His Love and Her Diary

AFTER

"Ma'am Penelope, ireremind ko lang po sana kayo regarding your luncheon meeting today at Shangri la Hotel Fort - Makati." My secretary reminded me while I am signing some documents.

Awtomatiko akong napatingin sa wrist watch na suot ko pagkarinig sa sinabi ng aking sekretaryang si Zara. Eleven forty-five na pala. My luncheon meeting ako with the new investor at eleven thirty in the morning.

I still have time to fix myself. I think I just needed a retouch.

I am now the CEO of our company. College palang ako ay tini-train na ako ng daddy para pumalit sa pwesto niya. When I graduated last two years ago, agad niyang ipinamana ang posisyon nito sa akin. And now, busy ang parents ko sa pagliliwaliw sa buong mundo. The last time I checked my IG may picture ang mga ito na may caption na #RelationshipGoals. Natatawa nalang ako dahil dinaig pa nila ang nag-iisang anak sa relationship goal na pinagsasabi nila.

Yes, I am still single and I am not mingling with anyone. Lalo na ngayon dahil masyadong tutok ang atensiyon ko sa negosyo ng aming pamilya. It is not I am complaining, I wanted this. And I also wanted my parents to enjoy while they can.   

"After this luncheon meeting, I want you to cancel all my appointments. I am not feeling well. Baka umuwi na ako after this." I said to Zara while I am preparing my things.

Wala namang masakit sa katawan ko. I just don't feel okay today. PMS, I guess.

"Pero Ma'am Penelope, you have a dinner meeting with another client at seven pm." Bigla itong tumigil sa ginagawa at humarap sa akin.

Bumuntong-hininga ako. I don’t think I can make it. I really feel off today.

"Please tell that client to re-schedule our meeting tomorrow. Kahit first thing in the morning pa over breakfast. Ikaw na ang bahalang mag-persuade sa kanya Zara. I don’t really think I can make it. It’s the time of the month. You know what I mean."

"I'm sorry Ma'am but the client will fly back to San Francisco tomorrow. Wala na siyang oras makipagkita sa inyo kundi mamaya. So, I guess, you need to come and see her." Zara insisted. Bihira itong magpahindi sa mga favors ko but this time she did. I think I really needed to come in the meeting. Malaki ang tiwala ko sa aking assistant.

"Is that so? Okay, just send me the details. I have to go." Wala na akong choice kundi ang pumunta kahit pa hindi maganda ang mood ko ngayon.

Kliyente yan e.

“I already did, just check on it in your email. And the reservation is under your name.” Sagot naman ni Zara sa akin.

“Thank you, Zara. I’ll be going.”

"Hi, I have a reservation here." Bati ko sa receptionist na nasa bungad pagpasok ko ng kainan.

"May I know your name, Ma'am?" Magalang na tanong nito sa akin.

"Ms. Penelope Santos of PenSa Marketing. My secretary did the reservation." I smiled at her while she's checking the reservations on the computer.

"Table # 8, Ma'am. Kararating lang di po ng ka-meeting niyo." Nag-bell ang receptionist at agad na may lumapit na crew sa akin.

"Sammy, paki-guide si Ma'am sa Table #8." Utos ng receptionist sa service crew na lumapit sa akin.

I mouthed "Thank You" to the receptionist. She smiled and nodded back to me.

Nakatalikod ang ka-business meeting ko. She looks fabulous on her backless dress. I don't know but she reminded me of someone.

"Hi, you're earlier than me. Penelope Santos, CEO of PenSa Marketing." Pinasaya ko ng kaunti ang aking boses habang nagpapakilala.

Nakangiting inabot ko rito ang aking kamay.  

Umangat ang mukha nito mula sa pagbabasa sa cellphone nito. The woman smiled back to me and to my surprise she stood up and hugged me very tight.

"I missed you, Ate Penny." She sobbed while hugging me tight.

Oh my God! This can't be true! Caroline is back and she is so beautiful. Kaya naman pala pamilyar ang mukha nito sa akin. Ilang taon na kasi ang lumipas kaya ibang-iba na ito. I stared at her intently, hindi pa rin talaga ako makapaniwala.

“I missed you too.” I am so overwhelmed to see her again.

"Woah! I'm surprised, baby Caroline. Adorable no more! You're gorgeous now." I said while looking at how transformation made her look like a super model.

"Thank you!" I laughed when she waved like a beauty queen.

“Bagay sayo maging beauty queen.” She really can fit to pageants like that.

"Eh ikaw, ang ganda-ganda mo na lalo, Ate Pen. Sorry nalang si Kuya Jacob, he can't see how beautiful you are right now." Sumimangot ito ng biglang nabanggit ang pangalang matagal ko ng hindi naririnig.

Jacob.

May kung anong bagay ang bumundol sa dibdib ko ng binanggit niya ang pangalan ni Jacob.

Pitong taon na ang lumipas pero wala pa ring nabago sa nararamdaman ko para sa kanya. Mom said Jacob is now an engineer by profession. Kaya siguro si Caroline ang nagpapatakbo ng business nila. But on the contrary their business has something to do with medicines - pharmaceutical industry that is so far from engineering.

I calmed down myself and smiled to Caroline. Hindi ko alam ang isasagot ko sa kanya.

"Ang tatas mo pa din mag-Tagalog. What do you want to order?" Pag-iiba ko ng usapan.

I handed her the menu. Pero nanunukso itong ngumiti sa akin.

“No, I am not. I guess, this is not the right time to talk about him.”

"Uy, iniiba ang usapan. So, para hindi ka mailang pag-usapan si Kuya Jacob. I will tell you his secret." Inilapit pa nito ng kunti ang mukha sa akin habang nagsasalita.

Tipid akong ngumiti bilang sagot.

"Magpo-propose na siya mamaya sa girlfriend niya." She said it disgustedly to me.

Mukhang ayaw nito sa bagong nobya ng kuya nito. I can sense it. Or maybe because I am the one in front of her. O baka naman kasi ayaw niya lang akong masaktan.

"Ahm okay… It’s nice to know that he is settling down. Let's eat." Parang nagkaroon ng bikig sa lalamunan ko.

I tried my best not to cry in front of Caroline. Pero ang totoo ay gusto ko ng pakawalan ang sakit na nararamdaman ng dibdib ko.

Pagkatapos naming kumain at mag-usap ay nagpaalam na rin ako sa kanya.

As much as I wanted to catch up the lost time with her, I still need to attend another client meeting.