Lethal Attachment

Chapter 7

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Chapter 7
Remember

Nagulat ako at agad kong tinigilan ang pagngiti nang makita kong sumulyap sa akin si Rojan habang kausap ang mga medyo may katandaang mga businessmen. Seryosong sinuklian ko na lang ang kanyang tingin. Mabuti na lang at hindi nagtagal ang kanyang pagtitig sa akin dahil muli niyang nilingon ang mga kausap.

"Excuse me." I saw Rojan mouthed those words to the businessmen who were talking to him.

Pinakawalan naman siya ng mga ito pagkatapos tapikin ang kanyang balikat. Agad na nagtungo si Rojan pabalik sa akin at nakita kong sinundan siya ng tingin ng mga kausap niya kanina hanggang sa makarating sa akin kaya naman bahagya kong iniwas ang aking mukha upang hindi nila ako makita masyado.

Some were familiar to me. Maybe I've already met them before. I just hoped that they wouldn't be able to recognize me just like how the previous businessman we met yesterday recognized me.

"Pumasok na tayo sa loob," pag-aya sa akin ni Rojan. "The party's about to start."

Tipid naman akong tumango sa kanya at akmang kukuhanin niya ang aking kamay ngunit pasimple ko lang itong inilayo. Hinawakan ko ang gold chain strap ng body bag gamit ang aking dalawang kamay upang magmukhang natural lang ang aking pag-galaw.

I saw him slowly clenched his fist before turning his back and started walking. I just quietly followed him while maintaining the right amount of distance. I didn't want the people inside the hall to have a misconception about our relationship. If ever they'll ask, I'm going to properly and proudly introduce myself as his secretary and nothing more.

He suddenly stopped walking when we already approached the huge double doors that served as the entrance to the hall. He raised his hand to stop the guards from opening it.

My forehead creased while looking at him, and he slightly turned to look at me. "I need you beside me all the time," he told me. "Every businessmen and women inside this hall is a potential investor and client. Some of them are already a part of our company. If ever there are details that's needed to be noted, I need you to jot it down. Am I being clear?"

"No problem, Sir," I gladly committed myself to his instructions.

Hindi ko naman maiwasang mag-iba ang aking damdamin dahil alam ko na ngayon ang pinakaugat na dahilan kung bakit ako nandito ngayon. Siguro ay pinag-aksayahan niya rin ako ng pera para magmukhang presentable ako sa mga makakaharap niyang mayayamang negosyante.

"Good," he simply said and nodded to the guards who immediately opened the double doors and revealed what's happening inside the elegant function hall.

I could see a lot of businessmen and women socializing to each other while drinking wine. May mga nakita rin akong mga sikat na artistang madalas kong nakikita sa telebisyon. Ang mga iba sa kanila ay nagsimula nang lumingon sa gawi ni Rojan na kalmado at taas-noong naglalakad sa gitna ng mga makapangyarihang mga tao. If I were him, for sure, my knees would wobble completely because of the intense feeling of intimidation. Ngayon pa nga lang na wala sa akin ang atensyon ay nanlalambot na ang tuhod ko.

"Rojan Sarmiento!" humalakhak ang isang lalaking medyo may katandaan habang papalapit si Rojan sa kanilang grupo. "The youngest business prodigy of the country. It really runs in the blood, huh?"

Rojan smiled as a response to the old man's praises and offered his hand for a handshake. "I wouldn't be here because of my family's legacy," he said and showed his humility.

Mas lalong humalakhak ang matanda at nakipagkamay kay Rojan. "A very humble man, indeed," sabi niya. "Iyan ang isa sa mga katangian mong nagustuhan ko sa'yo."