This Time ( You Got Me Book 2)

Chapter 2

Mikee’s POV

“I can’t believe you’re actually here now!” I can’t hide this happiness and excitement inside me upon seeing her again. Sa saglit na pagsasama namin sa branch ko noon ay sobrang naging close kami. She was like a younger sister to me. And, I must admit that I was really hurt when she chose to leave two years ago. But there’s nothing I can do that time. Hindi ko alam kung anong buong pangyayari at kung ano ang totoong dahilan, But I saw that she was hurting. And leaving is the only option she had to stop that. Nagpaalam lang siya sa akin that she was resigning effective immediately. I tried to contact her in all forms: SocMed, calls, texts—but no response. I knew she would change her number. Kaya sobrang nanlaki ang mata ko nang makatanggap ng email sa kanya. I immediately replied and when she finanlly gave her number, agad ko siyang tinawagan.

Three weeks ago nang magkausap kami and she said that she’s coming back to the Philippines after staying in New York for a year. Sa tagal ng pagkukwentuhan namin sa video call ay nabanggit ko na ako ang pumalit kay Boss Mildred as Regional Manager after her retirement. She was silent for short moment at kahit nasa kabilang linya siya ay alam ko ang tumatakbo sa isip niya. Why not Jake? Sentimiyento ko di naman ýun. From the start, I already said that Jake should be the one to inherit the position. Kung ako ay ayaw ko sana dahil stress ang kapalit nito. Gusto ko lamang mag-enjoy kasama ang asawa’t anak ko. But it’s either me or Jake, ‘yun lang ang option na ibinigay ni Boss Mildred. But Jake f*cked up. Kaya wala akong nagawa kung hindi ang tanggapin na lang ito.

I wanted to ask Andeng what happened. The reason why she left, the reason why she ended things with him. But I knew it wasn’t the right time. I knew she didn’t want to talk about it.

Nabanggit ko sa kanya ang struggles ko as the new head. Hindi talaga biro ang pinasok ko. Kung dati ay sarili ko lang na quota ang iniisip ko, ngayon ay quota na ng buong region. And it’s really frustrating me. Andeng immediately suggest that I should send a proposal to her boss who happens to be the CEO of one of the largest hotel chains and private airlines company in and outside the country. Kung paanong napunta siya doon ay hindi na naming napag-usapan. Kaya sobrang ang dami naming mapag-uusapan ngayon. I told her that Jake will be with me. I thought she will refuse. But to my surprise, she agreed as if seeing him wouldn’t bother her at all.

Jacob’s POV

“So, what happened to you? Magkwento ka!” Kailangan bang ganito kaexcited si Mikee na makita siya?

“Well, super long story pero ayun nga, I‘m now working as the executive assistant of Alfred Garcia and I stayed in New York for a year dahil nag expand siya dun ng hotel chains niya,” she said while giggling.  I remained silent while both of them are exchanging stories of how life blessed them in the past two years. Hindi ko mapigilang mapatitig sa kanya habang nagsasalita. She seems very different now. Sophisticated, finesse. Maging ang make up at pananamit niya ay nag-iba. Mula sa simple at mahiyaing babaeng nakasama ko noon, ngayon ay mababakas na sa porma at pananalita ang pagiging well conversed at educated nito. Maging ang pagpilantik ng kanyang mga daliri ay nag-iba; ang tawa ay pagngiting nag-iba man ay mas lalong naging kahali-halina. I immediately turned my gaze away from her when I felt that she would look at me. Ayokong isipin niyang apektado pa din ako sa kanya.

“Ehem,” I intentionally cleared my throat to remind them that I’m here at baka nakakalimutan nilang may kasama sila. Women! Hindi talaga nauubusan ng pagtsi-tsismisan.

Saglit napabaling ang tingin niya sa akin ngunit agad din niyang inagaw iyon at sinubukang gawin pormal ang anyo.

“So, let’s get to business,” she said as if she’s really excited dealing with us—with me.

Maging si Mikee ay nagsimula na ding maging pormal.

“Andeng, we are thinking that since you work directly with Mr. Garcia, then maybe you can help us to set an appointment with him. You know, maybe we can be your exclusive bank partner,” panimula ni Mikee.

“Alfred is still in New York right now but— “”

“Alfred,” I interrupted. “You call your boss by his first name?” I added. As per my research, this Alfred guy is one of the youngest billionaires in the business world. And he’s also a bachelor. They may be in the same era and age. But calling your boss by his first name sounds rude for me. Napaarko ang kilay niya sa komento ko.

“Yes, he wants to be called by his first name,” mariin na sagot nito. “only by the people he trusts, of course.” She leaned on the backrest of the chair while crossing her arms in her chest. Hindi ko inalis ang tingin ko sa kanya.

“As I was saying, Alfred is still in New York but he will be here by next week so I’ll see if I can find a fill you in his schedule to present your proposal.” Naninibago ako sa katarayang ipinapakita niya. Dati-dati ay ni hindi niya magawang magalit ng husto. Mas nauuna pa siyang umiyak dahil hindi niya kayang magkimkim ng sama ng loob. Why? Did I offend her on my remarks about her informality with her boss?

“Thanks, Andeng. That’s just what we need.” Mikee held her hand that’s placed on the table. She gave her a reassuring look. Samantalang sa akin ay puro pailalim na tingin. Matapos an ilang Segundo ay nagsalita siya.

“But of course, I need to run through your proposal first. Ayoko naman isipin niya na may pinapaboran ako dahil may pinagsamahan tayo,” she paused and stared at me. “Mikee.” She then continued and turn her gaze to Mikee. So, you’re playing with me, huh? I came prepared. Pinaghandaan ko ang araw na magkikita tayo. Inilabas ko ang dala kong ipad and open the slides for my proposal.  

“As you know, Prosperity Bank is highly committed on—“ I was about to start but she immediately cut me off with her remark.

“Committed,” she smirked at the word. She sipped on her cup of coffee. Wariý nakakita ng mali sa iilang salita pa lang na nasasabi ko. Ibinaba niya ang tasa at direktang nakipagtitigan sa akin.

“Okay, Mr. Arellano,” she calls her boss by his first name pero sa akin na ex-boyfriend niya at ex fiancée ay very formal siya. Hindi ko napigilang magtangis ang panga ko.

“How committed are you?” nanghahamong tanong nito. I started to feel uneasy on her question and gesture like she is declaring a war between us.

“I’m sorry?” I wanted to clarify her point.

“I mean, how committed are you on being our exclusive bank partner? Mahirap naman na ibibigay naming ang buong pagtitiwala namin saýo at kapag nakuha mo na ang kailangan mo sa amin ay pababayaan mo na kami. What do they call that?” she held her chin “Ah! Ningas Cugon,” she emphasized the word. “You know, sa simula lang magaling” dagdag pa niya. This is not about our proposal anymore, I’m sure. So, you’re putting the blame on me now?

Muli niyang ipinagpatuloy ang pag-inom ng kape ngunit hindi isinusuko ang matapang na awra niya,

“Don’t worry, Ms. Hernandez.” I started to respond.

“I am not the type of person that will just disappear in thin air. Hindi ko ugaling bigla na lang umaalis ng walang paalam. I can assure you that if ever na dumating yung time na ayaw ko na sa relationship natin, I mean our business relationship, I will end it right,” she tried to hide it pero nakita ko kung paanong nalukot ang mukha niya sa sinabi ko.

“We’ll see about that,” malamig na tugon nito.

 Ilang Segundo pa kaming magtagisan ng paninitig at kung hindi pa magsasalita si Mikee ay hindi pa ito mapuputol . I almost forgot she’s with us.

“Business proposal pa ba ang pinag-uusapan ninyo?” nanunudyong tanong nito sa amin.

She turned her gaze to Mikee. Kaiba sa pakikitungo niya sa akin ay higit na malumanay at welcoming siya sa kaibigan. What do you expect Jacob? She’s your ex!  I told myself. Nagkuwentuhan na lamang silang muli  matapos ang tagisan naming dalawa.

“I’ll call you when I already set your schedule,” she told Mikee. Nakalimutan na ba niya na ako ang makakatransact niya?

“Thanks, Andeng. I really appreciate your help. Mikee hugged her. Minsan iniisip ko kung mas mahal na ba niya ito kesa sa akin na bestfriend niya. Nung mga panahon kasi na hindi pa natatapos ang relasyon namin ni Andrea ay napakadalas nilang lumabas na silang dalawa lang. Kaya nga kami ni Oliver naman ang nagbonding dahil iniiwan nila kami palaging dalawa.

“I’m doing this for you, Mikee.”aniya as if pinaparinggan ako na para lang kay Mikee kaya siya nakikipag-usap sa akin ngayon.

Nagpaalam na ito sa amin and hopped in her car that is parked beside my SUV outside the café. So she even got a car now, huh?

Sinundan ko ng tingin ang papalayo niyang sasakyan. Makailang sandal nang maramdaman ko ang pares ng mga matang nakatunghay sa akin.

“What?” Hindi ko naiwasang mairita sa tingin niyang iyon.

“You’re too obvious, Jake.” natatawang saad ni Mikee.

“Don’t start with me Mikes,” I said coldly when we’re already inside my car.

“Tss! Then, start this d*mn car of yours instead,” she smirked again as if I was a big joke to her.