“IS THIS okay with you?”Dorothea was pulled back to reality when she heard Rence asked. She straightened on her seat kahit alam niyang alam naman na ni Rence na hindi siya naka-focus sa pinag-uusapan nila. “Ako dapat ang nagtatanong n’yan.” She cleared her throat and tried to focus under the man’s gaze. “Busy ka sa inaasikaso mo kaya… baka nakakaabala sa ‘yo ang ganito.”“I won’t be here if it is, Thea. At hindi ba sinabi ko na? Hindi ka kailanman naging abala.”She nodded, wala nang maisip na sasabihin pero hindi gustong matahimik sila kaya nagbukas ng pag-uusapan. “Kumusta nga pala ‘yung inaasikaso mo? Hindi ko alam kung ano ‘yon. Narinig ko lang na may binili kang lupa? ‘Yung plantation?”“It’s okay. We’re just trying out ano pa ang itatanim doon. You remember our products back in La Union, right? Sinusubukan naming ibahin sa mga nandoon na ang itatanim dito. We’re trying sugarcanes if possible. I heard that’s profitable too.”“Oo. Marami ang tubuhan dito sa Visayas lalo na sa N

DOROTHEA woke up with a light heart. Despite all the bad things happening around her, she could still somehow feel at peace. Siguro dahil sa kabila ng lahat, those people who are judging her are still nothing but just mere coworkers to her. They are just those people who she met along with her job and the things that are convenient as long as her job persists. Kung aalis siya sa Kampo, she figured that she’ll maybe long for the feeling of working there but never for them. She’ll long for the homeliness Kampo made her feel, but definitely not for the people who went along with the establishment. Never for them, except for Lucas and the very few people who made her life a bit more lively working there. Matapos maghilamos at magsipilyo, she decided to cook first before taking a bath. Tulog pa si Raisen nang silipin niya ito sa kwarto nito. Her son’s sleeping face made her smile, making her remember the things she values more than any rumor some coworkers are talking about behind her.

GUSTONG pagsisihan ni Dorothea ang iniaakto niya pero masyado siyang pinapangunahan ng kanyang iritasyon. She’s now already seated on Rence’s couch, her arms crossed in front of her chest and her face giving away all the emotions she’s feeling. Nang marinig ang pag-click ng lock ng pintuan, her heart boomed and silently wondered why Rence locked the door. Pero sa inis niya, hindi na siya nagtanong at hinintay na lang ang pag-upo rin nito. “Now that were alone…” the man trailed off. Nahigit niya ang hininga nang maramdaman ang paglubog ng space sa tabi niya sa mahabang couch at ang brasong dumantay sa likod niya. “pwede mo na bang sabihin kung bakit ka nagagalit? Hmm, Thea?” She refused to look at Rence but she could feel his eyes on her. Lalo siyang sumimangot, feeling her immaturity at this situation. “Hindi naman ako nagagalit. At akala ko ba magmi-meeting?” “We’ll get to that later after we deal with the more important topic on our hands now,” mahinahon nitong sinabi. “Look at

DOROTHEA tried to push down her chuckle but couldn’t help it. Rence glared at her which made her smile innocently at him.“Binibiro lang kita,” marahan niyang sinabi. “Alam ko naman ang sinasabi mo. Pero kailangan ba talaga ‘yon? Hindi ka naman nagmamadali, ‘di ba?”Kumalma na ang mukha ni Rence pero umiling ito. Kinuha ang kamay niya saka pinaglaruan ang kanyang mga daliri. “Nagmamadali ako, Thea. But I’m willing to wait until you’re ready. I didn’t come this far only to push what I want with you. Kaya maghihintay ako hanggang handa ka na.”Uminit ang puso ni Dorothea. Hindi niya napigilang mapangiti kahit bumabaha na naman ang maraming pagdududa sa isip niya. She didn’t want to ruin the beautiful moment between them but she couldn’t help it. Rence must like her, she knew. Dahil sino ba naman ang aabot pa sa ganito kung hindi siya gusto nito? She’s trying to deny that to herself, remain unassuming but she couldn’t deny it now. Masyado nang maraming nangyari at tanga na lang ang hind

“ARE you going home? Hatid na kita.” It was Rence when it was already afternoon in the plantation and they already rested after eating their lunch inside the man’s office. Hindi na alam ni Dorothea kung paano nangyari ang lahat dahil nakalutang na siya sa buong oras na magkasama sila. “Hindi na, Rence. Magsasakay na lang ako. Malapit lang naman ang amin dito,” tanggi niya habang nakaupo sa sofa sa opisina at inaayos ang maliit niyang shoulder bag sa kanyang tabi. Rence was in front of her, standing. Nakatingala siyang bahagya rito. “Is this because you’re thinking na abala na naman ito sa akin?”Umiling si Dorothea. “Hindi, kaya ko na lang talaga ang sarili ko. T’saka hindi na rin naman kailangan eh.”“I know it’s not necessary but I want to. Nanliligaw ako, Thea. Gusto kong ihatid ang nililigawan ko.”Dorothea blushed and almost bit on her lower lip while Rence remained serious. Muntik na siyang mag-iwas ng tingin pero pinanatili niya ang mga mata sa lalaki. Dorothea cleared her t