I sighed as I waited for her in this fine dining restaurant. Bakit ba ang tagal niya? Every minute of mine is precious.
Ilang beses ko na ring pinaglaruan ang water na nasa harap ko. When I got bored totally, I get my phone and I am going to dial Ivy's number when her face suddenly appears as she sat on the chair in front of me.
"I'm sorry. Traffic eh," Ivy said nang makaupo na siya sa upuan sa harapan ko habang ako naman ay inikot na lang ang beautiful eyes ko.
Hindi pa rin talaga nagbabago ang babaeng ito. Late pa rin dumadating kahit kailan!
"You know that I hate wasting my time and then late ka."
"Come on, Mavic! Loosen up a bit. Kararating mo lang dito sa Maynila," saad niya pagkatapos ay kinuha na ang menu na nasa table. After that, she said her order to the waiter.
"How's life?" tanong niya nang makatingin siya sa akin again.
"Well, I'm fine," bored kong sagot dahilan upang mapahalakhak siya.
"You know what, girl. I know na the answer to that," aniya dahilan upang mapatingin ako sa kanya.
"Shopping," she said with a big smile.
Umiling na lamang ako sa sinabi niya. This girl really knows me so well.
"Ano? Game? Bago ka ma-stress sa mga problema sa kompanya niyo," nakangiti niyang saad dahilan upang tumango na lamang ako.
Hindi pa nagtagal ay dumating na rin ang in-order naming foods, baby back ribs, ceasar salad and an orange juice for me habang pork tenderloin, oreo cheesecake and blue lemonade for Ivy.
"How's your kuya? Wala ba siyang balak na bumisita rito sa Maynila nang masilayan ko naman ang kakisigan niya?"
"He's preparing for his upcoming wedding," I simply answered before I sip the juice.
"So tuloy pala ang kasal?"
I rolled my eyes. "Seguramente, Ivy."
(Surely, Ivy.)
Tumango siya at nagpatuloy na rin sa pagkain.
"Are you excited on handling your parent's legacy?"
"Honestly, I'm not. Kainis din naman kasi si kuya. He should be the one to handle our company here yet he settles in San Diego."
"Girl, wala kang magagawa. That's what Franco wanted."
"I know right."
"Lovelife? Any news about it?"
I rolled my eyes once more.
"Oh. Wala pa rin pala," aniya pagkatapos ay humalakhak.
Sometimes, or should I say most of the times, nakakairita rin talaga ang babaeng ito. Porque't may love life, she's being an ass to me.
When we were done eating, we decided to went to the nearest mall to buy some new clothes. From clothes, bags to shoes, wala kaming pinalampas. When it comes to fashion, magkasundong-magkasundo kami ni Ivy. No wonder why we became close even though she became my enemy once. She's so inggit to me kaya before that's why she's always saying rude things to me.
But well, it's all in the past now. What's important is the present.
Why is shopping so therapeutic? Just seeing such pretty clothes is enough for me to feel excited.
After an hour of shopping, Ivy bids her goodbye dahil magkikita pa raw sila ng boyfriend niya.
See!
Pinaghintay na nga ako ng babaeng 'yon, iiwan pa ko agad.
Napailing na lamang ako sa naisip.
Papunta na ako ng parking lot nang biglang may nakabangga ako dahilan upang mabitawan ko ang three paperbags na I am holding.
"I'm sorry, miss," he said as he gathers my things and handing it back to me.
I am just looking at him with awe. How can a man be this handsome?
Is he a gift from above?
No words could ever describe his handsome face that is close to perfection. I am sure God makes use of His time on making such beautiful creature.
"Miss?" aniya na may pagtatakha na sa kanyang face.
"Oh. Thank you," I said as I get the paperbags in his hand. Tinanguan niya lamang ako pagkatapos ay nilampasan.
Napatingin pa ako sa back niya habang siya ay naglalakad palayo from me. Naputol lamang iyon nang tumunog ang cellphone ko kaya agad ko itong kinuha sa bag and I answered it hora mismo.
"Yes, kuya?"
"Are you home, Mavic?"
"No. Pauwi pa lang ako on my condo kuya," sagot ko at nagsimula na ulit maglakad.
"Huwag kang magpapagabi."
"Sí, kuya. Don't worry."
"Ok. Mag-iingat ka," aniya at ibinaba na ang call.
Nang makarating ako sa car ko ay agad na akong nag-drive pabalik sa condo.
I'm living here alone in Maynila because my parents decided to just live in San Diego. Pati na rin si kuya ay doon din balak manirahan that's why I am left here alone to supervise our biggest company here in the country which is located at the city of Maynila — a shoe industry.
Nagtake-out na lang ako ng dinner dahil nakakatamad na rin naman magluto lalo pa't I am alone lang naman. After I ate, ginawa ko na ang evening routine ko then I read e-mails before I go to bed and shut my eyes.
I ended my alarm then stood up in order to take a shower and to prep myself. I chose to wear a black sweetheart tube dress at nagpatong na lang ako ng white cardigan para hindi ako lamigin. I also wear a black omega necklace with a key pendant on it to complete my outfit.
I just decided na magtake-out na lang ng breakfast at sa office na ako kakain. Tinatamad na akong magluto at para makarating na din ako ng earlier sa company.
I greeted back every person who greeted me until makarating ako sa office. I am glad that almost of them are friendly or maybe dahil sa kami ang owner ng company kaya ganoon.
Anyway, I don't care rin naman. As long as they are not going in my way then we're good.
Kinuha ko ang burger na tinake-out pati na rin ang starbucks tumbler ko at dito na nagtimpla na ng coffee.
As I was eating, "you have a meeting with the board, ma'am Reyes in roughly thirty minutes." Tatiana, my secretary, said in the intercom.
"Ok. Thank you," I replied.
So much for my quality time in eating my breakfast. My work in this company has finally started.
At least magagamit ko na ang learnings ko sa pag-aral ng business administration ng four years. Well, I am a little bit nervous dahil I know naman na iba ang practical sa books. But nothing can ever waver my confidence.
I am a Reyes.
And I am bound to be a good leader in the future just like my parents.
Nang matapos akong kumain ay agad akong nag-ayos ng self ko at kinuha ang laptop ko before I went to the conference room.
"Miss Reyes, nabasa mo na ba 'yong report na si-nend ko sa'yo?" tanong ni tio Jerome. I met him last year when papá introduced me to him in one of the business party we attended. He said he's one of our company's director.
Come to think of it, at the age of twenty-two, ako ang pinakabata rito sa room kaya naman naiintindihan ko why most of the people has doubts on me especially in my skills on managing such big company. I can clearly see it in their eyes.
"Alin po roon?"
"About sa maliit na kompanya na gumagaya sa mga produkto natin."
I nodded my head as an answer. "Ah yes po. I read it last night."
"I think we need to take legal action about this. Lalo pa't nakataya ang brandname natin dito," saad ng isang lalake na sa tingin ko ay matanda lang ng ilang taon sa akin. If I am not mistaken, his name is Adrian.
Agad naman siyang sinegundahan ng ilang board members.
"Who's the company's lawyer? I needed to talk to him immediately," I asked.
"That's the problem, Miss Reyes. Mrs. Tolentino resigned last week."
"So we need to look for a great lawyer, am I right?"
"Don't worry, Miss Reyes. I had set an appointment sa isang lawyer," saad naman muli ng lalakeng nagsalita kanina.
"Magaling ba?" I asked with an arched eyebrow. We couldn't just let a lawyer without credibility handle the company's problem.
"Oh. He just took the third place of the recent bar exam," he proudly said but I just chose to shrugged my shoulders off.
Baguhan na lawyer. He must be smart on topping the bar but that doesn't mean he is a great lawyer.
"Later in the afternoon. 1 pm is your appointment with him, Miss Reyes."
"Thank you," I said to him smiling.
Nang matapos ang meeting ay bumalik na ako sa opisina ko.
Having this pile of papers in front of me, overwhelms me. But, nandito ako to give my best. My parents trusted me on this one. I can't let them down. I can't let the people relying in our company down. They all worked hard to make our company rose to the top; thus, I should do the same.
Hindi ko namalayan ang oras at lunch time na pala kung hindi pa nagpaalam sa akin si Tatiana na magla-lunch na muna siya.
I prepared myself. Inayos ko ang makeup ko. I decided to change my peachy nude lipstick into a cherry red one. Tinali ko rin ang hair ko in a high ponytail.
Nang makuntento na sa ayos ko ay agad kong kinuha ang red Gucci marmont bag ko before I left the office.
Nang makaabot ako sa restaurant na napagkasunduan, a man escorted me to the reserved table for my meeting with the new lawyer.
The restaurant is not really that full. It is good though. At least we can be able to discuss the matter properly.
Mukhang wala pa ang lawyer na sinasabi ni Mr. Adrian. Kinuha ko muna ang cellphone ko and nag-browse sa feed ko sa instagram.
"Excuse me, Miss Reyes, right?"
Napaangat ako ng tingin sa nagsalita and there I saw that same guy na nakabangga ko kahapon.
Even with shock within me, I still managed to nod my head absent-mindedly.
"I am Atty. Juan Raphael Santos, CPA," aniya at inilahad ang kamay niya sa akin.
Is this what you call destiny?