Freed's Playroom

Play I EveryOne’s Boss            HINDI pa man din nakakarating mismo sa bungad ng office si Annie ay narinig na niya ang masayang bati ni Gret sa kanya. Pero hindi naman niya ito pinansin at dumiretso lamang sa loob papunta sa kanyang desk.            Habang palakad siya ay pinupuna na agad siya ni Gret ng chismis na labas naman sa kanilang trabaho kaya hindi n’ya ito iniinda. Kahit ano pang sigla ng boses ni Gret ay hindi siya nito nahahahawaan. At kahit ano pa sigurong balitang masaya ang dumating sa kanya ngayong araw ay hindi rin siya matutuwa.            Why?            She just became a single woman this morning upon waking up. Ilang araw man na nagparamdam itong mangyayari sa kanya ay hindi pa rin siya handa.            Her ex-boyfriend Ethan left their apartment with a note this morning. She tried calling him countless times, but his phone is unavailable. She tried reaching out to his friends but they had the same answers, they didn’t know where he is.            He has been cold for the past few days but it was so sudden and she thought it was like the usual phase they used to overcome as a couple for the past four years. Ethan isn’t the kind of man who would leave like that because they both fought for their love even if their families were against it.            But never did she expect that Ethan would leave her like that. He was always the kind one between the two of them. He’s a gentle and very reliable partner.            Lunch Break came and she was still her usual self like how she came this morning. Gret had the gist of what is going on by making her tell the whole story a while ago.            “Hindi ka ba talaga magla-lunch?” nag-aalalang untag ni Gret kay Annie na nakaharap pa rin sa monitor niya at walang kibo.            “Mauna ka na, pagiisipan ko pa,” walang ganang tugon ni Annie sa kanya.            Napadungaw ang tingin ni Annie sa picture frame na nasa tabi ng monitor niya. It is her picture with Ethan last year when they had a tour in Japan.            Ang tagal pa man din ng panahon na hinintay nila bago tanggapin ng pamilya niya si Ethan bilang boyfriend niya. Laking may kaya rin kasi si Annie. She had the freedom to choose her career path and work despite of being rich because her parents trust her until Ethan became her boyfriend. Si Ethan ay pangkaraniwang lalaki lamang na tumatanggap ng kontrata bilang engineer. Her parents wanted a more capable man for Annie but she fell in love with Ethan despite of their stand in life.            Napayuko siya sa mesa at napaiyak habang iniisip na hindi na babalik si Ethan sa kanya. Ethan wrote a note for her that he’s breaking up with her and he won’t be back anymore. ***            ANNIE had the urge to visit Brent’s unit where Ethan would go whenever they have a fight. She only had her gut feeling and her persistence to talk to him once again and sort things out.            Nakailang doorbell na si Annie pero wala pa ring bumubukas ng pintuan. Paulit-ulit pa niya itong pinindot hanggang sa may bumukas ng pintuan at iniluwal ang babaeng naka-panty lang sa pangibaba at nakasuot ng puting polo.              She was about to talk when she noticed the perfume of that girl whose hair was a bit messy.            “Nandiyan ba si…Brent?” she ignored what she smelled and asked the girl.            “Ah, Brent’s out of town…” sagot ng babae.            “Cecile! Where are you?”            Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Annie nang marinig niya ang pamilyar na boses na iyon. Dali-dali siyang pumasok ng unit kahit naitulak pa niya ang babae.            Pagpasok niya ro’n ay nagtagpo ang mga titig nila ni Ethan. Tinignan ni Annie ito mula ulo hanggang paa. He’s only wearing his boxers. Her gaze went back to the girl who just came in. No need further explanation, by their looks she’s got an idea what was happening before she arrived.            “Hinahanap niya si Brent. Sabi ko wala,” patay malisyang saad ng babae sabay lapit kay Ethan. “I’ll take a bath first, ikaw muna bahala, okay?” tumiklay pa ang babae upang halikan ang pisngi ni Ethan. Mukhang hindi alam ng babae ang papel ni Annie sa buhay ni Ethan.            Her frustration spiked up as soon as she asserts the idea that Ethan was indeed making out with this girl while it’s been a long time since they did that and they acted like a sweet couple.            And whenever she asks him to make out, he’d declines and says he’s tired from work but she always understands that.             “Hayop ka…” her voice was almost empty when it came out as she started crying in front of the man she loved the most and the man…who betrayed her.            “Kaya ba nanlalamig ka na? Kasi mayro’n nang ibang nagpapainit sa ‘yo?” napataas ang tono ng boses ni Annie. Hindi siya sinagot ni Ethan imbes nag-iwas lamang ito ng titig.            “I’ve…got nothing to explain to you…”            Hindi naman makapaniwala si Annie sa sinagot ni Ethan sa kanya. “You have to leave, for now…” naglakad palapit si Ethan sa kanya upang palabasin sana pero inunahan siya ng sampal ni Annie.            “Napakagago mo! Ang landi mo!” muli niyang sinampal ang magkabilang pisngi ni Ethan.            “Ilang taon kitang pinaglaban tapos lolokohin mo lang ako?” tinulak pa niya ito dahilan upang mapaatras si Ethan.            “Hindi na ako masaya! Ang daming kulang!”            “Eh ‘di sana sinabi mo sa akin na may kulang! Hindi ‘yung hinanap mo kaagad sa iba!” patuloy ang pag-agos ng mga luha ni Annie at pahirap na pahirap ang paghinga niya.            Dahil hindi na niya kayang makita pa ang hitsura ni Ethan ay umalis siya ng silid at naglakad palayo. Nawala lahat ng naipon niyang dahilan at lakas ng loob para makipagbalikan kay Ethan ay nawala na lang nang basta-basta.            Kahit ano palang ikinahaba ng pagmamahal na nilaan mo sa isang tao ay maari rin pala itong balewalain sa isang iglap. ***            “IT’s okay, Trixie, puwede naman nating ihabol ‘yan bukas. You can just revise it and then send it to me okay?” bahagyang nabunutan naman ng tinik sa dibdib si Trixie dahil sa sinabi ni Freed sa kanya.            “Sige po, Sir. Pasensya na po talaga,” anito bago pa makaalis ng silid niya. It was a big relief that her boss isn’t a terror one and very understanding. Madaling kausap, mahinhin magsalita at palangiti. Wala na silang mahihiling pa kay Freed.            Freed Eravido—the epitome of manhood, a successful business man who chose to work in an office despite of being a rich man. He’s handsome and has a great body figure and there is no doubt that a lot of women wet themselves as they fantasize of being Freed’s woman. Paniniwala ng kababaihan sa kanilang opisina na kung hindi man isa sa kanila ang magiging maswerteng nobya ni Freed ay hindi nila hahayaang ang kung sino man ang maging nobya nito. He’s just too good for any one.            They never saw him date anyone and they wanted to keep it that way. Despite of being friendly and nice to anyone, he never had the chance to introduce any girlfriends before…they always wondered why.            “Miss Gina, I think we should wrap up early today. Mayro’n tayong company dinner, right?” untag naman nito kay Gina na nasa gilid habang gumagawa ng kape para sa kanya.            “Yes, Sir. Nakapagpa-reserve na po ako sa restobar para mamaya.”            “Good. You should take your break,” wika naman ni Freed nang mailapag ni Gina ang kape niya sa kanyang mesa. ***