"You had me investigated?!" Nagkaroon ng galit ang mga mata nya. I think, she took offense on that idea.

"No, Drew. I respect you a lot. I won't do that... because I would rather hear about Hope from you." I told her calmly.

Iniwas nito ang tingin sa akin pero nakakunot pa rin ang noo. She did not say a word for some minutes.

"Sorry if curiosity got into me. I felt that you were hiding something and Vina was also covering for you. Then there's Art. He was talking riddles. So last night, I went back to Tommy's and followed you. I saw your daughter from a distance. That was the reason I had your 201 file pulled up. And based on the date she was born...." I trailed off.

Tumikhim ako, "Is she...is she Aris'?" lakas loob kong tanong.

She did not even move her head... pero may kumislap sa kanyang mata. Luha na pinipigil nyang tumulo.

Mapait syang ngumiti at umiling na kaunting-kaunti. I'm confused... again. Was the answer a yes or no?

"I'm also wondering why you're not accepting the personal assistant post. You said you can't travel much. Well, you can bring Hope and her nanny kung may lakad tayo na matatagalan."

"It's still a no, Reid!" finally she spoke.

" I will also provide your relocation back in Manila, with Juno, if you want."

Tinitigan ako nito na tila hindi makapaniwala. "Nag-aaral pa si Jun!"

Napangiti ako sa isip ko. She is going to say yes!

"Then, you can transfer in Manila after the end of school year. Doon na si Jun sa Manila magtutuloy ng pag-aaral. Meanwhile, you will still get the post . Anyay, mas madalas ako dito sa Palawan until Hotel Schulz is done and operational sa El Nido."

"Still a no, Reid," she said.

What?!

"Why? Are you hiding from something or...... someone?"

Umiwas na naman ito ng tingin.

"Drew, you know what? You may not intend it but you're hurting me."

Nagulat sya sa sinabi ko, "Ha?!"

"I mean,I thought ...I'm not just your boss... I mean, I thought you trust me. But do you?" Hindi ko na napigilan sabihin sa kanya na naghihinanakit ako. I'm not asking anything in return sa mga naitulong ko. No, I don't count those things. It's just that at least she could trust me.

"Reid... I'm ... I'm sorry. Di ko intensyon," nakayuko nyang sabi na tila nilalamukos ang mga palad nya sa kandungan."Ayoko ng kumplikasyon. Tahimik na kami."

"Then, what is it? You know I can protect you. I've been protecting you since ... Drew, the closer you are to me, the easier for me to look after you. Kung sino o anuman yang kinakatakutan mo, may posibilidad na magku-krus uli ang landas nyo. Maliit lang ang mundo."

"Kasi may mga estudyante rin akong tinuturuan." Alright, I didn't know that and she may have read the questions plastered on my face.

"Ano, nagtuturo ako ESL online,tsaka may piano lessons kapag weekends." she's giving me lame excuses.

"I believe that the compensation I told you earlier is much higher kahit pagsamahin mo pa ang income mo sa dalawa mong part-time jobs. Don't lie to me by saying I'm not right, Drew."Hindi nga sya nakakibo.

"This is a win-win situation for the both of us. I need a personal assistant and you are the best candidate I know. You need bigger income and I can protect you at the same time." Ang hirap ng sitwasyon. Para akong nakikipag-bid sa isang top auction for a big client. Ako pa ang nakikiusap na tanggapin nya ang trabahong ito... Pero wala akong pakialam!

"Reid, why so persistent? Why are yo doing this to me? Ginugulo mo ako!" She said frustrated pero kaunti na lang, papayag na sya. I can feel it.

"Honestly, I don't know. I just want you close and make sure you're safe. Isa pa, we're comfy with each other. Saan ka makakahanap ng ikaw ang nang-aaway ng big boss?" Biro ko.

Natawa sya. It's a good sign.

"I ... I don't know, Reid. I don't know what to do with you," tila sumusuko nyang sabi.

I smiled .... A victor's smile. Isang folder ang inabot ko sa kanya. "Here. Sign this. That is what you should do."

"Ano 'to?"

"That's your new contract with the list of compensation and benefits, as my personal assistant," I said with a big smile.

Napailing sya pero natatawa. "Pinaghandaan mo talaga."

"Para wala ka nang kawala."

Huminga muna ito ng malalim. "Kakausapin ko muna si Jun. She is always part of my decision making lalo na kung lilipat kami ng bahay at sya ng university."

"Nasaan ba sya ngayon?"

Tumingin ito sa relo nya."Nasa school pa iyon pero patapos na ang klase nya. Didiretso na iyon Tommy's. Three to nine ang pasok nun today."

"That's just fine. We still have timetohave lunch It's already past one."

"I still have duty until six."

"No. I already told the HR head to have someone to cover for you today. I'll walk you to the locker room. Go get your things. We will eat lunch at Tommy's then both of us will talk to Jun." Napanganga ito sa akin.

"I need to convince her as well. Mahirap na baka magbago pa ang isip mo."

"Hindi pa ako pumipirma sa contract."

"It's just a paper. Your mind already said yes!"

"Ang yabang mo talaga!" Inirapan ako nito.

I brought her contract in mt briefcase then we went out of my office. Peoplein the floor were looking at us but I don't give damn. I'm happy...si Juno na lang then everything is ok.

"Myra, call the hotel service. Get a sedan wait at the lobby. Tell them I'll drive."

"Ok,sir. Tinawagan nyo na po si Ms. Wina?" Oo nga pala!

"I'll call her later. Thanks!"

Dumaan kami kay Vina sa reception pagkagaling sa locker room.

"Ay, saan ang date?" Tukso ni Vina.

Namula agad si Drew dahil dinig iyon sa buong reception hall.

"Ssshhh, anong date pinagsasabi mo!" Saway nito sa kaibigan. "Official ang lakad namin."

"Ah, official date?"

Natawa na ako. "I'm afraid she won't be back within the day, and about to leave her post here at the reception."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Vina. "Mars, you took it? Paano si ..." Binitin nito ang sasabihin at makahulugan ang tingin kay Drew.

"We will sort that out," ako na rin sumagot sabay kindat dito. "I know."

Hindi na ito nagsalita pero masayang nakangiti. Natutuwa ako na nakahanap ng totoong kaibigan sa katauhan nito si Drew, sa panahon na pinili nitong layuan ang mga kaibigan sa Maynila.

Aw shit! Speaking....I still have to tell her about Sarah! Soon...not now.

Before I drove off from the hotel, I saw Art looking at us seriously through the hotel lobby's glass wall. I don't fucking care. He better back off starting now!

Madali kaming nakarating sa Tommy's at agad rin naman kaming inasikaso upon the manager's instruction. Inabutan pa nga namin si Matt doon, ang business partner ko sa Tommy's.

Pinakilala ko si Drew dito at hiningi ang ilang oras ni Juno para sa pag-uusap mamaya.

"Para ka namang hindi may-ari dito. Nagpapaalam ka pa sa akin," natatawang sabi ni Matt.

"Baka kulangin kasi kayo ng tao mamaya. We might take long," sabi ko. Pumasok kami sa opisina nito at sandaling iniwan si Drew habang naghihintay ng order namin.

Nagkamustahan kami saglit tungkol sa takbi ng restobar. Inabot nito sa akin ang financial report ng nakaraang buwan. I just scanned it. Matino namang kausap itong si Matt.

"Si Drew..." simula ni Matt.

Tiningnan ko agad siya ng matalim. I know that tone he just used. "What about her?"

"Nah, you already answered my question," natatawang sabi nito na nakataas ang dalawang palad na tila sumusuko. "She's off limits, right?"

I just smirked.

Tumunog ang phone ko. Text galing kay Drew.

(Dito na food. Nasaan ka na?)

Demanding. Haha!

"I'm going," paalam ko kay Matt at lumabas na nang opisina nya.

"Imbitahan mo 'ko ha?" Nanunuksong habol nito. Napangiti ako ng malapad. Not a bad idea.

"Akala ko bukas ka pa babalik dito. Uuwi na sana ako," biro ni Drew pagbalik ko sa table namin.

Malapit na kaming matapos kumain nung matanawan ko ang kapatid nito na lumabas mula sa employees breakroom, hawak ang timecard nito. Nakasuot na ito ng red polo shirt,black skinny jeans at black apron na may tatak na Tommy's Bar.

Hinintay ko itong mag-punch in bago kinawayan. Lumapit agad ito sa table namin.

"Upo ka," sabi ko.

"Eh, Sir, naka-duty po ako," sabi nito. Magkapatid nga ito at si Drew. Alam na may-ari ang kausap, babanatan ako ng naka-duty daw.

"I know, that was why I waited for you to punch in. This isa paid meeting. Matt and the manager on duty were informed," sagot ko.

Naupo ito na nag-aalala. "May complain po ba sa akin, sir?" Tanong nito.

Natawa ako ng mahina. "No, not at all. We will talk to you about something else."

Binigyan ako at si Drew nito ng nagtatanong na tingin.

Drew started explaining to her my job offer and the compensation. I also tried helping in convincing her. The younger dela Cruz just listened and asked questions. She did not show any reaction. Tsk! Parang mas mahirap yata kausap ito. Parang sya yung ate at hindi si Drew.

"So, what do you think?" may kaba kong tanong. Para akong nagpapaalam sa tatay ng nililigawan ko na ide-date ko ang anak nya. Tss. 

Tumingin lang ito sa akin pagkatapos sa ate nya then nagkibit balikat.

"CR nga muna ako," sabi ni Drew.

Mukhang iyon ang hinihintay ni Juno. Nang makapasok ang ate nya sa women's restroom, tumitig ito sa akin ng seryoso.

"Sir Reid, boss kita kung tutuusin pero kung tungkol sa ate ko, makikipaglabanan ako sa iyo ng basagan ng mukha."

"Huh?!" Ano daw?!

"You won't be offering that much to her unless you like her." Ganun ka-diretso. Mas malala pala ito sa ate nya! "I won't ask confirmation from you, because I'm right, right?!"

"Ahm," napatikhim ako. Ginitian ako ng pawis sa isang babaeng matanda pa ako ng walong taon!

"Pakisagot lang po ako ng ng totoo at diretso," nag-po pa talaga!

"Yes, I like her... a lot!"

"You're aware that she's a single parent. She will never abandon Hope over any guy. Meaning, it's a buy one take one deal. So... seryoso po ba kayo? Kasi kung hindi po, just drop the Mr. Nice Guy image. She cannot afford another heartache from another asshole, in case... you know. Been there, done that stuff. No more crying for her. She'd been through a lot more than you could have imagined." 

Napag-isip nya ako sa sinabi nya. Gaano nga ba ako kaseryoso sa gusto kong mangyari?

"What about the heartache? And that 'a lot more I could have imagined'?" This girl is also talking riddles.

"She trusts you. We are not easy to trust, but if we do, that is the easiest way to our heart. Lose the trust, you will eventually lose the heart. We value honesty and loyalty. And there are things I am not in the position to tell you. When she's ready, she will do it herself."

Pinabibilib ako ng batang kapatid ni Drew. So, this is how strong their sister bond is. I know Iit is not easy to  break through it but I can be part of that bond, but first...build the trust! 

If the younger sister says no, I know I'm doomed!

"Jun, the truth is, I'm confused about how I feel about your sister. I want her close to me because I don't know, maybe to protect her because I feel she's afraid of something or someone. I am happy when she's around. I ...I feel bad if she's sad. I'm hurt when she's hurt. Nagagalit ako kapag nagagalit sya about something or someone. I don't have any label for the feelings I have for her. It's my first time. My first time to miss someone so I'd call her kahit marinig ko ang boses nya ng sandali tapos susungitan lang ako dahil naka-duty sya...but I'm fine with that, basta nakausap ko sya, masaya na ako. I was never like this in my previous relationships. Maybe I'm also taking risks... I don't know." pag amin ko kay Juno.

Damn, did I just spill my guts out to her? Drew's sister? If Sarah, Ralph and Rob heard this, I'd be a laughing stock for God knows how long!

She didn't smile but her eyes did yet she was quick to hide it as Drew is already on her way back to our table.

"So, ano na napag-usapan nyo?" tanong nito.

Juno looked at Drew then to me. "I'm ok with your offer, but not that scholarship for me. I can work my ass out to send my self to school. Do not be so extravagant with your offer. It looks like you're buying my sister."

Napangiti ako ng malapad.

Si Drew ay nagpakawala ng malalim na hininga. "Thanks, Bunso!"

"Sige na, naka-duty ako. Sayang tip. Mga istorbo kayo." Inirapan kami nito at lumakad na pabalik sa bar counter.

"Ipa-terminate ko kaya yang kapatid mo?" natatawa kong bulong kay Drew.

"Baliw!" mahinang hampas sa balikat ko ang kakambal noon.

Bumalik kami sa opisina para gawing pormal ang lahat. Doon na rin niya pinirmahan ang kontratang ihinanda ko. Tinawag ko rin si Myra para asikasuhin ang mga papel ni Drew na under na sya sa payroll ng main at hindi na ng Casa Alicia.

The rest of the afternoon was spent with Drew emptying her locker sa ibaba, then we had another table placed inside my office. Iba pa iyong nasa labas ng pintuan. Inumpisahan na rin niyang linisin ang clutters sa opisina ko.

"Hay, salamat! Ang dami ko nang natambak na trabaho sa admin," sabi ni Myra matapos nyang mai-turn over ang mga kailangan kay Drew.

Tinawagan ko na rin si Wina to inform her that the personal assistant post has already been taken effective today.

"Sir, did you even look at the three resumes I emailed you today?" she asked.

"Ahh, no. I haven't opened my email today yet. I am technically on leave today."

"Akala ko today mo na-hire yung personal assistant mo?"

"That was what I took care of the whole day. I finally got to have her sign the contract," I am so damn happy and proud of myself!

"The HR here will send her 201 file to you para dyan na ang records nya sa main. Pakiayos na lang since ang focus nya is her job with me."

"Alright! Your assistant, is that Andromeda dela Cruz?"

"Uhm, yes. How did you know?"

"You sounded elated," nanunukso ang tono nito.

Am I that obvious kahit sa telepono?

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