Nagdro-drawing na si Julie para sa new face ng product. Nang biglang kumatok ang assistant ni Julie.
“Ma’am pinapatawag po kayo ni Mr. Magalona” sabi sakanya ni Karen.
“Oh yeah, sure. Sige I’ll be there in 5 malapit ko nang matapos ito.”
**
“Sir, You called for me daw po.”
“Come in, come in” sabi ni Elmo at pag angat ng ulo niya nakita na si Julie. She was wearing pants pa din this time its denim, its skinny jeans, shes wearing blue blazer over orange top. Isang linggo nang nag tratrabaho si Julie sa company and he had never seen him wear skirts yet she’s still elegantly sexy. “So? What’s the update? ” tipid na tanong nito.
“Well sir, we’re changing the face of the product already like what the team suggested.”
“is it finish already?”
“Yes sir” tumango lang si Julie “When can I see it?”
“Actually sir ibrought it with me.”
Inabot ni Julie ang sketchpad niya at bago pa man buksan yun ni Elmo “On a sketchpad?”
“I dont usually use adobe sir, yung team ko nap o bahala i-computerize yan.”
“Hindi ka ba marunong gumamit ng adobe.”
“I know how to use it, sir. Hindi ko lang po feeling pag sa computer ginagawa.”
Pag bukas ni Elmo talaga naman nangmaha siya. Its the first time he had seen Julie’s work of art all he can say is “wow” syempre sa sarili niya lang sinabi yon.
“I must say, you really have the skill Ms. Julie.”
Napangiti naman si Julie at kitang kita ni Elmo sa mukha nung dalaga kung gano ito kasaya. Parang batang binilan ng Barbie doll. “Thank you po, sir.”
“and the advertising part?”
“My team and I already had a meeting about it Sir.”
“already?”
“Well, yes still, kesa naman po drawing lang ako ng drawing tapos walang ginagawa yung team ko.”
“Point taken.”
“But of course we still need your approval.”
“Okay then? What is it?”
“We plan to change the model.”
“But thats a whole new expense.”
“Ang negative po ng term niyo sir, I prefer investment.”
“But why?”
“Sir, hindi po kasi kilala yung model niyo eh, its as if model lang siya oh eh pano po siya bibilin ng masa.”
“Continue.”
“So we thought of someone else. A celebrity maybe?”
“Who you have in mind?”
“Scarlett Ramos, Sir. She’s one of the most famous celeb in the country. Laging crowd favourite. At hgit sa lahat ma-”
“NO!”Nung narinig ni Elmo ang pangalan nag iba ang facial expression niya. “Hindi pede!” Kita mong galit ito pero mas kita mo ang lungkot sa mga mata niya. “Find another person! Or stay with the model we have!”
“Sir, bat naman hindi? Eh-”
“Because I said so, Miss San Jose! You were seeking for my approval, but I’m sorry I cant give it to you! Saka please lang wag mo nang pagpilitan. Ayoko nang maririnig ang pangalan nay un ulit naiintindihan mo?”
Medyo natatawa si Julie pero pinipigilan niya ito. “Okay sir.”
“Is there something funny?” pag susungit ni Elmo.
“Wala naman po sir.”
“Then what’s with the face?”
“Bakit maganda ba?” and she’s back ang babaeng masyadong komportable sa boss niya. “Pag wala tayo sa office pede mong ikwento yan ha? Total friends naman na tayo e! hahahaha” at dun narinig ni elmo ang malutong na tawa ni Julie. Parang batang kinikiliti. It was the first time that someone laughed at him lalo nat nakita ng dalaga na nagalit ito, hindi ba dapat medyo matakot pa siya. It made Elmo speechless.
“Osige sir” pag saludo nito. “Mas okay pag galit ka sir.” Pahabol pa nito. Again siya lang ang nag sabi non kay Elmo. Palabas na siya dapat pero nagsalita pa ito ulit. “Mas pomopogi kayo, sir. And that’s the first longest thing you have said to me.” Ngumiti ito sakanya atsaka na tuluyan nang umalis.
Napahawak siya sa noo niya “Ugh!!! Yung ngiti na yon!!! NAPAKAWEIRD TALAGA!!! GRA—-!!!”
Biglang may pumasok sa pintuan niya at naiwan siyang naka nganga lang “Wow! Shouting! That’s new.”
“Eric.”
“I miss you pare! Bati na tayo!!!! Saka gutom na ako!!!”
Huminga nalang siya ng malalim. “Oh tara na. You’re treat.”
“Di mo pa ako pinapasweldohan no!”
“Sige ako mag bayad bawas nalang sa sweldo mo.”
“WOW!! Kanina lang inis na inis mukha mo! Ngayon ikaw ang nangiines!”
“Tara na baka mag bago pa isip ko eh.”
**
Gabi na. Over time nanaman si Elmo. He has to finish something pa, at times like this he loves to roam around the office. Patayo na sana siya to take a walk kaso bigla siyang nakaramdam ng guto kaya kunuha nalang niya ang susi ng kotse. Papunta n asana siya ng elevator, nang manakita siyang ilaw sa isang office sa kabilang hallway. He went to see kung kaninong room yon and he saw Julie naka pony tail na ito kita mong pagod pero maganda pa din. Kahit di ito ngumingiti kita mo pa din na masaya siya. She’s holding a sketchpad but it wasn’t the sketchpad na nahawakan ni Elmo kanina. Kumatok si Elmo at pag bukas niya ng pinto nakita niyang nakahawak si Julie sa Dibdib niya.
“Jusko naman, Magalona!” That was the first time that someone called him Magalona without any title na Mister or Sir. Just his surname. “Papatayin mo ako sa gulat! Bat andito ka pa?”
“As far as I am concerned this is my company.”
“May point ka don.”
“So? Ikaw? Why are you still here?”
“Oh! hindi ako Over Time ha! Baka sabihin mo katulad kitang walang social life. Nag time out na ako para fair ang sweldo sakin! I’m waiting for my kuya. Coding ako ngayon eh. So he’ll pick me up kaso mamaya pang twelve. So I’ll have to wait here.”
“Ibang klase talaga!”sabi ni elmo sa sarili.
Tumingin si Elmo sa relo niya 9 at na isip niya na malamang di pa kumakain “Tara!”
“Saan?”
“12 pa naman right? Did you have your dinner already?”
“Are you asking me out??” Gulat na tanong ni Julie
“Well I’m not asking you out…” pagtatakang sagot ni Elmo “I was asking if you had your dinner already.”
“I mean I’m your only friend who’s a girl! You dont want to complicated that?”
“You’re not the only friend I have, I’m not asking you out.” Sabi ni elmo. Kitang kita mo sa mukha ni Elmo ang pagtataka kung bakit biglang ganon nalang angasta ni Julie.
“I mean sure…We might click, have some fun! I’ll be the best girl ever! you’ll be the worst and…” derederetsong pag sasalita ni Julie.
“I know!! I know!!! I’m not asking you out!! Jesus!” pag sisigaw ni Elmo para lang matigil ang sinasabi ni Julie.
“Okay…” bigang nalungkot si Julie “You…dont like me like that. You dont have to be so mean” ngayon parang iiyak na ito.
Nag bago nanaman ang mood ni Julie at di mapakali si Elmo dahil ayaw naman niyang malungkot ito dahil sakanya “I’m sorry! I – I – I” sabi ni Elmo na nauutal utal.
Hanggang sa hindi na mapigilan ni Julie ang tawa “God!! You’re such a girl!” saka niya kinuha ang blazer niya na naka sabit si upuan niya. At nag lakad papalapit kay elmo “Treat mo ha! Hahahaha Kung nakita mo lang itsura mo! Hahahaha PRICELESS!”
At naiwan lang dun si Elmo na stuck-up. “Julie Anne! Julie Anne” hinga niyang malalim “Mawawalan ako ng buhok sayo” Bulong niya sa sarili at sinundan na si Julie palabas.