DALMATIAN stares at the woman who got assigned in his father's publishing house. Being the son of the owner, natural siyang dito nagpalagay for his on-the-job training. There are other literature students with her, two in specific. Wala siyang pakialam sa dalawa at tanging kay Gayle siya nakapokus.

"Alright, everyone. You've met your mentors. I expect you all get along together. Welcome to the family and let us all be nice to each other. Good day!" After the welcoming speech, iniwan na sila ng supervisor.

"As to you, Mr. Florente. Are you joining those team or you're coming with me?" The accounting supervisor called his attention. Nakuha naman nito iyon agad and Tian took his eyes from the girl.

"Ahm, I'm with you sir." The publishing house is the nearest company from the University. Though the distance still takes almost an hour to travel. Sinamahan siya ng lalaki patungo sa office kung saan siya maglalagi at magtatrabaho.

"This is Melay, head of the sales management team. Melay, this is Mr. Dalmatian Florente. You will be supervising him until their OJT ends. Now get along. I'm leaving you two." Parehong napatingin na lang sa isa't isa ang dalawa and he was lead to the other officers in that team. It won't be boring just how he expected his ojt to be. Fate must have brought him close to her.

"WE'RE currently reviewing every submitted novels via email. Your laptops will be directed to that site and write down reviews about the story you will open. There's a lot to read so geared up and let's not waste some time! Aja! Aja!" Their leader cheered the newbies. Gayle took the seat on the edge of the long table. Kaniya-kaniya din ng puwesto ang mga kasamahan nila.

Nang matapos ang unang araw ay nagkaayaan ang lahat na mag-throw ng dinner party for the ojts. Nakasalubong ng team nila ang isa pang grupo at nagbatian ang mga leader nila.

"We're off to a dinner party. Kayo, Melay? I heard may ojt din kayo?" Gayle is just standing behind her group. Dalmatian is looking for her from his team. His dad only accepted him as the ojt of their company in the accounting dahil siya din naman ang magmamana ng kumpanya.

"Yeah, actually ganun din kami." Masayang tugon din naman ng kabilang team. Gayle just busily listening to her earphones. She doesn't go eating outside with other people but she has to go dahil trabaho ito.

"In that case, take the company card with you folks." Dalmatian's dad appeared from behind them. Inabot nga nito ang card sa kanila.

"Treat my son with a nice meal and the other of his schoolmates. I'll see you at home, Tian. Enjoy!" Narinig na lang ni Gayle na nagpalakpakan ang lahat kaya tinatamad na nakigaya na lang siya.

"Sino'ng may mga dalang auto? Pasakay naman! Let's have some barbeque!" Gayle saw people raised their hands at kaniya-kaniyang sama sa may mga kotse. Gayle has her bike. Kung hindi malayo, she can just pedal on her own.

"Oh, sino'ng walang kasabay? Dun tayo guys sa Barbeque house sa may hilaga road." Gayle looks around. "Ms. Riad, may kasabay ka na ba?" Lahat bumaling sa kaniya nang wala nang nagtaas na walang kasama.

"Ahm.. May-- bike po ako." Naiilang niyang pagsagot at natawa naman ang babae sa kaniya. She felt awkward that people are focusing to her. Ayaw niyang tinitingnan siya na parang kawawa. Being alone is her expertise but when people look at her like its a disease na nagiisa, doon lang siya nahihiya.

"That's quiet far, dear. Baka may space pa sa inyo dyan. Sabay niyo naman siya." Isa-isang tiningnan ng babae kung sino ang pwede but no one is speaking to take her along with them. Until someone volunteered.

"I'll take her with me." Lahat napasulyap sa anak ng boss nilang lahat. No one dared asking the guy for a ride together kaya wala itong ibang pasahero sa kotse niya.

"I'll take Ms. Riad with me. Since I don't have any other passengers in my car." He keeps his natural tone na seryoso. Intimidated sa kaniya ang ibang regular employees kahit ang nagsusupervise sa kaniya dahil sa family background niya.

Gayle was just silent during the ride. Nasa tabi siya ng lalaki sa unahan at ang bike nito ay itinali sa bubong ng kotse. She can just commute kung malayo yung lugar. Sa mahabang katahimikan nila ay biglang sumagi sa alaala ni Gayle ang tungkol sa dapat na pagkikita nila ng lalaki nung Saturday.

She glanced to him. Bigla siyang nakonsensya. Baka naghintay ito sa kaniya sa park. "Ahm.. A-About dun sa treat na--"

"Yeah, right. About nga pala dun. Pumunta ka ba? I'm sorry. I had.. things I attended that day kaya hindi ako nakasipot. Hindi ka naman naghintay nang matagal, noh?" Inunahan siya ng lalaki sa pagsalita nang banggitin niya ang tungkol sa treat na nirequest nito.

"N-No. I couldn't come too. Something came up at home." Gayle felt somehow relieved. Akala niya din napaghintay niya ito nung araw na yun. Dahil kung oo, hindi siya matatahimik. Good thing hindi din pala ito nakapunta.

"Oh, really. I guess we both didn't made it that time. That's a relief." Nagpeke ng ngiti si Dalmatian. He wouldn't want to make her feel guilty. Though he waited 'til the sunset that day for her. It's funny how he never wasted time waiting for anyone who couldn't come on time before yet, he sat for hours in one place just for Gayle. How hilarious that is.

Pasimple niya pang sinulyapan ang babaeng nakatanaw lang sa labas ng bintana. Dalmatian has been crushing on her unconsciously ever since she showed up infront of him during the first semester this school year.

Magkakasunod na nagparke ng sasakyan ang mga kasama nila. Tian parked lastly. Pagbubuksan niya sana si Gayle pero nakababa agad ito pagkahinto nila.

"WELCOME po mga ma'am at sir!" Mabilis na bati ni Rant sa mga pumasok na grupo. The barbeque house will be full at this moment. May mga iba pa kasing costumer sa naghahapunan.

"Hi!" Rant's smile gets wider nang pumasok din ang babaeng kliyente niya kagabi.

"Hello, Ms. Pretty! Come in." Rant welcomed the woman like a prince leading the way by his hands. She flashed him another sweet smile saka na sumunod sa mga kasama sa loob. Rant is just smiling happily but the next persons ruined his mood.

"What's up call-boy? You're working here?" Casual na bati nung Dalmatian and the woman with him is an even more sore to his sight.

"Yes, sir. Welcome." Walang ganang tumagilid siya para padaanin ang dalawa sa pinto. The guy just smirks to him at ni hindi naman din siya tiningnan ng babae. Sabay pa talagang sumulpot ang dalawa. Tsk.

Tumungo na siya sa mga bagong dating at kinuha ang order nito. Pagkalapit kay Ms. Pretty ay doon lang siya ulit ngumiti nang genuine kaso katabi nito ang aroganteng babae at katapat naman yung Dalmatian.

Natutuwa siya sa pagiging friendly ng babaeng inaya siyang makipagdate. Ito ang nauunang kumausap kay Gayle asking her about the food they should order. Kung mabait at friendly si Ms. Pretty, bakas naman ang pagkainis sa walang emosyong mga mata ng babae sa tabi nito na tila ba lihim na naiinis. Knowing her attitude, malamang inaayawan nito sa isip ang kaklase. Ms. Pretty is just so sweet to approach the unapproachable woman.

"Sa'yo po, Ms. Rude-este-Riad. Ano'ng order mo?" Lahat na nakapagorder at ito na lang ang hindi niya natatanong. Kung hindi lang kailangan, ayaw niya na din itong makausap pa. Tumaas ang matalim na tingin ng babae sa kaniya pati din yung Mr. Admirer nito slash former client niya.

"This one." Gayle just pointed the dish in the menu at inisnab na ang waiter. She shouldn't go here again. Inayawan niya na agad ang ambiance ng lugar dahil sa mayabang at nakakairitang lalaki kaya nga nagturo na lang siya ng kung ano sa menu.

Their mentors just made a short cheer for them at sabay-sabay silang uminom ng pinamigay na canned beer. Gayle didn't do as they did. She doesn't drink. Siya lang yata ang hindi tumungga nang magtoast ang lahat.

"You don't drink?" Naobliga ulit siyang tingnan ang nagiging madaldal sa kaniyang babae. She knew her face among her classmates. And this girl never talked to her like a close friend before. Ngayon ay nagiging nakakainis na madaldal ito sa kaniya. She just shook her head silently. Hindi siya nagsalita. Yung tubig na lang ang ininom niya.

Nang lumalim na ang gabi ay isa-isa nang nalagas ang mga kasamahan nila. Tatlo na lang sila sa table ng mga ojt students. Gayle wanted to leave already. Nababagot at napapagod na siya sa pakikisalamuha sa mga taong kasama niya. She wants her bed.

"Gayle, did you date Rant?" Nilunok ni Gayle ang hikab nang kausapin ulit siya ng babae. Doon naman ito nakatingin sa waiter na nagpupunas ng lamesa.

"I don't know any Rant." She only sees Rat to where her stranger classmate keeps staring at dreamily.

"Him. Come on, you should atleast remember someone's name. Do you even know mine? I'm Gemini if you don't." Napairap lang si Gayle. This girl, being her classmate for years, should know by now that she doesn't like talking to anyone including her.

"I don't date." Maikling sagot niya ulit sa babae. Gusto niya nang umalis kaya inipon niya na ang gamit.

"Good then. Because I'm dating him from now on. I've been crushing on him ever since I couldn't remember." Yes. Yes. Whatever. Tumayo na si Gayle sa kinauupuan and Tian came back from going outside.

"Aalis ka na? I can give you a ride." Alok nito ulit sa kaniya. Sa gilid ng mata ni Gayle ay nakita niyang lumapit ang Rat na tinutukoy ng kaklase niya. Naglagay ito ng mainit na kape para sa babae.

"Drink this. Pampawala ng amats." Gayle heard the guy talking sweetly to that Gemini girl. Bakas naman ang kilig sa pigil na ngiti ng kaklase niya. So this kind of girl must be the kind of girl he likes. She smirks on herself.

"Thank you." Nang bumaling sa kanila ang kinaiinisan niyang lalaki ay mabilis niyang kinuha ang bag at tinanggihan si Dalmatian na nag-aalok sa kaniyang ihatid siya.

"I have a nasty attitude you people wouldn't like kaya hindi ko na lang tatanggapin ang alok mo. Magba-bike na lang ako pauwi. Thank you earlier." Gayle left after speaking coldly to the guy who's just being nice to her. Dahil sa bwisit na Rat na yun, she's planning to get even more distant to men. Baka kasi mag-assume na naman lang siya eh di napahiya ulit siya.

Naiwang tahimik ang tatlo. Gemini apologized for Riad's rudeness to the nice guy with them. "Ahm, Sorry about that. She's always like that. She just prefers to be alone most of the time."

"It's fine." Dalmatian found it more attractive about Gayle being straightforward. How she declined his offer is just charming. He likes women who are true to themselves rather girls who just acted sweet and innocent. That's plain boring for him. Gayle is different.

Gemini glanced to Rant who had a hint of what Gayle just said. Halatang pinaringgan siya ng babae tungkol sa naging diskusyon nila kahapon. Ha! That woman holds grudges when she herself offended people mindlessly. Parang siya pa tuloy ang may sinabing mali sa babae eh prinangka niya lang din naman ito! Tss!

Inis na bumalik si Rant sa counter at padabog na iniwan ang tray doon. Gemini noticed his sudden temper when Gayle left. Gayle keeps saying she doesn't date him. But they look like they have an unresolved matter to themselves. It somehow affects her confident. Natatakot pa siyang tanungin naman ang side ni Rant so she's prolonging asking him.

GAYLE stops by the park. She sits to her usual bench. Past eight in the evening na. Magpapahangin lang siya sandali then she'll go home after. Habang nagmumuni-muni ay naalala niya ulit ang mga litanya ng lalaki. It has been bothering her every night.

'You don't even deserve the love they poured in to those letters.'

'I don't even like you. Hindi kita type. You will be nobody's type because of your nasty attitude kapag pinagpatuloy mo yan.'

"How dare him preach me." Her fists clenched for being insulted. Sa sobrang pagkainis ay sinipa niya ang bato sa may paanan. It hits the trash can. Inis niyang kinuha ang sticky note sa bag at doon nagbunton ng galit.

Shelovesrain❤