Posted 8:37 PM by DUH

Unica Hija wrote on Oct. 10, 2002:

"I've made such a ruckus in ray's blog with my 'stolen kiss' account. didn't know it would raise such a furor. anyway, that's past. talked to r already. it will never happen again."

blush-fest blues

i thought this only happened in the movies but. . . .

producer i and me went to r's office and discussed next steps with his communications officer. then communications officer left for a meeting. a few minutes later, i excused himself and left, too. so it was just r and me in his office. i wanted to finalize the next steps before i left, so i stayed on to talk with him.

i was trying to prove how bad his boss's idea was while trying not to say that at the same time. i went on and on about how a commercial should not be a series of scenes, but one which had a story, a central character, how it should have a beginning and end. how an ad should have an insight that's based on reality and not just pulled out from thin air. r was half listening, signing some papers on the table. then he suddenly stood up and said "excuse me." i attempted to move my chair so r would be able to pass through behind me. i was seated in front of some book shelves so i thought he was going to get a book or something. so i thought.

before i knew it, he was kissing me. i held on to the handles of my chair, shocked.

when he pulled back for air, he was smiling. "you're blushing."

i was speechless. "i am?" i felt my cheeks. they were warm. "well, because . . . because. . . " i couldn't find the right words so i just shook my head. "ikaw talaga (you're really. . . )," i said. he noticed my frown.

"ako talaga ano (am really what)?" the stupid smile was pasted on his face. he kept staring at my mouth.

"wala (nothing). basta (it just is). anyway, where was i?" i went on babbling to dispel the tension: about how a commercial is more compelling when it makes use of the "power of the specific." was trying in vain to make my nervousness disappear by chattering inanely. then i stood up to gather my things.

"well," i said. "i have to go now."

he stood up too, and i thought he was going to walk me to the door. he kissed me again. harder this time. i caught a whiff of Marlboros, Cool Water and soap. i felt myself starting to kiss him back. i stopped myself.

"no!" i said.

"why?"

i gave him a pained smile. "ano ka ba, hindi puwede (what's wrong with you? we can't do this)!"

"ayaw mo (you don't like)?"

"well, what do you think!?" pause. he was still smiling. "sige na, i have to go."

"where are you going?"

"i have another meeting." i was lying. i wanted to get out of there. fast.

"ok."

he gave me a smack on the lips.

i bolted out of his office and went straight to the bathroom. i checked my image on the mirror: my cheeks were flushed. my lips were red. i was breathing hard. i thought of e, and i felt a wave of guilt. i drove back to the office like a zombie, and managed to call my team about the recent developments.

and here i am, still very much confused, still very much shaken. i have to work with r for the next few months. ugh. i feel like a ravished female character in a mills and boon pocketbook.

i have a boyfriend. r is a friend AND a client.

what would YOU do?