BPO… Call center… ano pa ibang tawag? Basta diyan ako nagtatrabaho brad and that’s where I met her.
It was their first day of training, their first day of work and I was their VA trainer (voice and accent). The usual activity on the first day, I asked them to introduce their selves by stating; the name they want to be called, hobby, favorite movie and previous work experiences.
Una ko nagpakilala.
Nasa kalagitnaan ako ng pagpapakilala, kasasabi ko nga lang ng favorite movie ko na The count of Monte Cristo when I got distracted, the girl with a long blonde hair giggled.
“May I know what are you giggling about miss?” tanong ko sakanya. “I’m s-sorry Ian please continue… I thought I heard a different word.” She apologized, I just gave her a questioning look and she continued explaining “…I thought you said cunt of Monte Cristo, sorry.” she said na may diin sa word na cunt, napailing-iling ako habang sinasabi sa sarili ko na mataba utak nito ah at nagexplain nalang sa klase na pronunciation is a big factor in every communication providing the cunt and count as an example.
That’s Mai and that’s how she caught my attention, tapos inatasan ko rin sila na kumuha ng dalawang bagay that would best describe them and explain it in front, karamihan bitbit bottled water, phone, ID at kung anu-ano pa but Mai went in front empty handed napaisip nalang ako na ano kaya ieexplain nito at noong nasa harap na she took out from her denim skirt’s pocket a lighter and a pack of cigarette, aba maiba rin si ateng! Then she explained that she’s a lighter, which her function depends on the user; either to give a light or to cause a fire and according to her, she’s a cigarette, a stress reliever for some but gets burnt out too just like a cigarette on lit.
As training days went by, she didn’t fail to amaze me with how she converse; brief, precise at tumatatak sa utak mga sagutan niya, bihira kaya makahanap kausap na ganito. Tangina, dagdag pa na maganda rin, how can I not be enticed?
Madalas ko siya naaabutan after shift sa yosi area kasama mga wavemates niya at nung last day nila sa VA, habang nagyoyosi napaisip ako pano kunin number niya, bahala na… hinablot ko phone sa kamay niya, napakunot noo siya “What the fuck are you doing Ian?” I felt relieved nung dugtungan niya na “…walang porn diyan uyy!”At habang sinusubukan niyang bawiin, I dialed my digits. “Got it!” sabi ko nalang sabay balik ng phone niya. Naka-silent phone ko, so I thought she had no idea kaso she’s smart, she knew I called my number to get hers.
A week after ko sila iendorse sa production napansin ko wala siya, the day after that, di pa rin pumasok, that’s when I texted her…
Me: Hey Mai, how are you? Ian here.
Mai: ohh hi ian. AWOL ako e. Nasa probinsya ko now, personal stuff.
Nag-iisip palang ako irereply when she texted again.
Mai: I’ll be there next month, magcleclearance.
Me: I see… Let’s have coffee when you come back?
Mai: sure.
Yes! Talking to her again excites me, o baka etits ko lang nasabik, iniisip ko palang bunganga niya habang nagsasalita nalilibugan na ko, sarap isipin ang potek, yung nakangiti siya labas dimples niya magkabilang gilid ng labi bago isusubo titi ko. Tsk
Nalipat ako sa bagong site sa Shaw at katatapos lang ng panibagong klase ko ng may magtext… si Mai.
Mai: Where you at? Dito ko sa office.
Me: Short notice huh?
Mai: haha you owe me a coffee. Remember?
Me: OMW… baka matagalan Shaw pa manggagaling. Mauna ka na sa SB jan. see you!
Dali-dali ako pumara ng taxi sa baba at nung andun na ko, as expected sa smoking area ng SB ko siya nakita, she was wearing a spaghetti strapped maxi dress na mint ang kulay, the color added up to her glow.
“You look good.” Bungad ko pagkatapos magbeso.
“Do I look bad before?” Sagot ba naman ng loka.
“A simple ‘thank you’ would suffice, but really… you look beautiful.” sabi ko, then I headed to the counter for our coffees.
She was smiling from ear to ear pagbalik ko sa table, sabay tanong ng “Have you been well?” Nagsimula na kami magkamustahan, I told her na wala na ko sa BGC, she also explained bakit siya nagAWOL, straight naman siya sumagot. Saan saan na kami nadala ng kuwentuhan, until natanong niya “What are you up to Ian?”
Napabuntong hininga ko, looked like I made her impatient as I kept going around the bush.
“I don’t want to sound like a maniac to you… Look Mai, I like you but-“ Tangina di ko alam pano tatanungin siya ng kantutan.
“How did I catch your attention?” Putol niya habang nagsasalita ko.
“You’re witty.” Tipid kong sagot.
“Ohh so you’re a sapio?” Tanong niya.
“Sapio? You mean sapiosexual?” paglilinaw ko.
Nagsindi muna siya ng yosi bago tumango.
“I guess so… Look Mai, would you go for a one night stand with me?” Buong tapang kong tanong, andito na lang din eh.
“O-okay, that was fast.” She answered. “Look Ian, I’m exclusively dating someone now, I know you’ll say na hindi ka after ng relationship or what pero… it’s just that I’m fucking the one I’m dating and may pagka-loyal ang lola…“Sabay pisil niya sa kamay ko. “I’ll have to say no.” She didn’t make it sound bad since she was smiling. Still she said no.
Nawala pag-asa ko makantot siya. A month passed by, nagulat na lang ako nagreply siya sa text blast ko na: I will be spinning at Gold Diggers, Cubao Expo tonight at 6:30. See you guys!-ian
Mai: Count me in!
Me: No kidding?
Mai: Yeah!!! Pero male-late ako. Siguro around 8, would that be fine?
Me: of course. See you then!
It was almost 9’ish nang may bumulaga sa DJ booth, late as always, Mai came for real. Mukhang wala siya kakilala sa mga tao, I let her stay at the booth, she enjoyed it. The next DJ took over around 9:30 saka na ko kumuha ng table namin.
“You look cool out there.” Nakangiti niyang sabi.
“So you really came… tinatanggap mo na ba offer ko?” Pabiro kong tanong.
“No, I’m just here to have fun.” Ang prangkang sagot.
“Still seeing that guy?” I was referring to her exclusive date.
“Yeah…” Nakakainis, di mawalawala ngiti sa labi niya.
“Sa tingin mo ba di ka mage enjoy sakin?” Di ko matiis na di matanong.
“Look Ian sa tingin ko mageenjoy ako, ang tangkad mo with good body built, you’re physically attractive, mukhang mabubuhat mo ko e at mukha naman… malaki yan.” Sabay nguso niya sa kargada ko. Muntik ko tuloy mabuga iniinom kong beer.
“Guess?” Tanong ko, I’m letting her guess it’s length.
“Six?” Sagot niya.
“How do you guess?” I asked her without affirming.
She smiled and said “Just by looking at your hands.” She showed me how she guessed dick lengths with hands, which she said not a hundred percent accurate. I guessed we exaggerated the enjoyment that night talking about atom, sex, colors and everything under the sun.
“Ano na Mai? One time lang naman e.” Pabirong pangungulit ko.
“Gago, di nga… ganito na lang, every Friday ka dito diba?” Medyo sinisinok sinok niyang sabi.
“Oo, bakit?” Taka ako.
“If I come here again, that would be a y-yes.” Sabay kindat niya, “So pag nakita mo ko dito ulet, di mo na kelangan magtanong, okay?”
I nodded, and toast for cheers, after a bucket of beer, hinatid ko na siya sa sakayan niya at di nawala sa utak ko sinabi niya. Natawa nalang ako, sana di paasa.
Another month passed by, wala ko narinig mula sakanya, ni-ha ni-ho wala, Di rin siya nagrereply sa mga texts ko. Three months passed, kasama parin siya sa sinesendan ko ng text blast about me spinning at Cubao Expo, nagbabakasakali lang naman.
Habang nagseset up ako sa booth, well medyo antok, galing pa sa work. Nararamdaman ko may nambabato ng nambabato ng maliliit na lukot na papel, I got pissed kaya napamura “Tangina naman oh! sino ba y— M-mai?” Shet, si Mai nga! Siya pala kanina pa nambabato sa gilid, agad ako lumapit sakanya na kasalukuyang kumakain ng takoyaki.
“Andito ka nga.” Tuwang tuwa kong bungad sa kanya.
“Aiy hindi, drawing ko lang to.” Pabalang niyang sagot sabay subo ulit ng takoyaki… “Sige na, mag set up ka na dun, dito lang ako, pasukin kita sa booth mamaya.” Sabay tulak niya sakin papunta sa booth.
Abot tainga ko nakangiti while disc jockeying, habang sumusulyap sa kasama ko sa loob ng dj booth, Mai. Pagkatapos ko i-packed gamit ko at itabi, lumapit agad ako kay Mai and kissed her, she didn’t refuse. The kiss felt promising.
I held her hand as we walked away from the bar, she didn’t take…