When Two Hearts Meet

CHAPTER 3

“I’M AT YOUR COMPANY’S LOBBY. Prepare some wine for me.” Sabi ni Wayne nang sagutin ni Mikael ang tawag nito.

“Anong ginagawa mo rito?” tanong ni Mikael sa kaibigan. “May appointment ka ba?” tanong pa niya.

“So rude.” Wayne clicked his tongue.

“I’m just asking.” Mikael defended himself. Though alam naman niya sa sarili niya na masama talaga ang ugali niya sa ibang tao.

“I’m already inside the elevator. And as your friend, you won’t kick me out of your company, right?”

Mikael couldn’t help himself but to roll his eyes. “Pumunta ka na lamang rito, okay?”

Wayne chuckled. “I have a business proposal for you. It’s about finance.”

“Okay. Dito natin pag-usapan pero walang alak. Soda ang mayroon.” Sabi ni Mikael saka ibinaba ang tawag.

Napailing naman si Wayne.

Meanwhile, Mikael called Leigh through the intercom and asked her to prepare soda for his visitor.

Kaagad tumalima si Leigh. Pumunta siya sa kusina na nasa mismong president’s office floor saka kumuha ng soda. Then she took it to her boss. Nadatnan niyang may kausap itong lalaki.

“Thank you, Leigh.” Saad ng boss niya nang mailapag niya ang dalawang soda sa mesa nito.

Bahagya lamang na yumukod si Leigh saka lumabas ng opisina ng boss niya.

“Your new secretary?” tanong ni Wayne. “Ang ganda niya, ah.”

Bahagyag sinipa ni Mikael si Wayne sa may binti nito. “You can f**k any woman you want, just leave my secretary alone.”

Wayne was surprised by Mikael’s words. “Tama ba ang narinig ko?” gulat niyang saad. “May pakialam ka naman pala sa ibang tao.”

“Leigh is my secretary, moron! Kapag nag-resign siya ng dahil sa ‘yo, ako ang kawawa. I need a secretary.” Sabi ni Mikael. Ginawa niya talaga ang lahat para maging normal ang boses niya at hindi nauutal. Wala siyang balak ipaalam sa mga kaibigan niya na si Leigh ang naging crush niya noon.

Alam niyang siya ang magiging tampulan ng tukso kapag nalaman ng mga ito ang tungkol kay Leigh.

Umiling si Wayne. “Something is not right. Mikael, pare, kilala ka naming lahat. Masama ang ugali mo sa ibang tao. At hindi ka ganun makipag-usap sa mga babae. I saw it with my own eyes. You were looking at your secretary with a soft expression in your eyes, and you even spoke with her with a gentle voice. I never heard you talking with another woman like that except your family.”

Mikael clicked his tongue. “Huwag mo akong pakialaman.” Binuksan niya ang soda saka uminom roon.

Wayne smiled teasingly at Mikael. “You have hots with your secretary, right?”

Mikael glared at Wayne. “Isa pa. Hindi na ako makikinig sa kung anumang business proposal ang sasabihin mo.”

Natawa ng mahina si Wayne saka napailing. Mikael was beet red, but he didn’t dare to tell him. Baka palayasin siya nito kapag inasar pa niya ito ng inasar. Nakakapagpanibago. Ito ang unang beses na nakita niyang ganito si Mikael. Mikael was always rude to other people, but the way he talked to his secretary…parang may iba talaga.

Wayne gave the business proposal that he made to Mikael. Though his family’s business wasn’t short of money, and even Mikael wouldn’t be his business partner in the project he wanted to develop, Mikael’s opinion matters. Sa kanilang magkakaibigan kay Mikael siya pinakamalapit. Nasasabi niya lahat kay Mikael ang mga hinanakit niya at ganun din naman ito sa kaniya. They can say offensive words to each other, but they won’t take them to heart.

“You wanted to build luxurious hotels?” gulat na tanong ni Mikael. “Agustin, nakalimutan mo na yata na ganiyan rin ang negosyo ng pamilya namin. Gusto mong makakumpetensiya si Everly?” he asked. Everly was the one who is now in-charge of Bernardi Royal Real Estate. She was being trained by their mother.

“I’m not going to compete against her. I want to build a partnership. You’re her brother and you’re my friend. I…” Nag-iwas ng tingin si Wayne. “You know what I mean.”

“Bakit may masama ka bang intensiyon sa kapatid ko?”

Mabilis namang sumagot si Wayne. “Wala. But I wanted to hear your opinion about it. Though we were close, our family was close. I am not close to your sister. You might misunderstand if I approached her without consulting you.”

Napatango si Mikael. “Mabuti naman at kinausap mo ako. Pero gusto mo akong gamitin para mapalapit sa kapatid ko. Bakit hindi na lang ikaw ang lumapit sa kaniya? She has graduated, and I know she won’t enter any relationship right now because she is being trained by our mother.”

“Is it okay with you?”

Tumango si Mikael. “It’s okay. You can directly approach her and ask her to personally help you build the hotel you wanted to build.” Aniya. “It’s all about business after all.”

“Thanks, bro.”

Mikael sighed. “I knew my sister very well. She could separate work and relationship.”

Wayne looked at Mikael. “I only wanted her help to build the hotel I wanted. I am not going to enter any relationship with her.”

“But you wanted to get closer to her?”

Natahimik si Wayne saka iwinagayway ang folder kay Mikael. “I’m going to her now.”

“Do you want me to recommend you?”

“No need,” tugon ni Wayne saka nagpaalam na aalis na. Pero bago siya umalis kinuha muna niya ang soda na para sa kaniya.

Mikael could only pity Wayne in the future. But they have their own lives anyway. Mag-focus na lamang siya sa buhay niya at hind isa buhay ng ibang tao.

Akala ni Mikael nakalimutan na ni Wayne ang tungkol kay Leigh. He had a good talk with him when he went to his office earlier. Pero ang hindi niya inaasahan ang chat ni Wayne sa group chat nilang magkakaibigan.

Wayne Agustin: My tsismis ako.

Mabilis na nagseen ang iba nilang kaibigan na halos hindi naman talaga nagse-seen. Minsan lang kapag may tsismis.

Odysseus Ignacio-Atienza: Ano naman ‘yon? Huwag mong sabihin na may girlfriend ka na.

Wayne Agustin: Hindi ako ang topic dito. Si Mikael.

Dylan Atienza-Ignacio: What about Mikael? Wala namang pwedeng i-tsismis sa kaniya. We all know that he is a good boy.

Destiny Atienza-Ignacio: @Dylan Atienza-Ignacio, huwag mo kasing pangunahan.

Mavielyn Salazar: I’m off. What about my nephew-brother? @Wayne Agustin.

Everly Miracle Salazar: Ahmm…bukod sa masama ang ugali ni Kuya na naririnig ko sa ibang tao. wala akong alam na pwedeng mai-tsismiss sa kaniya.

Mikhail Elliot Salazar: @Everly Miracle Salazar, that’s right, sis.

Wayne Agustin: Hello! Gusto niyo bang malaman o hindi?!

Odysseus Ignacio-Atienza: Sabihin mo. Gusto naming malaman. I was interested kung anong bagong tsismiss tungkol kay Mikael.

Wayne Agustin: @Mikael Eathan Salazar, seen pa more, dude. @Everyone, Mikael was fancying someone.

Hindi na nakatiis si Mikael.

Mikael Eathan Salazar: @Wayne Agustin, shut it!

Natawa ng malakas si Wayne dahil nahuli niya si Mikael. So, totoo nga ang nakita ko kanina.

Wayne Agustin: @Mikael Eathan Salazar, so, totoo nga?

Sa inis ni Mikael, nagpadala siya ng private message kay Wayne. ‘Shut it. Do you want me to cancel all our previous deals?’

Wayne Agustin: Wala namang personalan.

Mikael Eathan Salazar: Then don’t tell them what you saw in me earlier.

Wayne Agustin: So, totoo nga? You have a hots for your secretary.

Mikael logged out.

Mas lalo pang natawa ng malakas si Wayne dahil nakumpirma mismo ni Mikael ang totoo. Mikael, my friend, good luck to your love life.

Mavielyn Salazar: @Wayne Agustin, do you know who’s the girl my brother is fancying?

Wayne knew that if he spilled the name, Mikael would have his head, so he logged out and turned off his phone. It’s better to save himself from trouble. Mahirap na at baka sakalin pa siya ng kaibigan niya.

MIKAEL noted that when he sees Wayne next time, he would strangle him to death. Pagkatapos kasi siya nitong i-tsismis, hindi na siya tinitigilan ng mga kaibigan niya mas lalo na ang Ate Mavielyn niya. Kinukulit siya nito kung sino ang sinasabi ni Wayne na babaeng nagugustuhan niya.

“Come on, Mikael. Tell your Ate Mavielyn who’s that girl? I’ll help you to get her.”

Mikael rolled his eyes. “Bago ko siya ipakilala sa ‘yo, bakit kaya hindi mo muna ipakilala ang boyfriend mo.”

“I don’t have a boyfriend.”

“Then find one.” Sabi ni Mikael. “Huwag ako ang kulitin mo, Ate. Wala akong panahon upang makipagkulitan sa ‘yo.”

Mavielyn chuckled. “Come on, nephew. Spill her name.”

Mikael ended the call. Napansandal na lamang siya sa kaniyang swivel chair saka nahilot ang sentido. Masasakal niya talaga ang Wayne na ‘yon kapag nagkita sila. No, he would take his revenge now.

Kaagad niyang tinawagan si Gabriel. “Gab, may ipapagawa ako sa ‘yo.”

“Ano ‘yon, Boss?”

“Buy something for me and deliver it to Wayne.”

“Okay, boss.”

Ngumisi si Mikael. “Tignan natin kung uulitin pa niya ang ginawa niya.” Aniya saka tinignan ang oras sa suot na wristwatch. It was already three in the afternoon. Gusto niyang magkape kaya tatayo na sana siya nang may kumatok sa pinto ng opisina niya.

“Come in.”

The door opened and his secretary entered.

“Sir, ipinagtimpla ko po kayo ng kape.”

“Right in time,” sabi ni Mikael. “Magtitimpla sana ako.”

Leigh walked towards his table and put the cup of coffee on his table. Then she looked at the tablet her other hand was holding. “Sir, ire-remind ko pala kayo tungkol sa appointment niyo bukas. Though the investor will come here personally and the conference room is ready, you need to be ready too.”

Tumango si Mikael. “Thank you for your reminder.”

“Isusulat ko na lang po dito sa note.” Sabi ni Leigh. From her pocket she fished out a green post-it-note and wrote her boss’ appointment. Then idinikit niya ito sa gilid ng libro na nasa mismong lamesa ng boss niya.

Mikael smiled inwardly.

“Sir, babalik na ako sa table ko.”

Tumango si Mikael.

“Iyong kape niyo po lalamig na.” Then Leigh left his office.

Tinignan naman ni Mikael ang kape na tinimpla ng sekretarya niya. Gumuhit ang malapad na ngiti sa labi niya. Leigh Clemente. Looks like I will ready myself for a heavy fall in the future. This feeling I have for you when I was a teenager is like being rekindled.