Way of Forever

Kabanata 8

Levine’s answer shocks his father for a minute before he returns to being the stern father that he is. He knows that what he was doing gave Levine's the bad impression of him, making his figure to be a bad father. But all he wanted was the best for his son. Pero katulad niya, matigas ang ulo nito. Levine can make a decision on his own.

“Really? Baka sinasabi mo lang ‘yan para hindi ko ituloy ang marriage mo.”

Levine sneered. “Kahit pa hindi. Hindi pa rin ako magpapakasal basta basta. And I’m hundred percent sure that this time is real.”

“Then, let us meet her next month. Kapag nalaman ko na nagpapanggap lang kayo. I will marry you off Levine whether you like it or not. Ayaw mo naman siguro mawala ang pinaghirapan mo?”

Levine clenched his fist. How did he know? Alam niya na walang-wala ang kumpanyang naipundar niya kumpara sa kumpanya ng kanyang ama. He can't let him destroy it. He can’t let him waste the things he works hard for. Dugo at pawis ang sinugal niya para doon.

“Fine. But I will ask her if she’s ready. Don’t expect me to bring her. Ayaw ko s’yang pilitin.”

‘So his girlfriend is a shy girl?’ tanong ng ama ni Levine sa isip. His wife was also shy but not to the pint that she lacks confidence. Now, he’s curious as to what type of a girl can make Levine fall for.

-----

Levine heaved a sigh nang makalabas siya ng bahay ng magulang.

‘Saan siya kukuha ng girlfriend?!’

Okay lang sana kung kahit sino dahil alam n’yang willing ang mga ito but the problem is dapat hindi ma-attach sa kanya. The one who won’t fall for him.

-----

“So, sinasabi mo na kailangan mo ng babae na maipapakilala mo sa parents mo?”

“Pauli-ulit, Win? Kanina niya pa sinabi ‘di ba?” iritadong reply ni Caide. Tinawagan sila ni Levine kanina para lang sa problemang ito.

“Kaya nga. Itong kaibigan natin namomroblema dito? Man, you can flirt with everyone pero pipili lang ng babae ‘di mo magawa? Ang dami d’yan,” kumento ni Winston.

“I know,” sagot ni Levine. “Pero ayaw ko ‘yong ma-fa-fall sa’kin ang babae. Hell, dude, we’re just playing. No string attached.”

“Bakit hindi mo na lang sinabi ang totoo sa dad mo?” tanong ni Caide.

“Are you serious? Ipapakasal niya ako sa Ga… ano ba ‘yon basta sa anak ng kaibigan niya. Hell no! One of the things I'm against is ‘yong maipakasal ako sa taong ‘di ko naman mahal.” Ano? Pati ba lovelife niya kailangan planado ng iba? Kailangan pakialaman ng iba kung iyon ang isa sa magpapasaya sa kanya?

Holding his chin, Winston suddenly has a light bulb in his mind. “ I know kung sino!”

Sabay na napatingin sina Levine at Caide sa kaibigan nilang si Winston na may pagtatanong sa mukha.

"Who?"

"Sino?"

Winston claps his hand. "Edi ‘yong babaeng nakita natin sa bar dati. You told us na nagtatrabaho siya sa kompanya niyo hindi ba? So, why don’t you ask her?"

"Papayag kaya ‘yon?" tanong ni Caide. His brow furrowed at the thought kung papayag nga ba si Maeve. That woman has a pride at hindi bastang babae lang. Nai-kwento kasi sa kanila ni Winston ang nakita nito noon sa Starbucks. He badly wanted to see that. Palaban ang babaeng ‘yon. Kakayanin kaya ng kaibigan niya? Tsk, tsk.

"Maeve?" Tumaas ang kaliwang kilay ni Levine. That damn woman who refuses his help to het her home. Huh! Hindi ba nito natatandaan kung gaano nito sinigaw ang pangalan niya sa kama. Tapos kakalimutan lang siya?

"Baka ‘yon pa ang maglaglag sa akin. That woman is crazy!"

"Pero siya talaga ang naiisip ko’ng pwedeng magpanggap bilang girlfriend mo," kontra ni Winston.

"Actually, Wins has a point. Hindi naman ‘yon ma-fa-fall sa’yo, Lev—"

"So, sinasabi mo’ng walang pake ang babaeng 'yon sa'kin? Sa mga pa-charm ko? ‘Di effective?"

"Dapat ba meron?" singit ni Winston. Aba, iba talaga ‘tong kaibigan niya. Ang tindi ng imagination.

Natahimik si Levine. 'Wala.'

"The feelings are mutual," he replied and diverted his gaze to the side.

"Perfect! Hindi ka mahuhulog sa kanya at hindi din siya sa’yo. Kaya siya ang dapat piliin mo."

Nagtinginan sina Winston at Caide. There was a mysterious smile drawn on their lips. Good thinking talaga, Winston.

-----

Three weeks later. Maagang pumasok si Maeve sa kompanya. Tatlo pa lang at ang naroon sa floor nila at hindi niya ka-close.

Maya maya ay nagsidatingan na ang karamihan. They were talking to each other at ang iba ang pinagtitinginan siya. God! Ang hirap talaga maging maganda araw-araw.

Ina walks in and gets their attention!

“Okay, team, dadating mamaya ang mga papeles from the our journalizing team and expect na marami iyon dahil sa balita kahapon. I want it to be done smoothly and no errors. Got it?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Okay. Back to your work. Siya nga pala Maeve, I need to talk to you in the office right now.”

Tumayo si Maeve at sumunod kay Ina. Nagbulungan na naman ang mga naroon.

“Bakit kaya siya pinatawag ni Ma’am Ina?”

“Baka may nagawang mali?” Natawa ito.

“Ganda lang kasi ang ambag ‘non maliban sa pagtataray nito.”

“Oo nga. Hindi katulad mo Daine…” tumingin ito kay Diane na nasa tabi nila. “Maganda na, matalino pa,” puri nito.

Ngumiti ng matamis si Diane. “Ano ba kayo? Baka may importante lang sasabihin si Ma’am Ina kay Maeve.”

“Pinagtatanggol mo pa ‘yon?”

Hindi niya pinagtatanggol. She’s just making them hate Maeve more.

-----

“Maupo ka, Maeve.”

“Why did you call me, ma’am?” Hindi naman nininerbyos si Maeve kaya kampante siya na hindi masama ang sasabihin ng team leader nila.

“You see, Maeve, maganda ang perfromance mo this past two weeks. And I’m very impressed on how you make the reports. Na-i-submit ko iyon sa top management and they were asking me about you at nakaabot ‘yon sa VP. The thing is, the VP wanted you to become his secretary.”

“How about his assistant?” As much as she remembers kasama nito palagi ang assistant nitong si Xy and he was also the one who run errands pagdating sa floor ng VP.

“Iba naman ang trabaho ni Mr. Xy, you on the other hand will jot down the schedules and important notes for the Vice President,” sagot ni Ina. Maging siya ang na-shock din nang banggitin ito sa kanya ng top management.

“Bakit ngayon lang po siya nag-assign ng secretary?”

Ina shrugs her shoulder. Hindi niya din alam pero magandang balita at feedback ito sa team niya.

“I don;t know the reason but maybe dahil sobrang dami din ng ginagawa ni Mr. Xy so needed na nila ng secretary. Miss Santos, magandang opportunity ‘to and you will pay up high.”

Maeve was thinking deeply. Bakit ngayon lang ito kukuha ng secretary? But it’s a great opportunity and she should grab it.

“Okay, ma’am. I’ll accept it.”

Bahala na. Basta mataas ang sahod niya.