The Boss and His Assistant

Yumie arrived in the office in her usual mood. Kahit pa andaming nangyari sakanya over the weekend, she still feels professionally inclined sa trabaho. At the side of her mind, kailangan niyang makabalik agad sa Sejanos but the other side is the pile of work na kailangan niyang matapos ngayong araw.

The lobby receptionist greeted her as she arrived in their usual cheerfulness. But this time it's as if it's a little extra cheery. She just shrugged it off and smiled back though. She headed straight to the elevator. People are piling up makasakay lang sa elevator. She stood at the back of the crowd waiting to board up the elevator. Napansin siya ng isang empleyado na nasa unahan. Nginitian niya ito. The employee awkwardly smiled back as he slightly bow in respect.

"Ms. Yumie, mauna na po kayo?" anito and gesture for her to step forward. Napalingon din ang iba pang nasa unahan. At parang hinawi na binigyan siya ng daan.

Napatanga si Yumie. This never happened to her before. And she always patiently wait her turn sa elevator. Since pare-pareho naman silang papunta ng exclusive floor. But the people seemed giving her extra priviledge.

Bumukas ang elevator. And the people won't step in hangga't hindi siya nauuna. Alanganing humakbang siya papasok ng elevator. She was staring at the other employees with so much curiosity. Nng makapasok siya sa elevator, hindi sumunod sa kaniya ang ibang empleyado.

"Ey, ey, ey!" pigil niya sa elevator door nang pasara na iyon at siya lang ang nasa loob. "Wala bang gustong sumabay sakin? Naligo naman ako bago pumasok," aniya.

The employees awkwardly looked at each other.

"Comm'on, you're making me feel weird," turan niya.

Alumpihit man ngunit isa-isa ding nagpasukan ang mga empleyado sa elevator. Napailing na lang si Yumie. They arrived at the floor where they are headed. Yumie felt it was something different. This time napanpansin na niya ang kakaibang treatment sa kaniya ng mga empleyado. Even the receptionist on the executive floor stood up nang dumaan siya.

Naptaas ang kilay niya saka nagsalubong.

"What's going on?" hindi na niya napigilang itanong.

The receptionist just smiled at her widely.

"Masaya lng kami para sayo, Ms. Yumie," one of the receptionists answered.

"Huh?"

Hindi na siya nakapagtanong pa when she heard Zeek's voice from behind.

"Good morning, my fiancée. I am expecting you earlier," anito na nakapagpalaki ng mata niya. Mabilis niyang hinarap ito at minatahan. Saka muling napatinging sa dalawang receptionist. They both smiled even wider.

Lumapit sa kaniya si Zeek with a very mischievous grin. Umangkla pa ang braso nito sa bewang niya, pulling her to an almost embrace. Lalo niyang pinanlakihan ng mata ito.

"Have you had your breakfast? I haven't," he said na parang batang nag-pout. He seemed unbothered by her surprised reaction sa tinawag nito sa kaniya.

"What the hell, Zeek?" halos pabulong na sita niya kay Zeek in between gritted teeth.

"What?" anito na tila wala pa ring pakialam sa iba. Was he being showy? Hindi naman nila pinag-usapang i-aannounce na ang relasyon nila but she expect it that somehow they won't tell. Anong nangyari at parang balak nitong ipangalandakang they are now more than just boss and assistant? Isa pa, he called her 'my fiancée'. Agad-agad? Hindi girlfriend muna?

Inirapan ito ni Yumie. Humarap ito sa dalawang receptionist.

"I'm expecting some documents to arrive today. Please send it to the VP's office once it came," utos ni Yumie in her most serious tone being the professional as she is.

Tinabig niya ang kamay ni Zeek na nakaangkla sa kaniya at nagpatiuna na sa paglalakad papunta sa opisina nito. Ngingiti-ngiting sumunod si Zeek.

Nilapag lang niya ang bag sa sariling desk saka pumasok sa loob ng kwarto ni Zeek. Nakasunod pa rin sa kaniya si Zeek.

"What's going on?" she sounded frustrated. Nakaharap siya kay Zeek as Zeek went in.

Zeek just shrugged habang dahan-dahang humahakbang palapit sa kaniya. "I think everyone knows about us."

"What? How?"

Ngumiwi-ngumiwi si Zeek kasabay ng pagsingkit ng mata na tila nag-iisip. Then when he was within reach her, he wrapped again his arms around her and pulled her towards him. Naitukod niya ang palad sa dibdib nito but Zeek just pulled her tighter.

"Because I told them," anito in a sexy whisper. Nilapit nito ang mukha sa kaniya to give her a kiss pero iniiwas niya iyon.

"You what?!" she said na bahagyang pumipiglas sa yakap nito.

"I put an announcement on the announcement board that I am getting married to you," he said as if it was a normal thing to do.

"You did what?" legit ang panic na naramdaman niya. Mabilis siyang napabitiw kay Zeek. Took out her phone and immediately went to the announcement board group. Mabilis niyang nakita ang announcement.

It's the hottest topic of the day kahit hindi pa nangangalahati ang araw. She heard her phone bussing all morning but as she want to check it when she gets to work, hindi niya agad nakita ang announcement.

"Zeekcarias!" Hindi niya alam kung anong sasabihin. Tila siya naliyo sa mga nangyari. And Zeek just looked at her as if teasing.

"What?" he chuckled innocently. "It's my way to tell everyone that you are mine," dugtong pa nito in a dreamy tone. He scratched the back of his neck like a shy guy for acting cheesy and cringey.

Napatanga si Yumie as she looked at Zeek with disbelief. Somehow, kinilig siya sa ideyang Zeek wants to tell everyone about their relationship. His putting her in a pedestal. Zeek is the prince of this empire. Nakakahaba ng hair ang pagbibigay nito ng importansya sa kaniya.

But it was scary. It was somewhat bold for him to do that. There might be a possibility that others won't like it. Lalo pa't she knows kung pano pantasyahin si Zeek nang ibang kababaihan sa empire na iyon. She knows others would raised their eyebrows on her. At this point, isa lamang siyang hamak na EA ni Zeek. A commoner in disguise. Others might feel that she did something negative. No one knows her true identity kaya't alam niyang there will be some bad consequences.

Nahilot niya ang noo. "Is this your way to propose to me?" she said sarcastically. "Because I am expecting way better than this!" She hid the kilig with kamalditahan.

Nawala ang ngiti sa labi ni Zeek. Tila kinabahan sa sinabi ni Yumie.

"I-it's just to tell everyone that you are mine now. So kung sinuman ang aaligid sayo, they better back off."

"Aaligid sakin? O sayo? Hindi ba mas maraming nagpapantasya sayo kesa sakin?"

"Mayumia, you sound jealous," he smiled again, teasing her.

Umirap dito si Yumie. "Believe what you want to believe. Pero let me clarify. What you did is unacceptable!" Hinampas niya ito sa braso as she gritted her tooth sa inis. "Our relationship is not some kind of public event na kailangang maraming makaalam. I prefer it private. If you don't want it kept in secret atleast just tell someone who asks. Hindi mo kailang i-announce bigla-bigla. Besides, the announcement board is for business agenda. Not a gossip group chat!"

Lumapad ang ngiti ni Zeek. He slowly wrapped his arms again towards Yumie and gave her a short peck on her lips. Hindi siya umilag.

"I'm sorry. Did I overly done it? I am just extra happy of having you in my life officially. I have never felt like this before. Basta ang alam ko lang gusto ko ipagsigawan sa lahat that I am Mayumia's boyfriend," Zeek was so in love with her. And Yumie felt that.

She rolled her eyes but somewhat grinning. "Stop it now! You're making me cringed," aniya but deep inside she liked it.

Zeek lowered his head again, inilapit ang mukha kay Yumie. As if wanting to kiss her again. But he stopped for a moment.

"Do we have so much schedule for today? Can we just go out on a date instead?" He said in a sultry almost whisper voice.

"Kababalik lang natin and yes we have a lot of work to do," she replied with one eyebrow raised.

Zeek pouted. "Hayyy, I just wanted to cuddle you the whole day."

"I said stop it! That's is so cheesy!"

Zeek smiled as he reached for her lips and gave her a deep passionate kiss. She can't help but to respond. The kiss was so heartwarming that she wrapped her arms around Zeek neck. Zeek felt the heat and it aroused him even more. He pulled Yumie harder towards him as he tightened his arms around Yumie's body. He even groan a little with so much desire.

Nang biglang bumukas ang pinto nang opisina ni Zeek...

Mabilis na napabitaw si Yumie kay Zeek. Zeek got disappointed. Gusto niyang mainis sa taong basta na lang pumasok sa opisina niya. They both looked at who enters the room. It was Mrs. Ersao. But she seemed oblivious sa nangyayari sa kanila. Hindi ito nakatingin sa kanila nang pumasok sa opisina. She seemed like looking into some kind of document sa kamay nito.

"I need you to sign this," ani Mrs. Ersao na saka lang nang-angat ng ulo as she handed Zeek the folder. Zeek was so disappointed that he looked at Mrs. Ersao with disapproval. Hindi nito inabot ang folder na inaabot ni Mrs. Ersao.

"Huh?" Mrs. Ersao nudge the folder towards Zeek. Still oblivious on what could the old lady might have seen kung nakaangat lang ang ulo nito nang pumasok.

Si Yumie na ang mabilis na kumuha ng envelope.

"We'll take care of it, Madam. Ihahatid ko na lang po sa opisina niyo once VP have reviewed and signed," turan ni Yumie. Trying to hide the uneasiness she's feeling.

"Thank you, Yumie. I hope to have it before lunch if possible," turan nang ginang. Akma na itong lalabas but as she walk near the door, humarap ulit ito sa kanila.

"By the way, congratulations for both of you. I hope, Yumie, you can cope up with him. You know his reputation. Make sure hindi yan mapikot ng iba," ani ng ginang na kumindat pa sa kaniya. She walked out of the room.

Nanlaki ang mata ni Yumie and looked at Zeek na hindi nawala ang disappointment sa mukha. Hinampas ito ni Yumie ng hawak ng folder.

"Tama na yang kabaduyan mo. Madami tayong gagawin ngayon," ani Yumie as she started walking out of Zeek's office.

Zeek even pouted na parang bata. But hindi na ito nakapagprotesta as Yumie closed the door when she leave.