"Have you made up your mind regarding the ownership of the cafe?"
Without even batting an eyelash to Barbs, I just sipped my ordered iced latte peacefully, shrugging my shoulders, unable to answer her. Eh sa kung wala pa akong plano for the cafe.
"Eh how about the land that you bought from Chadwick, inayos mo na ba yung mga papeles na kailangan, lalo na iyong titulo?" she asked anxiously.
Siya kasi iyong namomroblema sa mga properties na binili ko. Hindi ko naman kasalanan kasi sya yung nag-volunteer na mag-asikaso non dahil sabi nga nya, 'Mag-design ka na lang ng interior ng mga bahay kesa magkaroon ako ng kaibigan na magkakasuhan at makukulong kasi di nakapag bayad ng tax for all of properties na in-add to cart mo.'
Sweet ng kaibigan ko diba?
Breathing a sigh of disbelief, I eyed her from my table as she was sitting on the far corner of my office, stressed from all the paperwork that she needed to submit to Four later.
Well, I wouldn't blame her, working for those cousins would be very beneficial, most especially if there's a whole ton salary waiting for you, securities, and insurance all covered just for their employees. I then almost rolled my eyes, remembering him.
'Even with a high salary and huge benefits from that company, I will never apply there. Sa kapal ng pagmumukha nung pinakamatanda sa magkakaibigan na iyon, tatanda ako ng maaga' I mentally scowled.
"You should've just resigned," I suggested as I smirked at her. Yet as she looked back at me, her eyes piercing me, she brushed me off and proceeded reading those papers again.
'Hays, so pathetic' I even managed to whisper. Clearly knowing it's not Barbs I'm pertaining to but the one who owns the reflection I'm seeing in front of me.
Feeling distressed, I lastly sipped from my drink and put it on my table as I reached for my phone. Checking if there are any messages, I sighed when I found one.
Mom: Dinner tonight. 7pm. Be home.
I almost mentally slapped myself when I found myself thinking about what celebration or occasion they have today.
Finding out that today's date is 21st of January as I looked at my calendar, I almost scoffed but then proceeded to gather my things as I already needed to go, and have dinner with my fam and Ivan and his family for the engagement.
Even Barbs' mouth went agape, seeing me for the first time frantically picking up my lipstick, patching up my make up once more.
I wasn't even surprised, as the last time she saw me, her best friend Joe like this panicky was when I was chasing Uno, back then. The barista of the cafe my best friend mentioned before. The barista who fucking has the guts to reject me years before.
"Ano namang sumapi sa'yo girl at nagmamadali ka pa? Look, your lipstick seemed to be off with your outfit!" I heard her exclaimed.
Sa sobrang aligaga ko naman ay hinablot ko ang display kong salamin from my work desk and looked at my appearance once again.
Halos mag-init naman ang ulo ko nang makitang nagco-complement naman ang lush red matte lipstick ko sa suot kong Macy's Missy Crystal-Brooch Gathered Dress from Ralph Laurent's collection last fashion week that my friend Raine gave to me.
"Alam mo ikaw, gawin mo na nga lang iyang trabaho mo. Mind your little problem with Six, for sure you'll spend a nights time just thinking of him," huli ko nang bawi nang tumayo na ako at akmang lalabas na sa office ko.
I haven't heard her respond kung kaya't tuloy-tuloy na lang ako kay Sally, my secretary.
"Ma'am uuwi na po kayo? Himala po ata at hindi kayo nag-OT" bungad niya sa akin nang makita akong papunta sa gawi niya.
Ngiti na lamang ang ginawad ko sa kanya, replying, "I'm meeting someone special tonight, Sally. Ready my sched tomorrow so that you can get home early tonight"
Arranging the folders in her reception area and after skimming through some files,"Sige ho Ma'am, though there are some files that you need to sign, I'll just send the soft copy of it by 6pm. It's about the construction of Jimenez' firm sa Bulacan and Mr. Castro is asking for your opinion regarding to the project. Iyon lang naman po ang bilin ng higher ups sa inyo, malapit na daw po kasing simulan ang project," she reported.
"Thank you Sally. Rest well after doing those, you deserve it," and I bid farewell.
Halos hilutin ko na ang sintido ko, readying myself of the disaster might happen later. I can't show myself to mom looking like this, na stressed sa trabaho kahit ang sabi ko ay chill lang ako.
Sa sobrang kakaisip ay halos hindi ko na mapansin ang mga katrabaho kong binabati ako, pawing nagbibiro kung bakit hindi ako nag-OT ngayon.
'Bakit nga ba?' inis kong tanong sa sarili ko habang tuloy pa rin ang paglakad patungo sa elevator.
Ngunit nang matanaw ko ang isang bulto ng lalaki sa harapan ng elevator, matangkad, malapad ang mga balikat, maganda ang postura na pawang tila isang hari kung tumayo, ramdam ang presensya ng kayamanan at eleganteng awra na kanyang taglay, dagdag pa ang matangos nitong mga ilong, plump red lips at mga naningingkit na mata ay nasagot na ang tanong ko.
"Good afternoon, my caffeine," he greeted with his hoarse voice when he saw me.
"Good Lord, save me," I whispered to myself, containing my feelings.