Kyle Vincent Villacruz. He had been with them since he was one year-old. Noong mga bata pa sila ay close silang dalawa. Tinatawag pa niya itong kuya dati. But then, habang lumalaki sila ay napansin niyang mas nagiging close na rito ang daddy niya.
Call it sibling jealousy but it didn't sit well with her. Nang malaman niyang ampon lamang ito—not legally—lalo siyang nagselos. He was practically a stranger who lives with them under the same roof but the way her father treats him... parang ito ang legal na anak at hindi siya.
At such a young age of seven, she was told the truth. Vincent is not her brother, not legally, at least. Iniwan daw ito sa labas ng bahay nila noong sanggol pa lamang ito, sometime before she was born. Tanging ang papel lamang na naglalaman ng pangalan nito ang nakapagsabi kung sino talaga ito.
They tried to look for his family pero walang Villacruz ang nag-claim dito.
When Vincent turned 18, her father made him a stockholder. Maliit pa lang noon ang hawak nito. Just 5%. But then, within only a few years, he was able to buy stocks of his own, hanggang sa lumaki na nang lumaki ang share nito sa kumpanya.
Nang mag-21 ito ay bumukod na ito ng tirahan, which didn't really make any difference to her. Nang malaman kasi niyang ampon lang ito, naging malayo na ang loob niya rito.
Tanggap na tanggap si Vince ng mga tao sa paligid niya which made her more sullen. Siya itong legit, pero sya ang hindi respetado. Her own father didn't trust her enough. Kaya siya ang ginawa nitong VP ng HR, instead of Operations.
He even made Vico her EA, which made her feel so helpless. Aminado naman niyang mas alam ni Vico ang ginagawa nito at ginagawa niya kaysa sa kanya. She's just the face, the mean face who gives the final say. Vico does all the work.
There was a knock on the door and she was back again to reality.
"What?" matamlay niyang tanong kay Vico, na noon ay nakatayo sa may pintuan, hawak-hawak ang laptop nito.
"I think I may have found someone..."
Agad na nagising ang diwa niya. "Eligible?"
Tumango ito saka isinara ang pintuan. Lumapit ito at inilapag sa table niya ang laptop.
"Eligible, available and super hot! Vincent-level hot!" Napapaypay ito sa sarili.
She frowned. "Don't make Vincent the standard."
"Bakit? Cannot be reached ba? Masyadong high?"
"He's not up to par," sagot niya.
"Asus! Kakasabi mo lang a few days ago na naha-hot-an ka kay Vincent e!"
"Would you get to the matter at hand?" she asked impatiently.
"Oo. Eto na." Vico opened his laptop, punched in a few keys and then a familiar face appeared on the screen.
Troy Alexander Aragonza. The only guy who could rival Vincent in almost anything. He has the looks, the money and the reputation. Napangiti siya. Vincent-level nga, kahit sa estado sa buhay at sa talino. For years, madalas magkabangga ang dalawa dahil sa mga business transactions na pinag-aagawan ng mga ito.
Troy's definitely the guy. Well, better him than Vincent. She just couldn't wrap her head in the idea that she would wed someone who's close enough to be her brother. Paano na lang kung hindi niya nalamang ampon ito and then later on ay ipapakasal pala silang dalawa?
Kung naging close sila, mas nakakadiring isipin na ikakasal sila. Of course, they can't just be man and wife on papers. They would have to consummate the marriage as well.
The thought made her cringe.
"Set up a meeting with him. I want to meet him this week."
"Full ang sked mo this week, Red," paalala ni Vico sa kanya. "May stockholders' meeting pa this coming Friday."
"You can attend the meeting on my behalf," sagot nito sa kanya. "Set the appointment with Troy on Friday."
Napanganga ito sa tinuran niya.
"Sure ka?"
Her eyebrow arched. "Did I stutter?"
"Okay, sabi mo 'yan ha." Nilagay nito sa online planner ang sinabi niya. "Paano na nga pala si Frey?"
"I already broke up with him."
"Agad-agad?"
"Yeah, right after dad said that I can't marry him."
"What did he say? Did he take it badly?" concerned na tanong nito.
"No. Why would he take it badly? It's not as if we're serious."
"But still... two months din kayo 'no," may panghihinayang nitong sabi, saka pabulong nitong idinagdag. "Hindi lahat ng lalaki matatagalan ka ng two months."
"Come again?"
She really hates it when Vico mumbles. Masakit sa tenga.
Ngumiti lang ito sa kanya. "Nothing." He picked up his laptop. "I'll go back to my cubicle na. I still have to call Troy's secretary."
Regina made Vico attend all her meetings for the day. Madalas naman niya iyong ginagawa dahil madalas din siyang tamadin. Her colleagues would just bore her with their endless discussions on powerpoint.
Dahil sa feel niyang gumala, she took a taxi to Glorietta. Pwede naman niya iyong lakarin, mga thirty minutes nga lang. Bukod sa mangangalay ang paa niya kalalakad on heels, she hates the crowd on the sidewalks, lalo na sa bandang Ayala and Paseo.
Clad in her tight red dress, black pumps and sunglasses, agad siyang pumasok sa mall para malamigan. Wala pa siyang limang minuto sa labas, naglalagkit na siya. Bakit kasi open area sa Greenbelt?
Nagpalinga-linga siya sa kabi-kabilang mamahaling stores. Ano ba ang gusto niyang bilhin ngayong araw? Another expensive bag? Shoes kaya? Makeup?
"Excuse me."
"Malawak ang daan," sabi niya.
"You're blocking my way," giit nito.
Bahagya niyang nilingon ang isang babaeng nagpapasintabi. Naka-distressed denim shorts ito at maluwang na shirt. Ang buhok ay basta na lamang itinali. She was wearing no makeup.
Kumunot ang noo niya.
"You look familiar."
"People say that all the time. Madalas kasi akong mapagkamalang artista," the woman said with confidence. "Now, excuse me. My baby needs to buy something."
Saka lamang niya napansin ang batang nakahawak sa laylayan ng shirt nito. The kid was frowning at her. Nakasuot ito ng simpleng lilac shirt, purple chiffon skirt saka purple ballerina shoes.
"Kid, hulaan ko favorite color mo," biro niya sa bata.
Dumila lamang ito sa kanya saka hinila ang babaeng kausap niya kanina papasok sa isang high end store. Napaisip ulit siya kung sino yung kamukha noong nanay nung bata. She really looks familiar. She has this strong feeling na nakita na niya ito sa isang party or gala.
There's one woman who comes to mind. Pero imposible. Wala naman kasing anak si Megan Dirham.
Bandang alas tres ng hapon nang sa wakas ay may nagustuhan din siyang bilhin. Kanina pa siya paikot-ikot. Nanakit tuloy ang paa niya. She wished she brought Vico along but sadly, even in his most efficient self, he cannot be in two places at once.
Nakaabot na siya sa Glorietta pamimili. Didiretso pa nga sana siyang SM Makati kaso ay nalalayuan na siya sa lalakarin. She stopped at Bistro Ravioli to eat first bago siya lumabas sa G3. She waved a few thousand bills at a taxi kaya dumiretso ito sa kanya, imbes na magpasakay ng mga nakapila sa hindi kalayuan.
Agad siyang sumakay at nagpahatid sa office.
Pagbalik niya ay agad siyang sinalubong ni Vico.
"Red, bad news."
"Ayoko ng bad news. Gawin mong good news yan."
Napangiwi ito. "Ano kasi..."
"If it's bad news, I don't want to hear it. Gawin mo munang good news 'yan."
"That's the problem. Baka kapag gagawin ko 'tong good news, next month ko pa masabi sa 'yo."
Inilapag niya ang mga pinamili sa ilalim ng table niya. Then, she kicked her heels and finally gave a relieved sigh when her aching back hit the soft chair.
"What's it about ba kasi?"
"About Troy. His secretary said na loaded daw si Troy for the next few weeks. I can't get an appointment."
"So give up ka na agad?" taas-kilay niyang tanong. "I'll make sure this reflects on your STI."
Napanguso ito. "Red naman e..."
"Huwag kang magreklamo sa 'kin. It's not my fault that you're incompetent!"
Mukhang naiiyak na ito dahil sa sinabi niya.
"M-Maybe you can just drop by his office personally," he suggested.
"Great idea. Pumunta ka doon ngayon at mag-demand na isingit nya 'ko sa sked nya."
"Bakit ako?" tanong nito, nakanguso pa rin.
"Aba natural! Alangan namang ako? Sino ba ang executive at sino ang secretary sa 'ting dalawa?"
Hindi na ito nakasagot.
"Umalis ka na ngayon para maabutan mo sya."
"Pa'no kapag nasa meeting sya?"
"So? Tell him Regina Ecaterina Domingo sent you. That would be enough to drag his ass out of the meeting room."
"Paano kapag hindi pa rin sya lumabas?"
"Then drag his ass out of the meeting room! Kailangan pa bang i-instruct ko sa 'yo lahat?!"
"Nope. That'll do." Nakasimangot pa rin ito nang tumayo.
"Vico," she called out when he was about to step out of her office.
"Yes?"
"Don't come back until it's good news you're bearing."
"What? Paano kung matagalan?"
She gave him a bland look. "What part of what I said did you not understand?"
Umiling ito saka lumunok. "I understood perfectly," matabang nitong sabi.
Nang makalabas ito ay iniikot niya ang upuan para mapaharap sa glass wall ng opisina niya. The skyscrapers usually have a soothing effect on her. But lately, it's becoming ugly. Madalas nakababa ang office blinds dahil doon.
She stood up and looked down. Nakakalula ang taas.
Sumalampak siya pabalik sa upuan at saka pumikit.
Paano kapag pumayag si Troy na magpakasal sila? What then? Nakatali pa rin siya. Would that be better? But surely, marrying Troy would be better than marrying Vincent, wouldn't it?