Waiting Until Dawn (Bittersweet Series #1)

CHAPTER 36

Chapter 36

Umalis muna ako ng opisina dahil may ka-meeting ako ngayon for the company. Pagkalabas ko naman, wala na si Reese at Olivia. Hindi na rin ako nag-abala pang tignan ang phone para i-check kung nagtext ba siya. I trust him.

Sa isang formal restaurant ang place ng meeting kaya nag-ayos pa ako sa loob ng sasakyan. Umalis na rin ako nang natapos. Hindi naman ganoon katagal ang byahe. Malapit lang kaya nakarating na kagad ako. I checked myself through the mirror and then I got out of the car.

There's a reserved table kaya roon na ako dumeretso. Naroon na ang ka-meeting ko kaya kagad akong lumapit at ngumiti sakaniya. He's an old man, probably on his sixties.

"Sit down, hija." Iminuwestra niya ang upuan. Pagtingin ko sa lamesa, meron nang mga pagkain. "I hope you don't mind that I already ordered."

Ngumiti ako sakaniya. "No problem, Sir."

Nagsimula na siyang magdiscuss tungkol sa sadya niya kung ba't siya nagpatawag ng meeting. I listened to him while nodding my head kung meron akong nagustuhan sa sinabi niya. This old man isn't really familiar to me. I know all of the people in our company. I just got an email that he wants to appoint a meeting and he's from this big company.

"What's your point, Sir?" I asked when I sensed something off.

"You see... my company is in a bad state right now" Sumimsim siya sakaniyang juice at nagpunas ng labi. "I actually came here to propose something..."

Hinintay ko ang susunod niyang sasabihin pero walang dumating. Hindi na siya nagsalita at nagpatuloy nalang sa pagkain. Binitawan ko ang hawak na kubyertos at nagpunas na rin ng labi. "Go straight to the point, Sir..." Pinilit ko pa ring magtunog pormal. Ayoko naman maging bastos.

"It's just... My company's going down, wala akong magawa!" He started to panic. Pinapanuod ko lang siya. "I'm already broke! I don't have any choice, hija. My only daughter abandoned me." Minasahe niya ang kaniyang sentido bago nagpatuloy. Hirap na hirap siyang magsalita. Nanginginig na ang kaniyang labi. "Trevoz Co. offered some help and I accept it agad-agad."

"Trevoz?" paninigurado ko. He looked up on me and then he suddenly has this problematic look, as if he's torn with something. "Did I hear it right? The Trevoz offered you help? And you accepted it right away because your company's going down..."

"I don't—"

"The moment you accepted their help, you let them manipulate you," mariin kong sabi habang nakakuyom ang kamao. "You're from a big company, but they're from the biggest and known company. Everyone knows them. Mabuti sila sa ibang tao, but the people they manipulated?" hindi makapaniwala kong sabi. "Tell me the truth..."

"T-They ordered me to meet up with you and convince you to help my company." Nag-iwas siya ng tingin na para bang nahihiya siya sa sinabi niya.

I can't believe it. This man in front of me is already old. Talagang wala silang pinipili, ano? Reese was so young when he was told that he'll be marrying Olivia once he gets old. They are too much. And now, what? Inutusan nila itong lalaki para manipulahin din ako? Para maka-isa sila sa 'kin?

No way! Hindi ako papayag!

"Miss, wala po kayong appointment!" Habol sa 'kin ng babae sa lobby nang magtangka akong pumasok sa loob. Nandito ako ngayon sa kumpanya ng mga Trevoz. Hindi ko na ito palalagpasin pa. Nandadamay sila ng ibang tao!

"I need to talk to your director or whoever Trevoz is in there!" pagpapaliwanag ko sakaniya pero talagang hindi niya ako hinayaan na pumasok. Ayaw kong gumawa ng eksena, pero wala na akong choice.

I scanned all the people in the lobby who's working their ass off. I even glanced on the entrance where the two guards were standing, talking while smiling. Something in my heart hurt. Bumaling ako sa babae na pigil-pigil ako sa pagpasok.