Sometimes, it's not bad to take a rest
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7
I almost threw my clock when it alarmed early in the morning. I tried to get it from the top of my side table and stopped it from ringing.
When I looked at it, it's already six in the morning. Clara was sleeping beside me, groaning when the clock alarmed.
I stretch my arm to reach my phone beside the clock. This is my usual morning, turning off the clock then check my phone. Usually, my secretary would send me an early text message to notify me about my schedule for the day.
I think I am still half-asleep while browsing my messages when one specific name suddenly pops up.
My hair was disheveled when I got up. My head was pounding from drinking too much wine last night.
OMYGOSH!
From: Ian
Good morning Miss Alice! Sorry I couldn't reply last night, I was working on a paper. Hope you have a good day ahead of you.
Miss Alice?
Clara groaned again. Napatakip na lang ako ng bibig. I don't know if I should reply immediately or wait for a bit. I haven't received any goodmorning aside from my secretary.
Kaya hindi ko rin alam ang gagawin ko
I stood up and went out of my room holding my phone. I went straight to the kitchen to cook a bit of breakfast. I placed my phone on the counter top.
Clara didn't let me sleep early last night without finishing two bottles. Yes, she brought two bottles of wine last night.
I think Clara would be awake a little late tonight. She drank more than I drank last night. I should make some breakfast.
I went to my coffee maker and made some coffee for myself. While waiting for it be brewed, I took some eggs and bacon from my fridge. I placed it on the counter top before I took the bread out my fridge again.
Clara don't eat heavy meals in the morning.
Bago ako nagluto ay nagreply muna ako kay Ian.
To: Ian.
Miss Alice? Good Morning Sir Ian. Hope you have a good day ahead of you too.
Nakailang bura at tipa ako bago napagdesisyunan na 'yon na lang ang i-reply sa kanya.
Nagsimula na ako magluto ng egg at bacon. After cooking them, I toasted some bread and placed it on the table.
Kinuha ko rin ang kape na tinimpla ko at naupo sa stool katabi ng counter-island ko.
I saw my phone beeping again, kaya agad ko 'yon kinuha.
From: Ian
Should I just call you Alice then?
I sipped on my coffee before I tap to reply.
To: Ian
Miss Alice sounds good but I'm fine with just Alice.
I said and hit send.
It didn't took him long to reply. Agad din umilaw ang phone ko.
From: Ian
So have you eaten Alice?
Napakagat ako ng labi habang nagtitipa ng mensahe pabalik sa kanya.
To: Ian
I'm eating right now. Hbu?
From:Ian
I'm eating right now too. What's hbu by the way?
I laughed at his message. He didn't know what's hbu?
To: Ian
It's the abbreviation for how about you.
From: Ian
I see. Eat well Alice.
I finished eating two breads before I went inside my room again to take a bath. Hindi na ako naka-reply agad kay Ian dahil kailangan ko na rin mag-ayos ng sarili.
After taking a bath, I wore a white high waist wide-leg pants topped with brown turtleneck long sleeves. I paired it with a sneakers as I'll have a busy schedule for the whole day.
I didn't do too much makeup. I only did my brows, eyelashes, lipstick, and blush. I just dried my hair and let that down.
I wore my wristwatch before I took out a black bag to put my things in. Nilagay ko doon ang mga gamit na lagi kong kailangan gamitin.
Bago ako tuluyang umalis, nag-iwan na lang ako ng note para kay Clara.
I got inside my car and opened my phone to play some song. I chose something upbeat so I wouldn't think too much.
When I got in the company, I went straight to my office. My secretary, Lou, went inside my office too.
"Miss Alice, the morning schedule was rescheduled next week." She said, while holding her iPad. "Also, here's the proposal of Miss Lea for the New York trip."
She placed the folder on my table.
"Thank you Lou. Can you get me a coffee?" I said and sat on my swivel chair.
Binuksan ko ang drawer ng lamesa ko at kumuha ng pantali ng buhok. I tied my hair into a ponytail and wore my eyeglasses.
I started scanning Lea's proposal. The folder contained her proposal to me and the proposal for the company.
I must say it is really big business. The meeting will be held next month. Kaya siguro minamadali na rin ako ni Lea dito.
Lou gave me my coffee while I was busily scanning and reviewing the proposals. The business trip will last for a week and we will be staying in a hotel.
Hindi naman ganon ka-busy ang schedule kaya medyo mahihikayat na ako sumama sa business trip na 'to.
I was busily reviewing Lea's proposal when my phone beeped. I picked it up without really looking at it. I glanced at it but not really paying attention to it.
Muli ako napatingin sa screen ng cellphone ko nang makita ang pangalan doon.
It's from Ian.
Binaba ko ang hawak na dokumento at binuksan ang mensahe nya.
From: Ian
Have you eaten your lunch?
Lunch?
Doon ako napatingin sa relo ko. It's almost eleven. I pretty much came here around nine in the morning.
Ganon na ba ako katagal nagre-review ng mga dokumento at magtanghali na?
I tilted my head, trying to think of what I should reply.
I think I was just staring at my phone for a minute or so before I typed something on it.
To: Ian
No. Have you?
Binaba ko na muli 'yon at sinubukan aralin muli ang dokumento. Marami kasi itong technical terms na hindi ko masyadong maintindihan kaya't nagtagal ako aralin.
I'm actually considering the trip. I think it won't be too much. I think so.
Also, Lea said; she'll distribute some of my works to Cortez. I like that.
My phone beeped again but I didn't bother to look at it as I was too engaged with a certain clause that I couldn't really understand.
My phone beeped again. Kinuha ko na 'yon at tinignan. It was from Ian.
From: Ian
No. I haven't eaten yet.
Yan ang unang mensahe at ang kasunod
From: Ian
Would you like to have lunch with me? Well if you're not busy
Doon ako napatigil at hindi alam ang sasabihin.
Should I eat lunch with him?
Nawala ang iniisip ko ng may kumatok sa pinto ng opisina ko.
"Miss Alice, Miss Lea was looking for you po. If you're not busy this lunch baka daw po pwedeng daanan nyo sya sa office nya." Sabi ni Lou sakin.
I guess, I'm busy.
"Notify her that I'll be there in ten minutes," Lou nodded and left my office.
As soon as You closed the door, I picked up my phone again to type my reply.
To: Ian
I'm sorry I can't. I have a lunch meeting with our president.
Matapos ko 'yon i-send ay tinapos ko aralin ang isang clause ng isang section bago ako nag-ayos para pumunta sa opisina ni Lea.
Hindi ko na tinanggal ang tali ng buhok at salamin sa mata ko. Pumunta ako doon dala dala ang folder at cellphone ko.
"Pasok na po kayo Miss Alice," sabi ng sekretarya ni Lea nang makarating ako sa tapat ng office nya.
I knocked twice before I opened the door.
Parang nanlamig ang mga kamay at paa ko
"Oh I'm sorry. I didn't you were here tita,"
Kinakabahan na sabi ko.
"Alice dear," she said. I tried to remain my cool but it was really hard when she's in front of me.
Lea was there sitting on her swivel chair looking furious.
"I'll just come again," Sabi ko at akmang lalabas na
"Stay Alice. We have a lunch meeting right?" May diin na sabi ni Lea.
"Oh is that so? Then I should go," may diin din na sabi ni tita. "It's good to see you Alice," she said and walked gracefully to my direction.
She stopped in front of me and suddenly kissed my cheek.
"Did you visit Henri recently?" She suddenly asked.
"Mom!"
"Yes tita Olivia,"
Hindi sya pinansin ni tita Olivia kaya sumagot na lang ako.
Her lips pursed as if she wanted to say something.
"Then you must have left this unintentionally right?" She said and took something out of her orange lizard birkin bag.
Marahan ang kanyang kilos. Her moves were elegant even though she's old.
Slowly, she opened her hand and showed me the ring I left on Henri's tomb intentionally.
"Oh,"
"Mom! What are you doing?" Naiinis na sabi ni Lea muli.
"I must have left it there. I was looking for it the whole time,"
Mahinang sabi ko. Muntik na ito maging bulong dahil parang may bumabara sa lalamunan ko.
"See dear? I don't think Alice would leave this intentionally. She's your brother's fiance" kinuha nya ang kamay ko at marahan na nilapag doon ang singsing. "She wouldn't do that. She loves your brother so much,"
I nodded and gave her a small smile. Tahimik kong sinuot muli ang singsing. Hinawakan ulit ni Tita Olivia ang kamay ko, pinagmasdan nya 'yon at sinabing
"This ring meant to stay at your finger dear," Napangiti na lang din ako sa kanya noong ngumiti sya sakin. "Right Alice? You promised him."
Ang mga mata nya ay diretsong nakatingin sa mga mata ko, tila pinipilit akong sumagot sa mga sinasabi nya.
"Y-yes tita Olivia."
She laughed gracefully before she hugged me again.
"Thank you dear Alice," she said and left me there, with the ring again on my finger.
Narinig ko ang pag bukas at pagsara ng pinto.
Lea sighed and followed tita Olivia. She looks furious and I even heard her calling Tita "mom" aggressively.
Hindi ko maiwasan tignan muli ang singsing sa daliri ko.
Does it really mean to stay there?
I was staring at it for a moment when my phone beeped. I looked up to prevent myself from tearing up.
Nang tignan ko ang screen ng phone ko ay parang mas lalo ko gustong umiyak.
From: Ian
No worries. Hope you'll eat much while having a business lunch.
Agad kong tinabi ang cellphone ng biglang pumasok si Lea.
Hindi sya makatingin sakin at medyo namumula ang kanyang pisngi.
"Is everything alright?" Tanong ko. Pinipilit maging kaswal sa harapan nya.
"Alice," pagod ang mga mata nyang tumingin sakin. "You don't need to wear the ring. You're not obligated to wear the ring,"
Nawala ang ngiti sa mga labi ko.
"Lea, I am. Your mom is right. I am your brother's fiancé."
She looked away and pinched the bridge of her nose.
"Alice I love my brother but I also love you because you're my friend but," she paused a bit trying to calm herself. "But my brother is dead."
I looked away. I know she's right. But how can I move on?
"Enough with this. I thought you asked me here to talk about the proposal."
I changed my voice in a stern tone. Ayoko na lang pag-usapan pa ang mga nangyari na. Hindi ko na rin kayang makipagtalo sa kanya.
Lea looks defeated as she stared at me. She must have senses that I didn't want to talk about it anymore.
"Fine. I've already asked my secretary to order us food." Sabi nya na lang at naupo sa kanyang swivel chair. "Cortez will be joining us," she said again
"Sa business trip?" Naguguluhan na tanong ko.
"No. In this lunch meeting. I need his opinion in the business sector as well," tumango lang ako at hinintay na dumating si Cortez.
While waiting for Cortez, my phone beeped again.
I thought it was Ian but it was a notification from my social media accounts.
I opened my Instagram account first. My jaw almost dropped when I saw an account wanting to follow me.
I checked it and confirmed that it was Ian. Ganon din sa Twitter account ko.
I barely used my social media accounts as I'm too busy.
Ginagamit ko lang din naman ang social media accounts ko kapag may events but I barely used it talaga.
My phone beeped and saw a text message from Ian.
From: Ian
Followed you on IG and Twitter. Hope you'll follow me back too when you're no longer a busy-bee.