The rain fell. The siren of the soft drink factory located in Mabolo, Cebu City, where I work as an inventory accountant, wailed. I glanced at the clock on the wall of the accounting department office. It was five in the afternoon. The accounting clerks were hurriedly arranging their journals and ledgers. Other accountants, like the general accountant and cost accountant, including our internal auditor, were also organizing their papers. After I organized the stock cards and bin cards from the warehouse because I reviewed last month's entries, I went out to the bundy clock to punch out my DTR. Then I left the factory compound gate. I took shelter in the waiting shed on the right side of the gate. Our company had it built for the public. Since I didn't bring a jacket, I used my Sun.Star Daily to cover my head so it wouldn't get wet from the drizzle while I waited for a jeepney going to Colon.
A New Acquaintance
There was a young woman who also took shelter and stood beside me. She had an umbrella with her. I had just noticed her. "Good for you, Miss, because you have an umbrella," I said, smiling when she looked at me. She smiled back. I continued asking, "Where do you work?" "I'm at Atty. Miguel Lopez's law office, in the next building," she replied. "I'm Leo Osorio. I work here," I introduced myself, turning toward our office. "You, may I get to know you?" She looked at the other people taking shelter in the waiting shed, as if looking for someone. Then she looked at me. "I'm Helen Carin, Atty. Lopez's new secretary."
Growing Closer
The rain slowed down. A jeepney stopped near the waiting shed with few passengers. Helen and I boarded because she was also going to Colon to take a jeepney bound for Labangon. I would take the Pardo route. Since then, Helen and I saw each other almost every day at the waiting shed. We became close as neighbors in the workplace. I asked for her cellphone number and gave her mine. Through text, we learned about each other's age and status. She was twenty-seven. I told her I was twenty-nine. She admitted she was still single. I also confessed that I was an eligible bachelor and very ready to settle down for good. Our closeness deepened when I expressed my love for her. She did not deny her sweet response. As days passed, we would wait for each other at the waiting shed in the afternoon after we left work.
Disappearance and Reunion
Then after six months, I no longer saw Helen waiting for me at the waiting shed where our love blossomed. I learned that she no longer worked at Atty. Mike Lopez's law office. I also found out that she was now working in Colon as a secretary to the manager of a large appliance company. Sometimes, I remember our first meeting when we took shelter in the waiting shed because it was raining, while waiting for a jeepney going to Colon. I also recall our first date: we ate at Jollibee in SM City and watched a movie in Cinema 1, where we enjoyed the sweetness and depth of our first kiss. This came to my mind now while waiting for a jeepney going to Colon. A jeepney stopped near the waiting shed. I immediately boarded because I was in a hurry. I wanted to arrive early at our house in Pardo. My beloved wife was waiting there so we could have dinner together. When I arrived home, I went straight to the kitchen. My wife was preparing our dinner. We had been married for six months. I looked at her belly; she was five months pregnant. "Darling," I called her. "You're here now, darling?" my wife said, giving me her sweet smile. I approached her and kissed her lips. "Helen, I love you very much!" "I love you, too, Leo!" said Helen as she continued setting our dinner on the dining table. (THE END)
