This Time ( You Got Me Book 2)

Chapter 7

JACOB ARELLANO

“Can you come to the office tomorrow morning at ten o’clock?”

“What the h*ck, Jake! Balak mo bang maaksidente tayo?!” Singhal ni Mikee sa akin. We’re on our way to a client meeting when a text message came in. I know I shouldn’t be texting while driving. Pero nag pop up ang message sa phone ko habang ginagamit ko ang navigation device dahil hindi kami pamilyar ni Mikee sa lugar na pupuntahan namin. Agad akong napapreno nang mabasa ang message na ‘yun.

“S-sorry, Mikes” napailing ito and heaved a deep sigh.

“Ano na naman bang iniisip mo at wala ka na naman sa wisyo,” iritable nitong tanong. Hindi ako nakasagot kaya siya na mismo ang kumuha ng phone ko at binasa ang nakaopen na message doon. She rolled her eyes upon reading it. “One text and you come stumbling on your feet. Gosh!” Minsan talaga nakakairita din ang mga comment nito eh. Mabuti na lamang ay Boss ko siya at matalik na kaibigan kung hindi—

“Nagulat lang ako, okay?” It’s been 3 days simula nang magkasama kaming pumunta sa Sierra Hotel sa Tagaytay. After that, I never heard from her again. I bet she’s busy and of course, wala naman siyang dahilan para makipagkita o makipag communicate sa akin.

“Ang sabi ko sa’yo ligawan mo ang kliyente. Pero iba yata ang nililigawan mo eh,” natatawa na naman niyang komento. Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin. She knows I hate the topic. Ang tagal naming hindi siya pinag-usapan. Alam kong iniwasan din niya na ma-brought up ang kahit anong topic tungkol kay Andrea. Pero ngayon ay parang tuwang tuwa pa siya sa sitwasyon na siya naman ang may kagagawan.

“This is business, Mikee. Don’t put color on what you see,” malamig na sagot ko sa kanya. She raised both hands as sign of surrender and mouthed, “Okay, sabi mo eh” then smirked.

“Okay. I’ll be there,” I had to reply. Baka isipin niyang hindi ako prompt sa pagsagot ng mga kliyente.

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I came thirty minutes earlier. I have no idea why she wanted to see me. But to be honest, I got excited at the idea. Wala naman siyang ibang sinabi kung bakit niya ako pinapapunta dito. Nang dumating ako ay ang sekretarya niyang si Joan ang sumalubong sa akin. Funny, but an Executive assistant has her own secretary. Ano ba talagang posisyon niya sa kompanyang ito? At sa buhay ni Alfred Garcia?

“Hi Sir Jake!” magiliw na bati sa akin ng sekretarya niya. Sa ilang ulit na pagpunta ko dito ay nakapalagayan ko na ito ng loob. Dahil maaga naman ako ay nakipagkwentuhan muna ako dito. Masaya kaming nagtatawanan nang marinig naming ang isang pagtikhim.

“Ehem,” Joan and I stopped when we heard it and to my surprise ay nasa likod ko na pala ito. Parang huminto ang t***k ng puso ko nang makita ko siya. D*mn! How can she become more gorgeous every time I see her? Parehas kaming nakatitig sa isa’t isa. But her eyes show no emotion at all.

“Good Morning, Ma’am!” Thank God, Joan spoke. Naputol ang titigan namin dahil parang nanghihina ako sa mga tingin lang niya.

“Good Morning, Joan. Good Morning, Mr. Arellano.” malamig na bati nito.

“G-good Morning,” sige Jake. Ngayon ka pa magstutter. “Y-you wanted to see me?” I asked. Mula noon hanggang ngayon, nagagawa pa din niyang pakabugin ang puso ko sa isang tingin lang.

“I don’t,” she corrected and raised an eyebrow. I felt, humiliated. Good thing kami na lang dalawa dahil si Joan ay bumalik na sa table niya at nagtrabaho.

“It’s Alfred who called you,” I was disappointed. Sana nilinaw niya sa text niya na ang boss niya ang nagpapatawag sa akin. Really Jake? Umasa ka talaga?!

“Sabi ko nga,” tanging naisagot ko na lang.

“He’s waiting in his office. Please follow me,” malamig pa din na sabi nito at nagsimulang maglakad papunta sa opisina ng lalaki.

“Mr. Arellano, thank you for coming today!” mukhang good mood si Mr. Garcia. Pagkapasok ko pa lang sa pinto ng opisina niya ay agad niya akong sinalubong at kinamayan. Sinenyasan niya akong maupo sa silya sa harap ng kanyang office table. Si Andrea naman ay tumayo sa gilid niya, still cold and expressionless.

“Is there anything I can help you with, Mr. Garcia?” I asked him while he still flashes his bright smile.

“Well, I heard about how you helped Andrea when she needed to go to Sierra Hotel.” He looked extra welcoming today. Maybe he was thankful about that. But mind you man, I didn’t do it for you. I did it for her. I thought to myself. I took a glance at Andrea. Pero hindi man lang niya ako nagawang pagtapunan ng tingin.

“No need to mention it, Sir.” I answered.

 “I was actually impressed, Jacob. I hope you don’t mind me calling you on your first name,”

“Jake’s fine, Sir.” Hindi ko aalm kung ano ang tinatakbo ng usapan. But knowing that he wants to call me by my first name is an indication that he’s starting to give his trust to me. That’s a good sign.

“You now, Andrea is very important to me,” And to me as well. I said to myself. Hindi ko maiwasan na mainis sa sinabi nito. I clenched my fist.

“That’s why I am very thankful for helping her and keeping her safe,” he continued. Pasimple akong sumulyap kay Andrea na hindi ko alam ay nakatingin pala sa akin. She immeditaely looked away with irritation on her face. Ang aga-aga ang sungit-sungit. Baka may buwang bisita.

“Is that all Sir?” magalang na tanong ko. ‘Yun lang ba ang dahilan niya kaya niya ako pinapunta dito? Para ipamukha kung gaano kaimportante si Andrea sa kanya?

“No of course not. Kung iyon lang ay pwede ko namang itawag sa iyo, hindi ba?” natatawa niyang sagot sa akin.

“Our car plan for our Account Executives in one of our hotels is about to expire. I believe there are ten of them. So, we will be replacing their existing cars. Isa ‘yun sa mga benefits ng company sa kanila. How about I get the new cars under your bank financing? Can you help me with that?” woah! Ten car loans. Okay ‘yun!

“Of course, Sir.” I immediately answered. Aba’y sampung car loan ‘yun. Ang laking bawas sa existing quota ko.

“Of course, kapag naging smooth ang transaction natin, ikaw na din ang maghahandle ng iba pang hotel account executives namin,” Hindi ko napigilang mapangiti ng malawak sa sinabi niya.

“However, the hotel I’m talking about is in Pangasinan. So, you have to go there, is that okay with you?” aniya na parang sinusukat ang hangganan ng serbisyo ko.

“I told you Sir, I can always go the extra mile,” I proudly said. Isa ‘yun sa mga strategies ko, kahit saan pa ‘yan ay willing akong puntahan. That’s how Sales work.

“That’s good to hear, Jake. And maybe you can accompany Andrea when you go there,”

“What?!” Andrea raised her voice upon hearing what Mr. Garcia said. Ako naman ay nabigla. Bakit parang ipinagbibilin niya sa akin si Andrea?

“But I thought you’re coming with me?” kita sa kanya ang pagtutol. I wanted to feel offended that it looks like she’s so much against the idea of me coming with her.

“I have to go back to New York. May problema sa site,” he explained while they’re looking at each other. Sometimes I really feel na hindi lang sila magkatrabaho. F*ck. I cursed.

“Pero ini-expect ni Papa at mama na kasama kita,” So he knows them? Another f*ck.

“Please send them my regards. Babawi kamo ako,” he was very apologetic. Parang nilamukos ang dibdib ko sa kaalamang malapit ang lalaki sa pamilya ni Andrea. I was once close to them.

“I hope you don’t mind if sasamahan mo si Andrea, Jake. After all, ay siya din naman ang mag-aasikaso ng accounts na ibibigay ko sa’yo,” muling baling nito sa akin. I can see how disappointed Andrea is.

“I’ll... take care of her, Sir.” I always wanted to take care of her.