"I've already made an appointment with Mr. Lee this afternoon, Lea. We'll leave in ten minutes." Anunsyo ng sekretarya/assistant kong si Rorhy.
"Got it. Thank you, Rorh." Pagkasabi nun pinatay ko na rin ang aking laptop.
It has been a week since I came back to LA. Isang linggo simula nang iwan ko ang Calapan. Hindi na ako nakapag-paalam dahil nagkaroon ng emergency sa negosyo kaya kailangan ko'ng bumalik agad. The past week has been really busy. I went to see a lot of potential clients and investors na muntikan nang makuha ng mga competitor kong startup companies. Not that I am not confident na mapapanatili ko sila but in this industry, kailangan talaga na ipakita mo'ng angat ang kompanya mo sa iba.
At ngayon nga ay papunta kami sa isa sa mga biggest potential client namin na nagbabalak na magpatayo ng residential units dito sa LA.
Bitbit ang aking sling bag at laptop ay lumabas na ako ng opisina.
"Let's go." Tawag ko kay Rorhy na nasa telepono. Nilagpasan ko na ito at nauna na sa basement.
Nakasunod naman ito agad. "By the way, I received an e-mail from your brother. I presume you did not inform them that you're back in LA?"
"I didn't have the time. What did he say?"
"You should call him. I'll drive." Wala na akong nagawa nang pumasok na ito sa driver's seat.
I just rolled my eyes and went inside.
"My kuya can wait. Just don't mind him." I said while checking myself in the mirror. "It's a lunch meeting, right? Saang restaurant ba tayo pupunta?"
"Rocksugar. According to Mr. Lee's secretary, preferred daw ni Mr. Lee ang Asian fusion. Malapit lang naman yun dito." Paliwanag nito.
I just nodded and retouched my makeup.
Rorhy is Filipino-American. She was my classmate in UCLA. Pareho kaming nagtapos ng Arhitectural Studies. Although she is my secretary/assistant, she's also my business partner. Pareho naming tinaguyod ang kompanya from scratch. She did not let me get a secretary dahil ayun dito ay kaya naman na niya ang mga gawain ng secretary/assistant/partner. At hinayaan naman nito akong maging Managing Director.
Rorhy smoothly parked the car in front of a fine dining restaurant.
"You've been here?" I asked as I eyed the whole place.
"Not yet. I just searched it on the web. It has pretty good reviews." She said matter-of-factly.
"Maganda." Komento ko.
Agad kaming sinalubong ng isang staff pagpasok pa lang ng restaurant.
"Hi! We made a reservation under Rorhy Young." Rinig kong sabi nito sa nakangiting staff.
"This way, please."
We followed her to a private room na adjacent lang sa mga tables ng restaurant.
"Thank you." I smiled at the cheerful staff.
"Kasama ba ang secretary ni Mr. Lee sa meeting?" I asked her.
"Yes. She confirmed her attendance kanina. And I think, their lawyer will be here as well." Nakataas ang kilay nito sa huling sinabi.
"A lawyer? Bakit daw?"
Kibit-balikat lamang ang sagot nito. Maya-maya pa'y tumayo na ito nang makita ang hinihintay na kliyente. Tumayo na rin ako para salubungin ang mga ito.
"Good morning, Mr. Lee. Thank you for coming all the way here. This is an honor. By the way, I am Lea and this is my partner, Rorhy. " I smiled widely at the old businessman.
"Good morning, ladies. The pleasure is ours. This is my secretary, Carol, and this is Atty. Lao." Nakangiti nitong pakilala sa mga kasamahan.
"Let's settle first." I gestured them to sit.
"I've seen your works and I must say you are good in this field. I've also heard from your satisfied clients before. In fact, a friend of mine recommended your services to me. And I sincerely thank you for having an interest in this project." Mr. Lee was all smiles nang magsalita ito.
"Thank you for your kind words, Mr. Lee. You made the right decision to listen to your friend's recommendation. Although we are still a startup business, we've been doing big projects for the past two years. I'm sure you've seen it in our company profile." I said proudly.
"Yes, yes. I've seen it all. Well, the reason why we agreed to have this meeting is because I want to make a proposal."
I glanced at Rorhy at pati ito ay parang nagulat din.
"What's your proposal then?" I asked.
"I'll let you take charge on the designs of my residential units in LA only if you'll participate in the construction bidding of my condo units in the Philippines." Anunsyo nito.
"That's interesting but we don't do business in the Philippines, Mr. Lee. We are not registered there." Singit ni Rorhy.
Tumango ito. "I know. Don't worry. Open naman ito sa lahat ng architectural firms. All you have to do is submit your building design. You don't need to have a physical office there 'cause we can just do teleconference once you're chosen. Or you may visit the site or temporarily stay there for a couple of months until the project is done. Anyway, the construction period is only 6 months. Please think about it. I really want to see your designs on this project." Mahabang paliwanag nito.
"We really appreciate the invitation, Mr. Lee. Please give us time to think about it." I told him sincerely.
"All right then, my lawyer here will discuss some legal terms on how you can participate in the bidding. If you made up your mind, please give us a heads up as the bidding will start any time next week." Pahayag nito.
"We'll think about it thoroughly, Mr. Lee. Thank you for inviting us. By the way, our food is here. Shall we eat first?" Anunsyo ko sa lahat.
We talked about our respective businesses over lunch. I found out that he has his eyes specially on startup companies dahil pinaghirapan niya ring palaguin ang kanyang mga negosyo. Gaya namin ay nagsimula din sya sa wala.
Pagkatapos ng lunch meeting ay bumalik na kami ng opisina para asikasohin ang iba pang bidding na sasalihan namin.
Mabilis na lumipas ang oras. Nagpaalam na si Rorhy na mauunang umuwi. I stayed until 10 PM in the office bago nagpasyang pumunta saglit sa bar.
"Cocktail, please." I smiled at the petite bartender.
"Hi! I haven't seen you hanging around in a while. Have you been out of town?"
"Yeah. I went to my home country for a while." I smiled as she handed me my drinks.
"That's why you looked different."
"Really? Thanks!" I waved goodbye and roamed around. I haven't seen my friends in a while kaya I tried to scan the whole place hoping na andito sila.
Nang wala akong makitang friends ko ay inubos ko nalang ang inorder at nagdesisyong umuwi na. I better call my friends tomorrow. I needed some wild night life.
It's already past midnight nang marating ko ang condo. It's now over one week nang huli kong makita si Gok. I haven't heard of him since I left. Nakakalungkot dahil part of me is expecting na kakamustahin niya ako.
Nang umalis ako ng Calapan ay wala akong sinabihan kahit na sino. Gusto kong isipin na kahit papano ay hinanap din ako ni Gok.
Kumusta na kaya yun?
Nakatulogan ko na ang pag-iiisip.
Isang tawag ang gumising sa akin kinabukasan. With eyes closed ay kinapa ko ang aking phone sa bedside table.
"Yes?" I answered the phone still with eyes closed.
"Open the door."
"What? What door? Who's this?" I checked the phone only to find an unregistered number.
"Just open the door please."
Disoriented man ay tinungo ko rin ang pinto dahil baka emergency ito.
"What is it?" I opened the door only to find an unexpected visitor. "Hey, why are you here?"
"I should be asking you that. Why are you here? Bakit hindi mo sinabi sa aking bumalik ka na dito?" I caught a hint of pain and sadness in his voice.
"Well, I'm sorry. I had an emergency. Besides, I don't have your number. Hindi na nga ako nakapagpaalam kina Kuya." I opened the door widely trying to hide my excitement. "Come in."
"Yeah I was told you did not even tell them. They were worried. You were not even picking up your phone. Mag-isa ka lang dito?" He scanned the whole place.
"Yes. Wait here. Maghihilamos lang ako." I immediately went to my room para maghilamos at magtoothbrush. I tied my hair in a messy bun again at mabilis na sinipat ang sarili. I could feel my senses trembling. This is so unexpected.
"Paano ka nga pala naakyat dito? Wala namang tawag mula sa reception ah." I joined him in the kitchen.
"I met a friend downstairs. Napakiusapan ko na iclaim ako as visitor."
"A friend? Talaga ha?"
"Yup. Buti nalang pumayag."
"Tss. Eh bakit di ka doon sa friend mo tumuloy? Inisturbo mo pa ang tulog ko oh. Mag-a-alas singko pa lang ng umaga, Gok. Di mo ba alam natutulog yung tao?" I tried not to sound bitter.
"Kape, gusto mo? Ano ba kasing ginagawa mo dito?" Kahit nagsisimula ng sumama ang loob ko ay nangingibabaw pa rin ang pagiging hospitable ko.
"Coffee sounds good. Black, please."
"Yes, sir." I busied myself in front of the coffeemaker. "Ano pa po ang gusto niyo? Sandwich? Cake?"
"Anything's fine. Thanks."
"I'll make us sandwiches. Doon ka nalang muna sa sala." Pagtataboy ko dito.
"Can I really tell you what I want?" Seryosong tanong nito.
"Oh ano? Ayaw mo ng sandwich? Ano ba'ng gusto mo? Do you want me to cook something?" I went to the fridge at tiningnan ang mga frozen meat.
"You. I missed you."
Naramdaman ko ang mainit na yakap nito sa likuran ko. Bittersweet feelings enveloped my system. Gusto ko'ng umiyak na ewan. I felt so happy and sad at the same time. Eto na naman yung weird na feeling eh.
I held his arms and kumawala sa mga yakap nito. I turned and faced him. "Did you just come here to say you missed me? You can do that on Skype, you know." I tried to tease him to lighten the mood up. Syet. Ikaw ba naman kiligin ng madaling araw.
Kumunot ang noo nito.
"What's that? I don't do that. Seriously, halika nga dito." He hugged me tightly again. This time, a hug that almost took my breath away. It was tight and tender at the same time. "Na-miss kita. You left me."
"Then tell me. Why did you miss me?" I looked up at him and waited for his answer.
"Because I waited for you for so long. I don't want to go on with this waiting game. I will mark you as mine from now on." Then he pulled and kissed my mouth hungrily for what seemed like forever.
"Marry me."
I stiffened as he uttered those words. He hugged me carefully as if I'm a fragile Chinaware.
"I have loved you, Lea. And I love you still. Please marry me." His face was very serious.
"You loved me?" It was more of a declaration than a question.
"Mula noon. Hanggang ngayon. It's not a song but damn I do. Marry me, love." He lifted my chin to meet his gaze.
"How?" Ang tanging lumabas sa bibig ko.
He smirked and kissed me quickly.
"What's with the question? Is that how we are going to get married? First, answer me. Will you take me as your man forever? This is the third time I asked you that love. Will you say no?" Tila malungkot na sabi nito.
"No!"
"No? You won't marry me?"
"I mean no, I won't say no."
He looked really delighted and surprised. "Tell me, love. I wanna hear it. "
I smiled and nodded at him. "Yes! I will take you Gok as my man forever. I love you." I gave him the biggest hug I could ever give.
"Now, let's seal it with a kiss."
Before I knew it, his mouth was on me in the most sensual kiss I ever had.