Regina left her office to check for Narda, she asked the employee and told her that the latter was using the comfort room —she decided to go there and waited for Narda.

It's been almost fifteen minutes that she waited outside so she decided to step in to check. She can hear the flashing of water from inside of the stall.

"Narda?? Hindi ka pa ba tapos?"

*Door opened.

"Ay hello po ma'am." an employee said after going out from the door she was leaning in.

"O-oh I'm sorry..." Regina utter embarrassly.

"Sige po.." the employee utter then leaves.

She checked the other stalls but no one is there until she noticed that the window was opened.

*Janitor came in.

"Manang bakit ho nakabukas ang bintana?"

"A-ah maam hindi ko po alam."

Regina just nodded. "Sige ho,pwedeng pakisara nalang." she utter before leaving.

She returned outside to check on Narda's table but what she saw was a man with broad shoulders leaning in Narda's table.

"Hey..." she called.—the guy turned around facing her. "I think i know you. Noah Vallesteros, anak ni Mayor Zaldy?"

"Regina Vanguardia. My dad's number one critique." he utter then smiled.

Regina pursed a smile.

"Nice seeing you here." he added then offered his hand —she accepted it for a handshake.

"So..." she walk around the table. "Andito ka ba para awayin ako in behalf of your dad?"

He suddenly laughed—Regina throw him a serious look that stopped him immediately. "Oh you're serious? N-no—no.. Dumaan lang ako para ibigay toh Kay Narda." he showed her a paper bag.

She glanced at it then looked at him directly. "Magkakilala kayo ni Narda??"

He smiled then leaned on the table. "W-well... actually she saved my life."

Regina raised her brows then nodded.

Kakagaling ko lang Kay Brian para pag usapan ang tungkol Kay clone man pero pagbalik ko ng opisina nakasara na yung bintana kaya hindi ako nakapasok. Sa may garahe nalang tuloy ako nagpalit ng anyo saka dali-daling bumalik ng opisina.

Tumatakbo ako papunta ng hagdan kaso—

"OH NARDA–ANONG GINAGAWA MO DITO??" tanong ni Andrei matapos kong mabunggo.

"A-ah eh... Wala, may pinuntahan lang ako. Bakit? "

" Kanina ka pa inaantay ni Maam Regina. Sabay daw kayong maglu-lunch."

Oo nga pala, hysst!

Tumakbo na agad ako paakyat hanggang maka abot ako sa table ko. Pagdating ko napahinto ako bigla.

*smiled." Nardaa! You're here! Kanina pa kita inaantay. "sabay lapit ni Regina.

" A-ah, sorry nagka emergency kasi. "

*furrowed." Emergency?? "

Lagot...

" Hindi naman emergency —ano lang, si lola kasi... "sorry lola...

" SI LOLA?? HOW IS SHE? IS SHE OKAY?? "alalang-alalang tanong nya." Gusto mo ba puntahan natin? —Tara! " hihilahin na nya ako paalis.

" Hi-hindi! wag kang mag-alala.Okay na naman si lola eh. "

" O-oh really?? "she utter.

I averted my attention to Noah.

" Noah? Anong ginagawa mo dito? "tanong ko. Liningon naman sya ni Regina saka humakbang paatras.

" Ah, I just bought you this. Pasasalamat ko lang sa pagligtas mo sakin. "

Napa tingin ako Kay Regina bigla na naka sandal sa drawers habang naka cross arms at nanonood lang saaming dalawa.

"A-ah...Ano ka ba wala yun. Trabaho ko naman yun."

"Kahit na, salamat parin." sabi nya saka iniabot saakin yung bitbit nya.

Ngumiti naman ako. "S-salamat."

"Uhm Narda? May... Gusto ko rin sanang magpa alam kung pwedeng dumalaw ako sainyo.?" tanong nya kaya natigilan ako.

"A-ah Oo naman!" nakangiting sagot ko.

Ngumiti naman sya saka napatingin Kay Regina na nanonood lang saamin. "ah sige, salamat ulit. Siguro kailangan ko ng umalis, puntahan nalang kita sainyo."

Ngumiti nalang ako bilang sagot saka sya umalis.

"So—pwede na siguro tayong mag lunch?" tanong ni Regina, ngumiti lang ito saka naunang mag lakad.

Sumunod nalang ako hanggang office nya.

"You haven't told me na close pala kayo ni Noah." sabi nya habang nag pi-prepare ng pagkain namin.

"A-ah hindi naman kami close."

"Ahh okay. So nililigawan ka nya?" sabay tingin nya sakin.

"Hindi ah."

"HINDI PA. Narda I know guys, they are easy to read. I think that Noah likes you and soon or later liligawan ka na nya."

"Suss! Yun? Anak ni Mayor?" natatawang sabi ko. "Hindi naman ata."

"Why? Narda it's possible for anyone to like you since you're a very likeable person." seryosong sabi nya saka inilapag sa harap ko yung pagkain ko. Naupo narin sya saka kumain.

"Kaya ba... Gusto mo rin ako?" tanong ko —napahinto sya sa pag nguya saka tumingin sakin—ngumiti naman ako bilang pang-asar kaso napansin kong may gumalaw sa bandang kanan. Pag lingon ko si Ali. Naitikom ko tuloy bigla yung bibig ko.

*Regina clears her throat.

"Aalis ka na Ali?" —Regina.

"Ah oo..." tumingin sya sakin. "Good afternoon Narda."

"A-ahh good afternoon din..." sagot ko nalang saka uminom ng tubig.

"Ahm sige Regina, alis na ako." paalam nya saka naglakad papunta ng pinto. Pag labas nya nakatinginan kami ni Regina.

"So-sorry... Hindi ko kasi alam na andito si Ali eh."

"No, Narda it's okay. I don't think he will think that way..." sabi nya saka itinuloy ang pagkain.

*silence

"So matanong ko lang... If ever manligaw sayo SI Noah, anong gagawin mo?" seryosong tanong nya.

"Ewan... Bakit bagay ba kami?" sabay tingin ko sakanya.

*smirked. "If you're asking me, well HINDI ang sagot ko. Why?? Because you two don't look good together."

"Specially, anak sya ni Mayor Zaldy and I don't trust him." dagdag nya saka tumingin sakin. "I'm not telling this because of personal matters ... I'm just concern Narda. I will say the same thing to any of my friends. "

Friends...

"Oh bakit bigla kang natahimik? Did I say something wrong?" tanong nya bigla.

"Don't tell me... You like him??" dagdag nya.

Haynaku..

"Sige panu kung oo?" seryosong sagot ko. Sya naman tuloy yung hindi nakapag Salita.

"Joke lang! —friends lang kami. ." Saka alam ko naman na hindi ka papayag... Kahit wala tayong label.

"GOOD."