Trapped by Arrangement

Chapter 16: Jealous?

CHAPTER 16

Monday na naman so it means work na ulit. 2 days of rest are not enough. Gosh, antok na antok pa ako. Can't sleep last night because I was still thinking about what happened yesterday morning. 'Yung sinabi sa'kin ni David na mahal pa rin daw niya ako. Oh shoot! May meeting nga pala ngayon sa office kasama ang mga Board of Directors. Sana lang hindi ako pumalpak or antukin. Pagdating namin sa office, lahat na naman sila ay nakatingin sa amin. Ganun ba talaga ako kaganda para pagtinginan nila? Sa meeting room agad kami tumuloy kasi ngayon na daw ang meeting. Geez, 9 am palang meeting na agad? Inaantok pa ako!

Nagstart na ang boring na meeting. Orion was sitting beside me, across from me was Mr. Santos. Bakit ganun? Parang iba na naman ang tingin sa akin ng matandang 'to. Like, really? Ano b'ang problema niya sa'kin? Ilang minuto pa lang ang lumilipas since nagstart ang napakaboring na meeting, but I can't control my eyes from closing! Gustong gusto ko na talaga matulog, plus sobrang boring pa talaga ang meeting. Sila-sila lang naman ang nagkaka-intindihan dito, saling pusa lang naman ako. Good thing, my father wasn't here. I closed my eyes, naririnig ko na lang ang nagsasalita sa harap.

"Janelle. Wake up." I heard someone whispered to my ears.

"Hmm?" Iyon lang ang kaya ko'ng sabihin dahil gusto ko na talagang matulog.

"Janelle, don't sleep here." That's when I realized na si Orion pala ang gumigising sa'kin.

"Inaantok pa 'ko." I said, my eyes were still closed.

"Janelle. Wake up." He muttered, naramdaman ko na lang tinapakan niya ang paa ko, that's why I startled. "Hey!"

"Yes, any suggestion?" Narinig ko ang boses nung nagsasalita kanina pa. Lahat ng nasa meeting room ay napatingin sa'kin. Oh shoot. 

"Yes. Mrs. Tantoco?" Tanong nung kanina pa nagsasalita, sorry pero hindi ko pa rin siya kilala kahit ilang beses ko na yata nakasama sa mga meetings like this.

 "Ui Orion, tinatanong ka yata" I whispered to Orion, who happens to be sitting beside me.

"Haven't you heard what he said? He said 'Mrs' he was referring to you." He whispered back. The heck? Oh darn, dalawa na nga pala kaming Tantoco sa loob ng kwartong ito.

"Uhmm—-" Hindi ko na alam ang gagawin ko, napapahiya na ako sa harap nilang lahat.

"Well I see, Janelle. You're not even focus." Bigla na lang nagsalita si Mr. Santos. "I was observing you. You're just sleeping the whole time. I'm disappointed in you. I'm sure your dad would feel the same." Bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko dahil sa kaba. What did he say? He was observing me? "I don't even think you're serious about your job." He added. Wala akong nasabi, napatahimik lang ako sa mga sinabi niya. Lahat din naman ng nasa meeting room ay tahimik lang na pinapakinggan ang bawat salitang lumalabas sa bibig ni Mr. Santos. "You don't deserve it... your position." Pakiramdam ko sobra-sobra niya na akong napahiya sa lahat ng tao sa loob ng meeting room. Naririnig ko rin ang pagbubulungan ng iba pang nasa loob ng kwarto, although hindi ko naman maintindihan ang mismong pinag-uusapan nila, I know they were walking about me. 

Padabog na tumayo si Orion na nasa tabi ko lang naman. "Excuse me Mr. Santos, but I don't think Mr. President would be disappointed in her. Well, my wife only had 3 hours of sleep last night because she was studying everything about the company. And I think everyone of you knows that my wife has a degree in fashion design. Well, she was planning to make her own design that we can sell in the market soon." Tumingin siya sa'kin. "I think she deserves her position right now and she's serious about her job. You should see that." Kahit na padabog ang pagtayo niya kanina, ibang-iba naman sa pagkakasalita niya. He said it calmly. Now I really admire him for having such long patience.