LILY STARED AT THE MEMO ON HER DESK. Nakatiklop iyon na bond paper nung una. Nang buklatin niya at nabasa ang heading, hindi na niya kailangang basahin pa ng buo para malaman kung ano ang nilalaman ng memo. She could clearly remember what happened yesterday. Walang paalam siyang nag-half day. Simula lunch break hindi na bumalik pa ng opisina si Lily.

How could she forget yesterday?

She could not help smiling upon remembering Jared.

His kisses… His touches… She trailed a forefinger across her lower lip. Reliving his taste in her mouth, the warmth of his body against hers...

“May nakuha nang memo, masaya pa,” wika ni Paula, isa sa mga HR staff na nagpadilat sa kanya.

Dumaan ito sa kanyang desk bago narating ang sarili nitong cubicle. Napasimangot tuloy siya saglit. Ang bilis naman ng pagdaan nito. How could Paula not stop a bit in front of her desk and stare at her clothes? She was elegant yet contemporary and chic in her white peep toe pumps and chestnut colored, high collar bodycon dress! Lily stood up, peered over the chest-high division between their areas. Nakita niya ang paglapag ni Paula ng shoulder bag nito at cup ng take-out coffee bago binuksan ang desktop computer.

“Because it’s worth it,” sagot niya sa tinuran ng babae.

Tumuwid na ito ng tayo at nilingon siya.

“Kung hindi ka lang kapatid ni Sir Basil, matagal ka nang tanggal dito.”

“I know,” mayabang niyang ngisi.

Napatitig ito saglit sa kanya, may panghihinayang sa mga mata bago inokupa ang sariling swivel chair.

“Update mo naman ako. Ano mga nangyari kahapon? After lunch?” patong ng isa niyang kamay sa ibabaw ng kanilang dibisyon.

Nasa monitor na ang mga mata ni Paula, nasa keyboards at mouse ang mga kamay.

“Iyon. Naghahanap ng kopya ng employee handbook kahapon si Sir Basil. Wala ‘yong in-charge sa mga records at documents.”

Saglit lang namilog ang mga mata niya. Lily covered up her worry with a goofy grin, nodding her head.

“Ahh… I see…”

Paula was already full of it. She turned her head to face her.

“Lily,” pirmi nitong wika.

“Hmm?”

“Kung may conflict ka man sa mga kapatid mo, then do whatever you want to them. Pero sana, hindi mo dinadamay ‘yong mga walang kinalaman sa problema ninyo. Tulad naming mga katrabaho mo.”

Tumango lang siya. To be honest, of all the people in this company, Paula was the only person she respects. Especially when Paula starts to talk seriously.

Lily sighed. “Sorry, Paula. I just can’t help it.” She met her workmate’s eyes. “I mean, kailangan ba talaga ako rito? Taga-file lang naman ako ng mga documents dito. Taga-print at photocopy. Taga-stapler...” Napasimangot siya. “Ang boring-boring. Napakaliit na bagay lang nitong mga task ko na pwede namang sa inyo na lang tutal, files naman ‘yon na under sa mga hina-handle niyong trabaho rito sa HR.”

Paula considered, she fell into silent thinking while still watching her.

Her drama went on. “Sa tingin ko talaga, nilagay lang ako rito ni Kuya Basil para ipamukha sa akin na ganito kababa ang tingin nila sa akin. ‘Yong tipong, taga-print, taga-photocopy, taga-file at sort ng mga papel at documents—”

“Iyon siguro ang dahilan kaya nilagay ka rito ni Sir Basil,” Paula returned her eyes on the computer, starting to dismiss her. “Para matutunan mong bigyang halaga at i-appreciate kahit ang pinakamaliliit na trabaho.”

Her smirk has a lot of sarcasm. “You’ve only been with my brother once. In that meeting. N’ong nagkasakit si Miss Jackie kaya ikaw ang sumama kay Kuya.”

Panay ang click ng mouse at scroll ng screen si Paula. “Ano ang kinalaman n’on sa pinag-uusapan natin?”

Dumistansya siya sa dibisyon ng kanilang cubicle. “It just means, you don’t know my brother that well. You absolutely have zero idea on what’s going on in his mind. On how his mind works.”

Natulala ito saglit sa monitor. Parang may naalala. Parang nagbalik-tanaw saglit.

“Tama ka,” mahina ngunit dinig pa rin ni Lily na saad ng babae. “Wala akong ideya kung paano siya mag-isip… kung ano ba talaga ang tumatakbo sa kanyang utak.”

Lily smirked smugly. “Told you.”

Then, she seated back on her desk. Sinilip niya ulit ang memo. Habang binabasa iyon, naalala niya si Paula. Ang biglang pagtamlay ng babae at pagdoble ng pag-iingat sa tono ng pananalita.

Is she having a hard time dealing with Kuya Basil?

.

.

NAKIPAGKAMAY SI JARED KAY BASIL.

Sinarili niya ang pagka-ilang na pinangunahan siya nang makaharap ang lalaki sa sarili nitong opisina sa Variant. Paanong hindi siya maiilang? Basil is the brother of the woman he just fucked in Belgium almost daily. The woman he fucked in The Org.

And yesterday. In his house.

They fucked with zero labels at all.

“Thank you for dropping by,” upo ni Basil sa swivel chair nito.

Jared seated by the visitor’s chair covered by a smooth, polished black leather.

“You’re welcome, Mr. Marlon,” pormal niyang sagot. “I’m just quite surprised. Akala ko, si Miss Jackie ang makaka-meeting ko rito sa Variant. Para ma-finalize na ‘yong mga detalye ng magiging trabaho ko rito.”

“Darating din tayo diyan. But for now,” Basil clasped his hands as his elbows rested on the table he was leaning at, “I want to be one step ahead in this investigation.”

Basil is as simple as his black and white minimalistic office. He wants to get straight to business. And since the room was dominated with black colors, Jared could already assume why Basil has this business-first attitude. The blackness all over the room felt like a shadow for this business man. A shadow where he can hide a version of him he wanted no one to see.

What version of Basil is that? Jared had no clue.

But for sure, it has something to do with his non-professional side.

Basil's personal side.

He will find out. Aalamin niya sa paraang walang magiging kawala ang kanyang kausap.

He would find an approach so subtle that Basil won’t see it coming.

“I’m listening,” aniya rito.

“As per Miss Jackie, nasa consent ng employees ang concern mo.”

“Yes.”

Inabot ni Basil ang kopya ng employees' handbook sa sulok ng desk. Dinampot iyon saglit ng lalaki bago nilapag sa bahagi ng mesa malapit sa kanyang kinauupuan. Sumaglit doon ang mga mata ni Jared bago binalik ang tingin sa kausap.

Basil spoke. “I-check mo ‘yong page na minarkahan ko ng post-it flags.”

Jared picked up the handbook and quickly located the page. Napadpad siya sa pahina tungkol sa Code of Conduct na pinapairal sa kompanya ng mga Marlon. Naka-highlight sa nakapailalim sa Disciplinary Action ang may kinalaman sa investigations sa loob ng premises ng kompanya.

Basil remained silent, allowing him to take his time to read the highlighted parts of the handbook.

Nang mag-angat ng tingin si Jared, tumuwid ng upo si Basil. Nawala ang pag-aabang sa mga mata nito.

“Lahat ng employees dito, may kopya niyang handbook. The moment they signed their contracts, they have already consented to the terms and conditions of this company. That includes the way we execute our disciplinary actions.”

Sinara ni Jared ang handbook, nilapag iyon sa desk.

“So, if consent was your only concern—”

“It’s not really my concern,” amin niya rito, diretso ang tingin sa kausap. “I used that reason, thinking that I could get away with it.”

Nagsalubong ang mga kilay ni Basil. Kumunot ang noo. Pero nanatili itong kalmado.

“And why would you do that?”

“I just think that, hiring a psychologist to solve your problem is too… theatrical.”

“Theatrical?” Basil pulled an awkward grin. Napasandal ito sa kinauupuan, hindi makapaniwala ang tingin na pinukol sa kanya bago pinatong sa arm rest ang siko nito. Tinukod ng kamay ng lalaki ang sentido.

Jared made his tone more polite. “You have a complete HR staff. Your company hired them, which means you believe they are capable of solving conflicts like this.”

“I think, I already made it clear to you. Bago pa kita pinag-set ng meeting dito sa Variant kasama ang HR staff at ang second in command ko rito, sinabi ko nang ikaw ang gusto kong magresolba nito dahil wala akong pinagkakatiwalaan sa mga tao rito. Kahit sa HR department.”

“Not even your sister?”

“My sister?” lalong gumusot ang mukha nito.

“Si Lily.”

He watched Basil pause, staring at him but knee-deep in his own thoughts. The President of the company did not see this coming. Most probably, also confused because he made sure the center of the conversation would be exclusively about the business— Variant and its current dilemma— how could the discussion so smoothly make a quick turn and become personal?

“Miss Lily Celeste Marlon is your sister, right?”

Basil stiffed in his seat. His guard was up.

“Yes. She is.”

“She’s part of HR Department too.”

“Yes.”

Nagiging matipid na sa pagsagot si Basil. Nag-iingat na ito dahil nakakahalatang papunta sa personal na ang usapan. That is, based on Jared's assessment.

Yes. He was also secretly studying Basil for the sake of his new job for Variant.

“Why place her there? Can’t she serve as an eye for you in that department? If she is, then why not trust, at least, the HR Department to handle this conflict?”

Tumuwid sa wakas ng upo ang lalaki. Discomfort made him shift in his seat, wince away and stare out at nowhere speechless. Kita niyang ayaw nito magsalita. Pero nakikipagtalo sa pagnanais nitong manahimik ang concern sa sariling imahe. Basil knew that if he wanted to project the image of this professional businessman, he should remain calm and unaffected. He should also not just avoid answering a question from someone he’s having a professional meeting with.

Pinili nito ang sariling imahe. Mas may lakas na ito ng loob nang muling iharap ang mukha sa kanya.

“That’s the reason why I put her there. Tiwala ako sa kanya na kung may mangayri sa HR Department o may masagap siya roon na dapat kong malaman, ipapaalam niya sa akin. But as the years went by, I realized that’s not going to happen.”

“May I know why?”

Natigilan ito saglit. “Why I trusted her or why I lost my trust in her?”

“Both,” mataman niyang titig dito.

Basil suppressed it, but it was too unbearable. He looked away as he released a heavy sigh.

“Mr. Guillermo,” harap ulit nito sa kanya, “what does this have to do with our problem?”

“Is Lily one of the people you’re suspecting to be behind that post?”

Napatitig ito sa kanya.

Come on. I need an answer.

May umusbong na pang-unawa sa gulat nitong mukha. Humalili sa pagkabigla nito sa kanyang tanong ang pagiging desidido.

“Oo. At natatakot akong lumabas akong biased. Kaya naghanap ako ng outsource.”

“Just as I thought,” his eyes narrowed. “You’re suspecting her. Kaya pinapunta mo siya sa opisina ko. Kaya rin siya ang pinautusan mo na kausapin ako para tanggapin ang alok mo.”

“I still find it odd, na ginawan niya ng paraan na tumuloy ka sa usapan.” Something passed by Basil’s eyes. A consideration. A doubt. Strands of double-guessing and second thinking. As his thoughts began to take a personal turn, he immediately stepped back. Bumalik ang lalaki sa kasalukuyan.

Nang ipukol muli ni Basil ang tingin sa kanya, tinaggap iyon na hudyat ni Jared.

He replied to Basil.

“Because you’re expecting she won’t do it. Kasi kapag ginawa niya, iisipin niya na mahuhuling siya ang may kinalaman sa mapanirang post na 'yon.”

Basil regained his composure. “And... she took my advice and went to your office. She rarely takes my word that’s why it’s shocking.” He leaned against the desk. “What’s your diagnosis?”

Lalong naningkit ang mga mata ni Jared. “Diagnosis? Are you implying she’s sick?”

“Isn’t she?” Basil eyed Jared up and down.

“That’s the problem in this country. May kaunting problema ka lang sa behavior ‘yong tao, may sakit na sa isip. Tapos, kapag naconfirm na walang mental issues, aakusahang nag-iinarte lang. Kaya walang sumeseryoso sa mga talagang may mental issues. Isn’t that alarming?”

Nagdilim ang anyo nito. Nanatiling mababa ang tono. “Ano ang magagawa ng usapang ito para i-solve ang tungkol sa nagkalat na post na ‘yon?”

“Baka makatulong siya,” relaxed niyang sandal sa kinauupuan. “Pero hindi mangyayari iyon hangga’t hindi siya willing makipagcooperate sa’yo.”

“She won’t. That’s why you’re here. You’re solving this problem.”

He scoffed, stifling a sarcastic laugh as a grin escaped from his lips. “I’m a psychologist, I don’t make miracles, Mr. Marlon. Hindi ko makikilala ang isang tao sa isang simpleng team building activity lang. That’s why, hindi lang ikaw ang kailangan kong makatrabaho rito. I need to be with someone who knows the employees for quite a long time. Someone who already has a grasp of their behavior.”

“And that’s not going to be Lily. Kahit nasa HR pa siya, she’s useless.”

Sinarili na lang ni Jared ang pagpanting ng tainga.

“What made you say so?”

“Kung hindi AWOL. Out of post. Ang simple na nga lang ng trabaho niya, pamali-mali pa siya.” Basil cringed upon recalling Lily and the reports he was getting from the HR Department about his sister. Napamasahe ito sa kanang sentido, napailing-iling “Kahapon, naglunch break lang, hindi na naman bumalik.”

“She’s with me yesterday.”

Namilog ang mga mata nito sa narinig.

“Tinanong ko siya kung gawain na ba talaga niya ang umalis sa trabaho nang walang paalam. She said yes. And she also admitted that she’s out of post most of the time.”

Oo. Napag-usapan nila iyon ng dalaga.  It was after they had sex, while they were having cold drinks...

“She has the guts to admit that to you. Sa akin kasi, nagdadahilan pa siya.”

Pinagtataka ko rin iyon. Diretso pa rin ang tingin ni Jared sa kausap. Lily knows I still don’t trust her. And yet, she’s being so honest with me.

He felt a pang. It already came late. Ngayon lang napagtanto ni Jared kung ano ang posibleng dahilan.

Is she being honest with me to gain my trust?

Hindi niya alam kung ano ang uunahin. Nag-uunahan kasi ang mga emosyon sa kanyang dibdib. All he was aware of was the fact that he likes that idea. That he was hoping, that’s the real intention behind Lily’s honesty.

“Of course she would. Dahil may personal kayong problema sa isa isa,” mataman niyang tinitigan ang kausap sa mga mata. “Ayaw mo man mabahiran ng pamemersonal ang iyong buhay trabaho, I’m sorry to tell you, Mr. Marlon but… That’s not happening right now. Your personal problems are affecting the company in a way that’s making it difficult to solve the real conflict here.”

“Are you suggesting na makipag-ayos ako sa kapatid ko? Para lang malaman kung sino ang nasa  likod ng mapanirang post na ‘yon sa Facebook?”

Walang gatol siyang nanindigan. “Yes, Mr. Marlon.”

.

.

PAULA WAS BUSY ON HER DESK. Dino-double check nito ang profiles at notifications ng account ng Variant sa iba’t ibang job hiring sites. Minsan ay naga-update ng ilang mga detalye sa profile section ng mga account. She tucked a brown strand of her Brazillian blowout straightened hair. Sumayad iyon sa balikat ng dalaga, umabot sa braso.

She sat quiet and still, prim in her purple high necked, long-sleeved dress. Damit na sa ukay-ukay nabili pero kayang makipagsabayan sa mamahaling mga damit ng mga kasama sa HR Department.

The only thing that broke her disciplined concentration was a phone call.

Doon lang na-realize ni Paula na pagod ang mga mata nito sa matagal na pagkakatitig sa monitor. She rubbed her eyes with fingers from her right hand, then picked up the cordless phone with the left.

“Good morning, HR Department," her voice was full of life, but moderately pitched. She gave off such a formal, authoritative and composed vibe in the way she spoke. "This is Paula speaking.”

Paula, Miss Jackie’s firm voice replied, can you please check on Lily?

She maintained her composure. Kahit sa loob-loob ay gusto nang mapabuntong-hininga ni Paula.

Si Lily na naman...

Same old, same old. Kapag ganito na ang inutos sa kanya ni Miss Jackie, ibig sabihin, wala na naman si Lily sa desk nito. Kadalasan, hindi nila naririnig mag-ring ang desk phone ni Lily dahil sinasadya nitong iwanan iyon nang naka-hang bago pumuslit.

Tumayo si Paula mula sa kinauupuan. Pagsilip sa cubicle ni Lily, nakumpirma nitong wala na naman roon si Lily.

She pressed the phone she was holding against her ear.

“Wala po siya rito, Miss Jackie.” At pinangunahan na niya ito. “Check ko lang po kung nasaan na siya."

Good. Thanks.

Pagkababa ng telepono nagsala-salabit na ang mga kilay ng magandang babae. “Nasaan na naman kaya ‘yon?”

.

.

LILY’S WHITE PEEP TOE PUMPS CLICKED AGAINST THE TILED FLOOR. Bago siya magtipa ng explanation letter bilang sagot sa natanggap na memo, napagpasyahan niyang umalis. She figured that she needed to breathe. Sigurado kasi siyang pagkapasa ng explanation letter kay Miss Jackie, hindi nito babasahin iyon. Papapuntahin siya ng babae sa opisina para gisahin nito habang binabasa ang kanyang sulat.

Maglilibot-libot siya sa Variant tulad ng nakasanayan niyang gawin. Sinong empleyado ang hindi mate-tempt mag-ikot-ikot kung photocopying, pag-stapler at filing lang ang trabaho? Pakiramdam niya, mabubulok siya sa HR Department kakahintay ng magpapa-photocopy sa kanya. At dahil kilala siyang kadugo ng may-ari ng kompanya, karamihan sa mga empleyado ay nahihiya pang magpaphotocopy sa kanya.

So, what was she supposed to do?

Habang naglalakad papunta sa elevator, nag-iisip pa rin si Lily kung saan bibisita?

Sa Production? Sa Admin?

Parang mas gusto pa rin niya dumayo sa Maintenance. The people there were more laidback and cool, based on her experience. Kayang isantabi ng mga ito ang pagkailang at kalimutan saglit na isa siyang Marlon kapag nakakausap siya.

Kaya lang, napapadalas na ang pag-istorbo niya sa mga electrician doon. Baka mapadalhan na ito ng memo nang dahil sa kanya.

Lily flipped her hair back and pressed a button. Naghintay siya sa pagbukas ng elevator.

At nagkataong pagbukas niyon, nakita niya sa loob si Jared. Kasama nito ang nakangiting COO ng Variant— ang pinsan niyang si Jeanie.