Subtle Admiration

Abala si Yumie sa pag-aayos ng mga dokumento na natambak sa kanila simula nang bumalik sila from China. Madami-dami na siyang natapos ngunit marami-rami pa din ang kailangan niyang ayusin. The week in China was all fun and exciting but coming back means more work load and rush hours to finish.

Kasalukuyan siyang nag-iinput ng mga data sa computer nang lumabas si Zeek mula sa opisina nito. Sa sobrang busy, ni hindi niya agad ito pinansin. Zeek just stood at the door, nagpamulsa at sumandal sa hamba and just look at her with a naughty grin.

Pairap na nilingon niya ito. "You need something?"

He smirked and shrugged. "Hindi pa ba tayo matatapos? Masakit na ulo ko and I am so bored," reklamo nito.

"This is your fault. If we come back sooner, our work won't pile up," she said.

Like their bet, mas naging magaan ang treatment nila sa isa't-isa. They became like friends/enemies. True to his words, Zeek allowed her to treat her like equal. Nasasabi niya kung anuman ang gusto niyang sabihin dito while Zeek didn't execute authority on her. They work as if just partners not boss and assistant. Others might misunderstood it, but it was like a truce between them. And it works just fine.

Zeek was the youngest Executive sa kumpanyang iyon. Yet, he was domineering and authoritative. Other Executive couldn't overpower a Zeek Callejos. True to his name, Zeek executes his Callejos Power. With Yumie as his assistant tila mas naging authoritative pa ito. Hindi makakailang Yumie is very productive and she was doing her job well as his assistant. They seemed to be the power duo of the company and no one can't deny that Zeek have became more authoritative than before. Bubihira na ngayong nagkakaron ng issue sa departamento nito. Yumie have handled Zeek's management well.

Maraming nag-iisip that Yumie Arguellez could've been somewhat special sa isang Zeek Callejos but hindi nila iyon napapansin. They were more focus on doing their job right kesa makinig sa mga tsismisan ng kumpanya. And they careless about these rumors.

Zeek looked at his watch, " It's almost lunch. Alas dos mo na naman ba ko pakakainin?"

It has been so busy this week na madalas nakakalimutan niyang paghandaan ng tanghalian si Zeek. Besides, she, herself, eh halos hindi na rin kumakain ng tanghalian.

"What do you want to eat? Ioorder na kita," aniya very eager na matapos na ang trabaho.

"Working break again?" tila bata na maktol. "Can we eat lunch somewhere?"

Yumie rolled her eyes. "Ok fine. You can have lunch outside, I'll just inform anyone who calls."

"Oh no! You're coming with me," Zeek said na lumapit sa kaniya and pull her up sa kinauupuan niya.

"Hey!" apila niya. "Hindi naman ako nagugutom?"

Zeek looked at her with authority. "I want you to accompany me. Gusto ko mag-Samgyup. Kailangan mo kong ipag-grill," anito.

Umukit ang malapad na ngiti sa labi ni Yumie. Natawa siya sa tinuran ng amo. "Ganun ka kagutom?" natatawang sabi niya.

"Let's go now, Mayumia," anito na nagpatiuna na sa paglabas ng opisina.

Iiling-iling na lang na sumunod si Yumie.

Nakarating sila sa isang Korean Grill Restaurant na malapit lang sa opisina nila. Zeek was eating with so much gusto habang siya ang dakilang tagapag-asikaso nito. With a week in China, tila nakasanayan na niyang nakakasabay sa hapag kainan si Zeek. Natutunan na rin niya ang mga kinakain at hindi kinakain nito. Ang mga paborito at routines nito sa pagkain. Being his assistant, halos nagamayan na niya ang mga pet peeves ni Zeek sa buhay.

Zeek usually doesn't eat too much. But she found out that Zeek can eat appetizingly sa mga simpleng menu and home cooked meals. Bibihirang mag-crave ito ng heavy meat. And if with a company, mas marami itong nakakain.

She once brought a home cooked meal na luto ni Nana Felicia to work. Hindi siya gutom that time that's why ipinakain niya iyon kay Zeek. He finished his food in a very clean plate. She smiled at the thought. Until now, hindi niya sinabi kay Zeek na baon niya iyon.

"Can you grill faster?" anito as he swallowed the meat na kakalapag lang niya sa cook plate.

"Can you eat slower? Baka mabulunan ka sa pagmamadali mo," ani naman niya while rolling her eyes.

"Increase the fire para mabilis," utos nito.

"Kakain ka ba ng sunog?" sabi ni Yumie na napapangiti. Zeek is like a child longing for his cravings. "Here," inabot niya ang kunting meat na naluto na sa grill. Diniretso niya na iyon sa plate mismo ni Zeek. Zeek ate it immediately tila gutom na gutom ito. Napangiti lalo si Yumie na napansin naman ni Zeek.

"Why are you smiling?" salubong ang kilay na reklamo nito. He still have food in his mouth.

"Kumain ka naman kahapon. And nagbreakfast ka naman this morning. Pero para kang ginutuman ng isang linggo," natatawang turan ni Yumie.

"Correction, I only ate banana last night. I have one slice of bread this morning. And I hadn't had proper lunch yesterday," turan nito.

"Hindi mo kinain yung lunch na binigay ko kahapon?" namimilog ang mata na turan ni Yumie. Bumili lang siya ng take out Sweet and Sour pork yesterday at iniwan niya lang sa lamesa nito. Hindi niya na nakitang kinain nito iyon dahil subsob na siya sa ginagawa kahapon. It was cleaned nang balikan niya iyon.

"I threw it out. It tastes disgusting," simpleng turan nito.

Napangiwi siya. She took a mental note not to order it again.

"But then, eat slower. Some people here knows you. Mga empleyado sa company. If you eat like a hoarding pig, they might say na yung boss nila has no class," sabi ni Yumie. Not really concerning. She just said it as platonic as it is.

Zeek look up at her instead of looking around. Wala siyang pakialam sa mga bad words behind his back na patungkol sa character niya. But he had heard rumors na dapat mas concerning kay Yumie rather than him.

"Nag-alala ka na pulaan nila ang character ko pero di ka concern na pag-isipan nilang we are more than just in a boss-employee relationship," Zeek said teasingly. Umiling-iling pa ito habang sumasandok ng pagkain na isusubo.

Napatanga si Yumie kasabay ng pagsalubong ng kilay. "What do you mean 'more than just in a boss-employee relationship'?" aniya.

Zeek swallowed what he was chewing and started to explain. "I don't know if you're just ignoring the rumors or you're just being naive. But I say, it's the latter. You see, it's not normal for me to be seen dining out with my assistant. Siguro naman you have heard of it. But look at us today, we are eating together," sunod-sunod pa ang pagtaas baba ng kilay ni Zeek to tease her.

"You ask me to do it!" apila agad niya. To Yumie, she is just following his boss' order. Wala siyang intensyon maging at ease and chummy rito. Sinabihan siya nitong i-trato siyang as equal, so she did. He asked her to grill for him at lunch so she obeyed. Lahat nang inuutos nito, simpleng sinusunod lang niya.

But then, she come to think of it. It is not really normal for the assistant to eat with his boss. Especially kung ang boss mo is tipong every woman's fantasy ang datingan. Siguro nga, bulag na lang ang hindi magkakaron ng admiration kay Zeek in terms of looks. He gives off the strong handsome CEO vibe. But then, Yumie is more of pre-occupied with other feelings kesa mag-day dream sa amo niyang hearthrob.

'Its actually blind or someone like me,' bulong ni Yumie sa sarili.

"You can say that. But will they believe?" pang-iinis ni Zeek and gave her a boyish grin.

Tumalim ang tingin niya rito. Binitiwan niya ang tong na hawak as her mouth twitches in annoyance.

"You know what, people can talk and tell things about me, wala naman akong pakialam. But once and for all, tell it to me if it bothers you. Hindi yung pasimple mo pa kong inaasar like I don't know if you're provoking the rumors or gusto mo lang i-flaunt that Zeek Callejos had done it again-- making anyone fall for you," iritableng sabi ni Yumie.

"Woah! Is that a confirmation? Did I just won our bet?" pang-iinis pa ni Zeek.

"Huh! Let me remind you that the bet is too accept the fact that either one of us is charming indeed. I didn't say na defeated na ko. And for your information, up to this moment, I still believe your that egoistic Zeek Callejos I met from the first time. Wala pa ko do'n sa charm character na sinasabi mo," mataray na litanya. She always speak her mind kahit pa boss niya ito.

"You sound defensive," natatawang turan ni Zeek. He is trying to squeeze in na aminin ni Yumie na he is attractive. Nasasaktan ang ego niya knowing na walang siyang appeal sa dalaga. He can sense na affected din naman si Yumie sa charm niya but she is doing her best to neglect it.

"I am not! I meant what I say," she said na halos ipagdiinan iyon sa mukha ni Zeek.

Zeek just shrugged it off and continued eating. "Anyways, like you said, we don't need to explain to anyone. So beat it. Besides, paubos na yung kinakain ko, grill me more," utos ni Zeek.

Pairap na tumalima si Yumie and started grilling again.

"And by the way," sabi ni Zeek nang tila may naalala. "I need you to schedule me sa couturier, I need to get a tux for the Company's Anniversary Ball."

"The Ball is next week," ani Yumie.

"Yeah, so if you can have it scheduled tomorrow afternoon that would be much better," ani Zeek.

"Bumagsak ang panga ni Yumie. With so much task on her plate, hindi na niya alam kung masisingit na naman niya ang dagdag na utos nito. But then, wala naman siyang magagawa.

Zeek was almost full sa pagkain. Tinapos na ni Yumie ang pag-gigrill as Zeek was about to finish his last plate. Sinisimot na nito ang kinakain when he said something again.

"I hope you get a pretty perfect dress for the ball," turan nito na may pang-uyam na ngiti na naman.

"Don't worry. I can wear a trash bag and still look pretty in it," she replied sarcastically.

"Oh no! It better be not a trash bag," he said as he started wiping off grease on his lips. "I want my date to look perfect at the Ball," dagdag nito na kumindat pa sa kaniya saka tumayo and left her as her mouth dropped in surprised at what he said.

Napailing-iling na lang si Yumie saka sumunod sa pagtayo but headed on the counter to pay for their bill.