Perfect Combination [Under HEAVY construction. lol]

Chapter 13 - Offer (Marie)

"Marie, ako nang bahala dito. I'm pretty sure he'll be there."

"Thanks, but I can't do that. Di ko naman siya pwedeng iwasan na lang lagi. Plus, the very reason he wanted that position is to annoy me," sagot ko. "Kahit naman na sabihin ko iyon, I still wish na hindi siya pupunta dito. Baka kung ano pa magawa ko, lalo na kung siya ang may pakana ng nangyari kahapon."

"You and I both. Di ko pa rin siya mapapatawad sa ginawa niya noon."

"Mukhang malaki ang problema natin Pres ah. Ang seryoso niyong dalawa eh," sabi ni unggoy na bigla na lang sumulpot na parang kabute.

"Shut up. For once, Francis, wag kang manggugulo," sabi ko sa kaniya. Usually, pagagalitan ako ni James kapag ganito ako makipag-usap sa iba, pero tahimik lang siya ngayon. Pati rin naman kasi siya nabwibwisit, pero di dahil kay Francis.

"Opo. Tatahimik na," sagot niya.

Pagdating naming sa harap ng gate, may naka-park na puting kotse doon. May tatlong tao na lumabas, Isang babae tsaka dalawang lalake.

"No shit," sabi ni James paglabas nung ikalawang lalake. "Dapat na ba akong tumawa?"

"Marie, James! Haven't seen you in a while!" bati ng president ng LA. "It's a pleasure to see you. I hear your business is doing really well!"

"Ay, the pleasure is all yours, kahit lamunin mo pa lahat hanggang sa mabilaukan ka," sarkastikong sagot ni James.

"Don't be like that James. We were friends, right? I'm quite aware that I'm the reason why the two of you didn't go to our school."

"Keeping were in mind, yes. Pero hindi na ngayon, not after—"

"James!" pigil ko sa kaniya bago pa man siya may masabing iba. "So anong maipaglilingkod namin president Adrian Cook?"

"Oh wow. So formal. You can call me Rian like before."

"Can you stop acting like we're close? The Rian I know disappeared without a word before. You may have the same face, but you are both different. Ang tanging similarity niyo lang ay pareho ko kayong ayaw akita."

"Ano pa nga bang magagawa ko," sabi niya. "So anyway, this is Aria, my vice president."

"Pleased to meet you," sabi ni Aria.

"Likewise," sagot naming ni James. Tumingin si Adrian sa likuran namin at nakita niya si Francis, tapos biglang nag-iba yung tingin niya.

"I see you have an interesting person with you," sabi ni Adrian na naka-simangot. Of course. Mundo ng mga rich kids, syempre naman magkakakilala sila.

"Oh. Kuya Francis!" sabi ni Aria biglaan. "Di ko inakalang dito ka nagaaral."

"Yo. How are you Aria?" sagot ni Francis at lumapit kay Aria at Adrian. "And I didn't know you were this person's subordinate." In-up and down pa nila ang isa't-isa. Anong meron sa dalawang ito?

"Well, unlike your school kuya, elected ang officers naming. And voila, we won, kaya naman."

"Knowing this guy, I'm pretty sure he won because of cash."

"Oo. Tama yun. I used my family name to get to the top." amin ni Adrian. Why am I not surprised? Haynako. Tumingin siya sa akin, at tinitigan ko rin siya. "Kase may habol ako dito. I was just waiting for an opportunity like this to come." Binalik niya tingin niya kay Francis. "I just didn't expect you to be here."

"That is so like you," sabi ko. "Using other people so that you can get what you want."

"I get what I want, Marie. You know that."