"Have a seat," he gestured me the chair in front of his table. Agad naman akong umupo roon.

"Do you want anything?"

I shook my head on his question. I'm not here for a meeting like what he thought. I'm here to apply.

I want to tell him that, ngunit para bang hindi ko mahagilap ang mga salita at walang lumalabas sa aking bibig.

Bahagya siyang tumigil at napakurap sa akin. "Can I see your resume?"

"Uhm, here." I handed it to him. Pinasadahan niya iyon ng tingin at para bang may hinanap lang doon at nang makita ay muling bumaling sa akin.

He sat on his swivel chair as he intently looked at me. "The position you're applying is already closed for applicants."

Bahagya akong napayuko. I started fidgeting my fingers as I turned to him. "Or your company don't want to hire a suspect for murder?" Naitikom ko ang bibig matapos sabihin iyon.

Why would you even tell him that? Saway ko sa sarili.

He tilted his head as he rested his hands on the table. "We already cleared your name, you didn't kill anyone."

"I applied for five companies, this is the sixth but no one hired me. I assumed that's because of the news," I smiled a bit to cover what I really feel.

He frowned and a deep furrow formed in his brow. "We're not like that, Aurie."

I shrugged, bahagya pang napapitlag sa tawag niya sa akin. Natahimik siya matapos ay napangiti. "I'll hire you but not as a financial analyst."

My lips parted. Why would he do that? But, not bad. I need a job. "Anything will do." Yes? I mean, hindi naman niya siguro ako bibigyan ng trabaho na malayo sa inaapplayan ko.

Lumawak ang ngiti sa kanyang mga labi na para bang may nakuha siyang gustong gusto niya. 'Yung tipong kulang na lang ay pumalakpak siya habang tumatalon talon. "Great! I'm looking for a secretary."

I frowned a bit. Takang tumitig sa kanya. "The one outside, isn't she your secretary?" I asked, referring to the woman with a perfect hourglass body shape outside. That's his type, I think. Or I don't know, maybe as long as you're a woman, you're his type.

Sandaling natigilan si Attorney, matapos ay napatango. "Yes, but I need two. I mean, if I have meetings outside the company you'll come with me while Shea will stay here."

"What do you think?" Pahabol niya nang hindi ako makasagot.

"I'm... alright... with that," marahan at paputol putol na sambit ko.

"You're hired then, congratulations! You can start tommorow."

I raised my brow. Really? Really, Archer? What are you up to? Nang natantong nakatingin siya sa akin ay agad kong ibinaba ang nakataas na kilay at tumikhim.

"Really? I mean, interview, wala?"

Napalabi siya bago ako binigyan ng mapaglarong mga tingin. "How about an interview over dinner?"

A dinner! He's pushing it until now, huh? Ngayon ay bigla akong nagsisi dahil sa itinanong. Tanggap ka na, Auriese! Naghanap ka pa ng interview.

"I'm ready for an interview. Pwede ngayon." Napahinto ako at muling dinugtungan ang mga salita nang matantong iba ang dating ng aking sinabi. "Dito... at hindi na sa dinner pa."

"But I want it at dinner, Miss Gallardo," may mapaglarong ngiti sa mga labing sambit niya bago sumandal sa swivel chair. "Take it of leave it."

Mariin akong napapikit. I questioned myself why did I even went here and apply. Una pa lang ay alam ko ng kompanya nila ito. Mukhang mali ako sa pagaakalang si Archimedes Fonacier pa ang namamahala rito.

I don't want him near me. Sa ginagawa niyang ito, hindi ko alam kung anong magagawa ko, baka hindi ko mapigilan ang sarili.

Or, really you don't want him near you? Agad na tutol ng kabilang parte ng aking isip.

I heaved a deep sigh. Maybe I can still find another job if he'll still insist that dinner.

Ngumiti ako at tumayo na, bahagya pang tumango ngunit napatayo rin siya. Unti unting nawala ang mapaglarong ngiti sa kanyang mga labi.

"T-thank you for you offer but I don't think I can take it."

Nalaglag ang kanyang panga at dalawang beses napakurap sa akin. I slightly bowed my head I as turned my back on him. Nagsimula akong maglakad palabas ng kanyang opisina, nakatungo at nanghihinayang sa naging desisyon. I was in front of the door when he spoke.

"You can start tomorrow. There's no need for an interview."

I stilled as I heard him. Nang makabawi ay napalingon. "I thought-"

"I was just kidding, Aurie." He showed me his wide smile.

My lips parted as I tilted my head. Napakunot ang aking noo. Ano talaga? Tanggap ba 'ko?

I was about to asked him that when someone knocked on the door, matapos ay ang pagbukas noon.

A familiar man entered in his suit sporting his famous cold expression.

"Creed," tawag ni Archer nang makita ang pumasok.

"Can we talk or..." Creed glanced at me. Nang tumagal ang tingin niya sa akin ay napakunot ang aking noo. Bakit? Nakilala niya ba 'ko? Agad akong nag-iwas ng tingin at kumalabog ang aking dibdib.

"I-I'm leaving," agad akong paalam at tumungo, akmang aalis na nang nagsalita si Creed.

"Is she?" Tinaas ko ang aking tingin at nahuli ang pagsulyap niya kay Archer. I glanced at Arch and saw him nodded with a smile in his face.

"Really?" Amusement is evident in his face, wala na ang kaninang malamig na ekspresyon.

Ipinagtaka ko iyon. Nakilala niya ba 'ko? Pero imposible iyon.

"The one with a name that sounds like a chocolate." I frowned at him. "Riese! Auriese! There's a chocolate that sounds like that, right? But Aurie suits you more." I looked at Creed's eyes, matapos ay pasimpleng bumaling kay Arch. I frowned as I saw grief in their eyes or I was wrong?

"Hmm, maguusap pa kami," Arch muttered, para bang sinasabi sa kaibigan na lumabas na siya.

"Hindi," I shook my head. "Mauna na 'ko," sambit ko, ngayon ay mas desididong umalis.

"Aurie!"

Mariin akong napapikit bago muling bumaling kay Archer.

"Dinner?" He asked.

"I'm already your employee, Sir. It's inappropriate to see us dining together. Mauna na 'ko." I didn't bother looking at Archer and Creed's reaction. Tuluyan na akong lumabas ng kanyang opisina.

Nang makalabas ay noon ko lang napansin na pigil ang aking hininga. I saw Shea, Archer's secretary looked at me with her brow raised while almost rolling her eyes.

Problema nito?

Dahil sa kalokohang naisip ay nilapitan ko ito. If my hunch is right, this will work.

Malamig ko siyang tinignan at taas noo siyang nilapitan, that made her brow raised more.

"What do you need, Miss?" Bungad niya sa akin, bahagya pang may pagmamayabang ang tono niya.

"I know what you're doing," malamig na sambit ko. Mataman ko siyang pinasadahan ng tingin bago tuluyang nagpatuloy. "Stop flirting with my boyfriend and do you job if you don't want to get fired."

"M-ma'am," she stammered. Her eyes widened as she immediately rose from her seat. Nagmamadali at hindi magkandaugaga. "Good afternoon, Ma'am. Sorry po-"

I raised my hand, gesturing her to stop. "Get me a coffee. The black one."

"R-right away, Ma'am. Sorry po." She slightly bowed her head as she went out of my sight, maybe to get my coffee.

Nang mawala siya sa aking paningin ay siyang pagbukas ng pinto ng opisina ni Archer.

He went out of it with Creed. His eyes immediately darted at me. "Aurie," he called. Ngumiti siya sa akin, naroon pa rin ang lungkot sa mga mata.

"About the dinner-"

"Ayoko nga!" I shrieked that made his eyes widened a bit. Agad akong natigilan sa sinabi. What the hell, Auriese!

"I'm sorry," I muttered in an almost inaudible voice.

Agad ko siyang tinalikuran ay nagtungo sa elevator. Hindi na ako nagabalang lingunin pa sila. Baka maabutan pa ako ng sekretarya niya at malaman niya ang kalokohang ginawa ko. Isa pa, hindi ko rin alam kung bakit ko siya nasigawan at pinagsisisihan ko iyon.

Palabas na 'ko ng gusaling iyon nang narinig ko ang pagiingay ng aking telepono.

Agad kong sinagot iyon nang makitang si Prestin ang tumatawag. "Prestin-"

"Have you seen it?" I frowned at his tone.

"What is it?"

"Dr. Dasher Alterio died, he was ambushed. Tomorrow is his-"

Prestin continued his words but my minds already clouded. Dasher... died?

My knees trembled as my lips parted. I felt like I'm falling on the floor when someone held my arm, stopping me from falling.

"A-Archer," I called. I can still hear Prestin from the other line. Unconsciously, I ended the call.

"I'll get my car," Creed slightly tapped Archer's shoulder as he went out of our sight.

"Are you okay?" Kunot noong tanong niya sa akin. "Did something happened?"

"How's Da-" Agad kong nakagat ang pangibabang labi at sinaway ang sarili.

Are you even thinking?

I shook my head, dismissing what I've said. "I'm alright."

"You sure? Where are you going, I can drive you home if you're not feeling well." I caught a glint of concern in his eyes. Why the hell are you looking at me like that, Attorney?

"Hindi na. Maybe you still have something to do."

"I'm going to my..." He trailed off as he cleared his throat. "Friend's wake."

Namilog ang aking mga mata dahil sa sinabi niya. Dasher's wake? Imposible naman hindi iyon ang tinutukoy niya.

Tumikhim ako at napalabi. "C-condelence." Fuck! Dasher really died?

He nodded at me. "I'll send you home first-"

"No, no, let's go to your friend's wake first-" Napatigil ako at napaayos ng tayo nang matantong maaaring magtaka siya dahil sa aking pinagsasasabi. "You can go to your friend's wake. Uuwi na lang akong mag-isa. Ayokong makaabala."

"You're not, Aurie. If that's what you're thinking then let's go first to my friend's wake then I'll drive you home."

"Let's go there first."

Wala na siyang nagawa kung hindi ang isama ako sa pupuntahan. I want to see Dasher even for the last time. Fuck, I can't imagine Cosmos without him.

I saw a few familiar faces as we entered the funeral house.

"Archer." I saw Astrid approaching. Our eyes met and I immediately smiled a bit but she remained looking at me like she just saw me the first time.

Then realization hit me, they didn't know me. Paano ko ba nakalimutan iyon, na hindi nila 'ko kilala, even Archer. He only knew that I'm Priscilla Auriese Gallardo, that's it.

Bumaling si Astrid kay Archer. "Can we talk?" She asked as she secretly glanced at me, hindi niya alam ay nahuli ko ang sulyap na iyon.

"I'm with-"

"Go, talk to her." I gave him him a smile to assure him that I'll be alright. Maybe she'll tell him something important.

Sa una ay nagaalangan pa ngunit wala ng nagawa nang muli siyang tawagin ni Astrid.

Bago umalis ay iginiya niya ako at pinaupo. "I'll be back, sandali lang 'to."

I nodded at as I watched them until they went out of my sight. Matapos ay pasimple kong iginala ang tingin sa paligid.

The bright light made the emotion of the people inside the funeral house visible. Tahimik ang buong kapaligiran at mumunting ingay lang ang naririnig sa kabuuan ng paligid.

My eyes darted at Dasher's urn in front. My chest tightened. Mapait akong napangiti.

A scene flashed back in my mind. I tightly shut my eyes closed when I remember the time that he once catched a bullet for me. Sa braso siya tinamaan noon ngunit kung hindi niya ako hinarangan ay nasisiguro kong sa puso ko ang tama ng balang iyon. He save me even though we're not close.

I want to come near his urn but I can't. Baka hindi ko mapigilan ang sarili na hindi maluha. It'll be weird to his family and close friends. I can imagine the confusion etched in their faces if that happens.

I looked at the man and woman near Dasher's urn, probably his parents.

I almost frowned when I realized something. There's someone missing. Muli kong inilibot ang aking tingin sa kabuuan ng paligid.

I didn't see Mirae. Maybe she went home? I mean, imposibleng wala siya rito. She's the first person I expected to be here aside from Dasher's parents. As I heard the news from Prestin, I immediately imagine Mirae staying in front, near Dasher's coffin, or urn perhaps, and worst, weeping.

I know even though how tough Mirae is, she can't stand seeing Dasher, lifeless.

Because I, as a someone not too close to him, can't stand it too.

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