All Falls Down

Veintiocho

My phone buzzed and I sighed at the reality wake up call.

"Madam, the driver is already waiting for you outside." anang front desk attendant sa kabilang linya.

Napapikit ako habang tinatapos ang pagbubutones ng aking blusa. "Tell him he don't need to drive me there. I can drive for myself."

"It was Mr, Trevisano's order, Madam." pormal naman nitong sinabi.

"Okay then, I'll be there." binaba ko na ang tawag at inis na napabuntong hininga.

That woman really gets into my nerve. She always insist what shes been told. Nakakaumay. Napairap ako at kinuha na ang pouch sa kama.

Pagbaba ko ay nakaabang na nga sa akin ang driver na inutos ni Laxx. Nagulat pa ako ng makitang mukhang hindi lamang ito isang ordinaryong driver, because of his masculanity. He's more like a bodyguard to me. But.. anyway. Tiningnan ko muna ang frontdesk at sinulyapan ang clerk na nakausap kanina.

"Madam?" tawag sa akin ng driver. I looked up at him and gesture my palm. Sinisiguradong nakikita iyon ng babaeng clerk sa gilid.

"Give me the key. I'll drive." I asked with finality.

"But.. Sir, Tre--"

"Don't worry about it. I'll give him a call." ibigay mo na kuya baka mapahiya pa ako dito.

Finally, he handed me the freakin' key. I beamed at him and glanced at the frontdesk clerk. Kasi.. wala lang. Gusto ko lang.

Lumakad na nga ako palabas ng hotel. Mamayang alas sais na ang flight namin pabalik ng pinas. That is why I need to do this and finish before the time comes.

Isang tawag ang dumating. I connected it to the speaker before answering. It was Lax.

"Where are you?"

"I'm heading to CLR--"

"Why? And why did you not bring the driver with you!"

"Because I don't want to. Hindi naman kailangan. Isa pa, makikipagkita lang ako kay Wendy!" nagtatalo na kami pero wala naman na siyang magagawa dahil malapit na ako.

I parked my car at the basement of the condo where Wendy lives.

"I just have to do something. I'll be gone for a little, please?" he finally agreed after the long argument.

Once the car was park, I got out and walked to the main entrance. I couldn't wait to see Wendy. She left to a business trip to Korea with his fiancee. She travelled a lot these months, so I didn't get to hang out with her. Sana bago ako umalis magkita muna kami.. for good times sake and for my other purpose.

I clicked the doorbell button of her unit, hindi naman matagal bago ito nabuksan.

"Oh. You're here. I thought we're going to meet before five?" sabi niya, hindi niya inaasahan ang pagbisita ko.

Ganon pa man pinapasok niya pa rin ako sa loob. Nagbeso kami bago niya ako ginaya sa malawak na sala ng kanyang condo.

"Sorry, but I really can't meet you later. Mamaya na ang flight namin. Sorry for sudden--"

"Ano ka ba? You're always welcome here. Wait, I'll just make us drinks.." umalis sya at nag tungo naman sa kitchen.

"Kamusta na pala kayo ni Lax? Sorry if I didn't make it to your engagement party." aniya.

Tapos niya ng na prepare ang aming inumin at ngayon ay papalapit na sa akin.

"That's okay. Wala namang nangyaring party."

I sipped in my tea before giving her a sly smirk.

"You... know already why I'm here, right?" tumango siya kaya nagpatuloy ako.

"Why did your mother pulled out their shares in the company?" I was so hesistant yet very careful to use the right words. I don't want her to get offended though. But this matter.. I can't just let this go. Especially when they are the major stockholders of Landersky Co.

Ngumiti muna s'ya bago nagsalita. "You should know that my mother is very careful regardless to whom she can invest--not only about the amount of shares but the amount of trusts you can give her.. Loyalty is a must in our industry. And... she can't trust the Landersky further more."

Nalito ako sa sinabi niya. Kaya naman nang nakita niya ang pagkalito sa hitsura ko napakagat labi siya at nagbaba ng tingin.

"You may not know this, but Landersky Co. is supplying low quality fabrics in CLR. Hindi lang 'yon, N'ong nalaman namin na ganoon ang nangyayari nag simula nang magpaimbistiga si mommy sa kompanya nyo. There, we learned that, nag invest pala ang Landersky sa Magnifico's kaya naman doon nagalit lalo si Mommy--"

"Wait. you are saying that Landersky invested in Magnifico's? Magnifico's? The rival company of CLR?"

"Yes. Mom wants to sue the company for betraying us. Nong nagpunta kami ng Korea nakipagkita kami sa Director ng Magnifico's pero hindi sila pumayag na i-pull out ang shares nyo. Eighty percent of your shares is in that company how do you suppose us to feel about that."

"I.. I didn't know about all of this." gulantang akong nakatingin sa kanya.

I can't believe that Laxx aprroved all of this. Bakit niya ginawa ang bagay na ito? It was all written in the agreement.

"They breached the contract. Kinausap ko agad si Mommy as soon as I learnt about this, dahil kahit papaano ay may punagsamahan tayo. We're friends. But all she can say was.. If Landersky Co won't comply, they will take legal measures."

Pagbalik ko sa hotel ay naabutan ko r'on si Laxx na may kausap sa telepono. Nang nakita niya ang pagpasok ko napapikit sya sabay napabuga ng hininga.

"I thought you'll just be gone for an hour. It's already five, kailangan na nating umalis." aligagang sabi niya.

Tumango na lamang ako at kinuha na ang sariling maleta. Mabuti na lang pala at kahapon pa ako nakapag ligpit ng mga gamit. Dahil kung hindi baka hindi na kami makaalis.

"What's wrong?" tanong niya habang nasa sasakyan kami patungong airport.

I held out his hand and intertwined it with mine. Kung ano man ang maabutan ko sa pag-uwi namin, sana magiging maayos lang ang lahat.

Hindi ko nalang muna siguro babangitin ang tungkol sa kompanya, saka na lang kapag medyo maayos na ang lahat. Sigurado naman ako, malalampasan namin tong crisis na nangyayari ngayon.

After thirteen hours of travelling we're finally landed at the airport here in Manila. I was feeling jet-lagged and groggy by this point and all wanted was to get home so I can finally cudlled in bed till my body get relax.

"We'll be staying in a hotel here for now. Bukas ng tanghali tayo aalis para lumipad naman papuntang Isla." napamulagat ako sa sinabi niya.

"We'll travel by air to the Island?"

hindi ko alam na..

"Ah, yes. Last year they start to built the airport. It was only intended for the private people like us, but since they start to decide that the island should be visited by tourists as well, they made it open for public."

Namangha naman ako sa sinabi niya. Dati kasi aabutin kami ng walong oras para marating ang mismong isla, at bihira lang din noon ang pampublikong sasakyan dahil nga isa iyong private island na pagmamay ari ng tatlong matataas na tao. Nakakatuwa naman na naisip nila ang ganong bagay.

But well, who wouldn't? Sa ganda ng lugar na iyon mas gugustuhin nga naman nilang panatilihin ang pagiging paraiso non. But the scenery of the island shouldn't be something that be kept for themselves.