That High Maintenance Girl

Hinihingal si Clementine nang tumigil siya mula sa kaniyang pag-jogging. Uminom siya sa kaniyang water jug bago sinagot ang umaalingawngaw na tawag mula sa kaniyang cellphone. Ilang taon na rin simula ng mangyari ang akala niyang ikakakasira ng buhay niya. But she's here, fighting and kicking alive after all those years. "Hey," sagot niya sa tawag ng kaibigan niyang si Sol. Sinet niya sa loudspeaker ang cellphone niya habang inaayos ang sintas ng kaniyang sapatos. "Tine, nakapag-set na tayo ng meeting sa Q-Foods. Available ka bang pumunta ng Manila, tonight? They will present to us." ani Sol sa excited na boses. Natigil siya sa p*******i at inalis ang loudspeaker para siguraduhin na tama ang narinig niya. She creased her forehead. "Q-foods?" tanong niya pa. "Oh my god, yes! They said yes to my invitation to present. If this goes well, then we'll sign right away! Narinig ko na tina-target din ito ng kakompetensya natin." she said. Tiningnan ni Clementine ang kaniyang relo at pinunasan ang kaniyang noo. Nag-umpisa na siyang maglakad papunta sa kaniyang kotse. She knows she need to go back to Manila right away. Hindi niya puwedeng palampasin ito. Q-foods is one of the biggest producers of vegan products that are now making it's name in the market. And she's excited to have their new products placed on their shelves exclusively. Imagining the sales skyrocketing makes her heart flutter. For sure, they will be hit. "Okay. Just let me look sa flights ng Davao to Manila. Why so rush?" maarte niyang tanong. She's in Davao. Supposedly, bukas pa siya uuwi sa Manila as it's the last day of her vacation leave. Napairap na lang siya dahil nakapa big deal ng company na ito para sa kaniyang kaibigan kaya naman kahit na naisin niyang magstay sa Davao ay hindi niya magawa. She cannot let her down. Sol is the only friend she has now. Napailing siya nang mapagtanto na wala nga pala siya masyadong kaibigan dito sa Pilipinas. She's too much to be a friend. And she doesn't want to trust anymore. "I heard our competitors are already offering a deal with them. Message me if something happens. If there's no vacancy on flights, I will rent a helicopter just for you. See you, girl." maarteng sabi ni Sol. Napairap na lamang siya sa narinig. Si Sol ay ka-schoolmate niya sa NYU. Siya ngayon ang nag-ma-manage ng supermarket business ng kanilang pamilya. She graduated BS Marketing at ngayon ay Marketing Head sa kompanya ni Sol. She smiled sadly. Before, she was supposed to inherit everything. But right now, she's just a mere employee. She cleared her head and started to drive. Dumating siya sa ancestral house ng mga Riaz. Hinalikan niya sa noo ang kaniyang lolo na may dementia bago pumanhik. Nasa kusina ang lola niya nagluluto ng meryenda. She kissed her. "Lola, I need to go back to Manila." sabi niya. Tumaas ang kilay ng kaniyang lola. "Akala ko, bukas pa? May emergency si Sol?" tanong nito. Umiling siya. "Hindi, La. Sa business lang. May meeting kami sa isang sikat na supplier. I need to be there kasi alam niyo naman, ako ang marketing head nila." pagpapaliwanag niya. "Oh, sige? Paano? May ticket ka na ba, hija? Kung gusto mo pakuhanan kita kay Dan—" "Okay na, La. Nakakahiya naman kay Danilo. Mag-aayos lang po ako ng gamit sa kuwarto. Babalik ako rito sa susunod na leave." she answered and smiled. Binuksan niya ang pintuan ng kuwarto niya. Nakasunod sa kaniya ang kaniyang Lola at tinulungan siya na magpake. Nahihiyang tumingin ito sa kaniya. "Tine," tawag ng kaniyang Lola. "Puwede ba akong makahiram ng extra? Si Tito mo kasi hindi pa nagpapadala kasi may sumasakit din daw sa asawa niya. Si Lolo mo naman, paubos na ang maintenance ngayong araw." Sinara ni Clementine ang zipper ng kaniyang maleta at kinuha ang kaniyang wallet. Kumuha siya ng dalawang libo at binigay iyon sa kaniyang Lola. "Babayaran ko ito kapag nakapaglaba ako kina Mila bukas." sabi nito sa kaniya. "Lola, hindi ba sabi ko naman sa inyo... dito na lang kayo sa bahay? Huwag ka na maglaba sa kapitbahay kasi hindi na kayo pabata. Bantayan niyo na lang si Lolo. Ako na ang bahala sa bills rito at sa gastusin niyo." sabi niya. "Salamat, Tine. Mag-iingat ka." sabi ng matanda. Tumango ang matanda at niyakap siya. Niyakap niya pabalik ito. Hindi niya maiwasang maalala ang kaniyang ina na pumanaw na. She looked like her grandmother. Nawawasak ang puso niya na makita na naghihirap ang pamilya nila. The Riaz family's one of the ancient rich families in this town. Anak ng gobernador si Lolo Virgilio niya at may azucarera sila noon. Iyon ang dahilan kung bakit nagkakilala ang kaniyang ina at ama noon. Pero tila nawalang parang bula iyon. Kaya alam niyang mahirap ito para sa Lola niya. Ang dating marangyang buhay ay napalitan nito. But she's determined to get their life back. Mabilis siyang kumilos kaya naman dalawang oras pa ay nasa byahe na siya papunta sa paliparan ng Davao. May nakuha rin siyang ticket agad at tinext niya si Sol na ipasundo na lang siya sa NAIA. At dahil nagmamadali siya, biglaang nag-announce ang paliparan na ma-de-delay ang kaniyang flight dahil sa maintenance check ng aircraft. Na-stranded sila ng halos limang oras doon. Nais na niyang tawagan si Sol para sa inaalok nitong pribadong aircraft ngunit ‘di na niya ma-contact ito. Halos mapamura siya. Sa oras na makarating siya sa Manila, ay wala na siyang oras para sa bumalik sa kaniyang condo unit. "Passengers of Flight ASZ123 boarding from Davao to Manila..." She sighed when they were allowed to board the plane. When she's seated, tumingin lamang siya sa labas ng bintana at tahimik na pinagmasdan ang banayad na panahon. She opened her laptop to review the proposals of Q-Foods that was submitted to her before. Naalala niya na she was so impressed by this company that she asked the marketing staff to contact them so they can present their product. Sinalubong siya ng driver ni Sol. Hindi na sila dumiretso sa kaniyang condo. Hinayaan na lang niya na ang pinagpawisan niyang t-shirt at pants ang suotin niya sa meeting. She'll be late kung iikot pa sila sa condo. "Si Solana?" tanong niya nang makita na wala roon ang kaniyang boss. "Naku, Ma'am Tine! Kilala mo naman 'yon... nasa opisina pa rin at may pinapatunayan talaga sa Daddy niya. Nakumpara na naman ata sa kapatid niya kaya pressured na naman." sagot ng driver. Tumango siya at hindi na nagkumento roon. Nag-umpisa na rin mag-drive ito kaya hindi na niya inabala pa ito. She scribbled some notes. She hastily reviewed all the questions she had before so she can ask the company itself. Napakaganda ng presentation ng proposal nito na kahit siya ang napahanga. "Ma'am, dito na po tayo." sabi ng driver. Sinara niya ang laptop at bumaba na. Sinalubong siya ng guard. She wanted to fix her hair and put some make-up pero kung gagawin niya iyon, panigurado na mahuhuli siya sa meeting. The CEO of Q-Foods will be here for the presentation as Sol requested para ma-i-offer niya ang deal. In this business, baka mainip iyon at gumawa pa ng masamang impression kaya mas pinili niyang umakyat na. Balita pa naman na seryoso iyon at masyadong busy kaya golden opportunity ito na maka-meeting siya in person at hindi sa conference call. Dumiretso siya sa conference room at halos mapamura ng marinig ang ilang tawanan sa loob. They already started the meeting. Tumikhim siya at inayos ang kaniyang bangs bago pihitin ang seradura ng pintuan. From there, she was stunned when she saw who's the man seating beside Sol. Nabura ang ngiti sa labi nito ng magtama ang paningin nila. Sol looked at her and slightly clapped her hands. "Finally," she squealed and pointed at the seat beside her to signal her. "This is Tine, our head marketing. Siya 'yung nakapansin ng proposal ng company mo, Mr. Quentin." Mas nabato siya sa kinatatayuan niya ng marinig ang pangalan nito. It was like she just became sure that this man wasn't an apparition. The vile man just looked at her. "Tine, are you okay?" tanong ni Sol at tinapik ang mesa. She bit her lower lip at dahan-dahang umupo sa upuan. She cleared her throat and looked at his uncreased dress shirt. She wanted to curse out loud for the delayed flight. Eh, di sana hindi itong t-shirt at jeans ang suot niya. She looked out of place. "Miss Ragasa, please continue," his dark voice said. Para bang hangin lamang siya na naroon. She tried to look at the woman who's presenting the products. Lumapit ang sekretarya ni Sol para bigyan siya ng kopya ng presentation. She said thanks and held her pencil tightly to stop looking at his direction. She cannot believe it. The only flawless product proposal that landed her desk, was Quentin's product. Binuklat niya ang bawat pahina ng meat substitute product nito. This will be a hit in no time. Every word in the proposal was impressive. Hanggang sa natapos ang proposal. She looked at all the people on the table. Lahat sila, may mga satisfied na ngiti na para bang lahat ay maliwanag sa kanila. "So?" Sol broke her silence and looked at all of them. "Tine?" Sol asked again, very hopeful. Dahan-dahan niyang sinara ang proposal at tumikhim. "I think the product was lacking something, Sol." she said and looked at the presenter. Mukhang kabado itong nakatayo. Sumulyap ito sa kaniya pabalik kay Quentin na prenteng nakaupo sa tabi ni Sol at nakatingin sa kaniya na para bang wala lang sa kaniya kung tanggihan siya ni Clementine. She bravely looked at the man. Halos manginig siya ng makita ang mga pamilyar na intensidad ng mga titig nito. "It's a no for me, Sol." sabi niya. Hindi makapaniwala si Sol sa kaniyang narinig. Naguguluhan niyang nilingon si Quentin pabalik kay Clementine. "But you were the one who said they're worth the shot. Remember when you read their proposal before your vacation leave, Tine?" she asked. Lumunok siya at tumango. She looked at the sliding folder and tapped it. "Yes. I also thought that. No offense, Ms. Ragasa. You're an incredible speaker but the problem's on the product. This might not have a lot of sale since your company's just barely starting its name." Tine said. Quentin raised his finger to get her attention. She just stared to his blank eyes. "How did you say that? Have you tried consuming our product, Miss?" he asked. Tine clenched her fist and flashed a sweet smile. Quentin's jaws were tightly closed. "I am a vegetarian, Sir. So, I can assure you that I can relate with this product." she answered confidently. "But I saw you indulge a steak last—" Sol tried to interfere but Tine stood up and looked at Sol who's very confused. "Your packaging is dull. Also, your marketing tactics, it is not convincing at all. I think it will not be deserving to be displayed at any of our supermarket's shelves." she ruthlessly said. Quentin clenched his fist. Halata na ang iritasyon sa kaniyang mukha. Tine wanted to shut his face. "You want the truth, Sir? This is a high-end supermarket. This is not a talipapa." she spat the words very clearly. She wanted to be struck by a thunder after saying that. Alam niyang insulto iyon pero hindi niya kayang magpatalo sa emosiyon na mayroon siya ngayon. Pagod, inis at galit ang namumuno sa isipan niya ngayon. "You want my thoughts on this as your marketing head, Sol?" she asked Solana coldly. "I will say no with this Q-Organic Meat Subtitute. I'm done with this meeting. Excuse me, Sol, Ms. Ragasa, Mr. Blanco." Tine grabbed her bag and went out of the door. Padabog niyang sinara ang sinakyang taxi papauwi. She closed her eyes tightly as she was riding the elevator. Nang makaakyat sa kaniyang unit ay agad siyang sumigaw sa frustration. She wanted to slap her face for what she did. She was clearly lying. Hinayaan niyang ang emosyon niya ang maghari sa meeting. It was so good! It was flawless at napakagandang opportunity nito. How could she not look into the company profile? If she knew that Quentin owned Q-Foods Industries, she will not put an inch of effort to go back here. She never thought that their first meeting will be just like this. She promised herself she won't step her foot in the same place with him again. It was just too many emotions seeing him again after all these years. It was the same face, but different feelings. He was too different and vile.