Calling card
Hindi ko maiwasang ma-excite habang tulak-tulak ang cleaning materials. Papunta ako ngayon sa office ni Colton dahil doon naman ako na-assign na maglinis.
Malaki na agad ang ngiti ko malayo pa man, ngunit nang nasa tapat na ng glass walls ng silid ay unti-unting naglaho ang kurba ng labi ko. Sa loob ay may tatlong hindi pamilyar na tao. Nakaupo sila sa sofa sa may bandang tanggapan ng bisita, habang sa kabisera naman noon ay kaharap nila si Colton.
Dahan-dahang kong itinulak ang pinto para hindi lumikha ng anumang ingay. Nang mapansin ang presensya ko ay napaayos ng upo si Colton.
Sinundan naman ng mga kaharap ang tingin niya kaya't napalingon sila sa 'kin.
Ang isa sa tatlo ay chinito at pala-kaibigan ang mukha, habang ang isa pa na nakasalaming kalbo ay natukoy kong bading. Namukhaan ko ang huli bilang iyong investor na pinuntahan namin noon. Siya iyong hindi mawala ang ngisi at parang nang-aasar.
Lumiwanag din ang mukha niya nang tila maalala ako.
"Oh, she's here!" excited pang sabi nito at lumapit sa 'kin bago naglahad ng kamay.
"Hi! I'm Kalix. Sorry I wasn't able to properly introduce myself the last time. Someone's very grumpy that time..." he said with that same smile na parang may inside joke siya.
Nag-aalangang tinanggap ko iyon. "Uhm, Nari."
Saka ko lang napansin na nasa tabi niya na pala 'yong chinito nang magsalita ito.
"Whoa," manghang anas niya habang tinititigan ako. "You didn't tell me you have such a beautiful employee, Colton!" Nakita kong pinunas niya ang palad sa shirt.
"Hi, Miss Nari, I'm single." Ngumisi ito sa akin at naglahad ng kamay.
"Perj." I heard the warning in Colton's voice, now he's standing on his feet.
Tinanggap ko na lang ang kamay ng napag-alaman kong si Perj.
Mayamaya'y natanaw ko ang bading na naglakad na rin palapit. Dahan-dahan niya 'kong tiningnan mula ulo hanggang paa at napanganga.
"Height, check!" sabi niya at sinimulang ikutan ako."Body curves, check!" Nag-init ang mukha ko sa kahihiyan. Nang matapos umikot at makabalik sa harap ay hinawakan niya ang baba ko at itinagilid ang mukha. "Face, super check!"
I felt a strong hand on my wrist. Hinila ako ni Colton papunta sa likod niya at itinago.
"Colton, you've been hiding a gem all along! She's definitely going to click! She's perfect!" Dama ko ang sobra-sobrang excitement sa boses niya.
"Shut up, Ish. Whatever you're thinking, it's not going to happen." Humigpit ang hawak niya sa 'kin.
I couldn't help but be curious about what they were talking about. Nanlaki ang mga mata ng pakiwari ko'y Ish ang pangalan.
"What? Don't tell me kaya ayaw mo nang bumalik sa trabaho mo sa Maynila ay dahil gusto mo siyang itago habambuhay?" Gulat na humalakhak ito. "Let's hear it from the lady, she might be interested in my offer."
"No!" agad na sigaw ni Colton.
"Ano ba 'yon?" hindi ko na napigilang sumingit.
Lumiwanag ang mukha ni Ish. "Have you ever been scouted, Miss? I'm very much interested in recruiting you as a talent. We could offer you modeling or acting career, name it!"
Nanlaki ang mga mata ko.
Mabilis na humarap sa 'kin si Colton. He cupped my face.
"No, baby. Don't listen to them," he said, sounding desperate.
Nakita kong napanganga si Perj sa ginawa ni Colton habang napahalakhak naman si Kalix. "Man down. Real bad,"
Galit na lumingon si Colton sa kanila. "For fuck's sake, do me a favor and leave. All of you," he growled.
Nakita kong umasim ang mukha no'ng si Ish. "We're not even done discussing your own matter yet, Colton. The management can sue you for not complying with the duration of your contract."
"Damn, I don't care. I said I'm willing to pay for anything or whatever it takes."
Ish shook his head like he couldn't believe what's happening. "Okay, then just let me talk to the girl atleast."
"I said whatever you're planning, I'm never going to allow it. The discussion ends there," he said through gritted teeth and I could feel his anger overflowing.
I reached for his arm and gently caressed it. "Colton, let me talk to them..."
He turned to me and he looked...I don't know, scared?
"Baby..."
"It's not like papayag na ako sa iaalok nila. I'm just going to hear them out then we'll talk about it. The two of us."
He stared at me for a long time. His eyes were almost begging. I didn't lower my guard. He sighed exhaustedly and shut his eyes. Napayuko siya at lumunok.
"Promise me you'll immediately come to me after this."
I nodded. He wrapped his hands on my shoulder for a hug, then he stroked my hair at the back of my head.
"Then okay, baby... As long as you'll come back to me..." he whispered.
Pinisil niya pa ang kamay ko bago tumalikod. I saw how he sent death glares to the three guys before coming out of the office.
Hinayaan niya kaming manatili sa opisina niya para mag-usap.
"Damn... I refuse to believe that was Colton," laglag pa rin ang pangang wika no'ng Perj, parang hindi makapaniwala.
Umupo kaming lahat para makapag-usap nang maayos.
Ipinaliwanag sa 'kin ni Ish nang detalyado ang tungkol sa alok niya. Nalaman ko rin na siya ang tumatayong manager ni Colton, pero hindi naman daw ibig sabihin noon na siya na rin ang magma-manage sa 'kin dahil napakalaki ng kompanya.
"Seryosong wala pang sumubok mag-scout sa 'yo? I can't believe this. With a beauty like yours?" Namula ako at hindi masabi ang tungkol sa pinagdaanan.
"As I was saying, Nari, the moment I laid my eyes on you, I immediately knew that you could make it big. You have the factor and the star quality." He was very good in persuasion, I must say.
"I can assure you that the company would take good care of you. They would hone you and bring out the best in you."
My heart flinched at what he said, suddenly remembering how I've always wanted to be confident about myself.
"Here, take this," he said and handed me a calling card.
"I won't pressure you to give your decision now. I just hope that you would think about this very carefully and that you won't underestimate this opportunity," he said with finality.
I heard Kalix sigh. "I hope you could also try to convince Colton to finish the contract first, Nari. Baka maapektuhan ang pangalan ng resort kapag nakasuhan siya."
Perj shifted on his seat. "I don't know if this helps, but I think Colton's behavior is somehow affected with his past involvement with girls, Nari. His ex-flings would literally jump from him to another man so maybe now that he's finally in a serious relationship, he's just really afraid of losing you." He smiled warmly. "But I hope his own issues wouldn't hinder you from doing what you really want," he added.
I bowed my head and swallowed the lump on my throat while holding the calling card tightly.