“I’m fine, I’m fine, I’m fayyyyne,” Jackie was saying over and over again, which pretty much told her me the exact opposite of what she was saying.

“Shut up, Jackie,” answered Dean Gamboa for how many times I couldn’t remember. It was easy to note that he was trying to focus on driving me, an old, beaten Volkswagen, and watching out for Georgie and Jackie who were doing their usual drunk attitude. Georgie was quiet but restless at the back. I could still very well remember how Dean Gamboa pulled her out from the driver seat and almost hauled her over his shoulder and transferred her at the back. Jackie, as usual, was talking a lot and I sure prayed to whoever was up there that she would not blurt out about her secret and evil plans of using his boss to get away from her stalker.

“Why are you telling me to shut up? I know, I know, I know why!” Jackie said, shifting in her seat to face Dean Gamboa. She leaned forward that her forehead almost touched his shoulder. “You’re my boss. That’s why you are ordering me around, right?”

“No, because you’re drunk. You’re talking nonsense.”

“You’re so frustrating. As frustrating as the vending machine on our floor. You know why it is frustrating?”

Dean Gamboa did not answer.

And Jackie didn’t wait for one. “Because it keeps giving me a Pepsi. I always punch the Coke button! I always do! But it keeps giving me Pepsi! You should have that stupid vending machine changed. And you should also fire Brian.”

Still, no answer.

“You know why? Because he won’t leave me alone!”

Okay, Jackie girl, I think this is the right time for you to shut up. Don’t ever mention Brian because that would lead to the stalking and will then eventually end to the tale of the fake FB account and then you will be fired. For real!

“I can’t fire him. He’s not even in our department.”

“But he won’t leave me alone! I am afraid, you know that? Very much afraid. He might resort to hurting me and then he’ll kill me and keep my body inside his house and he’ll talk to it every night. I can’t have that. I can’t.”

“You watch too much TV, Jackie.”

Jackie laughed out loud. Then she followed it with a series of slaps on her boss’ shoulder. “And you’re calling me Jackie! How cool is that?”

“You don’t like it?”

“I love it! You never called me Jackie before. It’s always Miss Ramos,” she said, copying his baritone voice while she said the last line.

“Where should I go?” Dean Gamboa asked instead.

“What?”

“Where is your house?”

“Apartment,” she corrected.

“Fine. Your apartment?”

Jackie giggled. “My boss is taking me home. Can you believe it?”

“Jackie,” Dean’s voice was full of warning.

“Turn right, then the second left, then right and the second house to the right.”

I don’t know about you, but I found it amazing that he managed to correctly follow Jackie’s direction and within minutes, we were parked outside the boys’ apartment. Dannie was already waiting outside, her face full of worry.

“I knew this is going to happen,” she said when Dean opened the driver side.

“I’m just dropping them home. They’re pretty drunk,” he explained.

“I knew it. That’s why they didn’t answer my calls. I’ll help you.”

And so the long struggle to guide Georgie and Jackie out of me and into the apartment followed. Dean Gamboa’s presence was of great help. Georgie’s feet did not even touch the ground.

I eagerly waited outside, wondering what would happen.

After almost ten minutes, Dean Gamboa was out of the door followed by Dannie.

“I need to go,” Dean said and my hood almost slumped down. He was going home? No, the fun shouldn’t be over this soon!

“I don’t think you should go home at this hour. You can sleep here,” Dannie said with concern. “Our neighborhood is not as safe as yours, you know.”

“No, I think I can manage--”

“Mr. Gamboa, I insist. You can go home later. So please, just get back inside. You’ll be comfortable in the living room.” Then Dannie turned around to walk back inside, adding over her shoulder, “What are you waiting for? Get inside.”

That’s my Dannie! No one could really say no to her when she uses that tone! I saw Dean Gamboa struggle with a decision for a few seconds before he finally turned toward the door and walked in.

And then I realized I couldn’t witness whatever would happen inside. Damn!

As I imagined what could be happening behind the door of the boys’ apartment, I noticed an unfamiliar car parked right across the boys’ apartment, right across me. And it was weird to have such car in the neighborhood. It was a black, classy, shiny and extremely well-maintained car. In short, its presence was unusual because it was a freaking BMW!

Should I talk to the vic? I was pretty sure it was a female car.

Hey, there, sexy! What are you doing here? Sorry to say, but your beauty does not really belong here.

No answer. It just ignored me like all vics of its kind.

Great, I muttered.

Then I noticed another thing. There was someone behind the wheel and it was a silhouette of a man. And he was looking straight at me. Or should I say, straight at the boys’ apartment.

What the hell is going on here?

  *****

Jackie stirred when she heard Dannie talking to someone in the living room. She was in the kitchen and had fallen asleep on the table while her right hand was still holding on a glass of water.

“What’s happening?” she asked aloud, trying to peer through her half-open lids.

“Mr. Gamboa is sleeping here for tonight,” Dannie answered. “As for you, get up and sleep. You’re drunk.”

“No, I’m noooooot,” Jackie answered, struggling to sit upright. “And why is he sleeping heeeere?”

“It’s already late and I insisted,” Dannie answered from the living room. “Here’s a comforter. Just turn on the electric fan if you want,” she said to Dean Gamboa who had been silent in one corner.

“Thanks,” Jackie heard him answer.

She thought about the situation for a long moment before she finally shrugged and said, “Oh well, then, good night, Mr. Gamboa.”

“If you need anything, don’t wake me up. Just find it yourself,” Dannie said to Dean who gave a chuckle. “I am way past my bedtime. Good night.”

“Good night. And please, just Dean. Mr. Gamboa’s my office name.”

“Okay then, ‘night, Dean.”

“Good night.”

“Hey, Jackie, go to sleep,” Dannie told her as she opened her door.

“I will, I will,” she moaned. “Where’s George?”

“Asleep in her room. You should do the same.”

“Yeah, yeah, after a moment.” Dannie nodded and walked inside her room just as Jackie stood up and walked to the sink. “I need to drink some water.”

“You were already drinking one,” Dean pointed out right behind her.

Jackie made a mistake of turning around because her head hurt like hell and everything seemed to suddenly whirl around her. “That’s not water. It tasted like beer.”

“This is water,” he said, picking up the glass she left on the table. “Here,” he handed it to her.

“Thanks, sir,” she said, mimicking a soldier’s tone. “I’m parched.” She took the glass from him and swallowed the rest of the water. Then her face crunched up. “It still tastes like beer.”

“It’s water, Jackie. Now, go to sleep.”

“Yes, yes, sleep. We still have to work tomorrow, right?”

“Yes,” he said with amusement.

“I can’t file for a sick leave?”

“I guess not,” he answered.

She nodded and started to walk to her room. Then she stopped and turned around. “Thank you, Mr. Gamboa.”

“Dean.”

“Dean,” she repeated. “Thanks for taking us home safely.” She followed her statement with a giggle. “My boss just took me home.”

“Okay, time to go to bed,” Dean said as he walked toward her.

“Really, thank you. I really thought you’re heartless and all, but you’re not. Thank you,” she said and then did the most unbelievable thing. She stood on her toes and planted her lips against his. Neither of them moved, but it was a long, motionless kiss. And when Jackie’s toes gave way, she smiled at him dreamily and laughed at his appalled look. “Good night, Dean.”

She did not hear an answer as she opened her door and walked in.

  *****

“He slept here last night?” Jackie asked in awe as they were having a quick breakfast.

“You don’t remember?” asked Dannie.

“No, I don’t remember anything like that. I only got until the part where Lee and I were pushing Troy at the back of Tata.”

“I don’t even remember anything after my tenth bottle,” George said dryly.

Dannie sighed. “Well, I don’t even want to know exactly what happened to you guys before you came home a mess. It was a good thing Dean took you home.”

“Dean? You’re first-name basis with my boss now?”

“He asked me to call him Dean. Just finish your breakfast and let’s go.”

“I can’t eat more of this,” Jackie said, lifting her plate off the table. “We’ll be late. Come on,” she said after she placed the plate in the sink.

“I’ll pass,” George said, getting up. “I need more sleep.”

“But don’t you have--” the look Jackie received from Dannie told her she should cut it. “Okay, fine. Let’s go, Dannie.”

  *****

Okay, girls, tell me what happened! Go on!

Jackie was driving again and it was a good thing that she did not seem to remember anything because I had the chance of hearing the story after they all got inside. Dean Gamboa left very early, which was disappointing, but the look of confusion on his face when he walked out the door was very interesting for me.

“So he left before we woke up?” Jackie asked.

“Yes. Just as when I woke up to cook breakfast,” Dannie said then frowned. “I wonder what happened though. He seemed quite at a loss earlier. I can’t really explain it.” She then turned to Jackie with an accusing look. “You didn’t do or say anything stupid to him last night, did you? You should have been thankful to the guy. He went through all that trouble to take you home.”

“Hey! I don’t even remember what I did last night. But I’m sure I didn’t do anything to him.” And when she realized it, she gasped. “Oh my God! I didn’t blurt out about the fake FB account, did I? You should have been there to watch over me!”

“And now it’s my fault? You should have thought about it before you took up drinking last night.”

Jackie was deep in thought as she drove Dannie to school. And was still deep in thought and talking to herself right after. “Maybe he’s just like that in the mornings,” she said aloud. “I would not be stupid to blurt out about my plans to him. I am certain of that.”

I don’t know, Jackie girl, but you have been acting stupid and crazy lately so I will not be surprised if you ever did tell the truth last night.

“If I’m not fired by the end of the day, then I guess I didn’t slip.”

Yeah, that’s the only way to find out.

Jackie parked me under my lonely spot. I checked if Beatle was around. Of course, he was not. His owner slept at our place earlier. And he must still be undergoing surgery--more specifically, tire transplant.

And as Jackie walked off without Brian in tow--her plans must really be working after all--I was back thinking about the mystery car from last night. I should really find out about it and its owner. It was my mission.

  *****

Jackie didn’t dare check if her boss was back in his office. She proceeded to her work and that included reading requests from clients regarding the venue and the theme for the event. Joseph wanted to have a report from her for their brainstorming activity next week and she better get great ideas.

But how could she? She was bothered about what could have happened last night. She should remember!

Should she ask Dean?

But he was her boss right now. He could fire her for asking such thing. But she could be fired anyway. She might have blurted out the truth last night--or this morning, whatever time it was.

“What’s wrong with you?” Karen asked her.

“Nothing,” she answered, getting up. “I need a Coke.”

“Good luck with that,” Karen muttered. “Don’t come back cursing that vending machine though.”

She ignored her friend and walked to the vending machine. “Please, give me Coke this time,” she begged as she inserted her money and punched the button.

“I bet it’s going to give you Pepsi,” a familiar voice said behind her.

Jackie froze. Then she slowly turned around just as the vending machine dropped the can. “Sir! I--I--”

“See? I was right,” Dean Gamboa said with a small smile on his lips. She followed his gaze down at the dispenser of the vending machine.

“Pepsi,” she groaned, bending down to pick the blue can. “I hate this vending machine.”

“Here, take mine,” Dean Gamboa’s voice said behind her once more.

“What?” she asked, straightening to full height and found him standing quite close, his right hand holding the red can she had been craving for. Coke.

“Take mine. I don’t like it anyway. I’d rather have Pepsi but this vending machine keeps giving me this. So I guess it is only right if we exchange.”

“You’re serious, right? This stupid machine gives you Coke?”

He nodded, his handsome face still fresh after last night. Unbelievable! Jackie even had to put on extra concealer to hide her under-eye circles! “Yes, instead of Pepsi. I don’t know if the problem is with our fingers or the pressure we apply on the buttons. So? Exchange?”

For a few seconds, Jackie was just gaping down at the Coke he held in his hand. Was this Dean Gamboa talking to her nicely? Or was this just a figment of her hangover? But he was so real. His presence was so real. His voice and his words seemed real as well. And no one was looking at her that suggested she was crazy because she was talking to herself. They were just staring at her from their tables with curiosity because she was talking to their boss--and they were not inside his office with the blinds down.

Dean Gamboa was still looking at her expectantly.

“Uh, sure,” she said in a whisper.

He gave a smile and said, “Great.”

He then took the Pepsi from her hand and gave her the Coke.

“Thanks, Jackie,” he said before he turned around and walked to his office.

That moment, Jackie’s mouth hung open. What the hell happened last night?!