He sat on the chair in front of me.
Is this for real?
Am I not dreaming?
Pinagmasdan ko siya. He has slim lips and pale skin. Mukha rin siyang masungit at nakapagpadagdag pa sa karisma niya ang suot-suot na glasses. He looks intelligent with it. Although I am sure that he will still look good even without the glasses.
"Miss Reyes, are you ok?"
Naputol ang pagtitig ko sa kanya nang tawagin niyang muli ako.
"Shall we order?" I said nang maka-recover.
Gosh, Mavic! What is that? You just make a fool out of yourself.
Baka isipin niyang pinagnanasaan ko siya. Although it's true, I couldn't risk my dignity!
No way!
Pagkatapos naming umorder ay may inabot siya sa aking mga papers and I guess this is something to do about the small company that's copying our products.
"As you can see Miss Reyes..."
"You can call me Mavic," I said before I smile at him.
"Ah yes, Mavic." He paused. "We can't sue them for the ground of trademark infringement because on what I have researched, they didn't register it in the IPO," he explained to me. Even in explaining things, he looks extremely hot. Pati na rin ang pag-ayos niya ng salamin while talking.
What is happening to you, Mavic?
Hindi naman ako dating ganito.
Men always saw me as an intimidating one kaya kaonti lang ang nagkakaroon ng courage na lapitan ako.
Well, what can I do?
It wasn't my fault that they feel inferior about me anyway. That's their problem and not mine.
"Are you listening to me, Miss Re—"
I smiled at him. "Mavic."
He nodded nonchalantly. "Yes, Mavic. Are you listening to me?"
"Pasensya ka na attorney. I'm really hungry na kasi kaya I can't focus on what you are saying," I said na pinipigilan ang sariling ngumiti. Tumango na lamang siya.
"Why don't we chitchat for a little while?" I asked pero hindi naman siya kumibo.
"So you're a CPA lawyer, it must be hard 'no?" I said and just like kanina ay hindi na naman siya kumibo.
"Are you an only child or do you have siblings?" I asked but he just looked at me flatly.
"I think that is not part of my job to answer your questions about me."
Ang sungit naman pala niya masyado.
"Yeah, right. Sorry for being nosy," I said and again he didn't respond.
Maya-maya ay dumating na ang order namin.
We are eating quietly. Hindi na muna ako magsasalita dahil baka isipin niya that I'm feeling close sa kanya. Kahit I am so eager to know some informations about him.
When our quiet lunch was finish, we proceeded to the real agenda of our meeting.
"Just like what I said. We can't sue them on the ground of trademark infringement but we can use unfair competition since it is obvious that the company's goal is to defraud its customers, giving off the idea that the shoes they are selling are similar to yours but in a cheaper amount. They even manage to copy almost all of the feautures of your product — sonrisa," he explained it to me.
"What about the probability of winning the case?"
"It's too early to know the outcome yet but I can perceive that we have a high chance of winning the case especially that they didn't register it."
After he answered some more of my queries. We decided to bid our goodbyes.
"Thank you for having this appointment with me Atty. Santos," I said whilst I am still busy smiling.
"Just call me in case you need to have another appointment with me, Miss Reyes," he said as he handed me his business card.
He was very stiff yet why do I find him amusing? Marami namang gwapo at matalino rin but no one ever makes me feel this way. Only him. Only Atty. Juan Raphael Santos, CPA.
I guess he's really one of a kind.
I'm sure that many woman flocked in front of him but I am sure that he is not interested with them.
Ako kaya?
Does he thinks that I am interesting?
Oh gosh, why am I even thinking about this?
Hanggang sa makarating ako sa office ay ang image ng mukha niya ang nag-occupy ng mind ko. I can't even work properly because his stoic face keeps playing in my mind.
Oh gosh, Mavic! What on earth is happening to you?
Napatingin na lamang ako sa kumatok sa pinto and there I found Adrian who enters my office.
"I'm sorry for disturbing you, Miss Reyes," anito nang tuluyan nang nakalapit sa table ko.
"Oh no. It's ok and please just call me, Mavic," I said smiling to him.
"Have a seat," pag-anyaya ko sa kanya when I realize I haven't offered him a seat yet.
"Thank you," anito at umupo na sa chair na nasa unahan ng table ko.
"How's the meeting with Mr. Santos?"
"Oh," I said acting uninterested.
I make myself looking like a fool in front of the new Atty., so I won't let others think na may crush ako roon.
What did you just say, Mavic?! Did you unintentionally admitted that you have a crush on that hot lawyer?
"Well, he looks clever and I guess there's nothing to be worried about. I believe he can surely win the case," I said and nakita ko na lamang siya na tumango.
"He really is, Mavic. Actually, were blockmates back when we were studying accountancy."
"Really?" I asked with my eyes wide open and went agape.
He nodded. "Yup. He was really one of the top of our class."
Ako naman ang napatango sa kanya. "Um... Is he really like that?"
Bumakas ang pagtataka sa kanya.
"Never mind," I said as I shook my head sa sariling sinabi.
"What? Ano siya, Mavic? Don't worry, I won't say a thing to him," he asks persistently. He even winked at me securing me that what I'm going to say is our little secret.
"Um... Stiff and quiet?"
"Ah 'yon, ba. He is, really. Kahit noon ay ganoon na talaga siya. Hindi ko nga maintindihan kung bakit maraming nagkakagusto roon sa lalakeng 'yon sa university, hindi lang sa klase namin, maging sa ibang block and courses din."
Tumango na lamang ako dahil sa sinabi niya.
Well, I can't deny it. He is extremely handsome but his charisma is on another level. Plus points pa na matalino siya.
"Ang sungit-sungit naman nga niya eh," pagdagdag niya.
And I nodded eagerly. "I strongly agree, Adrian."
Silence is in the air right now until na magsalita siya again.
"Gusto sana kitang yayain na mag-dinner mamaya?"
I raised my eyebrow. "Are you asking me on a date, Mr. Velasco?" tanong ko sa kanya dahilan upang mapahalakhak siya.
"Kung ganoon ang gusto mong isipin, Miss Reyes," he said while smiling to me widely.
"But seriously, gusto lang kitang samahang kumain. Nakita ko kasi kanina na nag-take out ka lang ng breakfast lalo pa't your family is not here with you."
I looked at him then shrugged my shoulders. "Sure."
Madaling natapos ang office hours, maybe because late na akong pumasok noong hapon because of the meeting and isama mo pa na halos wala rin akong nagawa sa trabaho because I keep on daydreaming on that the same lawyer.
Now, Atty. Santos, what have you done to me?
Adrian and I are now here in a restaurant near where my condo is located para hindi na raw ako mahirapang umuwi.
We were busy eating and talking with different matters. Hindi kami maubusan ng topic dahil mukhang sanay na sanay siya sa mga ganito or sadyang madaldal lang talaga siya hindi tulad ni Atty. Santos.
Why do I keep on thinking about him?
Kahapon ko pa lang naman siya nakita and hindi pa naman lumilipas ang 24 hours noong formally kami nag-meet but that guy keeps on invading my mind.
Even my eyes keep playing tricks with me nang makita ko siya entering this restaurant. Ganoon mo ba siya iniisip, Mavic na kahit hanggang dito ay nakikita mo pa rin siya?
Napatigil si Adrian sa pagkwe-kwento nang tiningnan niya kung saan ako nakatingin. Ikinaway niya ang kamay niya rito dahilan upang mapalingon sa gawi namin si Raphael.
Oh, he is really here! Buti na lang at hindi naman ako nagha-hallucinate.
At least I know that I am not crazy towards him.
He walked towards us with his cold eyes.
"Bakit nandito ka?" casual na tanong ni Adrian sa kakilala.
"Magte-take-out."
Adrian chuckled. "Seriously? Wala bang nagluto sa inyo?"
"Nasa hospital si manang Trina at binabantayan si mama habang si Luisana naman ay wala raw ganang magluto. Nakakapanibago nga at hindi man lang nagagawi sa kusina."
"Why don't you join us?" I asked that's why both of them is looking at me right now.
May mali ba sa nasabi ko?
"Huwag na, Miss Reyes. Magte-take-out din naman ako para sa kapatid."
"Oh, so you have a sibling," bulong ko sa sarili.
"Yes, I do have, Miss Reyes."
Napatingin ako sa kanya dahil hindi ko akalain na maririnig niya iyon pero nakita ko siya na nakatingin nang muli kay Adrian.
After a couple of seconds, he bids his goodbye to us.
Hindi rin nagtagal ay natapos na rin kami ni Adrian sa pagkain. Uuwi na ako ng condo gamit ang kotse habang si Adrian naman ay hindi pumayag na hindi niya sundan ang kotse ko. He said he just wanted to make sure na makauwi ako ng safe.
Tulad ng palagi kong ginagawa ay nagpahinga lang muna ako nang sandali when I arrived at my condo unit at pagkatapos ay ginawa na ang evening routine ko.
Before I close my eyes to sleep, the image of a man that keeps bothering me whole day still appears into my mind.
May crush na talaga ako kay Atty. Juan Raphael Santos, CPA!