2 years later
“Tick-tock…… Tick-tock…… Tick-tock…… Tick-tock…… Tick-tock……” says the alarm clock.
Before her soul be awakened, Joj’s eyes are still in drowsy. Joj pick up her phone to stop the tone and still unaware that there are messages waiting her. After preparing herself for work, she notices the messages and open it.
“Gandaaa”
“Huh?”
“How are you doing?”
“Huh?”
Joj literally confused about the messages sent by Steve. Steve, 29, is one of the great site superintendents of the company wherein Joj is currently working. He is also good in mechanical engineering and lots of experiences in planning and scheduling, organizing, directing and controlling activities on the construction site. Joj already knows Steve because he is one of the panels who interviewed her during the application but they are not too close yet they treat each other as good co-workers. Joj didn’t realize that the time is continuously running.
“Joj, come at the office prior to the assigned time. Steve here.” He sent it to their group chat.
It is already 10 in the morning, Joj is in the rush because she is included and chosen as one of the engineers to work in Batangas. The team leader announces that they will have an urgent meeting for their big project and everyone should arrive in the office at 11 am. Due to traffic, Joj feels that she can’t be on time so she desperately praying that the assigned time could be adjusted. Then, the bus stopped by and she immediately goes to the office and gladly to see, everyone is already gathered but the meeting had not started yet. “Deep sigh”
“Joj, nandiyan ka na pala dai. Sit beside meeeee” Ziqi said. (Ziqi is her fellow co-applicant that turned out to be her beki friend and closest among them all.) Joj immediately sit beside Ziqi and she surprisingly see Steve staring and smiling in front of their desks. Nevertheless, she manages herself confidently to face Steve even if she still remembers the messages.
The meeting has started and the plan, agendas, and important reminders are successfully discussed. While Joj is reading the plan constantly, Ziqi is suddenly burst out of their moods.
“Daiiiiiii, pinanganak kaya tayo para pahirapan huhuhuhu. Ang daming binigay na work sa team natin huhu.”
“Alam mo Ziq, instead of complaining, magpasalamat ka nalang dahil may trabaho ka. Ang dami kayang tao na kailangan ‘tong trabaho natin. We’ve been here for almost three years. At isa pa, we are one team naman so we have to work collaboratively.” Joj uttered while smiling at Ziqi.
“Yes, you are right Joj. Oh, Ziq, lagi kang makikinig kay Joj para lagi kang may energy to work ha.” All of a sudden, Steve appeared and invite them to have dinner nearby. “So, are you both free?”
“Ako Sir always free, ewan ko lang sa isa jan na ginawa ng mundo ang trabaho” Ziqi said to Joj teasingly.
“Wag mo naman masyado ubusin yung oras at atensyon mo sa trabaho, Joj. C’mon, come with us. I got you all”
“Ah Sir, salamat po pero I have many workloads to do and kailangan na po mapapirmahan para maiprocess na po yung mga backlogs.”
Ziqi silently stepping aside and whispered, “Ano ka ba daiiiii, si Sir Steve na yung nag-invite satin at isa naman siya sa mga superiors na makakasama. Tara na daiiiii, it’s time for you to shine.”
Joj slightly turn her head and throw glaring eyes to Ziqi.
“Joj, ikaw nalang yung hinihintay ko. Sasama ka ba o sasama? Mamili ka lang sa dalawa. No other excuses, otherwise I won’t sign what you are doing” Steve said.
She could do nothing but a deep sigh and say “Okay, Sir. I’m coming.”
Everyone in the team is preparing for dinner. Joj is still thinking the bunch of works that she should do and be able to finish before the final date ends. Although Joj is a beginner, she is considered as one of the most reliable and persevere newbhie in the company because she does not complain and just work as long as she could finish it. To Joj, every inch of time to work is essential because she really needs it for her family and also diverting her mind from her past.
Few hours had passed by, the team have reached the destination. It is a classic yet modernized restaurant in Makati and the foods they offer are surely superb. Aside from the sumptuous foods, the resto has one specific place located at the top of building where you can extremely breathe, relax, and view the city lights and night sky.
Each member of the team giving thanks to Steve and other superiors for the warm bonding and delicious foods. Steve thought that they should have time to bond before they proceed to their project. He thinks that in order to accomplish a certain task, everyone should get along well and work holistically. So, his idea was successful because all of the members enjoyed the night, except the moment she saw Joj who staring in nothingness. Steve went outside to pick her phone on the car because he left it before they entered in the restaurant. As he walks back to the dinner, she unexpectedly saw Joj going somewhere.
Steve speaks while walking towards to Joj “Hey, you there. Dito ka pala pupunta, mukang ang lalim ng mga iniisip mo ah.”
“Ohh, hello Sir. I’m just breathing air and masyado kasing maingay sa baba. Hindi ako masyadong sanay.” Joj was surprised.
“Out of work, just call me Steve. Wag kang kabahan or mailang whenever I approach you. Pabalik na sana ako sa dinner when I saw you walking alone. I am just curious kaya sumunod ako. You like the ambiance of this place? The city lights?”
Joj breathe deeply and at some point, she feels bit comfortable. “Actually, I love serene places. Naghanap lang ako ng lugar na pwedeng huminga and I found this place. Bonus na rin at ang ganda pagmasdan ng city lights.”
“I think so. Anyway, bakit ka nalate kanina? I waited you in my office para ibigay yung plan but ang tagal mo kaya pumunta na ako sa hall.” Steve is smiling.
“Ahhh, traffic kasi. Araw-araw nalang ako nakikipaglaban sa traffic.” Joj suddenly remembered the messages. “Since sabi mo naman, I can call you by your name, Steve, I just want to ask you something.”
“Sure. Ano yun Joj?” Steve answered as he turns his glance to Joj.
“What are those messages about? We had a short conversation kaninang umaga. Remember?”
With his knitted eyebrows, Steve is a little confused about what Joj talking. He grabs his phone to his pocket and open the messages. Surprisingly, he talks to his mind, Aww, ano ba nangyari sayo Steve? Bakit mo sinabi yon?
"Ohhh, you mean the messages? Of course, I remember. Hmm, my apology Joj if I texted you on that kind of way. Are you surprised?"
“Hmm, oo naman. Although we have phone numbers of the whole team, we had never texted each other since then. Sa office at sa group chat lang tayo may communication. Kaya I was quite surprised when I saw your messages. But it’s okay though, baka napuyat ka lang.”
“Oo nga eh, kaya I wonder if ano yung ginagawa mo whenever you are not active in our gc. But I mean it, you are indeed beautiful Joj.” Joj is a bit shocked while Steve is continuously glancing her eyes.
A moment of silence had passed before Joj started to go back in the dinner because of the incessant glances from Steve’s angle. As she walked away, Steve follows her so that Joj can return safely.
The dinner went well and ended at exactly 2am. Everyone is preparing to go home when Ziqi notices that Joj is out of her seat. He is about to call Joj when she entered the resto and then Steve. All of the members are leaving the tables together with Joj and Ziqi, who suspiciously conclude that there is something going on between Joj and Steve.
“Hoy, daiiii! Saan ka nagpunta kanina aber? Nakita ko kayo ni Sir Steve na halos magkasabay pumasok sa resto nung mag-uuwian na.”
“Galing ako sa taas, huminga lang at lumayo sa ingay. Alam mo naman dai na hindi ako sanay sa ganito. ”
“Eh bakit magkasunuran kayo pumasok ni Sir Steve? Saan kayo galing? Ano ginawa niyo? Nako, Joj knowing your past, sinasabi ko sayo ingatan mo yang sarili mo. Oo ideal man ng karamihan si Sir pero wag kang malalaglag.”
“Eh kung batukan kaya kita jan! Ano ba yang mga sinasabi mo Ziq! Chismosa ka talaga e no? Malay ko dun. Bigla nalang sumulpot sa likuran ko, ayun nakipagkwentuhan.”
“Aray naman dai!! Sigurado ka, kwentuhan ka lang?”
“Halika ka nga rito Ziq, babatukan na talaga kita!!”
“Eto na nga kasi dai, may naririnig-rinig kasi ako ha. Hindi naman maipagkakaila na ikaw ang pinakamagaling sa ating batch, bukod don eh kinumbinsi rin daw ni Sir Steve ang boss na sa team ka niya mapunta kasi he really admires you. Kahit during the application pa lang daw dai, napapansin ka na ng koya mo. Baka naman betsung ka?”
“Hay nako Ziq!!! Ang alak sa tiyan dinadala hind isa utak ha. Wala akong panahon sa mga sinasabi mo na yan. Lika na nga, umuwi na tayo. Mauunahan pa tayo sa upuan dahil sa kakadaldal mo jan.”
While walking besides, a certain car stopped in front of Joj and Ziqi, it’s Steve who offers a ride.
“Hey, Joj and Ziqi. Pwede kayo sumabay sa akin. I am just along the way naman to drop you both in your dorm. Diba magkatabi lang naman kayo ng room? Tska madami na sila van.”
“Thank you Stev…. Sir, pero sakanila nalang kami sasabay.”
“Yes, Sir Steve, thank you for your offer. Tska malapit lang naman” Ziqi said.
“Hmm, okay, anything you want guys. If everyone needs me, just call me right away, Ziq. And you, Joj take care of yourself. See you.”
Ziqi is about to speak when Joj's throws death look preceded him.
Steve was driving slowly because he couldn’t believe he sent such messages like that to Joj. He remembered that he was deeply drunk that night. When he woke up, headache and hang-over were circling in his body and suddenly checked Joj’s contact picture to his phone. Little did he know that ‘Ganda’ is Joj’s number and out of nowhere, he texted her. Yes, ‘Ganda’ is the contact’s name of Joj to his phone. Hence, he finds it cute because he is able texted Joj and had a short conversation unexpectedly.
The travel took 30 minutes before Ziqi and Joj reached their dormitory. Yes, they are neighbor. As they walk upwardly, Ziqi is continuously teasing Joj. When Ziqi finally entered his room, Joj felt at ease because he literally annoys her. No matter how busy or tired she is, one of her routines is to take a bath before organizing stuff and bedtime. Joj goes directly to the CR to take a bath. Then, she grabs her phone to set the alarm and remind herself that it’s Saturday, it’s grocery time. When she is about to sleep, her phone beeps.
“Thank you, Joj. Thank you for coming. I am grateful that we had a small talk. Hoping for more talks with you. Have a rest, sa susunod ulit. Steve here."
It is another unexpected moment to Joj, she only read his message and did not even think to reply to avoid conversation with Steve. She feels sleepy and ignored the text message.
In case you missed the two parts ⬇️
Part I ⬇️
https://read.cash/@molivs/to-love-is-to-risk-therefore-to-love-is-to-be-brave-77c35667
Part II
https://read.cash/@molivs/to-love-is-to-risk-therefore-to-love-is-to-be-brave-prt-ii-5edebb93
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To be continued.. 😉
