Kabanata 4. Perla
1349 Words
Marco's POV
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"It's hard to forget someone who gave you so much to remember."
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Perla
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I took a deep breath inhaling the beautiful aroma of a freshly brewed coffee with me. Last night was a mess. I ended up with Samantha in the hotel room, but the hell! Every time I kissed her I can only imagine that woman's face.
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She's got the look, I won't lie but she's too easy for me. Ayaw na ayaw kong hinahabol ako. I want a challenging one.
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I put down the cup of coffee on the table and started my daily morning routine. It's time to pump-up some muscles in.
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While running on my treadmill, I think a lot of things even I'm on listening to music. I will be b more busy soon for the condo renovations and the new project will help me forget about her. Ilang taon na rin ang nakalipas at bakit hindi ko pa makuhang makalimutan siya, ay hindi ko alam.
Tumunog na agad ang cellphone ko at si Thea na ito.
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"Good morning, playboy," rinig ko ang bahagyang tawa niya.
"Have you seen my designs? Ano okay na ba? Sisimulan ko na bukas kung wala na tayong problema."
"Yes, you can start the reno, Thea. I can't wait to move in, soon."
"Good. Hey! I've heard from Tristan about last night? Pumunta ka ba sa bar niya?"
"Oo, bakit?"
I lowered the speed of the treadmill and put it in a walking mode.
"Hindi mo ba siya nakita? Or probably you didn't noticed her at all?"
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Nahinto na ako at pinahinto ko na ang takbo ng treadmill. Mariin ko lang din na pinunasan ang pawis ko sa mukha.
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"Who?" kunot noo ko at mas inayos ang Bluetooth earphone sa tainga ko.
"I'm not sure how true it is but have a look on the CCTV camera of his car. Magkahawig sila ni Perla, ang babaeng matagal mo ng pinahahanap."
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My world just stop spinning around me and my heart beats in tango. Perla? That's impossible! Wala akong nakitang kamukha niya kagabi.
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"Puntahan mo si Tristan at tingnan mo kung tama ba, dahil wala naman akong alam dito. Kayong dalawa lang naman ang baliw!" Sabay patay sa tawag niya.
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I look at my Rolex watch in my wrist. I have an appointment and I will meet Ace after lunch. Ngayong umaga lang ako pwede dahil may appointment din ako pagkatapos kay Ace. Kaya tinawagan ko ni si Tristan.
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"Hello, bro. How are you? Thea just called me about Perla? May lead ka na ba?"
"I've saved and download the clip from my car's CCTV, bro. I can forward it to you now. Just give me an hour. May meeting pa kasi ako."
"Okay, thanks."
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I showered straight away and fixed myself. Marami pa akong gagawin at gusto ko rin na malaman kung si Perla nga ba ito. Pagkaraan ng isang oras ay natangap ko na sa kanya ang video.
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Nagtagpo na ang kilay ko. It's blurry, the video is a blur. Aside that it was taken at the left side where there was no light. The image itself is not a good quality too. Pero lumandag ang kaba ng puso ko nang makita ang kaparehong damit niya sa gabing iyon.
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I paused it and zoomed it in. Hindi ako nagkakamali, siya nga ito! They have the same body figure behind. Was she in the same bar as where I was last night? Impossible naman. I was looking at everyone and there's no one that caught my attention, except for that stupid woman!
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May katabing tatlong bar din naman doon. Baka doon siya nangaling sa ibang bar. I swallowed and my heart is still beating so hard. Perla, ba't mo ba ako pinahihirapan ng ganito...
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LAGPAS tanghali na ng makarating ako sa carpark ng isang exclusibong restaurant. I will meet Ace, as he will hand me out the reports from the team. I parked diagonally and I noticed the car beside me. It's pulling out from its place and left Ace standing around it. Lumabas na agad ako at sinalubong niya na ako ngayon.
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"Sir, Marco. Good Afternoon."
"I won't be long, Ace. May pupuntahan pa kasi ako ngayon."
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Nakasunod naman siya sa akin at pumasok na kaming dalawa sa loob. This place is own by Xavion. He's into food business venture. Kaya halos ng mga negosyo niya ay purong high class na restaurant at iilang Hotel pa.
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"Good Afternoon, Sir Marco!" ngiting bati ni Cresilda. She's the Manager here and she knew me as one of he VIP's.
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I followed her, we followed her. She guide us to one of the private rooms that I usually get in. Siya na rin mismo ang nagbukas ng pinto rito. Umikot lang ako nang pwesto sa mesa at nakangiti naman siyang nakatingin sa akin talaga. She's got a darling smile, and I smiled at her.
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"Same as usual, Mami Cris." I winked on her.
"Yes, Sir." Sabay talikod niya.
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She's one of the best manager employee of Xavion. I like her a lot. She's like a sister to me. Inilahad agad ni Ace ang mga papelis at binasa ko na 'to. Binuksan nadin ang laptop at pinakita sa akin ang mga desenyo. I agreed to it. It looks okay to me and I have no problems with it.
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"Sir, we've hired an outsider interior designer too as per agreement. The good thing about her is she works on a kids charitable foundation."
"What sort of charitable foundation?"
"The kids cancer love foundation, Sir."
I nodded while reading the reports.
"Okay, let's finalize this so that we can start the constructions in no time."
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Binigay ko na ang mga papelis na binasa at dumating na agad ang refreshment na order namin mula kay Mami Criselda.
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"Enjoy, Sir!" masiglang tugon niya.
"Thank you, Mami Cris," ngiti ko.
"Ace?" kunot-noo ko habang pinagmamasdan ang huling papel na nasa kamay ko. May pirma na kasi ito.
"Oh, that's Fia's Sarmiento signature, Sir. Una kaming nagkita kanina at pinirmahan niya agad iyan."
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Napatitig ako sa pemanship niya. Pamilyar kasi sa akin ito. Sofia Sarmiento... That name sounds like a wind for me. Binalik ko na ito kay Ace at inubos lang din ang inomin.
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"Okay, Ace. I'll leave it all up to you. Send me the documents and I will stamp it with my signature." Sabay tayo ko. Tumango na agad siya at lumabas na akong nauna sa kanya.
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Nang makarating sa carpark ay tinawagan ko na si Philip. He used to work in the Army, and I know he has many connections. Matagal ko ng pinaiimbestigahan si Perla sa kanya, pero wala pa rin akong balita.
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"Hello, Philip, bro. Any news regarding, Perla?"
"Good thing you called, bro. Jackson send me an email yesterday. Telling me that Perla is in Cebu."
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Kumunot na ang noo ko. The hell! She's in Cebu? So sino ang babaeng nakuha sa video ni Tristan sa carpark kagabi?
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"What?" Namaywang na ako.
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Is this some kind of a joke to them? What the f**k! Nagmura na ako sa sariling isip.
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This past few days I couldn't sleep any longer. Kung hindi ko man siya naiisip ay napapanaginipan ko naman siya. Bumuntong hininga na ako ngayon habang pinakikingan si Philip sa kabilang linya.
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"I'll send you the pictures, bro. Let me know if that's her," sabay patay sa tawag niya.
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Napasandal na ako sa kotse. Hindi pa ako pumasok sa loob at tumingala pa ako sa kawalan. I took a deep breath again and I heard my phone beep. I looked at it, and it's a message from Philip. I swipe it and seen the photos. I shook my head again...
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No, this can't be... Hindi pwedeng nasa ibang lugar ang parehong sila.
The hell, Perla. Nasaan ka ba talaga.
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C.M. LOUDEN/Vbomshell
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C.M. LOUDEN
- Writer
