Juicy Ham – CHAPTER 3

AVRIL didn’t know how she had managed to face the reliever head of the department. Bakit kasi hindi na lamang sa kanilang pito kumuha ng panandaliang papalit sa posisyon ni Boss Sigmund samantalang alam naman nilang lahat ang pasikot-sikot sa trabaho. Sabagay, dalawang buwan lang naman daw ang itatagal ng matanda sa bakasyon nito kaya pwede na rin silang magtiis.

Mr. Villaceran was on the phone when she entered the office. He pointed the chair in front of his table and while on the phone, he mouthed ‘please be seated.’ She then walked gracefully towards the chair and patiently waited for Mr. Hamilton. She knew from her peripheral vision that he was looking at her. Bahagya siyang kinabahan dahil doon.

May limang minuto rin siyang naghintay bago ito matapos sa pakikipag-usap sa telepono. Pagkuwa ay prominente itong sumandal sa swivel chair habang matamang nakatitig sa kanya. Hindi niya napigilan ang mapayuko sa pagkaalala ng mga pinagsasabi niyang hindi sinasadya ay narinig nito.

“What can I do for you, Ms. Loriaga?”

What can she do for him? Is he nuts or something?

“I thought you told me to come here, Sir—”

“Hamilton Villaceran here. I was not able to appropriately introduce myself to you outside, apologies for that.” He paused for while and smiled at her, then continued. “Just call me Sir Elton. You were not able to hear everything I said this morning because you were half an hour late, as far as I remember.” Hawak nito ang Parker pen na bahagyang ipinipitik-pitik sa sentido nito. Whiskers surrounded his muscled jaw and unknowingly giving an impression of a snob.

“I know you heard what I said, Sir Ham…Sir Elton, I mean. I’m so sorry about that. There’s not much to say because you’ve heard everything. I would just ask for an apology…”

“Ah, that? Yeah. Actually, that’s basically the reason why I told you to come here. Easy to say, Avril but there’s one thing I heard that truly disgusted me…” He moved towards her direction. Magkasalikop ang mga bisig nito sa harap ng table habang matamang nakatitig sa kanya.

Hindi tuloy niya alam ang unang mararamdaman. Tension began to swallow her. Nanlalamig ang mga palad at talampakan niya sa matinding kaba habang ibinabalik ang tinging ipinupukol ng lalaki. “I already said I’m sorry. I was really upset and that’s given. It was my first time to come late at nagkataong ito rin ang unang araw mo dito. I didn’t like the idea of giving you the impression that I really used to report to my work late.”

“But that’s what actually happened. Anyway, there’s one thing more aside from that. You used one word to refer me a while ago, right?” He smiled bitterly. Gayunman, kahit anong klase yatang ngiti ang gawin nito ay hindi maaring hindi lalabas ang biloy nito sa kanang pisngi.

Akalain mong may biloy pala sa bahaging iyon ng face! Papa Ham nga!

“Errr…Again, I’m sorry…”

He stood up and walked towards the couch not too far from the table. Naupo ito roon at sumandal. There was a silence for about a minute but he was just there, with eyes closed that seemed forever. Nagkaroon tuloy siya ng pagkakataong matitigan ito nang husto. Staring at him like that made her heart violently beat against her chest.

“Did you mean it?” Nabigla pa siya sa tanong nito gayung hindi naman ito dumilat man lang nang magsalita. She did not speak. Hindi naman niya gustong magsinungaling. He finally opened his eyes and lazily looked at her.

“Tinatanong kita kung totoo ba sa loob mo ‘yung sinabi mo kanina.”

“Alin doon?”

“Yung sinabi mong ano ako…” He looked impatient now.

“Ah, ‘yung sinabi ko bang bakla ka? Iyon ba?” Napalakas yata ang pagkasabi niya at napangiwi itong bigla.

“Come on, announce it to the world.” He smirked.

Napangiti siya nang maluwang. Hindi niya mapigil dahil hindi na magkasya sa dibdib ang kaba at tila kilig na bumabalot sa kanya. Mukhang masipag sa pagtatrabaho ang mga veins niya nang araw na iyon at bawat daloy ng dugo ay ramdam na ramdam niya.

Nabigla siya nang matigilan ito. Nainis yata itong lalo sa kanya. Akala marahil ay pinagtatawanan niya ito. She tried to compose herself. Baka akala ng lalaking ito ay parati siyang ganoon.

“Sorry, Sir. Nasabi ko lang iyon because I was too upset—”

“And now that you are not, I guess—”

“I no longer do.”

Ito naman ang napangiti. Lalong nagsirko ang puso niya sa matinding excitement.

“Apology accepted then.” Nakangiti na ito. A genuine smile and she liked it a lot.

He stood and walk towards her. Her heart pounded more violently this time. It was a surprise when he offered his hand for a handshake.

“Hamilton Villaceran here, your marketing supervisor for two months time.”

“Avril Loriaga, Sir. Good morning and I’m really, really sorry for what happened.”

“Don’t mention it, Avril. It’s a pleasure to meet you, really.”

“Same here, Sir Ham.”

“What?”Nanlaki ang mga mata nito.

Naturete siyang bigla sa pangalang nabanggit. Nanlaki kasi ang mga mata nito nang marinig ang sinabi niya.

“Sir Elton I mean. Maganda kasi yung Ham, Sir.” Her cheeks immediately turned red. “Maikli lang…saka ano…masarap…”

Siya naman ang napangiwi sa pagkapahiya bago tumalikod at lumabas ng silid.

Shut your mouth. Less talk, less mistake…less regret, Avril…