Chapter 12 

I don't know why but I'm excited as I walk towards my office. Maybe because of the fact that the angel, I mean, Ms. Luna will about to call me today. Just like what she said yesterday on the phone call. 

Last night, all I think about before I sleep was about today's phone call. I also checked my schedule last night so I can decide when should we meet. And unfortunately, I can't meet her today and to the next few days ahead. 

Bakit? Kasi madami akong kailangang imeet na personnel dahil sakanya na rin mismo. And I think she can wait, dahil alam ko namang it's her first time meeting some stranger like me. 

So benefit din niya ang tight schedule ko. 

While on the verge of thinking of my honest reason, the telephone that I used yesterday rang. 

I immediately picked it up. 

[Good morning, Mr. Blanco] the angelic voice started. 

"Good morning, Ms. Luna" I greeted back. 

[About what we talked about yesterday, have you decided?] she immediately asked. 

Hindi din eager no? "About that, we can't meet." sabi ko sakanya. 

I heard her sighed in relief. 

Lol. 

Did I heard her sigh right? 

"Was that sigh of relief?" I asked amused. 

[Uh.. no.] she answered, firmly. [So when are you free?] she changed the topic. 

The speed. 

Are you lightning McQueen?

Joke. 

"Based on my schedule, I can't meet you this upcoming two weeks." I  explained. 

[So last week of September, then?] she asked, confident that I'll answer yes. 

"Yes." I answered. "Friday on the last week of September." I confirmed. 

[Noted. Thank you, Mr. Blanco] she said but still not hanging up. [Also have great day ahead.] she said then ended the phone call. 

Hindi man lang ako pinag-welcome. 

Lol. 

* * *

"Hala! Totoo?!" Jane asked, not convinced. 

I told Jane and Jin about the soon to be meeting with Ms. Luna. Hindi namin kasabay si Sam ngayon dahil hindi ko alam, hindi ko trip magtanong ng mga reason ng mga tao. For sure, alam ni Jane ang reason ang dahilan. She likes asking everyone. In other words, She like talking. 

"Ano kayang pumasok sa isip nun?" biglang sabi ni Jane. 

"Huh?" I asked.

"Di ikaw!" sabi niya sabay kain sa inorder niyang tacos. 

I shrugged. Di wag niyang ulitin. 

"So when are you going to meet?" tanong ni Jin na tapos nang kumain at kasalukuyang umiinom ng green tea na inorder niya. 

"Friday on the last week of September." I answered. 

"Bakit hindi na agad mamaya or bukas? Diba you have this fetish for mysterious?" Jane asked. "Why not feed your curiosity agad?" dugtong niya. 

"It's not that I don't want. My schedule refused to meet her immediately." I said, disappointed od my own schedule. 

"Ganon ba kadami mga pinapagawa sayo?" tanong ni Jane, not aware of my work. 

"Sadly, yes. I have to meet some personnel in the next two weeks. At madami ulit siyang pinatambak na papers, at may dinagdag din si Ms. Mendoza" I said feeling exhausted di ko pa nga namemeet yung soon to be paper works ko. 

"Ayaw mo niyan? Seminar bago ka mag-CEO sa sarili nyong kumpanya." Jane said then laugh at my misery.  

"Yeah, right." sabi ko nalang sabay patuloy sa pagkain ng inorder kong carbonara. 

* * *

"Sama ako sa Halloween Party niyo." sabi ni Sam saming dalawa ni Jin habang palabas kami ng building. 

About the Halloween Party, we decided to schedule it on October 31st. Gusto nga ni Maximus na 27th but I'm the one who refused. Dahil may nakaschedule akong alis nun para magmeet ng tao na naman. At syempre, kahit labag sa atay ni Max, ayaw niyang di kami kumpletong anim kasi sabi niya boring daw at empty. Andami niyang alam, ang sabihin niya, kulang siya ng maasar. 

"Pang zesto lang yun, kailan pa naging pito ng sesto?" pang-aapi ko kay Sam. 

"Anong zesto?" nagtatakang tanong ni Sam.

"Name of our groupchat." sagot ni Jin sa tanong ni Sam

"Bat zesto?" takang tanong niya ulit. 

"It was originally sesto  which means sixth in Italian but Maximus decided to make it zesto because of his reason that sesto  is too plain and no fun." pag-explain ni Jin. 

Hindi siya gaanong fluent sa tagalog kaya usually, nag-eenglish talaga siya. He grew up in New York. 

"Ah," tanging nasabi nalang ni Sam. Pero agad namang nagsalita ng makarecover. "Sama na ko!" pamimilit niya. 

"Don't you have friends, Sam?" pang-aasar ni Jane. 

"Wala! Kaya nga sama niyo na ko." pamimilit niya pa rin. Isasama naman talaga namin siya, hindi namin babanggitin sakanya yung Halloween Party na yun kung di namin siya isasama. Pati nga si Jane kasama e. 

"Loner." pang aasar pa lalo ni Jane. 

"Wow, nagsalita ang loner." palag ni Sam. 

"Excuse me, hindi ako loner!" sabi ni Jane sabay hawi sa buhok niya. 

"Wala ka ngang kaibigan sa buong building." pilit ni Sam na wala talagang kaibigan si Jane. 

"Meron, shunga!" sabi ni Jane at tsaka nag-efforst na humakbang patungo sa pwesto ni Sam para batukan siya. 

"Aray!" daing niya. "Oh, sino?" panghahamon ni Sam kay Jane. 

"Si Magui!" sabi ni Jane sabay irap. 

"Magui? Si Ms. Mendoza?" tanong ni Sam para makumpirma. 

"Oo." proud na sabi ni Jane. 

"Ulol." sabi ni Sam, hindi naniniwala sa sinasabi ni Jane. 

"Ulol ka din. Edi wag kang maniwala." sabi ni Jane tsaka umirap. 

Bilib talaga ako sa mata nito ni Jane e.

"Back to the topic," sabi ni Sam habang nakangiti at nilingon ako at si Jin. "Sama ko mga tol ah?" sabi niya habang nakangiti pa din. 

Umaasa na isasama namin. 

"Pag-iisipan ko." sabi ko para lang maasar siya. 

Tumawa naman kaming tatlo dahil sa naging itsura ni Sam nang marinig ang sinabi ko na pag-iisipan ko kung isasama ba namin siya sa party. 

"Panget ng ugali niyo." sabi niya samin tsaka kinuha yung cellphone niya at nag-cellphone nalang. Tinawanan naman namin ulit siya dahil sa inasal niya. 

Mukhang may makakasundo si Maximus sa party ah? 

Mga mukhang party.