THE DEAL

TD- 4

SCENT

The first week of the execution of the said deal didn't go smoothly and easily. A day does not pass by without the two of them fighting and shouting at each other because of misunderstandings. The people around them only think that they're just having a mini quarrel but little did they all know that it isn't just a quarrel— it is a war.

LEA

"Oh, naka-busangot ka na naman diyan. Even Van Gogh couldn't paint your face," puna ni Vice, isa sa mga malalapit kong kaibigan. He's been my friend since highschool. And I could tell that he is a trustworthy person... sometimes.

I sighed in annoyance as I started to narrate why I was frowning, "Paano, 'yong epal na Aga na 'yon, inagaw na naman 'yong sandwich ko kanina. Napaka-takaw. He has money to buy enough food for himself but he is there, annoying me, getting my own food."

Sa totoo lang, pakiramdam ko'y hindi na talaga kami magkaka-sundo ni Aga. We have different attitude, perspective, and mindset. And if we clash, we'd only create an explosion. Ni hindi ko alam kung paano ko matatagalan ang pakikisama ko sakanya.

I'm good at getting along with other people but I feel like surrendering when it comes to Aga. I couldn't give my pride up just for him, you know.

Dawn and Vice only laughed hard and it annoyed me even more. Lahat ng tao, pinipikon ako ngayong araw, "At talagang tumawa pa kayo."

Vice sat down, "Paanong hindi? Eh, no'ng isang araw, ang pinag-awayan ninyo, lapis na kinagat niya 'yong pambura. Tapos no'ng isang araw rin, you got mad at him just because he sprayed his perfume on your handkerchief. Tapos ngayon, sandwich? 'Yong totoo, ate girl?"

I glared at Vice, one that could burn his tail, "Tignan niyo kung gaano siya ka-dugyot, okay? Kinagat niya 'yong lapis para sa pambura. Nai-imagine mo ba kung anong itsura ng lapis?!"

"Lei," Dawn softly whispered, "That is what you call resourcefulness. Ikaw, parang 'di ka girl scout no'ng bata ka."

"D, I know the difference between being resourceful and kadugyutan, okay?"

"Ang babaw niyo," Vice uttered as played with the ballpen he found somewhere, "'Yon lang."

"Si Aga ang dapat ninyong ganyanin. Siya lang naman lagi ang may dahilan kung bakit kami naga-away."

"Speaking of, nasaan ba 'yang boyfriend mo? Bakit parang 'di yata nanggugulo?"

I grunted at the mention of the word. Boyfriend? I think I need to go to the bathroom and puke. Hanggang ngayon, hindi pa rin ako makapaniwalang, ganyan ang sitwasyon namin.

If not for the sake of my company, I would've burned that damn contract in front of him. The deal with Aga's company and Mr. Ecleo has got to be one of the biggest deals my company had ever closed. Not to mention that Aga holds almost half of the shares in the contract.

Kung hindi ko lang kailangan ito, this Aga would rot inside his company.

"Malay ko," I bitterly replied, "Mas mabuti ngang wala siya dito. Para naman payapa ang buhay ko. If only I could ban him from entering the company, ginawa ko na, no'ng isang araw pa."

I started scanning the papers Celine brought earlier. Sa sobrang dami nito, tinitignan ko pa lang, sumasakit na ang ulo ko. Parang gusto ko ng kape.