If I could only make myself invicible, I would! Hindi ako mapakali sa harap ng computer ko dahil paulit-ulit rumerehistro ang kahihiyan na ginawa ko kanina. Of all the things that guy could bring, adult magazine pa! Napahilamos ako sa mukha ko ng matindi.

"Girl, okay kalang? Kanina kapa namomroblema diyan. Suko kanaba dito? Napapagod kanaba? Napagalitan ka nanaman ba? Pwede kitang tulungan," nag-aalalang tanong ni Rose mula sa tabi ko.

"Masakit lang sikmura ko," pagsisinungaling ko. "Teka, CR lang ako."

Tumango naman si Rose pero pinapanood padin ako habang palakad palayo sakanya. I walked to the water station and got one, nakatulala akong umiinom ng tubig nang maamoy ko nanaman ang pabango na pamilyar saakin. My body stood straight right away.

"Are you sure it's not overlapping, Adrian?"

Katabi nito iyong boss namin sa department. I took a step on the side to give them some way. Kumuha din ng tubig si Sir. Adrian sa water dispenser at ibinigay ito kay Mr. Esqueza.

"I keep checking it, sir. I still don't know the reason why there are delays in some products," kamot-ulo na sagot ni Sir. Adrian dito. "But I will ask my department to trace it."

"I'll give you a week," he told him. "And if you can't give me any valid reason. I have to replace you."

Parang isang tuta na nagmakaawa si Sir. Adrian. "Sir, huwag naman. May pamilya ako. Buntis ang asawa ko. I will do everything to see what causing this delay."

"You should," sagot ni Mr. Esqueza na seryoso.

Tinapunan niya ako ng tingin. I looked away habang nasa pagitan ng labi ko ang paper cup na wala nang tubig. Nahihiya parin kasi ako sa nangyari kanina.

"You may leave, Adrian," utos nito sa boss namin.

"Yes, thank you, sir," tila alilang sagot nito at umalis.

Nang kami nalang ang tao, hindi inaalis ni Mr. Esqueza ang tingin saakin. I was still playing the paper cup in between my lips, ignoring him. It was really scary when you're around with him alone. Just like this moment.

"You should be working not wandering around," basag nito sa katahimikan.

See? Kanina lang ang ayos-ayos ng mood niya tapos ngayon parang ang laki ng kasalanan ko. "Yes, sir. Kumuha lang ako ng tubig," sagot ko at paalis na nang magsalita siya ulit.

"Did you tell your brother what I've said earlier?" Parang nang-aasar na tanong nito.

Kumunot ang noo ko dahil tila may alam siya sa buhay ko na hindi ko alam. "Hindi pa kami nag-uusap, sir," sabi ko.

"Were you fantasizing those women? Are you?"

Nanlaki ang mata ko. "No, I'm not! Nagkataon lang talaga na pinabili saakin iyon, I'm into guys."

"Do you have a boyfriend?" he asked, straightfowardly.

Bakit niya tinatanong? Ayoko maging assuming, kasi hindi naman ako iyong tipong babae na mapapansin niya.

"Wala, sir. Career muna ang inuuna ko ngayon," I answered. "Sakit lang sa ulo iyong mga lalaki."

His eyes glistened then turned dark again. "Good then, I have to go. See you around, Iris."

Umalis na siya sa harap ko at naiwan akong tulala. Iris? Ang sarap sa tainga marinig na banggitin niya ang pangalan ko. I felt like we were close when he called me by my name. May mga lumabas na ibang katrabaho ko, mabilis kong itinago ang kilig na nararamdaman ko at dumiretso sa restroom.

As I sat on the toilet, inilabas ko ang cellphone ko para mag-scroll muna sa facebook ngunit pangalan ni Anya ang bumungad saakin.

ANYA: Boring dito, Iris! Sana naiwan na lang ako kasama mo dyan! Grr!

Napataas ang kilay ko. My ever sweet sister, palaging nakakalimutan akong tawagin na ate.

ME: Hello, Ate Anya. Yes, I'm fine. Kayo ba nila Mom and Dad?

ANYA: Naririnig kong umiiyak si Mommy kanina kasi may nalaman si Dad. May tumulong pala kay Mommy na lalaki para bayaran mga utang natin! Kaso huli na niya nakita na mataas iyong interest! Kaya nagsisisihan nanaman silang dalawa! Haynako, this life!

ME: Stop them. I'll do my best to pay for it kahit na ilan taon pa iyan. Pero do me a favor. Ok?

ANYA: Uutusan mo nanaman ako. Ano nanaman?

ME: Alamin mo iyong pangalan ng pinag-uutangan nila. Check the paper so I can contact the person dahil alam ko na hindi papayag si Daddy sa gagawin ko.

ANYA: Magbebenta kana ng aliw? Sa payat mong iyan???

ME: Shunga! Mukha bang kaya ko iyon?

ANYA: Mas ka! Oo, saan ka pupulot ng milyon? Benta kidney?!

ME: Dalian mo nalang, hindi mo na problema iyon!

ANYA: Pag-isipan ko muna! Bye.

Napabuntong-hininga ako ng malalim. Hindi ko alam kung anong unang gagawin. I was thinking of texting Miggy because his family were wealthy. I knew he would let me borrow any amount basta magkabalikan lang kami. Should I sell my freedom for this? Was it worth it? To forget my values so I could save my family? I don't know anymore...

"Sure kaba na tatapusin mo pa lahat iyan? May next time pa naman, atey. Huwag kang masyadong magpaka-super woman. Baka magkasakit ka," pagpapaalala saakin ni Romeo.

Pauwi na kasi sila ni Rose, actually may ibang tao pa naman pero mukhang ako iyong pinakamaiiwan.

"Wala naman pamilya na naghihintay saakin kaya ayos lang. Saka may pinapahanap pa si Sir. Adrian e, tapusin ko nalang muna ito kaysa naman masermunan."

"Kapag lumipat kana sa condo ko, sabay na tayo uuwi, ah?" sabi ni Romeo, nagpaplano kasi ako na sakanya nalang tumira since we were bestfriends for along time.

Niyakap muna nila ako bago umalis then hours had passed, the lights were shutting down and I'm all alone in the middle of this office. Nag-unat muna ako at nagsimula nanaman sa pagta-type. Kahit sobrang pagod na pinilit ko parin sarili ko na matapos ito. I rested my head a little and closed my eyes, I was having migraine already.

"Why are you still here, Ms. Villafuente?"

Muntikan na akong mahulog sa kinauupuan ko nang marinig ko ang boses na iyon. "Sir," kinakabahan sa saad ko. Napatayo ako sa kinauupuan ko para magbigay galang. "Natakot niyo ako."

"You did not answer my question. Why are you working this late?"

"Madami pa po kasi akong dapat tapusin."

"Does anyone asked you to work this late?" his forehead creasing. "Did Adrian tell you to finish all that?"

Actually, wala naman siyang sinabi. Pero palagi niya lang ako pinapagalitan sa pagiging mabagal ko. I didn't want to be stress anymore so I did everything I could para hindi ako pagbubuntungan niya ng galit.

"No, sir. It's my initiative," I bit my lip. "Pero pauwi nadin naman ako. Ten minutes."

"You should, it's late. I don't encourage my employees to work this late. As much as possible I want them to maximize their time on their tasks within working hours."

"Okay, sir. But let me finish this---"

"I said go home. Who's your boss?"

Napabuntong-hininga ako. "I'll just get my bag then turn off the computer, sir."

He shut his mouth and took a step back. He was watching me turned off everything and fixed my things. Kahit hindi ako komportable, I did my best not to stumble.

"Do you have a car?" he asked, while waiting for the elavtor door to open.

"I don't have a car, sir," I told him honestly.

He was quiet again. We both entered the elevator, embracing the awkward silence between us. Dahan-dahan akong kinakabahan sa presensya niya. Kaya mahigpit ako na napahawak sa bag ko para mawala ang atensyon ko sakanya.

When we walked out from the elavator, I was already freezing when the cold breeze of air welcomed us outside. Nagulat ako nang hubarin ni Mr. Esqueza iyong suit niya at ipinatong sa balikat ko.

"Here, you're freezing. Don't go home this late next time. It's not safe especially you're alone."

I gulped, my heart fluttered. He left me speechless again. Before I could even think of an answer, may itim na sasakayan na huminto sa harap namin. I knew this was his Mercedez. Lumabas ang driver nito at ibinigay kay Mr. Esqueza ang susi.

"Mauna na po ako, sir."

I was starting to walk away when he pulled my hand and leaving me with no choice but to enter his passenger seat. Napalunok nanaman ako sa ginawa niya. He shut the passenger's door and walked on his side. I slowly put my seatbelt on habang nanginginig ang kamay.

"Sir, you know I can take a cab. Hindi mo ako kailangan ihatid. Ayokong mayang ang oras mo." I told him when he was putting his seatbelt on.

"You are under my company, it's part of my responsibility," he casually said.

Pinaandar na niya ang sasakyan. I was holding tightly to the seatbelt infront of me. Hindi ko alam ano bang dapat sabihin o gawin. I was scared and nervous of his presence at the same time.

"You live alone?" tanong nito maya-maya nang walang nagsasalita saamin.

I gulped first. "Yes, my parents decided to live in our province just few days ago. It's way cheaper to live there than here."

"How about you? Where do you live?"

Marahan itong lumingon saakin. My eyes still focused on the road. "Sa bahay na iniwan nila. But I'm planning to live with my bestfriend since naibenta na ng magulang ko iyong bahay."

"Who's friend?" he asked, curiously. "A guy friend?"

"Yes and no, he's gay. Si Romeo, iyong katrabaho ko rin."

He looked so sexy driving this car. The way he moved the steering wheel and how expert he was doing it was turning me on.

"Don't you have any other place to live?" he looked at me intently when he stopped on the traffic light.

I shook my head. "Wala, sir. But it's okay, Romeo's a long time friend of mine."

"He's still a guy," he pointed out. "And I think he values privacy as much as you do. It's important to have your own space, you're free to do what you want."

Tumingin ako sakanya. He was watching me when he started driving again. "I wish I could, but I'm sort of out of budget kasi. My family need my salary than I do."

"In debt?" he asked, as if it was no longer a surprised.

Tumango ako at tumahimik na kami pareho. I was thinking of that problem again kung paano ko ba sisimulan ang diskarte ko. Posible ba na mabayaran ko iyon ganon kalaking halaga?

Tulala lang ako sa bintana habang malalim ang iniisip at hindi ko namalayan na malapit na kami sa tinitirhan ko.

I creased my forehead. "P-paano mo nalaman kung saan ako nakatira?"

"Your resume," he said and didn't explain further more. "You okay here?"

Huminto na si Mr. Esqueza sa tapat ng bahay namin. Kahit naguguluhan, hindi na ako nangulit pa dahil hindi naman ako mananalo sakanya.

"Yes. Okay na po. Thank you so much for driving me home, Mr. Esqueza. This is so thoughtful of you."

"It doesn't happen often," he told me, shutting my kindness.

Mukhang hindi komportable si Mr. Esqueza na pinapansin iyong kabutihan ginawa niya. Bumaba na ako pero hindi ko pa sinasara ang pinto. His suit still hanging on my shoulder. "Lalabahan ko muna po ito bago ibalik," sabi ko sakanya.

"You can have it."

God, minsan lang ngumiti ng kaunti si Mr. Esqueza. And he was teasing me now. Oh, how his mood changed. I didn't know if I could keep up with it.

"I'll keep it sana pero joke lang, sir," bawi ko agad. "Salamat po talaga, ingat kayo pag-uwi."

I watched him drove away. Kinikilig padin ako nang makapasok sa bahay. Inamoy ko iyong suit niya halos maadik ako sa amoy. Shit. I was in cloud nine feeling already. Hindi ako makapaniwala na hinatid niya ako pauwi, I mean, what for? Assumera bang maitatawag kapag insip ko na baka may gusto siya saakin? Kaso ano nga ba ang magugustuhan niya saakin? Normal lng naman ang itsura ko unlike sakanya, he could date a super model if he wanted to.

I erased all that thoughts. This wasn't the right time to compare. Napasandal ako sa pinto at unti-unti nanaman lumalabas ang ngiti sa labi ko. I was still imagining things and fantasizing our future would be if there would be a chance between us.

But not too long, stopped from daydreaming. Tumunog kasi ang cellphone ko. Kinuha iyon mula sa bulsa ko. I saw my sister's message which made me freeze into place.

ANYA: His name is Zachary Levi Esqueza. Okay na?! K. Bye.