"The facilities here in Metro Manila were checked yesterday for three days and it turned out fine. And for that, we could move on to the nearby provinces next week, and we will start at Tagaytay."
I looked at him as he confidently discussed our agenda for today. He really matured a lot and I can't help but compare him to the old Gaston that I knew.
He really looks and acts like a powerful and respected CEO. Just a very different person to me.
And he speak with authority as well, natural lang na lumalabas sa tono ng pananalita niya na may kakayahan siya at may malaking ginagampanan. And even from afar, his aura is very noticeable.
Ramdam ko rin ang tensyon sa mga executives habang nakikinig sila sa kanya. Far different from his father. His father is strict too but not to this level. Nakakatakot magkamali sa trabaho kapag sa kanya.
Napakagat labi ako at umiwas ng tingin sa malamig niyang mga mata. I don't like his eyes.
"Sasabay ulit ako sa inyo ni Ina, okay lang?" Eng Alfredo whispered beside me.
I badly wanted to say no. After hearing Ina's sentiments about him the other day, I felt uncomfortable around him, kahit matagal ko naman ng napapansin ang mga galawan niya.
"Okay…" Mahinang sambit ko. I just don't wanna be rude.
I saw him smiled brightly at hindi ko ulit maiwasang titigan ang ngiti niya. His smile reminds me of him. It is contagious and it could almost uplift my mood.
Napaiwas ako ng tingin at tumikhim.
"Okay, any questions?" Napunta ulit ang tingin ko sa harapan at kaagad kong napansin na mas lalong sumeryoso ang kanyang boses at ekspresyon.
He suddenly looked so irritated and angry at something. Maging si Jess na dating secretary ng Papa niya na ngayon ay secretary na niya ay sobrang alerto sa gilid, tila takot rin na mapuna kung sakali.
Wala nang nagtaas ng kamay. The air is really different, it's like you just don't have the right to question him.
He then dismissed the meeting. "Okay, you may now take your lunch. Thank you for coming."
Kaagad akong tumayo at inayos ang mga gamit ko. Some of the executives talked to him as they gathered around him. And from the way they looked and talked at him, tila ba naron lang sila para purihin ito, they all wanted to please him.
Dati pa naman na nakukuha na niya ang atensyon ng mga tao sa paligid niya pero ngayon ko lang rin napagtanto ang mga iyon.
"Miss Estrellia, I need to talk to you for a moment." Napabalikwas ako ng marinig ko ang malamig na tono niya.
Maging ang mga kausap niya ay napalingon sa akin, and they all looked at me like I've done something wrong.
I looked in front and met his cold eyes. Then I looked at Eng. Alfredo who is waiting for me, and he suddenly looks so uneasy too.
"Mauna ka na, susunod ako."
He just nodded then went out. Nagsialisan kaagad ang mga empleyado sa conference room at parang mawawalan naman na ako ng hininga. I fidgeted my fingers on my back as I approached him on his center seat.
"What is it, Sir?" I calmly asked.
No. I wanted to get out of here already. Hindi ko pa ata kayang makasama siya sa iisang kwarto.
I unconsciously bite my lip out of my nervousness at mas lalong nagwala ang kaba sa katawan ko ng umangat ang tingin niya sa akin.
His eyes and face look more serious than ever. And he almost looked mad at me. His eyes looked so mad at me.
He clenched his jaw and that is my confirmation that he is indeed angry at me.
What did I do this time?
He crossed his arms on his chest then leaned on the table. Napalunok ako ng malalim.
"One of the few things that you should always remember is to listen very well during meetings, do you understand Miss Estrellia?...Especially that you are part of the team."
I do not know what he is talking about but I still nodded my head. "Yes, Sir."
Nanatili ang mariin niyang titig niya sa akin.
"And that includes chatting during the meeting. That includes...flirting, whisperings during the meeting." His tone is very malicious. And I find it unnecessary.
What is he talking about?
He then stood up while still looking at me, he languidly put his palm on the table to level our eyes. Halos mapasinghap ako sa ginawa niya. I stopped fidgeting my fingers as my eyes settled on his irritated and mocking eyes.
"I hate it when my employees chat with one another while I am talking about important things." His voice was so menacing and was full of malice. And I could see how angry he was.
"If my father allowed those small...lovely...talks then spare me, 'cause I don't." He added more, almost devilly whispering his words at me.
Tuluyang napaawang ang labi ko sa mga sinabi niya. I didn't do anything wrong. I am not flirting or anything! Ito lang ba ang dahilan kung bakit gusto niya akong kausapin?
I bit my lip then swallowed hard. Patience, Ada. I need patience.
I saw his eyes transferred to my lips as I bit it.
"Yes, Sir." I plainly responded even though I could feel my patience thinning out.
Nabalik ang tingin niya sa mga mata ko. "Then good...you may now go." His voice and tone is very commanding and I hate it.
I just nodded my head then proceeded to gather my things. My hands were shaking as I still felt his burning stares at me. Nang natapos na ako ay hindi na ako lumingon pabalik sa kanya at dumiretso na ako palabas.
Kaagad akong napahawak sa dibdib ko at tinamapal ito ng marahan. My heart was thumping fast and hard and I could feel how shaky my insides were.
My phone vibrated at halos magulat pa ako. Tumigil ako saglit upang buksan ito. Ina is calling, kaagad ko itong sinagot at ipinagpatuloy ang paglalakad.
"Hello?" My voice was slightly shaking too, I need to clear my throat repeatedly.
"We are here already, orderan na lang kita? As usual?"
Pumasok ako sa opisina. "Y-Yes please, as usual." Hindi ko mapigilang mautal.
I breathed in deeply then put down my things on my table.
"Are you fine? Why is your voice so shaky?" She suddenly asked.
Napatikhim ulit ako ng wala sa oras. "Yes, medyo malamig lang kanina sa conference room."
"Okay...hintayin ka namin dito. Bye!"
Then she ended the call. Napaupo ako ng tuluyan dahil ramdam ko ang pangangatog ng mga binti ko. Napasapo rin ako sa aking noo.
He is really different, far different from what he is known for.
I breathed in deeply again. I need to go to the cafeteria, hinihintay na nila ako. I fixed myself again and controlled my breathing.
Kaagad ko silang natanaw sa dati naming lamesa. Ina caught my eyes and she waved her hand at me.
I sat down and my food was already here.
"Nasa linya pa si Alfredo." She informed me as I sat down.
"Kinausap ka raw ni Gaston?" Halos manlaki ang mata ko sa kanya at napatingin sa paligid ko kong may nakarinig ba sa kanya.
Why is she addressing him so casually?
She then laughed. "It's fine, Ada. Classmate lang natin yan. Nanligaw pa nga sayo ng matagal!"
My eyes went wide with her statements. And she chuckled more. She is reckless with her words.
"Fine, anong sinabi ni Sir Gaston sayo?" She playfully asked this time.
Umiwas ako ng tingin sa kanya. "Nothing. He just reminded me about the visitation next week."
"Right. Tatlong araw kayo doon diba?"
"Oo." And I thank God he isn't with us. Parang hindi ko pa yata siya kayang harapin pagktapos kanina.
"Kasama siya diba?"
"No. He has an important schedule that day." I corrected her.
"Then you will be with Alfredo?"
"Yup. Three days and two nights."
She chuckled and then looked at Eng. Alfredo who is still in line.
"I swear Ada, tatanungin ka na niyan kung okay lang manligaw…three days and two nights, mahaba habang araw rin iyon." She whispered.
My eyes went wide with her statement, she won't really let go of this topic.
"No he won't, Ina."
"Pustahan tayo---"
She stopped then sat properly.
"Sorry, nalate ang akin. Let's start eating now." Eng. Alfredo just came right in time.
I looked at Ina who was still saying words with her eyes. I shrugged my shoulders off and started eating instead.
Pagkatapos naming kumain ay bumalik ulit kami sa kanya-kanya naming opisina. I started working again and I will have my overtime again today. We could work during our visitation but I do not want to mix my office papers with my visitation. I need to work on things in advance.
Within the next few hours, I became busy. At natapos na lang ulit ako ng bandang alas otso. Ina texted me earlier that she leaves work early. Well, its saturday tomorrow at makakapag pahinga naman ako.
And for Monday, bibiyahe na kami ng umaga papuntang Tagaytay. And that means I have to get my things ready again.
I stretched my body as I walked out of the lobby. Nakaramdam ako ng ginhawa ng maigalaw ko ng maayos ang balikat ko at likod. I yawned after and I just want to sleep now, kahit hindi pa ako nakakakain ng dinner.
I am actually considering getting a massage at this point, that would be my treat to myself. Maybe I should plan it over this weekend before working again next week.
Nag jeep ulit ako at dahil kaunti lang ang laman nito ay nakaidlip ako saglit. Saktong nagising na ako ng makarating kami malapit sa apartment ko. Nagbayad na ako at bumaba.
I am planning to call at home today, total ay sabado bukas at wala pasok si Calyx. I took a bath and right after, I called Auntie.
I requested a video call at kaagad rin naman itong nasagot.
"Kamusta na, anak?" She is in the sala.
"Okay naman po. Si Calyx po gising pa?" Right after asking her that question ay narinig ko ang pagsigaw niya.
"Mama!" I saw him on the screen and my smile got wider.
"How are you, baby? Hmmm?"
"Okay po ako. Malapit na pong matapos school namin. And I'll visit you soon." Excited niyang kwento sa akin.
"Uh huh, nag behave ka ba sa school?"
"Yes po. Pero tinanong ka po ni Sir Jerome sa akin. He asked how are you, Mama."
Ngayon naman ay magkasalubong na ang makapal nitong kilay. He really doesn't like the idea of me entering a relationship, or just any man approaching me.
He narrated his stories more at nakinig lamang ako.
Calyx is like a ray of sunshine to me, he is one of the reasons why I was able to reach what I have today. Huminga ako ng malalim ng bigla ulit pumasok sa isipan ko ang mga nangyari.
Mama got pregnant while I was studying in college. Bumalik lang siya ng La Union para ibigay kina Auntie at Uncle si Calyx, and he was just a baby back then. A one month year old baby.
And the next thing we knew, hinahabol na si Mama ng mga pinagkakautangan niya. Wala choice sina Auntie noon kung hindi ang bayaran kung ano ang meron sila. I stopped my studies and it's not just money issues. I was mentally unstable at that time and Calyx was with us too.
Naubos ang pera nina Auntie pati ang ipon nila dahil dito. I worked and helped raised Calyx then I eventually got back to college ng medyo nakaipon na ako.
I also got in my therapy sessions because of how unstable I was, lahat ng iyon pinaghirapang ginastusan nina Auntie at Uncle.
And months after it, nabalitaan na lang namin na patay na si Mama. It was devastating for me, kahit na wala akong masyadong matandaan sa kanya, kahit na minsan lang siya nagpakita sa aming magkambal.
Kahit na hindi ko naramdaman na naging ina siya sa amin ng kambal at kay Calyx. I was devastated and I mourned.
"Pupunta po kami ng Tagaytay next week. Tatlong araw at dalawang gabi po kami doon at sagot naman po lahat ng kompanya lahat ng gastusin namin. " I informed Auntie.
Huminga siya ng malalim. "Mabuti na lamang at mabait ang boss niyo, Mella."
Napatda ako sa sinabi niya. Well…Auntie is aware that my boss is Gaston's father, at hindi pa si Gaston mismo.
Napalunok ako ng malalim. "Auntie...si Gaston na po ang CEO namin ngayon." I carefully informed her.
Her mouth hung open with what I just revealed.
"Si Gaston na manliligaw mo noon?" She carefully asked too.
I just nodded my head. "We are cool, Auntie. He is just like his father, pareho po silang mabait."
I am not sure of that though when he just accused me of flirting and not listening well while we were in the meeting. He jumped to conclusions too fast.
"Ohhh...okay ka lang ba anak?"
Muli akong napatda sa tanong niya. Of course, I am fine. I have moved on...and what I am feeling right now is just guilt. And maybe fear...he might take revenge but at the same time I know he won't waste his time with someone with...me.
Ramdam ko ang pait sa akin sa huling naisip.
"O-f course, Auntie. He is professional at work at matagal naman na pong nangyari ang nasa pagitan namin." I tried to uplift my voice as much as possible.
Ngumiti siya ng marahan. "Mabuti naman kung ganoon, anak."