Planned Coincidence

Chapter 16

I'm just staring at the ceiling thinking what should I do with the remaining free days I have until the announcement day.

I need to do some things bago pa ako maging subsob sa trabaho at mawalan ng oras.

I think of mountain trekking.

Hmm…right, I should do that.

I walked in to my walk-in closet and check what shoes should I wear. I don't even have too much stuff here. Nasa England pa.

I decided to buy a new one. Bago ako naligo ay tinawagan ko na si Drac.

I don't mind having Drac beside me anytime, anywhere. Wala rin naman akong kasa-kasama na pwedeng hilain ano mang oras. My friends are busy with their lives, too.

Drac is now driving to Evia Mall. Nando'n ang brand ng sapatos na ginagamit ko.

“Drac…”

“Sir.”

“Do you think I'll meet Zamora, again?”

“Judging by tatlong beses na kayong nagkita at nagkausap pa kayo last time…yes, malaki ang chance,” paliwanag niya habang nasa daan pa rin ang tingin.

Ipinatong ko ang braso sa bintana at itinuon ang tingin sa labas.

“She seems to be everywhere around me. She's an eye, if I'll meet her here today.”

“Paano kung spy nga siya, Sir?”

“That would be a waste.”

If she plans to get closer to me, then I will willingly embrace her. Let's see who she will serve in the end.

Pagkapasok sa loob ng mall ay diretso na agad kami sa Jauxhanze.

“Anong meron?” tanong ko habang nakatingin sa dami ng tao.

“May event yata artista, Sir.”

I just nod.

“Sir, diba si Zamora 'yan?” Napahinto kaming dalawa sa paglalakad.

Tiningnan ko ang tinuro niya. He's right. Zamora walked pass by Jauxhanze store, nang makalampas ay bumalik at pumasok.

Nagkatinginan kaming dalawa ni Drac.

It seems like she doesn't know that I'm here.

Naglakad na kami pero hindi agad kami pumasok. From outside, I looked at her checking the shoes.

She looks cool in her white fitted shirt topped with denim jacket, fitted pants and sneakers.

I think she looks good in everything she wears. With her body and height, she'll pass as a model.

Kumuha siya ng isang pares ng sapatos at sinukat ito. The sneaking wallet inside her denim jacket fell out and she didn't notice it.

Pumasok na ako at pinulot ang wallet niya. I touched the engraved brand name of the wallet. This brand sure is very expensive.

This woman is really something. The other day she act out like she doesn't have everything. Hindi siya nag-order sa coffee shop ng kape no'n at nagkunwari lang sa lalagyan ng kapeng iniwan ng iba.

Sa gym din noon, even if it's her first time, she should've known how to use some of the equipments there but she doesn't know a thing.

But now she owns this kind of expensive wallet.

“Miss, I think this is yours?”

She looked at me and a hint of shock crossed all over her face.

Hindi niya talaga alam na nandito ako. I guess, she's off from following me today.

“Oh, Sam?” I pretended.

Bumaba ang tingin niya sa wallet at umiling. “Hindi…”

She touched her pockets.

“Ay akin pala, patingin nga.”

Hinubad niya ang sapatos at lumapit sa akin para kunin ang wallet.

“Ah, akin nga 'to,” she said and I didn't expect her smile.

“Nice seeing you here. Regular ka ba rito?” I asked.

“Ah hindi. Ngayon lang ako nagawi rito. Eh magaganda ang sapatos kaso 'di kaya ng bulsa ko.” And that's confusing because the wallet she has now is just as pricey as these shoes. The wallet's not fake. I know it.

“Excuse me ma'am, kukunin niyo po ba?” the saleslady asked.

“Hindi na muna,” she replied.

“How much is that?” tanong ko kaya napatingin sa akin si Drac.

I nodded slightly on him.

“85,560 pesos po Sir Lourd.”

Umupo siya at sinuot na ang sapatos niya.

“Kasya ba sa'yo?”

I bought her the shoes. She didn't expect but I can see the hidden happiness in her eyes.

With just that, I confirmed, she's not an enemy's eyes.

I think she's just following me? And good thing, she caught my attention.

I invited her for a coffee pero sa milktea shop ang naging ending dahil iyon ang pinakamalapit.

Maya't maya niya tinitingnan ang paperbag. She seems to be really happy about it.

Maybe the wallet is just a gift to her?

“Ang laking halaga na nito para sa akin. Talaga bang libre 'to? Baka naman mamaya may ipapagawa ka sa'kin bilang kapalit?”

Napangiti ako sa sinabi niya.

Well, hmm… let's see.

“Ano sa palagay mo ang ipapagawa ko bilang kapalit?”

She slowly crossed her arms on her chest.

“Wala akong ideya pero bukas ako kung ano man 'yon.”

She's funny, entertaining, and cool. I like her.

“Whatever you are thinking, its not it,” I assured her.

I sipped my milktea.

“Pero alam mo ba ang nasa isip ko? Una tayong nagkita noon sa coffee shop, aksidenteng nasagi ko 'yong kape mo kaya nabuhos. Sabi mo nga aksidente lang 'yon. Pangalawa, sa gym, sabi mo coincidence. Pangatlo, ngayon? Alam mo ba kung anong tawag dito? Tadhana,” she said out of the blue and wink at me.

Now, we're talking.

I started asking about her and just what I found out about her, she's saying the truth, except for her name and I wonder why.

She knows how to carry the conversation when she asked back about me.

“Ikaw ano bang ginagawa mo? O trabaho mo? Okay siguro buhay mo? Ang laking halaga ng 80,000 para ipanlibre mo lang sa akin. Eh hindi pa tayo masyadong close.”

“I did that to get us closer,” I said directly. And to know you more.

You'll know people's true colors once you opened how big amount of money you can offer to them.

And she seems so happy with the shoes.

“So, ano ngang ginagawa mo?” tanong ko pa rin kahit alam ko na.

“Business. Patriarch Homes? I am part of it,” I said carefully.

“Anong ibig mong sabihing part? Ano, kasama ka sa konstruksyon? Isa ka sa construction worker?”

Ahh. She doesn't know a thing about me and she looks so adorable right now.

I moved closer towards her and slightly touched her face.

“You're funny.” I just can't help it. “Basta. I'm just part of the management,” I said closing the topic.

“Malaki ba sahuran? Parang barya lang sa'yo ang 80 kyaw eh. Gaan siguro ng buhay mo 'no? Palagi ka kasing nakangiti.”

“Palagi?” We just met.

“Palagi. Kada kita ko kasi sa'yo lagi ka nakangiti.”

I hid my smile. Let's do this if we're that interested on each other.

“That's just a sign na masaya akong makita ka.”

Our talk didn't end there. We just knew each other but it seems I already knew half of her life. She's talkative, yes. Our conversation doesn't go awkward, she knows how to carry it as if she's prepared for this talk.

”Speaking of puso…do you have a boyfriend?”

Muntik na siyang mabulunan sa tanong ko. I just need to make sure na walang sabit.

“Wala.”

“Eh manliligaw?”

Her lips curved.

“Alam mo bang ang mga tanong na 'yan ay para lang sa mga interesadong lalaki?”

Sure, her actions are predictable but her words are not.

“I'm interested.” I think that went smooth?

After the talk I offered her a ride home. Para na rin malaman kung totoong tama nga ang address na nakuha ni Drac about her. But she highly refused. Hinayaan ko nalang muna.

After a few days, I became busy following orders from Dad.

Lourd, do this and do that.

Dagdagan pa nitong si Alex.

“Lourd brother…” Nakangiting inilapag niya ang mga reports niya na kailangang isulat at isummarize. As usual, ibibigay niya 'yan sa akin thinking na iyon lang naman ang kaya kong gawin sa kompanyang 'to.

I'm not here in the office to do works for her like an intern.Tsk. I am a financial head assistant but thinking that I am only in this position because of Dad. I'm letting her be.

Alex's so full of herself. She's so confident that she'll take over the company.

Well, let's see my sister.

I smiled and look up to her.

“When do you need it?”

“Tomorrow please.”

I nod and she thanked me storming out of my office.

Nakita kong napapailing si Drac na nakaupo sa visitor's lounge.

“Hindi na ako makapaghintay na malaman ang lahat ang niluluto mo, Sir.”

Kinuha ko ang envelope na pinapagawa ni Alex.

“Relax, and enjoy the show,” I said.

It's been a week since I last saw Zamora. Shouldn't it be that we'll see each other more often after that talk?

I got out of Dad's hand today so I went to Sta. Luisita alone. Drac's not with me because he has an urgent matter to attend on his family.

Ipinark ko ang kotse sa gilid at bumaba.

I don't plan to meet Zamora here, I'll just ask to confirm if she's really residing here.

This place is known for being home of illegal gambling activities…and coming to this place is quite dangerous as snatchers are just around the corner.

And f*ck, I am just thinking about it when I felt someone behind me. Bago ko pa siya malingon, kumaripas na siya ng takbo tangay ang wallet ko.

It's my mistake. Why did I even bring my wallet?

Agad ko siyang sinundan ng takbo.

Kaunti lang ang laman nong cash but all my cards are there. I need it back.

Mas binilisan ko pa ang takbo. Ang dami niya ng taong nababangga but he's so persistent.

He's wearing a gray hoodie and I think he's just around 16-18 years old.

Paliko sa kanto'y nagulat ako nang ihagis niya ito sa babaeng nakatayo sa gilid.

Companion, huh?

I stopped and I lost him.

I stopped in front of a familiar woman who's holding my wallet.

“Sam?”

What the hell is this? Kasamahan siya ng magnanakaw na iyon?

This is getting strange.

Nakatihaya lang ang kamay niya habang nasa ibabaw nito ang wallet ko.

Gulat na gulat siya sa nangyari. It's as if a wallet came down to her from heaven. Nagpabalik-balik ang tingin niya sa akin at sa wallet.

After realizing things, she passed it on me.

“Thanks. It's weird. Why did he pass it to you?”

She looks confused. Please let it be na hindi niya kilala ang lalaking iyon. I got a glimpse of her life that she's not living comfortably but it would be so disappointing if she do like this for a living.

Hindi siya agad nakasagot pero tiningnan niya ang sarili.

“Wala pa akong ligo, oo. Pero mukha ba akong kasama niya? Napagkamalan siguro ako.”

That's a funny reason but I'll buy it for the mean time.

We talked for awhile and got to meet her Tiyang.

She seems living good with her aunt. No reason for her to do such things. It's even impressive that they do transactions at the bank.

I'm not stereotyping but people like them do not save money but it's a different story for them.

Before letting her go, I invited her for a dinner later. I want to know her more.

Late lunch, Drac is back to work. I quickly made him recheck Zamora's police records and she's clear but he found out something interesting.

She sold the shoes I bought for her.

“How much?”

“75,000 po.”

Was she happy because I bought it for her back then or because of the value of the shoes?

I chuckled.

“Book a reservation for two at skyview ridge for tonight, Drac.”

“You'll still meet with her, Sir?”

This is crazy. Yes, I still want to see her.

Night has come and we're driving to the ridge. She really looks cool with her clothes. She's not that girly and chic.

We're just talking and talking and I love how there's no awkward moments with her.

I know I shouldn't let my guard down even to her but let me play and enjoy this moment first.

“So, what are you up to these days?” I asked.

“Kaya rin ang lakas ng loob kong umalis kasi may plano kami ni Tiyang magtatayo ng maliit na dress shop niya. Mananahi kasi siya. Sa ngayon, tumatanggap siya ng mga for repairs sa bahay lang.”

“Mayroon na ba kayong pangsimula?”

“Iyon nga, pinag-iipunan pa namin. Medyo matagal-tagal pa nga eh. Syempre kailangan namin ng malaki-laking capital. Bayad ng renta para sa shop, pagdidisenyo pa, mga makinang gagamitin pa ni Tiyang. Syempre hindi naman 'yon pwede na siya lang, hire pa ng isa o dalawang magiging katuwang niya. Ewan, baka mga dalawang taon pang pag-iipon.”

“I'll invest so you can start right away.”

“Invest?”

“Oo. Invest. It's just like I'm lending you a capital money. But if I'm just gonna give you a capital money, babayaran niyo lang pabalik 'yon ng buo, installment, whatever, basta maibalik niyo lang ang hiniram na pera. If I'll invest, you put up the shop with your capital money and with my investment money and you don't need to pay me. But I'll have my fair share if the shop starts to generate income.”

“Translation please.”

I chuckled. She's funny yet mysterious.

She's so transparent when she's infront of you, it's as if her life is an open book. But behind you, she has mystery, just like how genuinely happy she is with that shoes in front of me but selling it behind me.

“Parang magiging co-owner ka, gano'n ba 'yon?” she asked.

“Hmm…oo, pwede na rin.”

“Sige, deal.”

“Tiyak matutuwa si Tiyang nito.”

“It will be my pleasure to help you.”

Drac heard my two million offer and he's questioning me right now while going home.

“Sir, sigurado ka ba roon? Hindi siya mapagkakatiwalaaan. Baka sa susunod na araw hindi na siya magpapakita sa'yo.”

“I know. I got her in my hand and...report it to Alex.”

“Kay Ma'am Alex lang, sir? Sa Daddy niyo?”

“Dad, already knew about it.”

Drac glanced on me confused if he's hearing everything right.

Napangiti ako.

“He said that I should do something foolish for a stage play.”