Chapter 17
1328 Words
“Sir, here’s the report from the accounting department” nilapag ko yung document na hawak ko at inabot yun sa Assistant ko.
“Here, I already sign those papers. Deliver it to the respective department” I opened the documents from the Accounting Department. I frowned upon seeing the figures from the Belgium branch.
“Any reasons bakit sobrang baba ng figures sa opening ng airlines natin in Belgium?” I asked.
“Sir, I checked the reports and coordinates to the respective departments. Sabi po nila hindi daw gumagana yung promo natin and those people prefer flying using the establish airlines. The Marketng Department already developing a plan to boost the sales” nilapag ko yung reports and looked at my secretary. I leaned my back to my chair and crossed my arms.
“What plans?” my assistant fixes his eyeglasses before answering me.
“I already asked them, sir. On going pa daw po, they will conduct a meeting later to develop a plan” I’m not satisfied in his answer.
“Conduct a meeting with the Marketing Department, R&D Department and the Planning Department after lunch with me” my secretary nodded his head.
“Noted, sir” tumango ako.
“You can go” pag ka alis nito ay nagsearch ako about Belgium economic and try to think a plan to boost our sales. I have employees but I won’t rely too much on them, as a President I should have insights, plans and vision for our branches.
“Baby!” mabilis akong tumingin sa pinto, and there’s Eunice. Damn! Pati ba naman dito.
“Why are you here?” kunot noong tanong ko, she raises her eyebrows.
“Why can’t I be here? I’m your girlfriend” maarte at mataray na sabi nito. Nakita ko palang ito ay pagod na agad ako.
“Your guards here are better than those in Cebu. When I told them that I’m your girlfriend they let me in” napahilamos ako ng mukha sa narinig. All of the guard will be fired then.
“Bakit parang ayaw mong nandito ako” seryoso ko siyang tiningnan.
“Eunice, I’m busy. Wala akong oras para samahan kang mamasyal or magshopping” nagtitimping sabi ko, masaya ako nang umalis ako ng Cebu cause I won’t see her again pero siya yung pumunta ng Pampanga. Sinong matutuwa doon?
“Duke Terrance Hart! Won’t you appreciate me coming here to visit you. Also, sinabi ko bang gusto kong magpasama sayo na magshopping?!” tumaas ang boses nito, I breath hard to calm myself down.
“Okay, I’m just stressed out. Hindi kapa nagsabi na pupunta ka dito kaya nabigla ako” lumapit ako dito at marahan siyang niyakap. Mahigpit itong yumakap pabalik.
“I just miss you, hindi ka din nagpaalam sa akin na aalis ka na ng Cebu. I thought you will be happy seeing me here” bumuntong hininga ako at bahagya siyang nilayo sa akin.
“Okay, I’m happy but I’m really stress out. Ang dami ko ding kailangang gawin kaya nadamay ka pa. It won’t happen again” mahinang paliwanag ko dito. Eunice nods her head and kiss my lips. I closed my eyes to respond when I remember someone’s honey-colored eyes. Mabilis kong nilayo si Eunice at niyakap siya. Hiding my furrowed eyebrows. Why do I remember Lili?
“By the way baby. Pwede mo ba akong samahan sa bookstore. My little sister asked me to buy her some books. Lunch na din tayo” napaisip ako, I looked at my wristwatch. 1 hour before lunch.
“Fine, pero saglit lang tayo. I have a meeting after lunch” masayang tumango si Eunice.
Nagdrive ako sa pinakamalapit na mall at sinamahan si Eunice sa bookstore.
“Anong books ba kailangan ni Farrah?” kanina pa kami paikot ikot sa bookstore pero wala pa din siyang napipiling libro.
“Oh! As far as I remember, she wants me to buy her Hunger Games books and The Maze Runner”
“Good books” one of my favorites.
Dumiretso ako sa novel area at napahinto nang makita yung babaeng bigla biglang sumulpot sa isipan ko kanina.
“Hello! Can you help me look for Hunger Games and The Maze Runner books?” There I saw her honey-colored eyes and this time for real. Kumunot ang noo ni Lili sa narinig.
“Doon po” turo nito sa isang direction, saglit lang ako nitong tiningnan. Bigla kong inalis yung pagkakahawak ni Eunice sa braso ko. But Eunice holds my hands instead.
“I need assistance” Eunice insisted.
“Eunice, she’s not an employee” tumingin sa akin si Eunice.
“Where’s the baby?” I bit my lowerlip when Lili stared at me. Yung tingin niya parang nahihirapan akong magsalita.
“Baby, she’s not an employee. Also, we don’t need assistance sa paghahanap ng libro” Eunice raises her eyebrows but later sighed.
“Fine” muli siyang tumingin kay Lili mula ulo hanggang paa.
“Sorry, I thought you’re an employee” napapikit ako sa frustration sa sinabi nito, hinila ko si Eunice sa direksiyong tinuro ni Lili. Habang papalapit ako sa kaniya ay nag iwas ako ng tingin. I feel guilty but I shouldn’t
After Lili saw us, I started to space out. And I’m thankful na hindi yun nahalata ni Eunice. I also cancel my meeting dahil wala ako sa wisyo. Naka alis na si Eunice sa office pero panay sulyap pa din ako sa cellphone ko. Walang message galing sa kaniya.
“Hindi man lang ba siya magtatanong?” I mumbled under my breath.
I decided to text her.
Lili
About sa nakita mo, wala lang yun.
Oh
Okay po.
It took her a few minutes to text me back. Tapos yun lang ang reply niya, niluwagan ko yung necktie ko.
“Bakit ba ako maguguilty? She is just a game” rason ko sa sarili ko. I calm myself and think. Bakit ba ako nabobother, she’s nothing. She’s just someone who amuse me.
Damn! Focus Duke, you have work.
To distract myself, I continue myresearch about the economy of Belgium and derived a plan for my airlines. Sa sobrang focus ko ay hindiko na namalayan ang oras. My phone vibrates. Tiningnan ko yun and when I saw it’s Lili ay agad kong binuksan yung chat head.
Lili
Pwede ko po ba kayong kausapin
Agad kong tiningnan yung oras. It’s almost 7 p.m.kaya nagugutom na ako, pag focus ako sa trabaho ay masyadong mabilis ang oras.
I grab my coat at lumabas ng office after kong sabihan yung secretary ko ay nagdrive ako pupunta sa bahay ni Lili. Huminga ako ng malalim before texting her na nasa labas na ako. After a few minutes ay lumabas siya ng bahay. Lumabas ako ng sasakyan at kumaway sa kaniya.
“Good evening” I automatically smiled, seryoso itong nakatingin sa akin.
“Yung kanina” panimula niya, nawala yung ngiti ko.
“Girlfriend niyo po?” seryoso pa din ito, lagi naman siyang seryoso kapag kausap ako.
“Yes” there’s no point kung magdedeny ako.
“Alam niya po ba yung Who Fall first game natin?” kumunot ang noo ko, bakit kailangan niyang malaman.
“No. I don’t think na kailangan niyang malaman lahat ng ginagawa ko” bumuntong hininga ito.
“Ginagawa niyo po akong third party sa relationship niyo sir” Third party?! The heck with her imagination!
“Yung relasyon namin it’s not what you think. Complicated yun” she shakes her head.
“Girlfriend niyo po siya diba?”
“Yes”
“You are dating me?” nagsalubong ang kilay ko but I answer her.
“Yes”
“Naunang naging kayo bago niyo ako dinate”
“Yes. What are you trying to say?” bumuntong hininga ito.
“Let’s stop our game at huwag niyo na akong idate” she said while looking at me intently.
- Writer
