Ends With A Bet

10. Commercial Model

　

I was smiling like an idiot as I enter the TGC premises. Ang mahalikan ng isang babaeng gustong-gusto mo ay katumbas ng isang deal sa isang international investor. That was kind of poetic but that's what I felt.

"Goodmorning, Sir!" Bati ni Gelo -- bagong sekretarya ko. I fired Lyka. I prefer male secretary now, besides anak si Gelo ng mayordoma ni Mommy sa bahay.

"Send me the new investor's profile." I told him.

Pumasok ako sa opisina ko at nakita agad si Lance na prenteng nakaupo sa sofa. He was obviously waiting for me.

"Hi dude!" I greeted him.

Tambak ang mga papers sa mesa ko. For the first time, ginanahan akong gawin ang mga ito. I felt warmth in my heart when I remember the girl kissed me last night. Oh boy, that was fancy.

"Dude, whats with the face? Para kang naka-iskor ng limang babae kagabi, ah?" Puna niya sa akin.

Napangisi ako. "Gago! Higit pa du'n kaya ako masaya." Umupo ako sa swivel chair ko at bumuntong hininga. Damn it, I can't help my lips not to form a smile. The taste of her lips is just so addicting.

"Ah! Higit pa do'n? So, naka-sampu ka kagabi?" Kumunot ang noo ko sa sinabi niya. "Ah, slow din." Ngumisi siya.

Iniling ko na lang ang ulo ko. Trina occupied my mind kaya hindi ko ma-gets ang sinasabi ni Lance. Can you blame me? "What are you doing here anyway?" I asked him habang pinag-lalaruan ko sa kamay ko iyong ballpen. I was conditioning my mind for the tons of paper works today.

"Uh huh. The marketing management invited us to judge the upcoming commercial viewing." Paliwanag niya. Nandoon si Trina kaya napangiti ulit ako. Damn, the thought of her makes my heart thumps. "Dude, don't tell me, okay lang sayo?" Sabi pa ni Lance.

Tumango ako. "What's wrong with that?"

"Baliw ka na. Andu'n si Trina kaya 'oo' agad?" Tumayo siya at nagpalakad-lakad sa harap ko. "Wa'g mong sabihing in love ka na?"

"If thinking about her the whole night means being in love with her, then, I'm in love." I aforesaid.

Tumawa siya na para bang sinabi ko sa kanya na pumuti na ang kalabaw. "The last time I saw you like that is the time when you're with Melissa, dude."

Tumaas ang kilay ko, "So?"

"So, you are totally moved on."

Itinaas ko ang paa ko sa mesa at tinignan si Lance. "It's been a long time."

"Ganyan din ang naramdaman mo no'n kay Melissa, di ba? Nung pinakilala siya sa atin ni Mark? You can't st---"

Binaba ko ang paa ko at pinutol si Lance sa sasabihin niya. "Trina is different from Melissa. From what I've experienced, mas naramdaman ko ang kasiyahan kay Trina kaysa kay Melissa."

He shrugged his shoulders. "You might hurt Trina's feelings if you keep on comparing them."

My forehead knots, "What the fuck, dude? I am not comparing them. You are--"

"Oh, dude. I know you. Binabalaan na kita, i-klaro mo ang nararamdaman mo. First to yourself and second to Trina."

Hindi na ako makasunod sa iniisip ni Lance. I don't know what is he up to. I can't get his point. Basta ang alam ko matagal ko ng nakalimutan ang babaeng una kong minahal. And now, I can't stop thinking about Trina. I can't stop picturing myself to be with her everyday.

"I think I'm in love with Trina." I said, confuse about my feelings. Not with the thought of my ex. But with the feelings I felt when I was with Trina. Sobrang tagal ko ng hindi naramdaman ito. Iyong sobrang saya na lalabas na ang puso mo sa sobrang pag-dribble nito.