La Grilla #1: Come Here

Chapter 1

“Pasensiya na ho,” ngiti ni Leo sa matanda. “Ako na po ang bahala sa kaniya.”

Pagkasara ni Leo ng pinto, nakaupo na sa isang puting leather visitor’s chair sa tapat ng kaniyang office desk si Melissa. Nakapatong ang mga kamay ng ginang sa puting pouch na nasa kandungan nito. Laging tuwid ang likuran ng babae kapag nakaupo, halos hindi ito sumayad sa sandalan ng upuan. As she waited for him, her eyes travelled the whole room. The pale brown wood works and white painted nomadic interior always impressed her. Her reaction was obvious because she could not help that mannerism of nodding her head in approval everytime she checks his office room.

Melissa’s fierce, narrow-irised eyes thinly outlined by dark eyeliner gazed at Leo. “So, Leo darling, how are you?”

Umupo na si Leo sa swivel chair at nag-de-kuwatro bago tumitig sa bisita.

She called him that disgusting ‘darling’ again. Ayaw na niyang punain pa dahil baka kung saan pa mapunta ang usapan nila ni Melissa. As much as possible, he didn’t want this woman to remind him of how shitty his past had been. It was something she liked mentioning again and again to retort against any protest he would do against her. This discomfort when he was being called ‘Leo Darling’ was brought up to her many times before, pero talagang ginagawa pa rin ng babae kung ano ang magustuhan nito.

“I’m good, tita. Sorry kung ayaw kayo papasukin dito ni Yaya Lumeng. Sinabihan ko kasi siyang ayokong maistorbo ngayon sa trabaho,” he answered, mustering all the strength to keep a straight face. Her surprise visits used to catch him off-guard, but getting used to it had trained him to keep up an unfazed appearance. Because the only way for him to coddle his remaining pride and dignity was by acting unaffected by her presence.

“I know, you’re a busy guy now.” She pulled a sly smile on her face. It was so wicked it could pass as a strong contender against the notorious Cheshire cat grin. “But I hope hindi ka masyadong busy para gawin ang ipinapagawa ko sa ’yo.”

Leo slightly shook his head. Heto na naman kasi sila sa paulit-ulit na pagpapaalala nito tungkol sa ipinapagawa nito. Naiirita talaga siya sa kakulangan ng ginang sa pasensiya pero sinarili na lang niya ang tumatakbo sa kaniyang isipan.

“Look, tita, I already did what you want me to do. Magkasama na sina Jamer at Ava sa Batangas.”

“How long am I supposed to wait, Leo? In the next three years, magte-trenta anyos na si Ava. Alam mo naman siguro ang mangyayari sa amin kapag sa edad na iyon e, hindi pa ikinasal ang anak ko.”

Of course, he knew. Sa kauulit-ulit ng babae, kabisadong-kabisado na niya iyon . . .

“There’s nothing to worry about, okay?” Tumayo si Leo at umikot para pumuwesto sa likuran ng ginang.

Leo needed to do something to make her leave immediately. So, he placed his hands on her shoulders and massaged them. He knew from experience that she loved this kind of relaxing gesture. It made her feel reassured quicker than verbal promises could.

“Jamer knows how to accomplish his mission,” paninigurado ni Leo sa babae.

“For being an ex-military, he should really know how to accomplish his missions.” Melissa rolled back her shoulders, shrugging Leo off, then stood up to face him. “Remember,” taas-noo nito, “I am sacrificing my own daughter here for our sake. Hindi ako makapapayag na pinahawakan ko ang anak ko sa lalaking iyon kung sa kahirapan lang din naman kami babagsak. Naiintindihan mo ba ako, Leo?”

He nodded and placed his hands on her shoulders to put her back on her seat. “Yes, tita.”

“Good.” Melissa turned her head to throw an intimidating glare at him. “Siguraduhin mo lang na hindi papalya ang Jamer na ’yan. Dahil kung hindi, ikaw ang magpapakasal sa anak ko.”