"Vera!" matinis na sigaw ni Jane. "What happened to you? Hindi ka nanaman kumain no? Diet pa." pasigaw na sambit ni Jane pero bakas ang matindi nitong pagaalala. Nanlaki ang aking mga mata ng makita ko si John sa likod ni Jane na may dalang bulaklak. Hindi ko maiwasang maginit ang ulo ko. "Vera, I am so worried. I do not mean to scold you." apologetic na sagot ng overly conceited kong boss. I smiled as a response. Then, Angelo entered the room. "Miss Vera!" humahangos nitong tawag. "Why Mr Angelo?" I asked. "I don't mean to be rude and insensitive but what is the update about your research? Well, I am just asking with all due respect." magalang na tanong ni Angelo. "Ano ka ba. It's okay. Well, it is up to Sir John's decision if you will continue writing or not." sarkastikong saad ko.
All eyes are now pointing to John but my eyes met his eyes. Ang ganda ng kanyang mga mata, mapusyaw na kulay abo at tila ba dinadala ang diwa ko kung saan. His slight smirk awaken me from my daydream. Nakakainis. Baka mamisinterpret niya yung actions ko. "I am not looking at you John. I mean, well, we are all looking at you. Haaaay. Basta." hindi ko alam kung bakit ako nagexplain. Nakakahiya. Mga awkward na tawa ang umalingawngaw sa kwarto. "Miss Jane and Sir Angelo, can you leave us for a while? We will discuss some matters." John pleaded. Then, I heard the closing of the doors.
"Vera, you look so cute." nagbibirong saad ni John. "Tigilan mo ko, sir. I am not falling to that kind words. Anong paguusapan natin?" direct kong tanong. "Lighten up, Vera. Do not stress yourself so much. By the way, we will be having an 8:00 am appointment tomorrow with Rebecca Razon." sabi ni John na tila ba nagyayabang. "Copy, sir. I will be at their office early tomorrow." I assured John na hindi ako malalate. "Don't bother going alone. I will fetch you tomorrow. I am not believing when you say that you will not be late. Ilang beses mo na yan sinabi pero lagi ka namang late." nangaasar na saad ng boss ko.
He is definitely getting in my nerves. What an attitude? Pasalamat siya boss ko siya. "Okay sir. If that's your decision." sagot ko sa pinakakalmadong tono na kaya kong gawin as for now. "See you." John uttered his goodbye and left. See? He is truly annoying. After he insulted me, he will just walk out from the scene. He did not even say sorry or had become empathetic. Hindi man lang niya inassure na hindi ako offended. In the middle of my agony, my phone rang.
"You are indeed cute. See you, tomorrow." John texted to me. Maliit na ngiti ang unti unting lumitaw sa aking labi. What? Stop it. Hindi ito nakakatuwa. John is affecting me too much. Shake it off, Vera. "What's with that smile?" nangiintrigang tanong ni Jane habang papasok kasama si Angelo. "What are you saying? I am just practicing my smile. And, it is not definitely your business." I replied. "Asus! Kinikilig ang ate mo." saad ni Jane then she bursted into kilig laughs. Angelo was affected by the laughs, so he joined at laughing. Mga traydor. "Stop it, guys." diin kong sigaw.
Malalakas na busina ang gumising sa aking mahimbing na pagkakatulog. Medyo katutulog ko lang, dahil kakauwi lang namin kanina nila Jane ng mga around 3 am dahil napahaba ang kwentuhan namin nila Angelo in a restaurant kagabi. Ang sakit ng ulo ko daig ko pa ang uminom. Bumusina ulit ng napakalas ang kotse. "Saglit lang!" sigaw ko. Jane did'nt moved a bit. Tulog mantika ang bestfriend ko. I rushed to the door and opened it. Sino ba kasing kapit bahay ang walang respetong bubusina ng napakalakas in the morning! Pagkabukas ko ng pinto tumbad sa akin ang pormadong si John. "Kamusta? Just as what I thought. Ang husay, Vera." sarkastiko nitong saad. Bakit ganoon, ang ganda pakinggan ng boses ni John. Vera, shake it off walang maganda sa boss mo. "Sorry sir, I forgot. Pasok po muna kayo. You want coffee, tea or water?" I asked in the middle of my heavily beating heart. "I am not here to get hospitality and service. I am here to fetch. We are so late, Vera." John uttered while trying to compose himself. Mukhang pinipigilan niyang magalit. Namumula na ang tenga niya sa inis. Hindi ko maiwasang titigan siya. He is formally dressed mukha siyang gentleman with a brushed up hair. Humahalimuyak din sa buong bahay ang mamahalin niyang pabango. "What are you waiting for, cinderella?" tanong niya na gumising sa daydream ko. Vera, wake up. Stop daydreaming. I rushed to take a bath. After 30 minutes, I am done.
"Sir, let's go?" I asked. John switfly walked out to the door without saying any word. Galit na ang boss ko. I followed him. Tahimik ang naging byahe namin. Walang umiimik. When we reached Hombre Lobo Inc, I was stunned by its splendor. Its building radiates wealth. Mukhang mayaman. Nasa 7th floor ang office ng director. Mabilis kaming sumakay ng elevator. "We are 10 minutes late." pigil na saad ni John. Then, He immediately approached the secretary. In a minute, she led us to Ms. Razon's office.
Habang naglalakad kami sa hallway, hindi ko mapigilang maaninag ang mga sining na nakapalamuti sa walls. Mostly tribal ang designs but what caught me, is a the portrait of a great white wolf. "Good Morning, Miss Rebecca Razon. I am deeply sorry for our delay." John said with an apologetic tone. "Here is Vera, she is one of my editors." John introduced me.
Mabilis ang tibok ng aking puso at ang aking mga ugat ay tila ba lumulukso. What is this? I saw her eyes. Wala namang maraming ilaw sa kwarto pero there is a peculiar radiance that exudes out of her brown eyes. Then, I shook her hand. Pagkawak ko sa kanyang mga kamay, a chain of visions flooded my mind like movie played in a very fast speed. My smile was replaced by fear. "Are you okay, Ms. Vera?" concerned na tanong ni Ms. Rebecca. John held my shoulders and asked me the same question. I nodded and display a faint smile. I am bothered by thoughts. "What are your questions, John?" Ms. Rebecca asked.
"Actually, Vera is working on a story with our writer but suddenly the writer cannot write due to lack of inspiration for his plot. Then, somehow, one of your articles before, spark a hope for us to finally aide our writer's need." John said professionally. "Ohh, the article about?" Rebecca asked. "About a tribe." I answered. Bakas ang pagkagulat sa mga mata ni Rebecca ngunit mabilis iyong napawi at napalitan ng confidence. "The Kai-La-An tribe of the Benguet mountains. What about it?" she replied. "Can we go there?" I directly asked her habang parang pelikulang naglalaro sa utak ko ang mga visions na nakita ko when we shook hands. I am bothered.