Be With Him

“Uh.. I mean, Where are you going, Reu?”

I stiffened but still manage to compose my postured in front of him.

Bakit ba ganiyan ang bibig niya?! Laging nadudulas sa letcheng endearment na ‘yan!

“Uh.. sa Café” I said almost a whispered “I should go now” I didn’t wait for any response mabilis ako’ng lumabas ng penthouse at sumakay ng elevator pababa.

Marami ako’ng naka-salubong na empleyado ng D& R Real Estate na bahagyang yumuyukod tuwing nakikita ako, naiirita na nga ako e, hindi naman ako yung boss nila! Ako dapat yung nayuko sa kanila kase mas mataas sila sa’kin!

“Good morning, Ma’am Canary” I smiled a bit and waved my hands a little when Ali approached me.

“Kamusta kayo ni Steve?” I asked smiling making her frowned.

“Why does it sounds disgusting, Ma’am?” I chuckled when disgust can’t be hide in her face “I’m fine and my boss is still breathing, I guess?”

“Gaga, babye na!” I smiled again before turning around, should I use my car? O lakadin ko nalang?

After a minute deciding, kinuha ko sa pouch ko ang susi ng kotse ko at mabilis na sumakay.

Tumingin muna ako sa likudan upang tignan kung may sasakyan ba, bago ito pina-andar.

“Welcome to Café Canaria! Wha–Hala, Ikaw pala Ma’am!” Michael–one of our waiter–gasped after opening the door for me “Good Morning, Ma’am!”

I surveyed his body from hesd to toe, he’s wearing a white polo shirt with a small printed logo of our Café, black slacks and a black apron over his waist.

“Linis mo ngayon ha!” I kidded and he just scratched his head a little, Lahat ng trabahador ng café na ito ay mga Pinoy o Pinay, dahil mas magaan ang pakiramdam ko sa kanila. “Galingan mo sa trabaho, Kel”

“Sure, Ma’am” I chuckled when he stood beside the door like a soldier preparing for warContent (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

“Good morning, Ma’am!” Halos sabay sabay na bumati ang mga tauhan ko ng makita ako, I smiled.

“Don’t stress your self too much ha? Love you guys!” I winked at them bago mabilis na pumasok sa opisina ko. Hindi na ganoon karami ang aasikasuhin ko dito dahil nagawa na namin nung nakaraang linggo at dahil Thursday pa lang ngayon hindi ganoon karami ang tao dito, mas marami kapag weekends eh.

“Ma’am!” I smiled when Ate Ayesha suddenly called my name behind the door

“Pasok ka, Ate!” I smiled sheepishly, I don’t know but I have a soft spot for every hard-working persons, like her.

“Good morning, Canary” mas lumaki ang ngiti ko nang makita ang hawak niyang isang banana cake, My Favorite! “Oh, gawa ko para sa’yo”

“Oh my gosh! Thank you, Ate Ayesha!” I beamed a smiled and gestured her to sat and eat with me but she just shrugged. “Nag-almusal ka na ho?”

“Oo, Canary, gusto ko sana mag.. leave?” I quickly diverted my gaze to her.

“B-bakit ho?” I asked concerned, may nangyari kaya? This is unusual, ayaw ni Ate Ayesha na nagli-leave o na-absent.

“Uhm, k-kase magbe-birthday y-yung anak ko..” I frozed for a moment.

“M-may anak ka?!” I gasped, oh my god, that’s sound wrong “Oh gosh, nabigla lang ako, Ate! I’m sorry!” I pleaded, bunganga mo talaga, Peralta.

“Naku, ayos lang, ano ka ba?” She heaved a sighed and I saw how sad her eyes were. “Magse-celebrate ang anak ko sa hospital… gusto ko sana’ng andoon ako” I felt a sudden pain inside my chest, limang taon rin akong nag celebrate ng birthday na sa Skype lamang nakakasama ang mga pamilya.

“I’ll give you, 3 weeks leave, is it okay with you?” I asked gently, kulang ba ‘yon? I can extend her leave naman.

“Naku, Ma’am! Isang linggo lang!” Napa-ngiti ako nang bigla siyang halos mapa-tayo dahil sa gulat. I nodded, after a bit of talking umalis na rin agad siya dahil dumarami na ang mga tao sa labas.

“Agh!” Napa-tayo ako at napa-unat ng maramdaman ang pagod dahil sa halos anim na oras na kaharap ko ang mga papel at laptop ko. They’re my best friends. “I want a coffee”

Mabilis akong lumabas ng opisina ko at hinanap sila Michael.

“Kel, can I have some coffee? Yung usual” I smiled at him when he nodded with a salute.

“Right away, Ma’am!” He then leave.

“Psst, Ma’am” napa-tingin ako sa isa naming staff ng kalabitin ako nito at mukhang may itinuturo sa malayo “Ang gwapo, Ma’am oh”

Mabilis ko’ng tinignan ang itinuturo niya, Gwapo daw e. A man wearing a blue shirt, black cotton shorts and a white sneakers, may pa wayfarer pa.

“Bet mo?” Tanong ko sa staff namin ngunit ngumuso lamang siya at bahagyang namula “Adam pangalan niyan” I whispered.

“Yung ex mo, Ma’am?!” bulong niya na halos pasigaw na, tumango ako at may bahagyang ngumiti.

Sa halos isang taon ko silang kasama, tuwing day-off namin o holiday, kapag naisipan nilang lumabas ay sinasali nila ako, kaya minsan kapag wasted na, medyo nagkakalat na ako, nasasabi ko kaya nalalaman nila.

“Oh my gosh!” Bago ko pa sila mapigilan ay mabilis silang nagkumpulan para pag-tsismisan ako.

When I saw him staring at me, I sighed and went to him, marahan akong umupo sa harapan niya at mariin siyang tinitigan.

“What are you doing here, Attorney?” I looked at him flatly but he just leaned on the chair while playing his lips using his thumb.

“Congrats… you’ve come this far” I frowned. Eh ano pa siyang abogado na ngayon? But still I thanked him.

“Thank you, Attorney… I’ll give you our best-selling” mabilis akong nag-tawag ng crew at sinabi sa kaniya ang order. ” Let’s wait for a minute, Attorney, can you wait?”

“I’ve waited you for a year, ano ba yung ilang minuto lang, hindi ba?”

Beat. I felt my heart stop from beating just for a second. A familiar feeling.

“I’m tired waiting, Miss Peralta” he suddenly leaned on me, too close that our lips almost touch and using his low and baritone voice, he whispered something that sent shiver down my spine

“I want you to become mine, Can I claim you?”