"Amanda!" Arnold said when they met at the canteen on a Monday. With his bottled water on his right hand, he approached her table with her friends.

"Hi, Arnold." Amanda said as she chewed on her dumpling.

"Pwede ka ba next weekend magtutor kay Alan? Third Periodic Exam na kasi nila next, next week." Arnold asked and flashed his friendly smile at Tristan and Kristina which the latter frowned upon.

"Sige. Be there by two in the afternoon. May errands kasi ako ng umaga." Amanda nodded and smiled.

"Great! Thank you!" Arnold grinned. "Be seeing you this weekend!" He said and nodded his goodbye.

As soon as he was out of earshot, Kristina nudged her and commented.

"Seriously, ikaw magtutor? I mean, I know you are intelligent and all, pero, ikaw?" Kristina asked unconvincingly raising an eyebrow and bit on her macaroni.

"Grabe ka naman kay Amanda!" Tristan said and sipped on his lemon water.

"Kristina, extra income din yun! Alam mo namang gipit ako diba?" Amanda asked and drank her water. She wiped her lips with a tissue and continued to stare at her friend.

"Wala namang duda na manyak at mukhang may masamang balak sayo yang si Arnold no!" Kristina pointed out and rolled her eyes. "Hindi mo ba nasasagap sa floor natin na nagresign yung ka-department nya dahil hinaharass daw nya? Take note, not one but two rookies ang nagresign!"

Siniko sya ni Tristan para tumahimik dahil medyo nakakaagaw na ng atensyon si Kristina.

"Pakihinaan ang boses mo, girl! Baka ikaw na susunod na maparesign dyan, sige ka!" Tristan hissed at pinandilatan si Kristina.

Kristina ignored his remark but lowered her voice when she resumed talking. "Kung ako sa iyo, kung talagang ayaw mong igive up ang pagtututor sa anak nya, wag ka magtatagal sa bahay nya than necessary. Wag kang magkakamaling mag-overnight pag niyaya ka nya. Hanggat maaari, umuwi ka sa inyo kahit bumabagyo o katapusan na ng mundo."

Amanda sighed and shivered when she realized the seriousness in Kristina's voice as she reminded her what she should do.

"Wag mo namang takutin si Amanda. Baka mamaya hindi na pumasok yan at mapraning na sinusundan sya. " Tristan interjected as he leaned on his elbow. He brushed his hair up when he saw his reflection on the glass window behind Amanda.

Amanda frowned when she remembered her creepy neighbor turned building mate.

"Kering-keri ni Amanda yan. Wag mo lang kakalimutan na tawagan kame pag may kailangan ka." Kristina said as if to the rescue.

"Halika na, tapos na lunch break." Amanda said and stood up. She grabbed her pouch bag where her lipstick, toothbrush and toothpaste were stored. Tristan and Kristina did the same and brought their empty bottles to throw to the trash bin.

"Restroom lang ako. Una na kayo." Amanda said and Tristan nodded.

"Sama na ako sayo, mamsh." Kristina said and they turned right to the restroom when their elevator stopped to their floor. Tristan went to the opposite direction to their office.

While on their way to the restroom, Amanda noticed her creepy neighbor talking on the phone at the far end of the hallway. She felt goosebumps crept up her skin. She walked faster and breathed out when they finally reached the restroom.

Kristina opened her pouch bag and put out her toothbrush and toothpaste.

"Oh, bakit para kang nakakita ng multo?" Kristina asked and started brushing her teeth.

Amanda shook her head and started brushing her teeth as well. After her ritual, she washed her face to freshen up before putting her lipstick on.

"Ganda na naten uli, mamsh!" Kristina commented and laughed heartily before they return to their office.

Amanda unconsciously clung to Kristina's arm with her free hand while her other gripping on the pouch bag.

"Oks ka lang ba talaga, ghorl? Anlamig ng kamay mo!" Kristina commented while giving her a concerned look as they make their way to the office.

"Oks lang girl. Wag mo ko pansinin." Amanda said and let out a sigh when they finally stepped inside the office.

She returned her pouch inside her bag and stretched her arms to shake off the worry and fear that has occupied her system awhile ago.

"Amanda, please proceed to the Manager's Office please." Lorenzo said after tapping her lightly on her shoulder as he passed by her to talk to Kristina.

Katatapos lang irenovate ng Manager's Office recently kaya malaya ng nakakagalaw ang Department nila. Ang dating table ni Miss Gretchen, kung saan kasalukuyang nakapwesto si Flynn, ay nalipat na nung weekend sa newly refurbished office.

Amanda's forehead creased and immediately grabbed her notebook and pen before heading to the MO.

"Good afternoon, Sir Flynn." Amanda greeted and Sir Flynn looked up from what he was busy analyzing on the folder in front of him.

"Sit down, Amanda." Sir Flynn instructed and Amanda did so. "How's your event planning going out? I believe, this will be held by the end of the month, right?"

"Oh yes, Sir." Amanda remembered and opened her notes to report about her task. "Kristina is finished with the online registration of the participants and I had disseminated the info to the IT Department last week. I also contacted the speaker a month ago and he agreed to lecture the IT people. Tristan is also done coordinating with the Finance Office for the stipend of the speaker as well as the snacks of the participants. I had also asked help from one of our ITs for technical support of the set up at our function hall. "

"Very good, A. " Sir Flynn nodded in approval."I hope, I can call you A instead of Amanda? You consider me as a friend, right?" Sir Flynn raised an eyebrow as a suggestion.

Amanda was taken aback by his nickname for her. She was surprised to be given such a nickname from a superior. Even Miss Gretchen who is almost four years older than her didn't give her one.

"Uh. Yes. It's fine with me. You can call me A." Amanda said. Her surprise still heard in her voice.

"Great! If you need any more help, you can just knock on my door and call me anytime, A." Sir Flynn said smiling brightly.

Amanda nodded and bid her goodbye and went back to her place.

Amanda let out a breath and grabbed her bottle of water to drink.

Kristina frowned when she noticed  Amanda's startled face. She shrugged and decided to keep quiet about it.