When Two Hearts Meet

CHAPTER 2

NAPABALIKWAS ng bangon si Mikael dahil sa isang masamang panaginip. He dreamed of that night again. That night was a nightmare for him. It wasn’t a good night at all. It was a nightmare for him. This is the reason why he rented a flat. Ayaw niyang makita ng pamilya niya ang pagkabalisa niya lalo na sa tuwing napapanaginipan niya ang gabing ‘yon. He was haunted because he knew that he took the girl's innocence, and he was guilty. Hindi niya maalala ang mukha ng babaeng ‘yon. Ang tanging maalala niya lamang ay may nangyari sa kanila ng babaeng ‘yon. He was drugged and he was confused. How the hell did that thing happen?

Napabuga ng hangin si Mikael saka bumangon na lamang. Pilit niyang kinakalimutan ang tungkol sa nangyaring ‘yon. He fixed his bed and went to the bathroom. He did his morning routine, took a bath and went to cook his own food. Hindi siya marunong magluto pero natuto siya mula ng nagrenta siya. His parents were against him renting a flat and insisted on taking a condo, but he refused. He only wanted to be simple. Kahit naman marangya ang buhay nila, pinalaki pa rin siyang simple.

After tidying up the kitchen, he went back to his room and put on his formal attire, took his car keys, locked the door and left his apartment. Napatingin siya sa katabing flat, hindi na ito naka-lock katulad ng dati. Did someone rent it?

Naglakad si Mikael patungo sa elevator. He pushed the first-floor button. Sa pagkasara ng pinto ng elevator ang siya namang pagbukas ng pinto ng flat na tinutukoy ni Mikael.

The woman locked her flat and walked towards the elevator. Nang makita niyang ginagamit ang elevator, pumunta siya sa isang elevator. Pumasok siya at pinindot ang first-floor button.

After getting off the elevator, Mikael went to the parking lot and drove his car. Even though he had a bad dream, he was looking forward to this day. He was looking forward to seeing Leigh. Thinking of the girl he had adored before, binilisan niya ang kaniyang pagmamaneho.

Getting out of his car, he couldn’t help but look up at the building. It was one of the tallest buildings in the city. And the name of the building was ‘SALAZAR EMPIRE’. It was engraved at the center of the building. He knew that his father worked hard to achieve this kind of business life.

At bata pa lamang siya itinamin na sa kaniyang isipan – sa kanilang magkakapatid - na kung gusto nilang maging asensado sa buhay kailangan nilang paghirapan ang mga bagay na gusto nilang makuha. Lahat ng bagay ay hindi madaling makuha at lahat ng bagay kailangan mo itong paghirapan.

He became the Vice-Chairman of the Salazar Empire while his father was the Chairman. Pero kadalasan ay siya na ang pinapagawa ng kaniyang ama sa ibang bagay na ginagawa ng Chairman.

“It will be a part of your training.” Sabi ng kaniyang ama.

His father won’t go to work sometimes at kadalasan siya na ang sumasalo sa mga appointment nito. From his father’s appointment, meetings, giving speech to charities, students who wanted to venture business and many more. Mas marami na ang araw na hindi pumapasok ang kaniyang ama. Minsan nga biniro pa siya nito na siya rin lang daw ang papalit sa posisyon nito kaya training na niya ang mga ginagawa niya. Well, it was helpful.

“Good morning, Sir.” His secretary greeted him.

Automatically, he smiled and nodded his head before he went inside his office.

The day passed normally except that he had a beautiful secretary. Hindi niya tuloy alam kung tama ba ang desisyon niya na tinanggap niya si Leigh bilang sekretarya niya o ano?

Leigh was focused on her work while he was bothered. He doesn’t know why he was bothered. O dahil alam niya sa sarili siya na may naramdaman siya noon sa dalaga pero hindi lamang siya nabigyan ng pagkakataon na umamin kaya ganito na medyo bothered siya.

“Why did I hire her anyway?’

Right, she passed the qualifications of being a secretary, and she had three years of experience from her previous employer.

Napaayos ng upo si Mikael nang may kumatok sa pinto ng kaniyang opisina. Tumikhim siya. “Come in.”

Bumukas ang pinto ng opisina niya at pumasok si Leigh. “Yes?” he asked in a serious voice, pretending to be busy on his laptop.

“Sir, may dumating po na email from the CEOs of MS Cars. I have already sorted everything. Basahin niyo na lang po then give your feedback.” Sabi ni Leigh saka inilapag ang hawak na tablet sa harapan ng Boss.

Tumango si Mikael. “Okay. Iwan mo na lang.”

Bahagyang yumukod si Leigh saka lumabas.

Napabuga ng hangin si Mikael. “Why am I nervous?” he asked himself. And he couldn’t accept that he was the nervous one.

Napailing na lang si Mikael saka kinuha ang tablet. He started reading the emails and gave his feedback.

Exactly lunchtime when Gabriel arrived at his office and reported to him.

“Boss, I have already asked the police about it. The Mafia Group had really entered inside the business circle and circulated illegal business. Ginagamit nila ang mga produkto nila upang doon itago ang mga droga na ide-deliver nila sa mga customer nila. Ilan na sa mga ito ang nasabotahe ng mga pulis pero marami pa rin ang nakakalusot. Matagal na ring nag-iimbestiga ang mga pulis tungkol sa Mafia pero hindi nila mahanap ang pinuno nito. The Mafia Leader was vigilant. Tanging ang mga tauhan lamang nito ang nahuhuli ng mga pulis.”

Napatango si Mikael. “Sigurado ako na unti-untian nilang ikalat ang mga produkto nila sa mga produkto ng ibang kumpanya pero para magawa nila ‘yon pabagsakin muna nila ang mga kumpanya na sumusoporta sa mga kumpanyang ‘yon.”

Kumunot ang nuo ni Gabriel. “Boss, you mean to say target nila ang mga malalaking kumpanya katulad ng Salazar Empire. But the empire is more on cars and financials.”

Ngumiti si Mikael. “Narinig ko mula sa isang negosyante dati na nilapitan siya ng isang tao at nag-alok ito ng malaking halaga upang mag-invest sa isang produkto pero hindi pumayag ang negosyante. Later, his business went bankrupt. Sa tingin ko naghahanap sila ng mga taong susuporta sa Mafia at kung hindi pumayag ang tao na ‘yon, pababagsakin nila ang kumpanya nito. Or worst, papatayin nila ang mga taong makakaalam sa organisasyon nila.”

Napaisip naman si Gabriel. “That’s why, three years ago, the old Mr. Salazar was shot.”

Tumango si Mikael. “My father was fortunate, that’s why he survived. Itinigil niya ang pag-iimbestiga sa Mafia ayon na rin sa pakiusap ni mommy.”

Then Mikael suddenly remembered the Black Book that was given him by the man he saved before. Hanggang ngayon nasa safe vault pa rin ito at mula ng inilagay niya ito doon hindi na niya ito tinignan. He sighed. Pinasadahan niya lamang ito ng tingin at ang mga pangalan na nakasulat doon ay hindi na niya maalala.

But anyway, ibabalik rin lang niya ito sa talagang nagmamay-ari nito. Ngunit napapaisip siya kung kailan ito kukunin ng taong nagbigay sa kaniya?

“Gab, mag-ingat ka habang nag-iimbestiga ka sa kanila. I don’t want to lose a good assistant,” Aniya.

Bahagyang yumuko si Gabriel. “My father said the same to Old Mr. Salazar.”

Napailing si Mikael. “Don’t keep calling dad ‘Old’. Baka masakal ka no’n kapag narinig niyang tinatawag mo siyang ganoon.” Biro niya.

“He won’t.” Confident na sabi ni Gabriel.

Mikael was a year older than Gabriel. Gabriel was the son of Mateo, his father’s assistant.

Mikael smiled and looked at his wristwatch. “By the way, have you seen my secretary?”

“Pumunta siya ng cafeteria, Boss. Kumain na ba kayo?” tanong ni Gabriel.

Umiling si Mikael.

“I will buy food for you.”

“Thanks.”

Tumango si Gabriel saka lumabas sa opisina ng boss para ikuha ito ng pagkain sa cafeteria. His boss was not picky about food. Basta malinis, kakainin nito. It doesn’t matter if the food was from the cafeteria or the restaurant, as long as it was safe for it. Kaya naman ayaw niyang umalis bilang assistant nito kahit pa sinabi ng Old Mr. Salazar na pwede siyang magtrabaho bilang isang propesyunal na employee ng Salazar Empire pero ayaw niya. If he becomes an employee, then his boss won’t have an assistant anymore. Mas mahihirapan ito lalo na at marami itong ginagawang trabaho.

“Hi!”

Nagulat si Gabriel nang biglang may nagsalita at pagtingin niya ay ang bagong sekretarya ng Boss niya. “Kanina ka pa ba diyan, Ms. Sectary?” tanong niya.

Tumango si Leigh.

“I didn’t hear your footsteps.”

Ngumiti si Leigh. “Syempre, maraming tao dito sa cafeteria saka maingay. Hindi mo talaga ako maririnig.”

“Oh.”

“Kakain ka ba?” tanong ni Leigh.

“Ahmm, kukuha lang ako ng pagkain ni Boss.”

“At the cafeteria?” Leigh asked. Hindi siya makapaniwala. Rich people preferred to have food from expensive restaurants. This was the first time that she heard that a rich man wanted to have food from the cafeteria. “Are you sure?”

Tumango si Gabriel. “Bakit? May problema ba?”

Umiling si Leigh. “Ito kasi ang unang beses na nakakita ako ng mayamang tao na kakain ng pagkain mula sa isang cafeteria. My previous employer preferred to have food from an expensive restaurant.”

“Iba si Boss.” Sabi ni Gabriel. “Nakakaya niyang makipagsabayan sa mga empleyado na kagaya natin.”

Napatango si Leigh. “Take your time then. Una na ako.”

“Sige, Ms. Secretary.”

Leigh went back to her work station. May thirty-minutes pa bago matapos ang lunch time kaya namana tumingin-tingin na lamang siya ng pwede niyang mabili online. Pero wala naman siyang nabili dahil narealize niya na may mga damit pa naman siya at gamit na hindi pa niya nagamit.

When the clock strikes at one, she started to work again. Sa totoo lang mas marami siyang trabaho ngayon kaysa sa dating pinagtrabahuan niya. At ngayon lang rin niya nalaman na dalawa ang trabaho ng boss niya. Bukod sa pagiging vice-chairman nito, ito rin pala ang tumatayong chairman kapag wala ang Chairman na ama nito.

Leigh sorted the documents and gave them to her boss for him to sign. She also receives some appointments and meetings from her boss for the next couple of days. At sinabihan naman siya ng Boss niya na kailangang kasama siya nito sa meeting para may mag-take down notes. Syempre, trabaho niya ‘yon. Hindi naman siya pwedeng tumanggi. At isa pa, ito ang unang araw ng trabaho niya.

Unang araw ng trabaho pero marami siyang ginawa.

When the office hours ended, Leigh could only massage her neck and sighed in relief that her work hours ended. Makakauwi na siya.

Pagkarating niya sa gusali na kung saan naroon ang apartment niya, hindi niya inaasahan ang makakasabayan niya sa elevator. “Boss?”

“Leigh?”

“Boss, anong ginagawa niyo rito?” tanong niya ng may pagtataka.

“Dito ako nakatira.”

Leigh was surprised. “As in?”

Tumango si Mikael at bahagyang natawa. “Bakit parang nasurpresa ka? Wala namang nakakasurprise na malaman mong dito ako nakatira.”

Umiling si Leigh. Hindi ito inaasahan ni Leigh pero ang hindi niya mas inaasahan ay magkatabi lang sila ng flat ng Boss niya.

“Coincidence.” Sabi ni Mikael saka ngumiti. “Good night.” Aniya. Then he entered his flat.

Naiwan naman si Leigh na natigilan. Kapagkuwan natawa siya ng mahina. I don’t know if he rented a flat because he was kicked out of their house or if there is another reason.

Pero kung anumang rason ‘yon, Leigh doesn’t have the rights to enter anyone’s privacy. After all, she has her privacy.