napa-angat ang ulo ko to see Danna holding a small transparent container. There was a sliced white cake inside with minced strawberries on top.
"What was that for?" At paano niya nalaman na paborito ko nga ang strawberry cake?
"Well. . ." Naging uneasy siya at hindi makatingin nang diretso sa akin samantalang ako, ang sama ng titig ko sa kanya. Danna and I never got any closer than plain acquaintances. I am not thoroughly against other departments in this company but I sure know who I can get along with.
"If you're going to ask me about the framework of our presentation, I'm sorry. Hindi kita mabibigyan ng information tungkol dito. Don't ever try to bribe me again. Hindi mo 'ko madadala sa pagganyan-ganyan ninyo." In my peripheral vision, I saw Gwen's gestures while smiling in exhilaration. Hindi ko minsan maintindihan kung bakit may best friend akong may disorder.
"Eh, Erin. Hindi naman sa gano'n, girl. . ."
"Don't take me for a fool, Dan," paggaya ko sa tono niya. "Snakes tend to peel off from their skin from time to time. Nevertheless, they're still snakes. At alam na alam mong kaya kong manuklaw bago n'yo pa ako malingkisan."
Perhaps Danna felt mortified, she sheepishly bowed her head and blinked her crystallizing eyes. The hell I care. Inilapag niya parin ang maliit na container sa desk ko at umalis. Dumaan siya sa cubicle ng boyfriend niya na si Jun at bumeso rito. Mabuti at nasa bandang dulo ang cubicle ni Hannah kaya hindi kami nakita ni Drew. Paniguradong magagalit na naman sa 'kin 'yon.
I shook my head and exhaled in exasperation. I knew it. They always do that. They always try to bribe me with certain whatnots. Palagi kasing napipili ng Board of Directors at presidente ng kompanyang pinapasukan namin ang mga pine-present namin sa kanila.
Maybe they call me the Ace Employee of our department but the word "team" is stuck inside my head. Although nagtataka sila kung bakit hindi ako ang Team Leader. I refused having the position due to the opposition of my procrastinating self. Ayokong ma-stress masyado. Besides, mas ambisyoso si Drew kaysa sa akin.
Mas naniniwala pa rin ako na skilled talaga ang bawat isa sa amin. Drew's a charming speaker who enunciate words convincingly and perfectly. Gwen's a Math wiz. Hannah is remarkably great in writing. Jun is our IT genius and the rest not to be mentioned because they play nothing in this story.
"Announcement, people. I-report ninyo sa akin ang bawat progress. If some errors or malfunctions happened, give me a call or go straight to my place. 'Yung ibang on-going projects na hinihintay ng clients, paki-rush na rin. Good luck sa atin. We can do it! Sagot ko na ang pa-pizza mamaya."
Drew really knows how to stir an uproar as they all clapped, cheered, and whistled and we go straight to our assigned works afterwards. Mukhang ginanahan silang magtrabaho kaya medyo tumahimik. Much better. Walang maingay. Walang magulo. I can concentrate more.
I was so busy working, I didn't realize my phone. Kanina ko pa naririnig ang pagtunog nito pero winawalang-bahala ko lang dahil sa ayokong mawala ang focus ko sa ginagawa ko. I decided to take short break, reclined on my swivel chair, and grabbed my phone to see multiple messages. All from Yuwan.
From: Virgin Doofus
Hi. Have a great day. Magkikita ba tayo mamaya?
Busy ka?
I want to see you. :)
Mukhang busy ka nga. 'Di ka nagre-reply e.
Reply naman dyan, Miss Ambre oh.
'Di ko pa pala napapalitan 'yung pangalan niya sa contacts ko. I immediately changed his name and typed a reply.
To: Yuwan Del Valle
Busy. Don't call me, I'll call you. Bye.
I plugged in my earphones and tapped the shuffle button. I was bobbing my head a little while typing and editing. Malapit na rin naman akong matapos sa editing. Sa designs na lang tapos 'yung format at si Hannah na ang bahala ro'n. Since next month ang mangyayaring presentations at kalagitnaan pa lang ng buwan ngayon, pwede sigurong mag-leave muna kahit 5 days lang? I really need a break.
"Hannah!" I pulled out my the earpiece and stood up.
"Bakit, Erin?"
"'Pag natapos ko na 'tong PowerPoint, ilalagay ko sa flash drive then ibibigay ko sa'yo. Ingatan mo ha? Galingan mo sa format." Ngumiti ako sa kanya at ngumiti rin siya pabalik. Ipapahiram ko lang sa kanya 'yung flash drive para makapag-isip na siya ng ideas para sa format namin.
"Okay, Erin. Thanks!" Matipid siyang ngumiti sa akin na parang nahihiya pa. Tumango na lang ako at ibinalik muli ang atensyon sa pagta-trabaho.
* * *
Pumunta ako ng restroom bago bumaba saglit sa cafeteria. Parang bigla akong nag-crave sa iced coffee. Pumasok na ako sa sa restroom at nag-retouch ng kaunti. I brushed off the wrinkles on my blazer and scowled as I suddenly heard a moan. Wala namang nagmumulto rito 'di ba? But the next thing I heard was a shushing sound.
As soon as I realized what was happening, I turned around and tilted my head. Pumunta ako sa cubicle kung saan may tao. Careful to pretend that there's no one around.
"'Wag masyadong. . .maingay. . .b-baka. . .oh. . .baka may makarinig," The voice was very familiar at napa-irap na lang ako nang ma-realize ko kung kaninong boses 'yung narinig ko. I pushed the door open. Ano ba 'to, 'di man lang nila ini-lock ang pinto ng cubicle na pinasukan nila. Kung anu-ano kasing inuunang ipasok, e.
"Ooh. Something's getting hot over here," I raised a brow and they stopped at what they're doing. Kahit saan talaga, basta pwede, e. Bilib na ako rito kay Jun.
"E-Erin. . ." Jun stuttered as his bewildered expression slowly vanish. Naging uneasy siya at kinabahan habang tinitignan ako. Si Thea naman, hindi alam kung paanong takip ang gagawin niya sa katawan niya. Nanginginig din siyang napatingin sa akin habang magulo ang buhok at naka-angat ang bra niya. I shook my head disapprovingly.
"Don't worry. I won't tell. Not because pinagtatakpan kita, Juno ha. Ayokong makialam sa issue ninyo." I exclaimed before I turned my heel. Talagang wala akong balak na ipagsabi. Wala akong mapapala ro'n and I wouldn't risk on involving myself in someone else's business.
Iniwan ko sila ro'n at lumabas na lang ng restroom. I stepped inside the elevator, went straight to the cafeteria, and bought myself an iced coffee. Ayos 'to. Pampakalma.
I was walking near the lobby as I glanced at my wrist watch and then suddenly, I bumped into someone. Napa-atras ako at napatingin sa natapon kong kape. Natapunan 'yung damit ko at pati na rin 'yung damit ng nakabanggaan ko.
I looked up to see who it was and cursed under my breath in deep annoyance.
Akala ko mapapakalma ako ng binili kong kape pero mukhang magi-init na naman yata ang ulo ko.