"Good day, everyone! This is Merian Fermin, our OJT for two months," nakangiting pakilala ni Tita Melina sa akin sa mga kasamahan niya sa firm. Kagagaling ko lang sa introduction with the firm's partners, so ngayon ay sa mga employees naman.

"Good morning, Miss Fermin," halos sabay na bati nila. Ngumiti ako sa kanila.

"Good morning po. I look forward to working with you all," sabi ko pa. Nagngitian naman sila sa akin. Iginiya ako ni Tita para isa-isa silang batiin bago niya ako pinapunta sa cubicle ko.

They were warm towards me and I really felt welcomed by them. Ang saya lang kasi first day na first day ko ay binigyan na agad ako ng task. It was to proofread a JA and I needed to make a demand letter as well. Shocks. Now, this is the challenge that I am looking for. It was a right decision na dito ko napiling mag-OJT. I just knew that I would be challenged in a firm.

May chance naman kasi akong magtrabaho sa kompanya namin. Nag-usap na kami ni Papa na magtatrabaho ako roon during breaks ng law school para mas familiar na ako sa legal department.

Busy ang firm the whole day and I was so immersed with my tasks. Ang fulfilling lang nang matapos ko ang whole day. Pagod, pero fulfilling. Hanggang alas-singko ang duty ko. I was fixing my things when Danniel's call came through. Nag-punch out muna ako bago sinagot ang tawag niya.

"Hey!" I greeted.

"You're happy..." sabi niya pa habang mahinang pinapaikot ang swivel chair niya. Nasa opisina siya so I'm guessing, driver niya ang susundo sa akin ngayon.

"Yeah. My first day is done!" masayang balita ko pa sa kanya. Nginitian ko lang si Manong Guard pagkalabas ko ng main door.

"Aight. Si Manong susundo sa 'yo."

"I know. Nakikita ko na siya sa harapan ng building."

"Uhuh."

"Wait, saan ako didiretso? Are we having dinner tonight?"

"Yeah, diretso ka muna sa akin. I miss you." Ngumuso pa siya at nagpa-cute.

Umirap lang ako sa kanya. Saktong nakita ako ng driver niya kaya pinagbuksan ako nito ng pinto.

"Why can't we just meet sa resto?"

"Uhh may meeting pa ako. Tambay ka muna rito. And I wanna cuddle. Come on, Laide."

Naramdaman ko ang pamumula ng aking mukha. "Shut up. Alam mo na kung bakit ayaw kong mag-OJT sa 'yo. Gosh, you even kept calling earlier. Eh, kung napagalitan ako, ha?" litanya ko sa kanya.

"Tss. I told you dapat sa akin ka nag-OJT. Hindi kita pagagalitan." Ang laki ng ngisi ng damuho. Umirap ako sa kanya.

"Duhh, wala akong gagawing trabaho diyan."

His lips formed into a smirk. Parang may kung ano na naman sa isip ng isang ito. "Hmm how sure are you?"

"Kasi malandi ka." I rolled my eyes again. Humagalpak naman siya ng tawa. See? I was right! Duhh.

Napailing na lang ako. Ewan ko kung bored na siya kaya paikot-ikot lang ang upuan niya roon. Saktong pag-ikot niya nang may nakita ako sa background. It was Fretzie, may dalang mga papel. Danniel stopped his swivel chair and put his phone aside. Nakikita ko pa rin siya at mukhang may pinipirmahan siya roon. Hindi ko nakikita si Fretzie at wala rin namang nagsasalita sa kanila. Seryosong nakatingin lang si Danniel sa kanyang pinipirmahan tapos ay inabot din niya ulit ito. Walang sali-salitang lumingon siya sa akin.

He wore a smile again habang ako ay kunot na kunot na ang noo. "What's with the face?" tanong niya pa.

"She's under you?" tanong ko pabalik, hindi siya sinagot.

"Huh?"

"Si Fretzie." Umirap na naman ako.

Kunot-noong tinitigan niya ako. "Why?"

"Legal dep siya, ah..."

Mukhang na-realize niya naman ang ibig kong sabihin. Napatango siya tapos ay biglang ngumisi nang nakakaloko.

"Chill. May hinatid lang at pinapirmahan." There was a hint of amusement on his face. Nainis pa ako kasi nang-aasar ang ngisi niya. I glared at him. He just bit his lip to stop from smiling. Alam niya kasing inis na ako.

I groaned. "Tsk. Bakit kasi lahat ng sorority pres gusto ka? Seriously?"

Humalakhak lang ang loko. "I love you, Laide," sagot niya pa.

"Ewan ko sa 'yo. Sige na."

I ended the call at malapit na rin naman kami sa office. True enough, nilandi pa ako ng mokong bago siya pumunta sa meeting niya. When I was left alone, I couldn't help but roam around. Sinilip ko pa ang legal department nila at nakita ko roon si Fretzie kasama ang ibang interns na from Fermin U din. They were busy with something.

I sighed and walked back to Danniel's office. Nakangiting binabati ako ng mga empleyado. Kilala na nila ako rito. Well, kung bago sila baka hindi pero iyong mga matagal na rito, kilala na ako. We used to go here back in high school pa kapag pinapatawag si Danniel ng daddy niya. Tito also introduced me to most of the employees. Noong training niya rito, madalas din akong tambay rito. Kaya nga alam kong wala kaming trabahong gagawin pag magkasama kami sa opisina. Tried and tested ko na ang kalandian ng isang iyon.

Hindi naman nagtagal ang meeting niya. Umalis na rin kami agad ng office at nagpunta sa favorite naming kainina tuwing dinner.

"Thank you." We handed the menu back to the waiter after ordering.

"How is your day?" Danniel started. Ganito na kami lagi. Kahit magkatawagan or magka-text, whenever we see each other, tinatanong pa rin namin kumusta ang araw ng bawat isa.

"It was good. I think I really made the best choice in joining the firm. Ang daming pinaggawa sa akin kanina but it was worth it! Alam mo iyon, parang sa movies ko lang nakikita iyong mga ginawa ko kanina. I didn't even do those in the company!" malawak ang ngiting kwento ko sa kanya. Nakangiting pinagmamasdan lang din niya ako. I smiled even more. "I think I'm more into litigation," sabi ko pa. "I mean corpo law is fine and it's basically what I will be handling in the company, but mas gusto ko ang adrenaline ng litigation. Hmm, maybe I'll ask to be on the litigation team of the company. I really wanna know more."

"Okay, but are you sure na sa kompanya n'yo lang ikaw magtatrabaho? I mean, if you really want litigation, you can still venture outside while still being in your company."

I nodded. "Maybe...hmm I'll ask Papa. Mabuti na ring ma-experience ko ito para mas ma-weigh ko."

"Yeah, that's good." He held my hand and squeezed it.

"Ikaw? How's your day?" tanong ko naman sa kanya. He continued kissing my hand before letting out a big sigh.

"Oh well, same boring old day. I had meetings and paperworks. Oh and I might have a business conference abroad one of these days."

"Saan? And when? You'll be going to my graduation, right?"

He chuckled. "Of course, I'm going. It'll just be in Singapore, Laide and dalawang araw lang ako roon. I'll be back even before your graduation."

I nodded. "Okay. Oh, by the way—" I halted when I saw someone behind him. Kaso biglang nawala na parang nagtatago.

"Huh? What? Hey."

"Wait, I think I saw someone..." Nilibot ko ang paningin sa buong resto.

"Okay? Who?"

"Si—what the heck? Is she seriously stalking you?" Hindi makapaniwalang napalingon ako sa kanya.

"Who?"

"The sorority president." Humalukipkip ako. She went to the restroom. Okay, pwede naman siyang pumunta rin dito pero bakit parang nagmamasid? And I was sure that I met her gaze kaya siya biglang naglaho kanina.

"Fretzie?" Kusang umikot ang mga mata ko. "Hey, chill..." He squeezed my hand even more.

"Is she seriously stalking you?" Bumangon na naman ang inis ko kasi di ko ma-gets! If she's stalking Danniel, then what the heck?

"Hey, Laide...I don't know, okay?" He paused for a while as I was calming myself. "Are you really not comfortable with her?" he asked.

I stared at him. "Yes. Hindi ko gets bakit hindi siya makaintindi na may tayo." Wala na akong pakialam kung asarin niya ako mamaya. He sighed and gave me a sincere smile.

"Alright."

"Alright, what?"

"I'll do something about it."

"Ano? Don't you dare kick her out sa internship. Hindi naman ako ganyan kababa."

"Chill. Of course not, ako ang iiwas. I'll ask her head na hindi na siya ang palapitin sa akin."

I bit my lip and looked down. I took another deep breath. "But that's just..."

"But that will ease your mind."

I let out another sigh and looked at him again. Gosh. Am I being too paranoid now? I'm sure he's not doing anything...pero napa-paranoid ako sa galawan ng isang iyon. I wasn't paranoid with Gayle before...hindi ko alam bakit ngayong kahit may tiwala ako kay Danniel, naba-bother ako sa nagkakagusto sa kanya. It was as if I am scared of something and everything the girl does creeps me out.

Naitakip ko na lang sa aking mukha ang mga kamay ko.

"Sorry. I'm just paranoid siguro." I bit my lip and composed myself. "CR lang ako..." sabi ko na lang. Danniel let out a sigh and just nodded.

Tumayo na ako at dumiretso ng CR. Kinalma ko ang sarili at nag-freshen up na lang. Nawala sa isip ko na pumasok nga pala si Fretzie dito. Nagulat na lang ako nang bigla siyang lumabas ng cubicle. Nagtagpo ang mga mata namin sa salamin. She was usually soft but that time, seryosong nakatingin lang siya sa akin. Lihim kong pinagmasdan ang mga kilos niya. She just washed her hand and then walked towards the door. Bago siya makalabas, hindi ko na napigilan magsalita.

"You know he's taken, right? I hope you know your self worth as well. There are a lot of single guys out there. A simple crush is fine, but if it gets deeper. Please don't let it take over you especially if the man you like is taken..."