Chapter Three
KILLIAN
I could feel her gaze behind me, drilling holes in my back as we leave the gallery. I could feel her intense scrutiny, as if she was trying to read my thoughts and figure out what I was thinking hanggang sa makalabas kami ni Cal. Hindi ko mapigilang mapangiti.
Lying to Ilya as if hindi ko alam yung hitsura nung kanyang painting. The look on her surprised face as I tell her what I think her painting is about, nang para bang tama yung sinabi ko. Am I?
"What the fuck are you smiling for?" Tanong ni Cal sa akin. I just gave him my sweetest smile again as an answer. "Fucking psycho."
"I am just crazy, Calixto." Asar ko sa kanya.
"Whatever. Just stop calling me in my first name."
"Sure!" Sagot ko at in-unlock yung aking sasakyan. My Dodge Challenger SRT Demon beeps, and we hop inside. Cal secures his seatbelt and paid the parking ticket as I start the car. Umalis na kami sa parking slot para bumalik sa bahay.
"Kailan raw idi-deliver yung mga painting?" Tanong ko.
"They will tomorrow. Kailangan raw muna nila maipadala yung cut nung artist." He says, as he types something on his phone. When he is done and pockets it, napalingon siya sa akin. "Kailan kaya mawawala yang ngiti mo? Nakakaasar na kasi e."
Umiling ako, my smile never faltering. "I don't know brother. Am I still smiling?"
He just shakes his head at my ridiculous expression and connects his Spotify to my car. Instantly Nightmare by From Ashes to New blasts through the speakers. The moment the guitar drops, napa-head bang agad si Cal sa kanta. We both like Metal so I don't mind the loud music.
Look at us. Two dudes, dressed as if we're on our way to a corporate meeting. Ready to conquer the world with all our growls and screaming while singing. We don't give a fuck if people outside see us like this. At least I drive cautiously while having fun. I will not let us put danger, lalo na't kasama ko kapatid ko.
Kahit na Cal is twenty-four years old, he is still my baby brother. I would do everything for him kahit na kadalasan ay sakit siya sa ulo. He may be four years younger than me, but the kid is already set to follow into the steps of our company. Pinasok siya agad sa Rivas Corporation after graduating college with Latin Honors. He has the most potential in all of the Rivas kids after all.
Biglang naputol yung kanta nang makita namin ang pangalan ni Calliope sa screen. The ringing sound immediately made us wince. Hindi niya siguro ako ma-contact kaya kay Cal siya tumawag.
My brother accepted the call, and we were welcomed with her shrieking voice. "Where the fuck are you two?!"
Napakunot kaming dalawa ng noo. "Um, we're in Makati at the moment." Sagot ni Cal.
"Have you both forgotten na may meeting tayo ng Alas-tres?"
Oops. Looks like we really are on our way to a corporate meeting, and not coming back home. I shake my head at Cal, "No! Of course not." Pagdadahilan niya, "We are on our way, actually." Shit, he mouths to me.
"You guys better be. You still have more than 30 minutes to arrive. See you." She finishes. Bago pa kami makapagpaalam dalawa sa kanya, she ended the call. Bumalik yung tugtugan naming dalawa, at napatawa nalang kami.
"Start driving fast, Kill!" Sigaw ni Cal sa akin, kasi hindi kami nagkakarinigan. And I did, at least I tried to nang hindi nahuhuli ng mga enforcer na nakabantay sa bawat kanto.
The moment na makarating kami ng Rivas HQ sa BGC, I drove up the ramps into our designated car slots. We went out and Cal taps his card on the door for us to enter, at binati kami ng guard na nakabantay roon.
"Good afternoon, sirs."
Tumango lang kaming dalawa sa kanya at tumungo sa iilang elevators. Cal pressed the 'UP' button. "Are we on time?" I asked him, but he shook his head. "You think Cal number one would be angry if we stop at our offices and grab coffee?"
Cal number two laughs at me, "Um, yeah. We're basically late nung tumawag palang siya. Pakuha nalang tayo mamaya doon sa meeting."
"Pangit lasa nung mga kape na tinitimpla roon eh."
"Bro, huwag mong iparinig 'yan ni Calliope, malalagot tayo."
"I mean, taste wise it is good. But I don't like how sweet it is." Prangka kong sabi sa kanya. Manufacturers intentionally makes their beverages taste like that, and is packed with too much sugar. It's the truth.
Pagbukas nung elevator doors ay may iilang mga nakasakay roon. They were talking about something but immediately stopped when they saw us. Binati nila kami at nanatiling tahimik hanggang sa makalabas sila sa floor nila. When we reached the 23rd floor, where the meeting would be held, agad kaming naglakad ni Cal papuntang conference room.
Hindi ko nakita si Calliope—Cal number one, sa loob kaya pumunta kami ni Cal sa kanyang office 'di nalalayo roon. This floor is dedicated to us three siblings. We have three offices, three conference rooms and one big lobby with three receptionists—our assistants, in front to greet people who needed us.
This floor was once used by our father—Calixto senior, and before him, our grandfather—the founder. Nung namatay si papa, Calliope decided to renovate this floor for us three to share. Kahit siya ang itinalaga na susunod sa yapak ni papa, mas gugustuhin raw niya na kasama pa rin kaming dalawa ni Cal dito. As the first-ever female CEO of the company, she's fucking cool I'd say. And she deserves it.
Nang makapasok kami sa opisina ni Calliope, she is busy talking to her phone. Itinaas niya yung kanyang hintuturo as a signal for us to wait a second.
"You can give me the reason later sa EXECOM, Ronald...No, justify it later." She said, then dropped the call.
Umupo ako sa seating area niya sa harap ng kanyang desk. While Cal, went to her coffee bar and makes us a better coffee. "Any problem?" I ask her.
She shook her head. "I hope it won't be! Ronald thinks that we should not push through with the new development sa Pampanga." Sabi niya at napaupo muli sa kanyang pwesto. She fixes her desk and took her tablet. All geared up and ready for the meeting.
Cal hands me a cup and I instantly sip it kahit na mainit pa iyon. He offered to make one for Calliope, pero inayawan niya ito, hindi dahil sa klase ng timpa ni Cal.It is because she gets too serious when she's given coffee—especially before a meeting. And we don't want an angry Calliope.
Pumunta na kaming tatlo sa conference room, seeing all the other execs already inside ready for the battle.
Rivas Corporation is one of the country's leading groups when it comes to your favorite food, beverages, oil and power. We also are now venturing into construction, mainly on Real Estate and Commercial Development. Hati-hati kaming tatlo ng categories; even though Calliope is the CEO, she focuses on Food and Beverage, me on Oil and Power, and Cal on Construction.
As we get on each part of the meeting; Ronald, our CFO, said na hindi kakayanin ang binigay na budget ni Cal for the development in Pampanga. He says that it was too expensive for a commercial venture. But my brother justifies that Pampanga is a developing province, at malaki ang potential nito in the future. Me and my sister of course, agrees with him.
I got distracted when my phone vibrates in the table, tiningnan ko kung ano yung notification na yun, at nakita ang message ni Wyn. The painting would be delivered in my house tomorrow at around noon. He is asking me if I would be home by that time, an I replied: 'Yes'.
Finally, Ilya's painting would be mine soon. Napangiti na naman ako.
Meeting her at the gallery again this morning was unplanned. Hindi ko aakalain na makikita ko siya roon na nakatayo kung saan nakasabit yung painting niya kagabi. Our conversation was unexpected too, kasi hindi ko na napigilan yung sarili ko na lapitan siya. My curiosity about her intensifies dahil sa tingin ko nagkita na kami noon.
Standing beside her was an exhilarating experience. I could feel the warmth of her body radiating against mine, and her clean, citrusy scent filled my senses. Her voice was low and sweet, not at all annoying like some of the girls I had been with before. And her expression looks sad and lost staring at the bare wall.
Too early to tell, but I felt a connection between us, and I wanted to stay in that gallery forever, and get drowned by the way her eyes slightly dipped in sadness. There is just something about her. Hindi ko lang maalala kung kailan at bakit may nararamdaman ako sa kanya na ganito.
Was it also wrong that I bought her painting?
Napailing ako, because I don't care. If owning a piece of her is the only thing I can have right now, I'm not guilty. Kung ito yung gateway para makilala ko pa siya lalo, I would even gladly do it again.