Colet finds herself sitting at the end of the conference table. She's surrounded by a crowd of employees from her department, draining her energy so early in the morning. She could only huff the exhaustion pressing on her chest, she hates the corporate life.
'Malas naman at hindi ako nepo baby.' She complains on her head. She shifts as Mikha pulls out a chair beside her.
"Ano daw meron?" Mikha, her teammate who she trusts to assist her on navigating the team, whispers in her ear.
"New employee, papakilala daw ng HR." Colet explains. "Siguro pinagsabay na, reorientation na din kasi for this year." Mikha nods in acknowledgement.
Don't get it wrong, Colet, as tired as she is, is not someone who lacks on her performances. She's one of the best Senior Architect of the company and she's very capable of managing a team. People rely on her a lot, as humble as she can put it, projects can't proceed without her. Colet doesn't mind the work, but sometimes, she can't help but feel tired of the routine.
She would always scrolls through her socials and watches Aiah, a good friend from home, travelling the world while she's stuck in front of the computer reviewing architectural drawings and scrolling through team softwares. Downside of being good in the field? Well, you can't just easily disappear out of thin air.
A representative from the HR team enters the room, folder at hand. Colet doesn't really pay attention but as Mikha nudges her, she looks up.
She finds a new face in the room, long black hair the curls out on the right places, thick black prescription glasses pushed up on her nose bridge, doe eyes too pretty even from afar, and a smile that could light up any room.
Colet hears Mikha clearing her throat, this causes her to break from her stance. She realizes everybody is looking at her, including the new girl.
"Jhoanna, Junior Architect. Our team." Mikha summarizes it for her in a whisper. Colet nods in understanding.
"Hello Architect Jhoanna. Welcome to the team. I'm Architect Nicolette." She introduces herself, tilting her head as she watches Jhoanna.
"Nice meeting you po, Architect Nico." Jhoanna smiles and reaches out to shake her hand. Colet meets her half way and feels the soft skin against her palm, 'Nico', she recalls. Well that's different.
"Architect Colet, you can tour her around after the orientation. Or you could have someone else do it if busy ka." She nods at the HR's instruction before settling back at her seat.
-
"Tour ko na ba?" Mikha slips into her office, picking up a stress ball off of Colet's table. She hears a certain tone with how Mikha says it, one where she's too familiar with.
"Sit this one out, Mikha. Don't abuse the kid." Colet warns, Mikha raises both of her hand and smirks.
"Strict mo naman. Crush mo din ba?" Mikha chuckles as she settles on Colet's lounge seat.
The older girl sighs and massages her temple. She was supposed to tour Jhoanna around earlier but she received a call from one of the contractor. They had to discuss if they would be pushing through with one of the tile supplier, given that the earliest they could deliver the items would be in two months, or they could just look for someone else to do the job.
The inquiries never ends. It doest doesn't stop when you submit the blueprints for construction, heck, that's just the beginning of it.
She was too occupied that she wasn't able to leave an instruction for Jhoanna. It's almost three in the afternoon, everybody has a 15 minute break by then. Colet decides to tour Jhoanna around then, it's the least that she could do for making the girl waste her time today.
She stands up and was on her way out. "Kung ayaw mo, akin nalang yan ah." Mikha teases as she leaves out of the room. Colet shakes her head in disapproval. Mikha's great, but sometimes she could be an asshole.
-
"Hi." She stands in front of Jhoanna's table as the girls plays with a stack of sticky notes, eyes blank like she's someplace else. She watches as the younger girl stumbles to greet her.
"Hi Architect Nico- este, Colet, Architect Colet." Jhoanna mumbles in embarassment. "Sorry po."
Colet smiles in acknowledgement, tries her best to ignore the way Jhoanna fidgets with her fingers. "Break-time." She announces, "We could go to the cafeteria, grab some snacks and I could tour you around for the rest of day." Colet offers, earning a nod at Jhoanna. She walks towards the wider hallway and waits for Jhoanna to join her side.
They walked peacefully towards the elevator and joined a group of three on the way down to the cafeteria.
"Hi Shee. Gwen. Stacey." Colet greets the girls as the elevator car travels down onto the third floor. "This is Jhoanna, by the way. New addition to the team, be nice to her." She instructs, the other girls shared their exchanges of hi and hellos.
Colet is not labeled as a strict supervisor, but she is firm with her work. She could clearly point your mistakes but she would never embarrass you in front of the team.
The three has said their farewall as they sprint towards the line to order their food. Colet and Jhoanna follows behind.
"You could get whatever you like." Colet tilts her head, inviting Jhoanna to stand first in line. "It's free." She adds as she watches Jhoanna hesitate between two breads. "You can get both."
"Ah eh, isa nalang muna. Baka 'di na ko makaulit bukas." Jhoanna jokes which earns a light hearted laugh from Colet.
They both grab an apple juice to pair up with the sweet bread. Colet walks her around the building, just on the floors she thinks Jhoanna would tend to visit. It was a bit carefree, they would exchange light jokes and Jhoanna would listen intently when she Colet is set to discuss important matters.
Colet could somehow see herself with the younger girl. She has toured a few of the new team members before, but none of the showed the attitude Jhoanna has now. She recalls her first day, how eager she felt to make it to the corporate ladder. The ace that she is, she never submitted anything half-assed. She has an inkling feeling that Jhoanna might be the same.
-
She stares at a copy of the Architectural drawings on her table, scratching her head in annoyance. She presses the intercom to Mikha's table, "Bring your team with you." Her voice stern.
"Ano ba naman 'to Miks, ang daming mali sa dimensions. Babayaran ba yan ng team kung sa construction pa makikita yung mali?" She complains. "Hindi mo ba na review yan? Bakit nakakarating sakin na ganyan."
"Sorry Architect. Review ko nalang ulit."
"Have someone review it as well. This is a big project, we can't afford major mistakes sa mga papel na narerelease natin." She huffs, scanning the team before her. "Jhoanna, please review the plans, point out every single thing you see wrong." She instructs, Jhoanna nods in assurance. "Mikha, make sure to have it done first thing next week."
The team leaves her office, she watches as Mikha drags her feet in disappointment. Colet sighs once she was alone, 'Ganon talaga, kung nasa posisyon ka, mas malaki ang liability mo.' She reminds herself to treat Mikha some coffee for isolating the mistake on her.
-
It was a saturday, last day of work for the week, and it's already 8 o'clock in the evening. Colet expects to be the last person from her team to go home but she halts when she notices a solo table lamp lighting the dark room. An eyebrow raised at the table.
She walks slowly towards it, afraid to scare the girl away. Colet would almost miss the girl with how much she is hunched on her table.
"Jho?" The nickname slips off her tongue before she could stop herself.
Jhoanna yelped in surpise, holding her chest as she heaves out her fear upon seeing Colet behind her. "Jusko po."
"Why are you still here? Gabi na. You should be at home na." She frowns at the mug filled with coffee by the brim.
"Tatapusin ko lang ito, Arch. Malapit naman na." Jhoanna pushes her eyeglasses out of habit. Her nose sweating as the aircon has already been turned off.
"You should go home." Colet insists, but Jhoanna looks at the thick set of plans on her table.
"I really shouldn't. I wouldn't be able to finish if I do." Jhoanna explains.
Colet sighs, putting down her vest on the table beside Jhoanna. She leans in to see what Jhoanna is yet to review on. "Nasa stair details ka pa lang." Colet points out and she caught a glimpse of grimace on Jhoanna's face. "I could help you review it now, or I could just extend the deadline. Your choice."
She offers, and even if she's tires, if Jhoanna opted to staying, she would. Colet is also smart enough to realize that the only reason Jhoanna is delayed with the review is because everyone else on the team has submitted their work late as well.
"Okay lang po talaga ako." Jhoanna insists, her eyes tired and it amuses Colet of how much it could draw her in.
"Jhoanna, it's okay. Ako ma mag aadjust with the schedule. You're just meant to submit it with me for final checking, I have to submit it with the associates by friday next week. We have time."
"Eh di, kayo na naman po yung kukulangin sa oras niyan. Wag na po, okay lang po talaga ako."
Colet sighs, 'this girl...' She pulls up a chair and sits beside Jhoanna, attempts to pull out a few of the papers to work on when Jhoanna stops her. "Ehhh."
Colet laughs at the sound. She finds it funny with how stubborn Jhoanna is. "I've given you a choice, sasamahan kita mag overtime or uuwi na tayo. Eh parang ayaw mo naman na umuwi tayo."
"Kasi nga pwede naman na ako nalang dito." Jhoanna frowns at how hard-headed her Senior was.
"That's not on the choices, Jho. So what is it gonna be? Pagod na sana ako."
-
"Kumain ka na ba?" Colet asks as the elevator stops at the basement floor where all the employees park. It's almost empty, leaving only a black honda civic, Colet's car.
"Busog pa po." Jhoanna firmly answers, but for a comedic timing, her stomach grumbles in disagreement. Colet smiles as she opens the door for Jhoanna.
"Dinner muna tayo." Colet offers, not intending to receive a no for an answer from Jhoanna. She drives out of the basement parking and off to the main road.
It was quiet between them, even the stereo plays at a low volume as the drive towards a 24/7 diner Colet frequently visits.
She tips a guy for assisting her with the parking, cars lined up along the road. She swifly leaves her seat and opens the door for Jhoanna.
"Ganyan ka ba sa lahat?" It might be because Jhoanna was tired, or perhaps because they were out of the premises of their work. But the tone of her voice was...friendlier. More playful. Colet doesn't take offense.
"Hindi naman." She closes the door before offering her hand for Jhoanna to hold. "Hindi kaya ng heels mo ang damuhan na 'to." She explains. Jhoanna smiles before accepting her offer, she guides the younger girl up until they reach the concrete road.
Colet forgot that on weekends, this place turns into a small bar with DJs and disco lights. They sit on a both at the furthest end. Slightly away from the noise. Colet orders for the both of them, Jhoanna lets her. She know because the latter didn't even tried to look at the menu, she was just looking at the place and at Colet, all intrigued.
"This is not common, just so you know." Colet clarifies.
"Ang alin?"
"This. Taking my juniors out for dinner. One on one." She explains further.
Jhoanna nods. "Good."
-
The drive home was more into a conversation. They both let loose as Colet insisted of dropping Jhoanna off on her apartment. "Just to be safe." She reason out.
"Right." Jhoanna chuckles.
"I swear I'm not making a move on you." She rolls her eyes as she parks in front of the apartment. 'It was a humble place.' Colet thought.
"Final answer na ba yan?" Jhoanna smiles as she steps out of the car, closing the door behind her, just before Colet could say anything else.
-
"What's with the frown?" Mikha comments as Colet enters the pantry room. She pulls out a nespresso pods and slams it inside the machine. She's annoyed.
"Wala." Her eyebrows meets together on her forehead.
"Mukha nga." Mikha chuckles but stops midway when colet's eyes sent daggers to her.
The year is about to end, and although Jhoanna and Colet has developed a closer relationship, it's doesn't really stick out of the ordinary.
So when she saw Jhoanna in front of their office building, hugging a guy for a farewell, Colet feels a hit on her stomach.
Colet is inexperienced. She's nothing like Mikha, who actually know the ins and outs of flirting. Sure, they share meals during sundays. Goes out to watch movies, texts each other late at night, Jhoanna reminds her to eat and gets angry when she wounds herself by cutting a mango. But that may just be friendly. Colet has no idea where the connection stands.
And seeing Jhoanna hugging someone, well, it might just end an intention she's willing to pursue.
She lifts up the mug to her lips, deep in thought when Jhoanna out of nowhere stands before her. This causes her to flinch, burning her tongue on the process. "Fuck." She groans in annoyance as she panics to reduce the burning feeling on her tongue.
"Sorry. Bakit ka ba nagulat?" Jhoanna panics along with her. "Patingin!"
Colet stucks her tongue out as Jhoanna held her cheeks. Staring at the tongue which was bright red at this point. Jhoanna blows gentle air hoping to ease the pain. They were to occupied in their own world when Mikha clears her throat.
The two stares at her, Colet still with her tongue out and Jhoana pouting, stopped at blowing air. They saw two other people in the room and they quickly realizes the picture they are portraying and moves away from each other.
Jhoanna opens the fridge swiftly, grabbing the cereal box and the carton of orange juice, pouring both on a bowl and eats it absent-mindedly. Colet on the other hand grabs the ketchup bottle and opens it, clueless of what to do next, she closes it back and places it in the cupboard. She clears her throat and leaves the room quickly, ignoring everyone else.
"Sabi na nga ba." Mikha snickers at the scene. Jhoanna scrunching her nose at the taste of orange juice and cereal on her mouth.
-
Their department has agreed to meet up at a bar rented by the company to have a little free time.
Colet was dragged out of bed by Mikha, she was not in the mood to party at all. It has been weeks since the pantry incident and yet, every morning, she still catches Jhoanna in front of their building hugging some guy. 'Boyfriend niya yun.' She rolls her eyes at the thought.
Bitterness fills her chest as she ignores late night messages from Jhoanna. Although she's having a battle with herself, she doesn't let it affect her work ethic with Jhoanna. She has remained level-headed with everything related to work. This may or may not have confused Jhoanna in some ways.
Colet was on her third bottle of mule as she chatters with the team. Maloi, a girl from another team, has been clinging to her arm.
She heard about Maloi's admiration towards her, and somehow tonight, she's might need the extra attention. Maloi would lean closer to her, pressing her chest against her arm. She might just be a bit drunk because she spends a few seconds looking at Maloi. She orders another bottle as she laughs at something Mikha said.
It's past midnight, and her eyes starts to blurry. She hasn't seen Jhoanna all night, and she assumed that the latter opted of skipping this one out.
But as she stumbles on her place, an arm grabs her by her waist. Dressed in a dark blue fiited blouse and tight jeans, she could recognize that big glasses anywhere.
Jhoanna's face was not friendly at all. Her lips pressed into a fine line as she looks between Colet and the other girl pressed against her. "Ako na." Jhoanna sternly dismisses Maloi.
She was scary alright, and Colet understood when Maloi didn't even put up a fights and just allowed Jhoanna to drag the senior out of the bar.
The cold air slams against Colet's cheeks. She pushes Jhoanna away as she scurry at the side of road and pukes everything out, gut-wrenching with the amount of mule she drank. She feels fingers pulling up most of her hair off her face, and another hand rubbing her back.
-
She felt the soft matress on her back. She could doze off anytime she thinks. The room smells sweet, intoxicating, it smells like Jhoanna.
She feels the wet cloth running against her face and her neck. She feels gentle fingers touching the buttons of her black polo. She doesn't have the energy to stop it so she lets Jhoanna do whatever she needed to do. The younger girl helps her wear a shirt and pajamas. She felt every single finger that landed on her skin, or perhaps it was just the alcohol magnifying every touch.
Jhoanna was about to leave her there when she grabs the younger girl and pulls her in. "Akin ka nalang, Jho."
Jhoanna stiffens on top of her, and yet, didn't answer. Colet slowly opens her eyes, realizing how dangerously close their face was. Jhoanna's eyes are unfazed of the proximity. "Sakin ka nalang." She repeats in a whisper. When everything fails, she could blame it on the alcohol tomorrow.
"Akala ko kay Maloi." Her tone cold, sending shivers on her spine. She would shake her head but she was afraid the it would just make her vomit.
"Sayo lang."
Jhoanna attempts to push herself up but Colet wraps her arms around the girl, securing the girl on top of her.
"Iwan mo na yung boyfriend mo, ako nalang."
"Boyfriend?"
"Oo." Colet groans at the memory. "Yung kupal na yinayakap mo sa tapat ng building natin."
Colet doesn't see it but Jhoanna smiles at how childish the older girl sounds.
"Hindi ka nga namamansin ng text, tas aagawin mo ko sa 'boyfriend' ko?" Jhoanna pushes.
"Kung pipiliin mo ko, kahit buong ara na tayo mag-usap, kumandong ka na sakin sa office."
Jhoanna laughs at how serious Colet says it. "Baliw."
"Jho..." she whispers, opening her eyes once again, vision a bit clearer now, she moves the strand of hair off Jhoanna's face. "Seryoso ako."
"Parang hindi naman yun ang nakita ko kanina." Jhoanna whispers, adjusting her weight against Colet. She's tired as well. She presses her forehead against Colet's cheek. "Parang okay ka naman sa tabi ni Maloi, di mo nga ko nakita." She pouts as she presses her face further into Colet's neck, inhaling her scent. "Amoy Maloi ka na nga eh. Hindi ka na amoy na gusto ko." Her tone low, almost a mumble of words that is hard to understand but Colet understands.
"Amoy na gusto mo?" Colet tries to repeat. She feels Jhoanna nod against her skin. "Hindi ng boyfriend mo?"
Her words were met by Jhoanna's palm on her face, rubbing it against her. "Pinsan ko yun, tanga."
Oh...
"Pinsan?"
"Bingi ka ba?" Jhoanna lifts her head, showing the scowl on her face. "Ikaw lang yung maharot dito." She pinches Colet's cheek in annoyance. "Maloi. Maloi. Maloi." Jhoanna repeats at every pinch.
"Aray Jhooo." Colet pulls her fingers off her cheeks. "Sorry na. Akala ko kasi may boyfriend ka na, kaya hinayaan ko si Maloi."
"Ah para makalimot? Ang galing, gusto makalimot."
Colet sighs, every ounce of alcohol disappears from her body. Colet, who is inexperience gives up with the discussion and pulls Jhoanna to a kiss.
Lips pressed, unmoving. Just enough to shut the girl up. She pulls away, caressing the younger girl's cheeks.
"Say it." She breathes. "Say your mine, then no one stands in between."
"Sa'yo lang ako."