Kumunot ang noo ko dahil sa sinabi niya, hindi ako makapaniwalang tumawa dahil sa sinabi niya. Nagpapatawa ba siya o may sira lang talaga ang ulo niya? He told me to leave and now he's telling me to stay? Is he bipolar!?
"Stay?" I mimicked sarcastically. "Sa tingin mo gugustuhin ko pang magstay rito pagkatapos kong malaman 'yang masama mong ugali, ha? No, thanks. Ayoko sa mga taong makikitid ang utak na kagaya mo, Mr. Dwyer."
"You're staying." Pagdidiin niya.
"No, I'm not!"
"Sera." He gave me a warning look and called me by my name instead of Miss Leir. "You said you need the job, so stay."
"Hindi na. At tawagin mo 'kong Miss Leir, hindi tayo close para tawagin mo ko sa pangalan ko." Huminga ako ng malalim. "You know what? Forget it. Hindi na naman tayo magkikita pa, at saka bakit ba pinipilit mo 'kong manatili? Kanina lang atat na atat kang paalisin ako 'diba?"
Gumalaw ang panga niya, hindi siya makatingin sa akin sa hindi ko alam na dahilan.
"I'm leaving, at huwag na huwag mo 'kong susundan!" Inirapan ko siya bago lumabas ng elevator. Mabilis akong naglakad patungo sa exit, nakakunot ang noo at nakasimangot.
"Miss Leir!" Mr. Dwyer called after me but I didn't look back. I continued to walk away with a frown on my face. "Sera!" Hinablot niya ang braso ko at pinaharap ako sa kaniya.
"What the hell do you really want from me!?" I yelled out of anger and frustration.
"I said f*****g stay, Sera! Stay with me."
"Ayoko nga!" Marahas kong binawi ang braso ko mula sa kaniya. "Ayoko."
"You need the job, right? You said you need the money. You said you needed a job to support your parents." He said, catching his own breath. Napagod siguro kakahabol sa akin. Eh sino ba naman kasing nagsabi sa kaniyang habulin niya ako?
But what he said made me silent. He was right, kaylangan ko ng trabahong ito. I already resigned to my job as a waitress at a small cafe I used to work for. Mahihirapan akong makapaghanap ng trabaho, sa panahon ngayon ay mahirap ng maghanap ng magandang trabaho. Hindi sapat ang kikitain ko sa mga simpleng trabaho tulad ng pagwe-waitress. Ang bang kumpanya ay mataas ang standards nila sa empleyado nila, and it's not like their hiring too.
"Continue working for me as my PA."
I looked at him, finally having a second thought about my decision.
"Hindi ka na makakahanap pa ng ganitong klaseng trabaho." He added, and even though it's obvious that he's only deceiving and tricking me, nagdadalawang isip pa rin ako. "Think this through, Sera."
"You can easily find yourself a new PA, bakit gusto mo 'kong manatili?" I sighed. "Aalis na 'ko, Mr. Dwyer."
"I'm guilty, okay? I realized my wrongs and I'm sorry. Now that I said it, will you please stay?"
Napakurap-kurap ako sa naging sagot niya.
Ang akala ko ba ay hindi nagiguilty ang isang Hunter Dwyer? Why am I hearing him saying sorry and begging me to stay? Am I hallucinating?
Tinignan kong mabuti ang mga mata niya. Mukha naman siyang sincere, mukhang totoo naman na nagiguilty siya. Nakita ko sa mga mata niya kanina ang guilt at hindi niya lang ito maamin. Now that he admitted it, he even said sorry and begged for me to stay, will I forgive him?
Kinagat ko ang ibaba kong labi, nabahala ako sa paligid ko ngayon na humupa na ang galit ko. Walang masyadong tao, pero mayroon pa ring nakasaksi sa sagutan namin ni Mr. Dwyer. Ayokong mapagtsismisan, gusto ko ng matapos itong pagtatalo namin.
"May kundisyon ako."
Nagsalubong ang kilay niya. "What now?"
"Ang sabi ko ay may kundisyon ako." Pinagkrus ko ang braso ko. "Kung ayaw mo, pwedeng tigilan mo na lang ako at hayaang umalis?"
Sandali siyang natahimik, nakatitig lang sa akin nang matiim. Aaminin ko na minsan ay nakukuha ako ng mga titig niya na 'yan. Sino ba naman kasing hindi maaattract sa mga mata niyang 'yan?
He sighed, shaking his head. "What are your conditions? Spill it."
"It's okay to punish me, but please, I don't want any s****l punishments. Not even kiss. I will take any punishment except those." Both my eyebrows rose, waiting for his answer.
Huminga siya ng malalim at tumango kahit na kita sa mukha niya ang hindi pagsang-ayon.
I guess he really likes punishing his PAs like that. What a philandering bastard.
"Good." Matahumpay akong napangiti. "And Mr. Dwyer?"
"Ano na naman?" Napakamot ito sa batok niya.
"I want to make it clear to you that I don't like you and I didn't apply just to flirt with you." Muling sumeryoso ang ekspresyon ko. "May katuturan ang rason ko kung bakit ako nag-apply, Mr. Dwyer. I'm not like your w****s and I will never ever sleep with you." I paused, studying the emotions in his eyes. "Pero kung iyon lang naman ang habol mo sa akin, you can tell me to leave and I will."
"Stay," he said quicker than I expected.
Sensiro akong ngumiti sa kaniya. "Then we're good. I'll continue working as your PA, Mr. Dwyer."
"Good..." he looked away, he scratched his forehead like he couldn't believe what just happened. "Let's go back."
"One more thing."
He looked at me in annoyance.
"Call me Miss Leir, let's be professional." Ako na ang nauna sa kaniyang maglakad pabalik.
I felt some weird stares on my back, I'm not that stupid to not know the reason behind those stares. Some probably heard me and maybe gossiping about what they heard and witnessed now. Wala naman akong pakialam sa mga sasabihin ng tao sa akin pero si Mr. Dwyer? I somehow felt bad that I made a scene.
Nauna akong pumasok sa elevator, Mr. Dwyer silently followed. Magkatabi kami ngunit hindi nagkikibuan. Hindi na naman bago, pero batid ko'y may ibang dahilan ang pagkatahimik niya ngayon.
Sa totoo lang ay nagtataka ako kung bakit gusto niya akong manatili pa. Dapat nga ay tinataboy niya na ako matapos ko siyang sigaw-sigawan at sagut-sagutin. Kahit papaano siguro ay may natitira pang bait sa puso niya.
Hindi naman ako ang klaseng tao na nagtatanim ng galit. Humingi na siya ng tawad kaya patatawarin ko siya. Ang sabi niya ay naguilty and he even said 'please.' Sapat na 'yon para patawarin ko siya, 'diba?
"I want you to take care of the papers in my table when we arrive at my office." He broke the awkward silence between us.
Tiningala ko siya sa tabi ko at saka tumango. "Yes, sir."
"I want you to review them from me, make a report about it and segregate the ones that I need to sign." Hindi siya nakatingin sa akin habang sinasabi ang mga iyon. Nakasandal lang siya sa pader ng elevator habang nakapasok ang mga kamay sa bulsa.
"Is that all?"
"That's all for now."
"Okay, I'll do that as soon as we get there."
Pagkatapos ng pag-uusap namin ay bumukas ang elevator, sabay kaming tumapak palabas. Magkatabi kaming naglakad patungo sa office niya, hindi na naman nagkikibuan. Para maibsan man lang ang awkwardness na namumuo sa pagitan namin ay nagpahuli na lang ako sa paglalakad.
Kinurot ko ang ibaba kong labi habang papalapit nan
kami sa office niya, pumasok kami ng tahimik at walang imik na pinuntahan ang trabaho namin. Naupo siya sa swivel chair niya, binuksan niya ang laptop niya at kinalikot ito. Kinuha ko naman ang makapal na papeles sa lamesa nito at niyakap ito sa dibdib ko dahil medyo may pagkabigat.
"And Miss Leir?"
Agad akong lumingon sa boss ko. "Po?"
"Call my secretary, her room is just opposite to this one." He looked at me, his gaze moved down to the papers I'm holding. "Is it heavy?"
"Not at all, sir." I lied, smiling to show him that I can manage. "I'll just call your secretary."
I exited his room, still hugging the papers on my chest. Dumiretso ako sa silid katapat ng kay Mr. Dwyer at kinatok ang pinto nito gamit ang paa ko. I know, it's very unprofessional, but what I'm holding is too heavy. A few moments later, the door opened revealing a gorgeous, beautiful woman in her working attire. Just a simple white blouse and black pencil cut.
"Good morning, Ma'am. Mr. Dwyer asked me to call you in his office." Nahihiya kong sabi habang nakayuko.
"I'm still doing something, you can come in while waiting. Sandali lang naman 'tong ginagawa ko." Niluwagan niya ang pagbukas ng pinto, nahihiya akong tumango at tumuloy sa opisina nito. "Maupo ka muna."
Tumango lang ulit ako, naglakad ako papunta sa isang couch sa gilid nang biglang dumulas ang mga papeles sa pagkakayakap ko rito.
"s**t!" Namura ko ang sarili ko dahil sa kapalpakan ko.
Dapat ay iniwan ko muna ang mga papeles sa opisina ko bago ako pumunta rito. Mabuti na lang ay mabait ang secretary ni Mr. Dwyer at tinulungan ako sa pagliligpit ng mga papel sa sahig.
"I'm sorry, Ma'am. I made a mess in your office." I apologized, meeting her gaze.
She gave me a friendly smile. "Ano ka ba? Wala 'to." Umiling-iling siya habang inaayos ang pinantay ang pagkakapatong ng mga papeles. "Are you Hunter's new PA?"
I don't know why her question sounded weird. Was it because she's calling her boss in first name basis?
"Ahm, yeah." I nodded, shyly.
Tumayo kaming dalawa, inabot niya sa akin ang ibang papeles na nasa kaniya. Inayos ko ito at maayos na hinawakan. Mahina siyang natawa sa akin, nagpunta siya sa table niya at may kinuha sa drawer niya. Isa itong pulang folder, inabot niya ito sa akin habang nakangiti.
"Here, use this." She insisted, "pinapahirapan ka ba ni Hunter?"
"Ah, hindi." Mabilis kong tanggi. "Ako lang talaga 'yong hindi nag-isip. Sana iniwan ko muna 'yong mga ito sa opisina ko." Pinasok ko ang mga papeles sa folder at sinigurado na maayos ito. "Salamat sa folder."
"I'm Frances Faith Calanta—Ramos, by the way." She went to her table and sat on her chair. May sinulat siya sa isang planner at mukhang seryoso siya sa ginagawa niya.
"Seraphina Leir po, Sera for short. Nice to meet you, Miss Ramos." It's nice to meet someone nice like her. Ang mga ibang empleyado rito ay hindi ako pinapansin eh.
"Cut the formality, Sera. And it's Mrs. Ramos. I'm married." Pinakita niya ang daliri niya na may singsing sa akin.
My lips turned into an 'o' while nodding. She looks young to be married, hindi na ako magtataka dahil maganda siya.
Umupo ako sa couch na tinuro niya kanina, pinatong ko ang folder sa kandungan ko. Umikot ang paningin ko paligid at namangha sa ganda ng opisina nito. She must be very special to have this kind of office.
"Seriously, you didn't need to come. Dapat tinawagan niyo na lang ako using a telephone. And I should be doing your job, I'm his secretary after all." She started a conversation and I got excited all of the sudden. I want to have friends in my working place, para kahit papaano ay hindi boring ang pagtatrabaho ko rito. Sa tingin ko ay hindi ko talaga magiging kaibigan si Mr. Dwyer. He seem like an introvert person for some reason, or is it just me?
"If he has a secretary, then why does he have to hire himself a PA?" I asked in confusion.
She chuckled. "My dear, he doesn't really need a PA." She stopped what she's doing, sumandal siya sa swivel chair niya habang nakatingin sa akin. "Secretary and PA's job are almost the same. What he really needs is someone to fuck."
My eyes widened because of her bluntness. "H-huh?"
"He's hiring PAs for him to play with. I'm sure you already know that he's a playboy. Walang PA na nagtatagal sa kaniya dahil binabasura niya rin agad pagkatapos niyang gamitin." She tsked. "Hunter stays a lot in his office, he has too many business to take care of. He rarely has time for himself and doesn't have time to treat himself out. Since he's man, he does what men do. He's just using the PA card to do that."
Napakurap-kurap ako sa gulat. Hindi ako makapaniwala sa lahat ng mga sinabi niya at nakaramdam ako ng takot para sa sarili.
Shit, ano ba 'tong napasok ko!?
"How long have you been working for him?" She asked, raising a single brow.
"A-ahm, I think three days..." I looked down, playing with my fingers.
"Three days?" She nodded like she was impressed. "Have you already slept with him?"
"H-ha!?"
She chuckled. "What have you gotten yourself into, Sera?" She shook his head at me in amusement. "I advice you to be careful with him. Nagtagal ka ng tatlong araw, usually ay isang araw lang ang tinatagal ng mga PA niya. And he never let his w****s work, so..." Tinignan niya ko mula ulo hanggang paa, "I guess you're somewhat special."
Nagsitayuan ang mga balahibo ko sa mga nalaman ko. Tuloy ay kinekwestson ko ang desisyon ko na manatili bilang PA niya.
"You seem innocent and different from his w****s. I can tell by the surprise expression on your face, it's hillarious." She rose up, folding her arms over her chest. "But then don't hate him yet. Trust me, he's nice if you get in his good side. I really think you and him will get along... I hope."
"You seem very close to him so I'll believe you. I'll hold on to what you said." It somehow gave me hope that Mr. Dwyer's not going to play me.
"So, let's go? I'm sure Hunter's waiting for us."
"Oh, okay!" I stood up, holding the folder properly. Siya naman ay ang planner niya lang ang dala.
"Sera, call me Frances, okay? I don't want people being formal around me. I feel old." She mentioned.
"Okay, Frances, sure." I smiled and followed her to the door. Sabay kaming pumasok ng opisina ni Mr. Dwyer, naabutan namin siya na busy sa laptop niya.
What Frances told me echoed in my mind. About Mr. Dwyer playing with his PA. It made me shiver in horror and decided to push the thought away.
"I'll just go to my office." Bulong ko kay Frances, ngumiti siya sa akin at tumango. I went straight to my office to start doing my work. Hindi ko napigilan ang sarili na silipin ang ginagawa nila.
Frances stood in front of Mr. Dwyer with her arms folded over her chest. They were conversing seriously, Frances gave her the planner and he read it. My eyes fell on the coffee that I made for him, napasimangot ako nang mapansin na hindi man lang ito nagalaw. Siguradong malamig na ang kape at sa lababo ang bagsak. I used my heart while making that coffee. The small but thoughtful effort I made... Gosh!
I sighed in sadness, nakasimangot ako habang nakatitig sa tasa ng kape. Nang ibalik ko ang paningin ko kay Mr. Dwyer ay napaigtad ako sa gulat dahil nahuli ko itong nakatingin sa gawi ko. I looked away in panic and continued working, my cheeks burning and turning red.
Pasimple akong kumamot sa batok ko, pasimple rin akong tumingin muli sa gawi nila. My jaw almost dropped on the floor when I caught him sipping the coffee while listening to whatever Frances is telling him.
I didn't understand why my heart jumped in happiness just because he drank the coffee I made for him.
Aksara