It was past eleven when I returned to the office to pick up Mami Athena. She had to do overtime work training the graveyard shift team leaders about the new policy being implemented on the floor. I learned last Monday that the training would end at past midnight. Being her surrogate son and closest friend, I insisted on taking her home myself.
Whenever her working hours would fall under my shift, I'd eagerly volunteer to be her escort. She would complain that such extra effort would be a burden for me. "Huwag na kasi Mugen at mapapalayo ka pa sa pag-uwi." She would violently react the moment I point my finger telling her I'd be her escort for the night. But when I show up after my shift, her face would light up with a sigh of relief. If I could lay down my life for my real mom, would it make any difference if I offer my time, effort and personal security to one of the few people who really knows me?
Whenever her working hours would fall under my shift, I'd eagerly volunteer to be her escort. She would complain that such extra effort would be a burden for me. "Huwag na kasi Mugen at mapapalayo ka pa sa pag-uwi." She would violently react the moment I point my finger telling her I'd be her escort for the night. But when I show up after my shift, her face would light up with a sigh of relief. If I could lay down my life for my real mom, would it make any difference if I offer my time, effort and personal security to one of the few people who really knows me?
I don't know how many times she read my thoughts whenever we smoke together. But in many ways, those little joints we had proved to be my life jacket in times my sensibilities get challenged. I don't run and cry when things get nasty. Instead, I'd ask for a stick of Phillip Morris and smoke it like there's no tomorrow. As I puff the stick, I would project an aura of aloofness - like she does - and make it appear to the world that I am in control.
Such is the power of ladies I rarely see in men these days.
I went back to the office after making my piece with the partner. He appeared frail, timid and exhausted, and if not for my icy distance towards him, his bothersome leanness would instantly tear down the walls I erected between us.
It shows that I am concerned. It proves that I am not yet ready to tread my own separate way.
Back at the office, Mami Athena found me seated on one of the steps across her room. I was entranced in my prayer when suddenly, the door swung open and her meeting with the team leaders finished much earlier.
And it is as if the heavens were watching my moves, she interrupted my Hail Mary's to tell that we just have to wait for the boss before we leave.
Free meal and booze might rain down on us tonight.
The last time he showed up at the middle of the night, he invited us for a late night snack in one of the bars lining Wilson Street. I had a great time listening to the boss as he recounted the days when the company almost closed down after its biggest client pulled the plug on us. Mami Athena was listening of course. She was already with the company when tragedy struck. Between then and now, things have been very different. All output is being monitored and there are now strict guidelines as to how we act our jobs.
Remembering how it all began, and hearing how the boss broke down when defeat was imminent made me realize how lucky I am to witness all these changes.
I became a fanatic that night.
Tonight however, things were different.
Instead of stopping over for some drinks and talks, the boss drove Mami Athena to her place in Quezon City. Lucky for us, for we won't have to haggle with cab drivers over the boxes of instant coffee that Mami got from one of her side projects. I would have gotten off at Mami's place. But as a gesture of respect to the boss, I accompanied him back to the office, where his apartment lies a few blocks away.
It was fun hanging out with the big guys. Though I always look like a saling ket-ket when Mami and the boss talk, the juicy bits of information I get from their conversation makes me the most gifted rank-and-file officer on the floor.
Tonight however, one thing that sets this escort duties for Mami Athena different from other escort duties I performed before is that I was able to rise up from the slump and see the profoundness of things I rarely feel nowadays.
Mami Athena's companionship will always be a treasure.
But it was the brief soulful joyride on my boss' brand-new Mitsubishi Grandis that made me realize that life is like a car that can be driven in two ways:
Step hard on the gas when the road is smooth and empty
and harder on the brakes when the path gets bumpy.
Such is the power of ladies I rarely see in men these days.
I went back to the office after making my piece with the partner. He appeared frail, timid and exhausted, and if not for my icy distance towards him, his bothersome leanness would instantly tear down the walls I erected between us.
It shows that I am concerned. It proves that I am not yet ready to tread my own separate way.
Back at the office, Mami Athena found me seated on one of the steps across her room. I was entranced in my prayer when suddenly, the door swung open and her meeting with the team leaders finished much earlier.
And it is as if the heavens were watching my moves, she interrupted my Hail Mary's to tell that we just have to wait for the boss before we leave.
Free meal and booze might rain down on us tonight.
The last time he showed up at the middle of the night, he invited us for a late night snack in one of the bars lining Wilson Street. I had a great time listening to the boss as he recounted the days when the company almost closed down after its biggest client pulled the plug on us. Mami Athena was listening of course. She was already with the company when tragedy struck. Between then and now, things have been very different. All output is being monitored and there are now strict guidelines as to how we act our jobs.
Remembering how it all began, and hearing how the boss broke down when defeat was imminent made me realize how lucky I am to witness all these changes.
I became a fanatic that night.
Tonight however, things were different.
Instead of stopping over for some drinks and talks, the boss drove Mami Athena to her place in Quezon City. Lucky for us, for we won't have to haggle with cab drivers over the boxes of instant coffee that Mami got from one of her side projects. I would have gotten off at Mami's place. But as a gesture of respect to the boss, I accompanied him back to the office, where his apartment lies a few blocks away.
It was fun hanging out with the big guys. Though I always look like a saling ket-ket when Mami and the boss talk, the juicy bits of information I get from their conversation makes me the most gifted rank-and-file officer on the floor.
Tonight however, one thing that sets this escort duties for Mami Athena different from other escort duties I performed before is that I was able to rise up from the slump and see the profoundness of things I rarely feel nowadays.
Mami Athena's companionship will always be a treasure.
But it was the brief soulful joyride on my boss' brand-new Mitsubishi Grandis that made me realize that life is like a car that can be driven in two ways:
Step hard on the gas when the road is smooth and empty
and harder on the brakes when the path gets bumpy.
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