Eirene

Para ako ngayong nasa loob ng dean's office, nakatayo at bahagyang nakayukod ang ulo. Habang nasa gawing kaliwa ko naman si Architect Lisbon na naka-alitan ko kanina dahil sa disenyo ng project ni Miss Icheyeru. Big project ko ito pero lagi talaga may kontrabida kahit saan ako bumaling dito sa loob ng GCG UK. Tila wala tuloy ako kakampi miski na sino dito kahit itong lalaki na nakaupo sa harapan namin ni Architect Lisbon ay alam ko na di rin panig sa akin.

"Architect Gridley, did you approve Miss Diaz's design? It's far different from the design that I submitted to you. I also consulted it to the previous interior designer." Mahabang salita ni Architect Lisbon kay Cashmere.

"Interior designer that I replaced." I corrected him immediately. Hindi maka-move on sa nauna sa akin na corrupt naman. Pati siya mismo, corrupt din kaya mainit ang dugo sa akin.

"I'm not talking to you, Miss Diaz." My eyes rolled, and then I shrugged my shoulder.

"Enough, you two," ani Cashmere. Nahimigan ko sa boses niya ang pagka-inis na alam ko naman na hindi lang para sa akin. Tinuruan ako gumalang pero itong mysoginist na lalaking nasa aking kaliwa ay 'di kagalang-galang. "I approved Miss Diaz's design because that's what the client wants."

"That's it? Just because the client wants it, we'll stick to the modernization immediately. How about preserving the whole townhouse base on its roots?"

"We can -"

"Whatever the client wants goes, Architect Lisbon. This conversation will end here. I don't want to deal with your childish quarrel anymore."

Ano ba iyan? Hindi 'man ako pinatapos magsalita nitong mokong na 'to!

"That won't work, Architect, and if your father is here, he will never allow it. Did he approve your move to hire Miss Diaz? Sometimes,  modernism is not good in every establishment here in London, especially in a house."

"He -"

"Are you questioning my authority here, Architect Lisbon? What does this issue have to do with my father?"

Kailan ba ako makakasingit?

Gusto ko lang naman sabihin na si Architect Jaziel mismo ang kumausap sa akin para magtrabaho dito. Also, I have the most exquisite work experience and won some exemplary awards related to my profession. Hindi ako basta interior designer lang pero kailangan ko pa rin gumawa ng pangalan upang mas makilala pa. That I cannot do in the Philippines. Kulang sa suporta doon kaya maraming tulad ko na dito sa ibayong dagat nagkakayod kabayo.

"What I'm saying is, your father is not as careless as you, Architect Cashmere. You don't need much client servicing because we're architects, not celebrities!"

Hala anong nangyayari? Hindi na ba ito tungkol sa akin at kay Architect Lisbon? Bakit pa ako narito sa harap nilang dalawa?

I glanced at Cashmere when I heard him scoff.

"You're right, Architect Lisbon. I'm not like my father and ought to remain this way than be someone whom I don't want to be." Gusto ko palakpakan si Cashmere kaso baka sa akin naman siya magalit. "My decision to keep and follow Miss Diaz's design will happen for Miss Icheyeru's project."

Eh?

"You'll regret this, Architect. You'll see!"

Pareho kami napatingin kay Architect Lisbon na galit na galit na lumabas sa opisina ni Cashmere. Naiintindihan ko naman na ganito lagi kapag may nakatatanda na hindi aprubado ang ideya ng mga nakakabata. Pero modern ang nais ng kliyente at base naman iyon sa design ng dating bahay nito sa Scotland. Halos same lang naman iyon pagdating dito sa London kaya bakit hindi matanggap ni Architect Lisbon ang ideya ko?

He's always saying that my design is not applicable and budget-friendly. But why would an Architect like him be concerned about the budget? Miss Icheyeru is willing to pay additional to ensure the material is not substandard. Siyempre sila ang titira doon kaya number one priority ang safety nila. And all I did was follow what the client wanted.

"Don't mind him. He's one of the pioneers here and Dad's mentor."

Tumango-tango ako pero iyong katotohanan na mentor ng tatay ni Cashmere si Architect Lisbon, mas lalo ako nabagabag.

"I didn't know that you approved my design, Architect."

"Miss Icheyeru approved it, so what else can I do? I suggested some changes, and if you're reading your email, you've already revised it now."

"Nagbabasa naman ako ng email mo at babaguhin ko naman na talaga kaso ang daming kontrabida dito."

Nakita ko na kumunot ang noo ni Cashmere kaya naman muli ako nagsalita.

"Hindi ako nagrereklamo. Your father re-hire me because he believes in my capabilities as an interior designer. Kaya sana gano'n ka rin kasi hindi mo naman ako kailangan ipagtanggol lagi. I'm always prepared, sir, and it's not my first time to encounter a heat-headed workmates like you and Architect Lisbon. Palamig ka muna, may ice cream sa cafeteria."

Iniwan ko na siya pagkatapos ko sabihin iyon. Parang kailangan ko rin ng ice cream ha? Ang intense noong napanood ko kaso may mga kailangan pala ako baguhin. Kaya dumiretso na ako sa cubicle ko para simulan ang trabaho ko. I've read my emails especially the ones that Cashmere sent to me. Ang dami naman niya suggestions na aprubado ni Miss Icheyeru!

Nakakaloka!

I think I'm going to get that ice cream now...

***

"This is the Tower Bridge, Mari. Puwede tayo tumambay dito after work tapos iinom ng wine. May opening sa gallery noong kliyente ko ngayon at ni-recommend kita."

Marishka is an art curator. She simply loves anything that's art related and has dreams of one day she'll open her own gallery. May potential talaga itong kaibigan ko at nakita ko na karamihan sa mga paintings niya.

"That place is so dreamy, Eirene. Hindi na ako makahintay na makapunta diyan pero bakit nasa labas ka pa?" I showed Mari the ice cream I'm eating in exchange of hitting a bunch of cigarettes again. Mas okay na ito kaysa manganib ang bag ko kakahithit ng yosi. "You're really stress at your work."

"It's hard to work with seniors, Mari. Kaya kung sakaling palarin at maka-score ako agad ng citizen card dito, magtatayo na lang ako ng sarili ko."

"In London?"

"Yes. Here in London. Puwede rin sa Scotland or Northern Ireland or in Wales!"

"May gusto ka ba i-kwento sa akin?" Ang maganda kay Mari, napapansin niya agad kapag may bumabagabag sa akin. "You know that you can always talk to me even if we're worlds apart from each other. Malapit na rin naman ako pumunta diyan, Eirene. Hindi ka na mag-iisa at 'di ka rin naman totally alone diyan."

"It's a one-time thing, Mari. His mother despise me because of the vast scene I created in the company. Muntik na masira pamilya nila kaya nga iniiwasan ko na ma-involved sa lalaking iyon."

"You cannot stop the heart, Eirene."

"I'm not into him, Mari."

"Talaga ba? Mahirap mabilaukan sa sariling salita ha."

"Whatever!" Tumawa si Marishka ng malakas mula sa kabilang panig ng video call namin. Hindi ko na siya masyadong pinansin at tinuloy na lang ang pagto-tour sa kanya hanggang sa makauwi ako sa apartment ko. I am about to key in my pass code, but my attention drawn to someone else. "You again?"

"I can't sleep."

"Do I need to sing you a lullaby?"

Cashmere chuckled. "Silly, but I'll consider if you have a nice voice."

"Hoy, for your information singer ako noong college. Nanalo ako sa singing contest sa lugar namin sa Manila."

"I brought an ice cream pint."

"Hindi ka naniniwala na singer ako?"

"Come on. Key in the pass code before these melt." Inirapan ko siya at binuksan ko na ang pintuan ng apartment. Nauna ako pumasok at huli si Cashmere na siniguro pa na sarado ang main gate bago sumunod sa akin.

"Nakapasok ka dati dito noong may pinuntahan tayo na party, 'di ba?"

"I met the owner, and she let me enter after I told her that I'm your soon-to-be husband."

"Ano?" Hindi ako makapaniwala sa sinabi niya. Was that the reason why Michael stopped seeing me first? Kaya ba nagsinungaling iyon sa akin noon? "How did you know she's the owner?"

"Family friend." Kaya naman pala naka-akyat din si Miss Bianchi noong kausapin niya ako noon. Ang kitid talaga ng mundo ko dito lahat kilala nila. "You should ask your boyfriend to check on the locks here. It's not safe anywhere here."

"I know how to depend myself, Cashmere, but thanks for the concern. At hindi ko boyfriend si Michael." Nagpatuloy ako sa pag-akyat hanggang sa makarating kami sa apartment ko. Niluwagan ko ang bukas ng pintuan para makapasok si Cashmere. "Bakit hindi ka humanap ng girlfriend mo na guguluhin mo ng ganitong oras?"

"I'm not interested in a long-term relationship for now."

"Sabagay, ako rin. Mahirap ma-attached sa lugar na ito kaya landi-landi lang muna ako kapag may time."

"When will you have time? You have a 9-5 job and three hours of volunteer work."

"Kaya nga bawal iyong may attachment para safe."

"We can do that."

"What?"

"The no attachment thing. We can do that since we both don't want to be in a relationship."

Tumawa ako nang malakas na malaon ay hininto ko rin. "Hindi iyan magugustuhan ng nanay."

"We don't need her approval because it's our decision when to end this inconvenient attachment of us." It's an inconvenient attachment. Should I agree to his plan? "You have the right to think about it, Eirene. It's completely separate from our business life, so you don't need to worry."

Papatusin ko na ba?