Karina

Ning: Mars, naiwan ko charger ng phone ko sa office!

Karina: Kailangan mo na ba? Gusto mo i-drop off ko later sa inyo pagkauwi?

Ning: HOOOOYY anong pagkauwi? Nanjan ka pa??!!!

Karina: Yes..

Ning: ALAS ONSE NA RINA!

Karina: :(

Ning: yung MX account ba ito na pinahandle sayo?

Karina: Yes 🙁

Ning: K. Uwi na rin agad jusko sinasabi ko sayo Rina pag ikaw tumagos sa pader

Karina: Thanks Ning.. yung charger?

Ning: Yung charger wag na bahala na malobat bye gurl

I smiled at the concern of Ning.

It’s true that lately I’ve been really busy at work and doing a lot of overtime.

Lalo na today that my boss practically begged me to help in one of the accounts na nagkaproblema, which I had no choice but to say yes to.

Her words ba naman, “Rina, it will all go downhill kung di mo ‘to saluhin. I don’t know anyone I can rely on, please, please, help me out.”

I stretched my neck and arms.

I knew it would be yet another long working night.

I was about to continue my work when my phone vibrated and saw that my wife already replied to my messages.

Her last message to me was at 8:30pm kanina.

It’s already past 11pm now.

5:45 PM, Karina: Baka I’ll be overtime again today

5:46 PM, Wife <3: Ok babe. Chat again pag pauwi na

6:45 PM, Wife <3: Pauwi na?

7:00 PM, Karina: Not yet :< In another hour or two siguro

7:30 PM, Karina: What u doing?

7:31 PM, Karina: Nag-dinner ka na?

8:00 PM, Wife <3: Nagluto lang me, kakain pa lang. Ikaw?

8:30 PM, Wife <3: Babe?

9:15 PM, Karina: Sorry, nagfocus lang. Di pa tapos, hon. I’ll let you know

9:45 PM, Karina: Hon

10:20PM, Karina: Are you napping

10:45 PM, Karina: Baby, I’ll be really late tonight ha. As in past 11pm siguro. :<

11:15 PM, Wife <3: NAKATULOG AKO MYGASD

Wife <3 calling…

I put Winter on my phone speaker as I continued to work.

Winter: Babe, sorry na, kakagising ko lang, akala ko naman nakauwi ka na. Patapos ka na ba diyan?

All I was listening to kanina was classical music to help me focus sa work so my mood improved when I heard Winter’s voice.

It was raspy and it was clear that she still sounded sleepy.

I missed her already.

Karina: Not yet babe but I think malapit na rin, maybe an hour

Winter: Sunduin na kita

Napatigil ako sa work nung nagsuggest si Winter na sunduin ako.

I was firm when I responded.

Karina: No, wag na.

Winter: Eh sest-

Karina: Sest, no. Wag mong gagamitin yung bike mo. It’s late na. Malapit na rin ako matapos.

Winter: *inaudible*

Karina: Ha?

Winter: Kumain ka naman na ng dinner diba?

Karina:

Winter: Sest naman…

Karina: I’m sorry. Kailangan ko lang kasing matapos na tonight. It's okay, di naman ako sobrang gutom

Winter: Tsk. Dalhan na lang kitang food diyan

Napatigil ulit ako sa pag-type and grew a little annoyed.

Karina: Sest, I said I’m okay. Wag mo na akong sunduin ah. Delikado na bumiyahe. Mamaya na lang ako kakain pagkauwi.

Winter: Pero-

Karina: I’m fine, don’t worry

Winter: Okay sige na nga

Karina: Mhm bye

Winter:

*call ended*

I let out a heavy sigh… and got back to work again.

I grew frustrated, the stress of the day coming to me.

I could feel myself getting drained.

Nakadagdag pa yung call with my wife, and her insisting that she go here pa para dalhan ako ng food or sunduin ako.

I really hate for her to use her bike, especially at night.

Ilang beses kong sinabi that her sight wasn’t that clear anymore as I saw her squinting while reading minsan, yet she insists pa rin na 20/20 vision daw siya.

It’s really dangerous to ride lalo na pag gabi so I prohibit her from doing so.

I glanced at my phone checking if Winter sent a message after our call.

None.

Kung nagalit man siya, I’ll deal with her later.

I got back to work.

I still have a lot left.

It felt like it was never ending.