Afflicting Fate

Chapter 25

TWENTY-FIVE: GIVE ME YOUR ATTENTION

(I feel envious that she can make him smile.)

Dana:

The red carpet, wide white hall, and fantastic chandeliers are placed above which illuminate elegance and classiness. These mesmerize my eyes. I can only see such grandiose space in movies and dramas I've watched and it's unbelievably happening to me.

Woah. Daebak! My heart was struck with awe and astonishment.

Lumalabas lahat ng alam kong English dahil dito! Sandali kaming tumigil ni Sir Evan sa paglalakad sa gitna ng red carpet habang nakahawak ako sa kanyang braso nang may lumapit sa kanyang isang lalake.

"Evan! It's good to see you again." bati ng lalake sa kanya at tinapik ang kanyang balikat. He looked at me. Ngumiti naman ako sa kanya. Right now, my ability to see people's souls is very useful. I can say whether that kind of person is true towards Sir Evan, and this guy seems good and nice.

"My girlfriend." sabi ni Sir Evan.

Alam kong ito talaga ang role ko ngayong gabi, pero ng sabihin niya 'yon ay iba ang naging epekto sa'kin. Parang inaanod ako ng agos ng nakakapang hinang damdamin na'to. He stared at me as he smiled back to his companion. Sandali akong natulala sa binitiwan niyang ngiti. Ganito pala ang Sir Evan na nakangiti. Parang awtomatikong naipinta sa isipan ko ang masayang mukha ni Sir Evan. I want to see him like this every single day. He became a totally different person after that smile.

Hindi na pumapasok sa taenga ko ang bawat salita na binibitawan niya at ng kasama niya, sa halip ay parang naka sentro na lamang sa mga mukha ni Sir Evan ang atensyon ko. Sa bawat galaw ng bibig niya sa pagsasalita, sa bawat kumpas ng kanyang mga kamay, sa bawat hawi ng kanyang mga kamay sa buhok niya at sa bawat hawak niya sa kanyang neck tie. Huling-huli ng mga mata ko lahat.

Hindi ko mapigilan ang sarili kong hindi siya titigan.

It's because of that f*cking smile, that I became his captive. I can't resist him. I can't get away. I'm chained and imprisoned by his charm. Matapos niyang kausapin ang isa sa mga kakilala niya ay naglakad lakad pa kami. Nakangiti lang si Sir Evan. Sa bawat nakakasalubong namin either Chinese, American, British and French, he smiled, laughed and talked to them. He must have trained himself about this. I don't know how hard it is for him. Is he suffering?

"Dana."

Nahinto ang pagtakbo ng isang nakakapanlumong eksena sa aking isipan nang masambit ni Sir Evan ang pangalan ko. Napatingin ako sa kanya.

"See that guy?" turo ng kanyang mga mata sa isang lalake na naglalakad papalapit sa'min. Nakangiti siya ngunit isang napakaitim na soul ang lumalabas sa kanya. Kinabahan na ako nang makita ko siya. Lalong-lalo pa ng marinig ko ang sinabi ni Sir Evan.

"He's my cousin." Matapos niyang masabi 'yon ay nasa harapan na namin ang lalakeng 'yon.

"Evan, you're here." sabi niya. Noong una akala ko ay pure Chinese siya 'yon pala half Filipino rin siya. He can speak English and Tagalog too, so I can understand him better compared to other people here. I dont know kung paano sila naging mag cousin ni Sir Evan.

"Yeah. I don't have any appointment tonight, so I decided to attend."

"Oh, really? That's nice. I've heard that you're here in Beijing because of an investor?"

"Yes. How about you?"

"Well, of course. I traveled from the Philippines to go here just for tonight's event. This is very important. A lot of businessmen are here, and of course possible investors too."

Patuloy lang ang pag-uusap ng dalawa na para bang wala talagang problema,but because of his dark soul, I'm doubting this guy.

"Oh, I forgot to ask. I'm sorry."

Ibinaling niya ang atensyon sa'kin na nanatili lang nakatayo sa tabi ni Sir Evan habang umiinom ng wine at kunwari nakatingin sa malayo, pero ang totoo I'm just listening to their conversation.

"Who is she?"

Napatingin naman ako sa kanya sabay ngiti.

"Good evening." Pagbati ko sa pinaka modestong pamamaraan na mayroon ako. Elegant ka ngayon Dana, remember?

"Good evening to you beautiful lady." sabay ngiti sa'kin na may kasamang panunuri mula ulo hanggang paa.

Matapos niyang gawin 'yon ay nilagok niya ang wine na hawak-hawak niya at muling ibinaling ang atensyon kay Sir Evan na naghihintay ng kasagutan sa kung sino ako.

"Well, I'd like you to meet my girlfriend. She's Dana."

After niyang sabihin 'yon ay may parang nagbago sa reaksyon ng mukha ng lalakeng 'yon. Hindi ko alam kung pagkagulat ba 'yon o hindi paniniwala sa sinabi ni Sir Evan.

"Really? It's nice to see you here. I'm Greg Yi, Evan's cousin." Sabay abot ng kamay niya sa'kin.

"I'm Dana. Nice to meet you Greg." Ngumiti siya at muling ibinaling ang paningin kay Sir Evan.

"So, I think I'm wrong about hearing you suffering from an illness."

Deretsong pangingilatis niya kay Sir Evan. Medyo naguluhan ako sa sinabi niya.

"Well, hindi naman natin maiiwasan ang mga ganyang issue, especially a lot of people are interested in my position in the company."

Nagsisimula ng maging mainit ang mga titigan nilang dalawa at nagpaparinigan na.

"Maybe, they're just worried about the company. It's not good to have a CEO who's not mentally and emotionally fit. You know that Evan."

"Of course, I'm well aware about that fact. Kaya nga hindi talaga ako comfortable na may mga naririnig na ganyang issue. Sobrang naapektuhan ang stocks dahil doon."

"I agree with you about that. Anyway, I have to go coz I need to talk to someone." Pag-iiba ng usapan ng lalakeng 'yon at naging hudyat na rin ng pamamaalam niya sa'ming dalawa.

Halatang apektado siya sa mga sinabi ni Sir Evan. I don't know the whole story, but I feel like I know where this topic goes. I can figure out that this guy is my boss's enemy. Tuluyan na siyang nakaalis sa area namin at nakita kong nakipag-usap na siya sa iba pang tao doon sa event, habang kami naman ni Sir Evan ay nakikipag-usap din sa investor na siya ring dahilan ng pagpunta namin dito sa event.

Since, he introduced me as his girlfriend tonight, ngayon ko lang din nakita ang Chinese investor ng company na si Mr. Yu.

He's an old, powerful, and influential man in the industry. That's according to my files about him which were given by Miss Hana.

We are talking to him right now and he's with her daughter. His refined, cunning, and fascinating daughter is receiving a lot of attention from other people at the event.

As a woman, I can sense how guys are looking at him. She's full of enchantment, that's why I felt a little inferior towards her.

I looked at Sir Evan and he's smiling at her as he talks. It seems that he's also been wiled by her. I feel envious that she can make him smile. Hoy! Tumingin ka naman sa'kin Sir!

BAKA MATUNAW NA MAMAYA ANG BABAENG 'YAN! HMMMP!!!

Masyado kasing pabibo 'tong isa na 'to.

END OF CHAPTER 25