Le Penchant

25| parties and confessions

"Architect Quazon!"

Sumingkit ang mata ko nang magbatian si Shirley at Chase, may pagbeso pa silang dalawa! I trailed behind Shirley, ngumiti naman si Chase ng nakakaloko pagkakita sa'kin.

"Engineer Fernandez, looking good," Chase smirks, he lifted Shirley's hand up and made her twirl.

Tumikhim ako. I didn't know that they were close.

"You don't look bad, yourself, Chase Quazon."

Tumaas ang kilay ko nang magtawanan ang dalawa, inabot agad ni Chase ang isang shot glass sa kaibigan ko. Siyempre, walang pagaalinlangan na ininom ni Shirley 'yon.

"Engineer Hesquintes," he offered his hand in front of me, pero inirapan ko lang siya at umalis na roon.

My eyes roamed around, nagmistulang club ang paligid dahil sa after party ni Engineer Delos Reyes, napakaraming tao. Karamihan ay mula sa firm, but some prominent people from other companies were also here.

Ngumiti ako sa mga ibang bumati sa'kin, hindi ko na lang pinansin ang ibang binibigyan pa rin ako ng mga mapanghusgang tingin. Siguro, hindi pa rin sila maka-move on sa iba't ibang dahilan.

Maybe, they were still hooked by the fake article about me. O baka naman issue pa rin sa kanila ang pagka-promote sa'kin.

Mapapailing ka nalang talaga.

People.

I made my way to the bar area and sat on one of the stools, tumango ako sa bartender at sumenyas ng isang beer, he was quick to oblige. Inabot niya 'to sa'kin at agad ko naman itong ininom. Hindi ako puwedeng malasing, kaya beer nalang muna. Panigurado kasing sabog nanaman si Shirley na uuwi mamaya.

Mabuti nalang at nasa rooftop kami, lagpas ito sa malaking veranda kung sa'n ko nakita si Calixto. I was more than glad to see na hindi niya sinundan si Chase sa pagpunta rito.

My elbows were leaning on the bar's counter top, while I let the bottle of beer rest on my lips. Kinapa ko ang phone ko, binuksan ko ito at bumungad sa'kin ang puro unread messages. Some were from Calixto, he was asking whether he should make dinner tonight or not.

Nakagawian na kasi talaga namin ang magsabay.

I sighed heavily. Sa tingin ko, mag-iiba na 'yon.

"New head director of areas III and IV?"

Napalingon ako sa lalaking tumabi sa'kin, natagalan ako bago tumango dahil pinasadahan ko pa siya ng tingin. He looked familiar.

"Engineer Kevin Ramos, head director of areas I and II," he grinned, holding a hand in front of me.

Ah, that's why he's familiar. Nakita ko siya no'ng ino-orient ako bilang bagong head director.

I placed my beer down, I took his hand politely and shook it. Ngumiti ako pabalik sa kaniya. He looked harmless, afterall.

"Engineer Hershey Hesquintes."

Umayos ako sa pagupo nang bitawan ko na ang kamay niya, ininom ko muli ang beer ko at tumikhim, walang emosyong tumitingin sa kawalan.

"What's with the long face?" He chuckled.

I glanced at him, nakita kong he was also holding a bottle of beer. I didn't want to be rude kaya binigyan ko nalang siya ng tipid na ngiti.

"One margarita for the lady, one mojito for me," he raised his fingers to catch the bartenders attention.

I shook my head immediately. "Oh, no need Engineer—" I tried to say, but he stopped me.