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2072 Words
Tahimik na nakatingala si Peyton habang nakasandal sa kanyang inuupuan na swivel chair. Bahagya niyang pinapagalaw ang upuan gamit ang kanyang mga paa na nakaapak sa sahig. Katatapos lamang niyang makipag-usap sa isang client nila for consultation. That was the third client he had to talk with just this afternoon.
He gently sighed as he roamed his eyes around the room. Hindi gaanong malaki ang office niya, hindi rin ito maliit, sa katunayan, sakto lang ang laki nito para sa kanya. Sapat lang ang laki nito para magkasya ang mga working papers niya at iba pang mga documents na kailangan niya sa kanyang trabaho. On the leftmost side of the room was his table, where the swivel chair he was sitting on was also located at one side of the table facing on a space full of file dividers on the sides. May dalawa ring upuan na nakalagay sa harap niya sa magkabilang dulo ng table niya.
Peyton checked the time on the wristwatch on his left wrist as he pulled the left sleeve of his suit. It's already almost four in the afternoon. Sunod naman niyang binuksan ang planner niya. Tiningnan niyang muli ang schedule niya sa araw na iyon.
Nakahinga nang malalim si Peyton nang makita na wala nang client na naka-appoint sa kanya. Kanina pa siyang nakaupo sa kanyang swivel chair simula nang matapos siyang kumain ng lunch. At sunod-sunod na ang pagpasok ng mga naka-appoint na client sa kanya for consultation. Halos araw-araw ay ganito ang trabaho niya maliban pa sa pagre-review ng mga financial statements na dapat niyang pirmahan. Ang mga financial statements na ito ay gawa ng mga staff na under sa kanya. He was also once one of the persons preparing the audited financial statements when he was still training. Kung kaya alam niya ang pasikot-sikot nito bago pa man siya naging isang Certified Public Accountant at bago pa niya nakuha ang accreditation niy upang mapakapagpirma siya as public practitioner.
Peyton gently moved his head as he slightly loosened the tie round his neck. He then stretched his arms, pushing himself together with the swivel chair away from the table. Agad din siyang tumayo matapos na tumunog nang mahina ang leeg niya.
Kinuha niya ang mug na nasa ibabaw ng table niya at naglakad palapit na pinto. He decided to go to the pantry and filled his mug with hot coffee. Ramdam na rin kasi niya ang antok dahil na rin sa kulang ang tulog niya nitong nagdaang mga araw. Hindi na ito bago sa kanila lalo na sa kagaya nilang mga nagtatrabaho sa accounting firm, at isa pa, malapit na rin ang deadline ng annual income tax returns ng mga ginagawan nila ng audited financial statements.
He was about to pull the door of his office open when it was opened by the guy he did not expect to come into his office. Kumunot ang kanyang noo pagkakita niya sa lalaki na may malaking ngisi sa mga labi nito. Wala itong appointment ngayon sa kanya kaya nagtataka sya kung bakit ito nandito at ano ang ginagawa nito sa office niya.
"What are you doing here, Prince?" hindi mapigilan na tanong ni Peyton. Tiningnan niya nang maigi ang hindi inaasahang bisita.
"Is that how you welcome a client in your office, Peyton?" Lalong lumaki ang pagkakangisi nito. It's as if he had something in mind that excites him to talk about with Peyton.
Lalo lamang tumalim ang tingin ni Peyton kay Prince pagkarinig niya sa tono ng boses nito. Alam niya na may iba itong pakay sa kanya lalo na't bigla lamang itong pumunta rito. Prince was still looking at him playfully.
Peyton took a deep breath as he slid his free hand inside the side pocket of the black slacks pants. Tila alam na niya kung ano ang pinunta nito sa kanya. Prince was bugging him every single day through a text message or phone call since that night he told Prince that he will think thoroughly about his offer.
"What is it this day?" mahinahon na tanong ni Peyton.
Nasa bukana ng nakabukas na pinto pa rin si Prince. Tumikhim ito saglit at binalingan siya ng taimtim ngunit mapaglarong ngiti. "Same thing. But this time, it is kind of different." Tinaas nito ang hawak na folder.
Peyton's eyes were focused at the folder in front of him. Nagsalubong ang noo niya. Wala siyang ideya kung ano ang nasa isip ni Prince. Ngunit bago pa man siya makapagsalita ay inunahan na siya nito.
"I know you're wondering what it is, Mr. Wise. That is why I personally come here to ask you if you already made up your mind? I will discuss what's in this folder once you finally agree to my offer," diretsong sambit ni Prince. Ngumiti ito ulit. "So, are you ready to accept my offer?"
"Ang kulit mo rin talaga, Prince." Peyton gestured his head, as if he was telling Prince to move aside from blocking the door. "I'll tell you my decision in a minute. Have a seat first and I need to go to the pantry. Want some coffee?"
"Sure sure. I'm expecting a positive response coming from you." Prince patted Peyton by the shoulder before he made his way to the empty seat in front of Peyton's table.
Napailing na lamang si Peyton sa inaakto ni Prince. Hindi na rin bago sa kanya ang ugaling ganito ni Prince dahil naging malapit na sila kahit noong nagti-training pa lang siya at ganoon din ito. Sa lahat ng clients nila, si Prince ang matuturing niya na malapit na niyang kaibigan. Dahil na rin siguro sa magkalapit na edad nila kung kaya hindi naging mahirap sa kanya na pakisamahan ito. It seemed like they always had the same thoughts running in their minds.
Peyton went straight to the pantry. Nilagay niya agad ang mug niya sa coffee maker. Sinalinan niya ito ng kape. Pagkatapos ay kumuha siya ng tasa sa cupboard at nilagyan in ito ng kape. Hinaluan niya rin ng cream ang kape ni Prince bago siya umalis ng pantry at bumalik sa kanyang opisina na tatlong pinto lang galing sa pantry.
Everyone was busy as a bee when he was walking along the a meter-wide walkway. The scenario was not new to him. Ganito talaga sila ka-busy kapag tax season lalo na't hinahabol nilang matapos ang lahat ng dapat matapos isang araw bago ang deadline.
Sa kaliwa ay ang cubicles ng mga staff nila sa assurance department, specifically their audit staff. Sa kanan naman ay ang glass wall ng rooms ng kagaya niya na public practitioner. Transparent ang glass wall ngunit may blinds ito mula sa loob ng silid just in cases na need ng privacy.
Hawak ni Peyton sa magkabilang kamay ang dalawang tasa ng kape. So he had no choice but to lean his shoulder to the door. He pushed the door as he opened it. At ang prenteng pagkakauppo ni Prince ang una niyang nakita pagpasok niya ng kanyang opisina. Feel na feel pa nito ang pagkakaupo na tila nasa sarili nitong opisina ito o kaya ay nasa bahay nila.
Peyton sighed. Wala talagang pinagbago kay Prince simula nan maging close sila nito.
"Here. Your coffee." Nilapag ni Peyton ang tasa sa table. Sinusundan lamang siya ng tingin ni Prince habang umikot siya sa table papunta sa upuan niya.
Inangat niya ang kanyang tingin nang makaupo na siya. He couldn't tell if Prince was making fun with him or anything. Hindi nito inaalis ang tingin sa kanya at parang may hinihintay ito mula sa kanya.
He crooked his brows which made Prince chuckle. Kinuha nito ang tasa ng kape. He sipped a small amount of coffee without looking away from him. Then, Prince placed the cup of coffee back on the table.
"So... Have you decided already? It's been a while since you told me that you will think about it," Prince started. Umupo ito ng maayos at nilapit ang katawan sa table.
"And it's been a while since you did not stop bugging me for my answer," dugtong ni Peyton na ikinatawa ni Prince. "Hindi ko talaga maisip kung bakit ako ang naisipan mong kulitin sa bagay na 'yan, Prince," umiiling na patuloy niya. Kahit na may sagot na talaga siya sa gustong mangyari ni Prince ay hindi niya pa rin maisip kung bakit sa dinami-rami ng tao na pwede niyang alukin ay siya pa ang napili nito. Sumandal siya sa malambot na sandalan ng swivel chair at saka hinintay ang magiging sagot nito sa kanya.
Prince softly laughed in disbelief. "Oh come on, Peyton. Isn't it too obvious?" Nilapag nito ang kanang kamay na para bang pinapakita nito ang pino-point out nito. "Look at yourself. You are much more qualified for the offer. You have the looks and the strong appeal that we are looking for, which you perfectly fit. At hindi ba nasabi mo rin sa akin na you want to experience new things before you completely manage this company and take over your dad's position? Sabihin na lang natin na tinutulungan kita na gusto mo." He smiled innocently, but there was still a hint of grinning at one corner of his lips.
Wala sa oras na napatingin si Peyton sa kanyang sarili. Pagkatapos ay naguguluhan niyang tinapunan ng nagtatanong na tingin ang taong kaharap niya. He even pointed a finger to himself. "Me? there's nothing special with my physique tho."
"You're kidding, right? Or masyado mo lang ata minamaliit ang sarili mo, my dear friend. Look at yourself, seriously, ang ganda ng pangangatawan mo. You have the body to die for and could drop clothings in no time," chuckling, Prince stated a fact. "And are you underestimating your face? Kung ako lang din ang pinagpala ng mukha ng isang magandang lalaki just like you, I would have volunteered already." He grinned.
Pinigilan ni Peyton ang tawa na nagbabadyang lumabas sa kanyang bibig. He did not expect Prince would say it all to him without any hesitations. May hand gestures pa itong ginagawa kasabay nang pag-describe nito kung paano nito nakikita ang panlabas na anyo niya. Hindi naman sa pagmamayabang, Peyton already knew that he is good looking. He could not deny it, especially that it really runs in their blood. Their family had those genes to effortlessly look handsome and beautiful.
Nilapag ni Prince sa tapat ni Peyton ang hawak nitong folder. "Anyway, we're taking too much time. I know you, Peyton, nililihis at pinapatagal mo lang ang usapan. You can't escape from me. I got my eyes at you." He flipped the folder open.
A piece of paper immediately came into Peyton's sight. It looked like a contract or an agreement of some sort. Mabilis na binasa ni Peyton ang mga nakasulat sa kapirasong papel nang tahimik at gamit lamang ang mga mata. Napailing siya at saka naging seryoso ang mukha niya. Inangat niya ang kanyang ulo upang tingnan si Prince.
"Is this necessary? It's just a simple blind date as I remember it, right?" Peyton crossed his arms against his chest. Hindi siya makapaniwala sa kanyang mga nabasa. It was an agreement of non-disclosure, which made him think twice. Wala nang iba pa ang nakasulat sa papel maliban doon. Napaka-irrelevant nga nito sa tingin niya. Ang haba-haba nang binasa niya tapos iyon lang ang ibig sabihin ng nakasulat.
Prince gently scratched the back of his head as if he was caught from doing something without disclosing everything with the other party. Madali nitong binaba ang kamay nang mapagtanto nito na umaakto siya na parang nasa bahay lang at nakikipag-usap sa isang kaibigan outside business.
"Is there something I still need to know about the offer, Prince?" naging malalim at buo ang boses ni Peyton. It was the usual tone of his voice when he is dead serious. It sounded with so much authority and full of intimidation, which he inherited from his dad.
Peyton smirked when he saw Prince's throat move as if he gulped a lump. "Now tell me, Prince. Or I will not accept your offer..." Hinawakan niya ang kanyang baba gamit ang kanang kamay. Marahan niyang hinimas ang baba niya. He hummed. "It seemed like it is very important to you that you really need to convince me."
Hindi nakatakas sa mga mata niya ang patagong ngiti ni Prince habang panandalian nitong binaba ang ulo. Got you.
"You know you can't outwit me, Prince. Spill it out."
- Writer
