CHAPTER 16
2354 Words
CHAPTER 16
MUGTO ang mata ko ng gumising ako kinaumagahan. I cried the whole night, I didn't even notice that I fell asleep. My choice was my own savior last night. Nicholas left and didn't say a word. Hindi ako lumabas ng kwarto at mas pinili na lang ang makinig at makiramdam sa paligid pagkaalis niya.
"Nagmamadali atang umalis si Engineer kagabi, hija? Nagpaalam na ba iyon sa iyo?" Si Nanay habang tinutulungan akong kumuha ng mga gulay sa greenhouse.
I twitched my lips. Inaantok pa ako pero hindi naman ako makatulog dahil sa maraming naiisip.
"May emergency daw sa kanila, Nanay." Ayaw kong magsinungaling pero wala naman akong maiibibigay na sagot kong sakali mang magtatanong siya.
"Kailangan niyang umuwi." Tumango siya. Tinitigan niya ako at bahagyang kumunot ang noo ng makita ang mata ko.
"Bakit namamaga iyang mata mo? Ngayon ko lang iyan napapansin.
I shrugged.
"Puyat lang siguro po ito." Nanghihina kong sabi sa kanya. I don't feel talking right now.
I sighed. "I decided to go to Manila this week, Nanay."
Nagulat siya sa sinabi ko. "Bakit, hija? Nakapagdesisiyon ka na ba patungkol sa kompanyang hinabilin ng iyong ama at ina?"
Tumingin ako sa kanya. Tumango ako.
"Simula nang mawala ang alaala ko, akala ko kaya ko nang mabuhay na wala na iyon." I put down the gloves and sit on the nearest wooden chair. "Pero kalaunan na-realized kong parang kulang. May kulang..." I trailed.
Hinawakan niya ang balikat ko at marahang pinisil.
"Alam kong darating ang panahon na ito, hija, kung saan ay magdedesisiyon ka na para sa sarili mo. Kung iyon ang gusto mo, bakit hindi mo gawin?"
I smiled bitterly. "I've never know until this time that I was so lost."
"Tungkol ba ito sa babaeng pumunta dito o kay Nicholas?" Despite of a whirlwind emotion, I know that it's because of Nicholas.
Pero hindi ako sumagot.
"Simula kasi ng dumating siya ay nagbago ka na. At huwag kang mag-alala magandang pagbabago iyon." She said then smiled at me reassuringly.
Later that afternoon, I then informed Russel about my plans. It took us hours chitchatting. He was happy about the news. Hinanap niya si Nicholas at mas lalo pang sumaya ang boses nito ng malamang wala na si Nicholas.
"Ready my office, Russ. I want to meet the boards once I'll arrive the day after tomorrow."
He chuckled. "You could just rest for awhile, Eli. Kagagaling mo pa lang niyan sa biyahe."
"I've rested enough. It's just a forty-five minutes flight anyway, I can handle that." I irratatedly said.
Natawa siya ulit. "Okay. No need to be feisty."
I sighed. "I'm sorry, Russ. I just had this mode swing this morning."
"That's okay, Eli. Don't worry, I'll ready the mansion too before you arrive."
Maaasahan talaga ang lalaking ito. I was lucky indeed to have him in my side.
"That would be great. Thank you so much, Russel."
"No problem, Elizabeth. Take care."
"Take care! Bye!"
Mabilis akong nag-empake ng ilang dadalhin ko. Tinulungan na din ako ni Nanay. Kinagabihan din ay nagpatawag ako ng meeting sa mga tauhan sa farm. I instructed them what to do incase there are problems involving in the farm. I know that I made a big risk. Risk-taking is a way we teach ourselves how to overcome the many obstacles that we encounter throughout the lives we all live. From now on, I want to live like that.
The sorrow grew more profound everytime I spent in this place. I won't sit still though, I won't curl up and refuse to move like my body wants.
Time fly so fast. Russell immediately hugged me when he saw me.
"I missed you." He then kissed my cheeks.
Natawa ako doon. "Halata nga, hindi na ako halos makahinga sa yakap mo." His embrace was warm, and his big, strong arms seemed very protective when wrapped around my frail body.
"I'm sorry. Namissed lang talaga kita." Kumalas siya sa pagkakayakap sa akin. Bumuntong hininga siya ng tinitigan niya ang buong mukha ko.
"Still beautiful, Elizabeth." Saad niya at hinaplos ang pisngi ko.
I rolled my eyes. Tinabig ko ang kamay niya. "We are not in a drama.Tara na at baka malate pa tayo sa meeting."
He chuckled. "Chill, Elizabeth! You are the boss."
Masama ko siyang tiningnan. "And I don't want to be late."
He smiled. Sumipol siya bago binuksan ang pinto ng kotse para sa akin. Napailing ako.
It took us ten minutes to get there. I don't feel scared. I felt so lost. Masiyado pa akong naaapektuhan sa nangyari kaya siguro hindi ko magawang kabahan. We were welcomed by lots of reporter but I choose to ignore them. The corporate world is a mess up world. If you don't know how to handle it, then work hard for it. They can chitchat about me being snob. Hindi ko lang talaga gustong magpa-interview ngayon.
"Is that her?" Someone asked from the crowd.
May ibang nagtaka ng makita ako. Sino bang hindi kong ngayon lang ako nagpakita?
"Ms. Del Olmo, can we have a moment of your time for an interview?" Sigaw ng ilang reporters. But I'm not really on the mode. Matagal kaming nakapasok sa entrance dahil nahirapang mapaalis ng ilang bodyguards ang mga reporters. Russell posessively warapped his arms on my shoulder.
"Who invited them?" I asked Nicholas when we are on the lift already.
He looked at me. "I didn't say anything to the media but maybe one of the boards did." He seriously said. His jaw clenched. "Those motherfuckers! I told them to shut their mouth." Galit niyang saad.
"Russel!" I burst.
He apologetically smile. "I'm sorry. Hindi ko lang kasi natiis, you are fragile. Baka masaktan ka kapag nagpumilit pa ang mga reporters sa labas kanina."
"Hayaan muna, ginagawa lang nila ang trabaho nila." He smiled.
"For you, I let it slip this time."
Nang bumakas ang elevator ay madali akong inialalayan ni Russel. May nakasalubong kaming ilang employees pero si Russel lang ang binati. Ang iba ay tiningnan lang ako mula ulo hanggang paa. Wala akong imik na sumunod kay Russel. I was not known here. Hindi ako kailanman nakapunta dito pero bakit hindi ako namamangha? Hindi naman pamilyar sa akin ang kompanya pero wala talaga akong maramdaman.
"Good morning, President." Bati ng sekretarya niya sa kanya. A very cute girl with a side messy bun. I like her aura. Lumipad ang tingin niya sa akin at biglang nanlaki ang mata.
"She is my cousin, Maria Elizabeth Del Olmo." Pagpapakilala ni Russ sa akin.
Nataranta siya. "G--good morning po, Ma'am. I'm sorry po kong hindi ko po kayo nakilala agad." She stuttered.
So cute. I smiled. "It's okay...."I trailed.
Yumuko siya. "B-bella po."
"It's okay, Bella."
Umaliwalas kaagad ang mukha niya. She sighed in relief.
"Are the boards in there already?" Russel asked.
Kaagad na tumango si Bella. "They are all waiting for the both of you, Sir." She politely said.
Tumango ako. Nicholas opened the door before letting me in.
"I like her." I whispered at Nicholas. He just rolled his eyes. They will be a good match.
Taas noo akong pumasok. Biglang tumahimik ang board room ng makitang pumasok ako at si Russel. Their eyes were set on me as I flawlessly lead my way to the large chair on the centre part of the oval table.
"Everyone, meet the real heiress of the Del Olmo Empire, Maria Elizabeth Del Olmo." Russel announced.
Pumalakpak silang lahat. They even greeted me one by one. Lahat ay parang may edad niya.
"It's a pleasure to finally meet you at last, hija. I'm Gregoria Montero." A woman at her late thirties greeted me. I shake her hands.
"The pleasure is mine, Madame." I smiled.
"Oh! Tita would do." She then winked at me. We laugh after that.
May ilang pang bumati sa akin pero may napansin akong isang babaeng kaedad ko lamang ang nakatunghay sa kanyang laptop habang hindi ako pinapansin. When she noticed my gazed at her, she slowly stand up. She's beautiful but with just different aura. She looks so sexy in her working attire while me was just on my usual dress with my favorite high heeled boots.
"She's the head architect in one of our construction project and also a daughter of one of the boards here, Renaldo Levista." Russel whispered at me.
The woman smirked. "How rude of me? I'm Architect Rein Levista, Ms. Del Olmo. It was nice to finally see you. I'm glad you came out already in your cave." Pagpapakilala niya sa akin. "I don't mean to offend." Tiningnan niya ako mula ulo hanggang paa. May multong ngiting dumaloy kaagad sa kanyang labi. I don't like her words.
I mentally rolled my eyes. Brat!
"It's okay. I was not offended."I smiled.
Russel clapped his hands.
"Okay, let's start!" His thundered voice echoed across the board room.
Kaagad na nagsiupuan ang lahat. I scan the folder again that Russel handed me earlier in the car. This meeting was all about the design of the high density and hazard resilient housing. I was actually shocked when I was familiar at it.
"You may take the floor now, Architect Levista." Russel said.
She then stand up confidently. Hindi ko na siya tiningnan ng mag-umpisa na siyang magpresent. Actually, I was shocked when I was familiar with this. Hindi ko naman naalala na nagkaroon ako ng mga karanasan sa mga ganito.
Russel was just silently sitting beside me. Mabilis kong ini-scan ang ibang pahina ng may makitang pagkakamali.
"Are you still with us, Ms. President?" Rien voiced made me stop from scanning. I lifted my head only to find out that their eyes were all on me.
I stared blankly at her. She surely had a guts to make me feel this way.
I smiled to hide my irritation towards her. "Yes."
Tumango siya at nagpatuloy. I wanted to roll my eyes.
"That ends my presentation." She concluded.
Everyone clapped their hands. She did it so fast. Some says their praises but I'm not really contented. I want more. Natigilan sila ng tumaas ang kamay ko. Bahagyang tumaas ang kilay ni Architect Levista.
"I was just wondering..." I trailed off. "Is this the plan that was approved for bidding?" I asked.
Russel shifted to his chair uncomfortably.
"Temporarily... that's the only plan that was presented on the board." One of the boards said.
Bakit ito lang? Where are the others?
"Bakit ito lang? How many architects do we have here?" Nag-iinit ang ulo ko.
I can't approve the design. Hindi sa hindi ko gusto pero hindi ito nagtugma sa gusto ng client.
"We have ten.." Russel.
I frustratedly sighed. "Then why not make more than one design?" I felt very disappointed.
"Excuse me?" Architect Levista with her arched brows interjected. "This was already approved by the boards."
Masama akong tumingin kay Russel. "Not me." Umiling siya sa akin.
I stared back at her. "I'm sorry, Architect Levista. I can't approve your design. Meet with your teams and present another one next week." I firmly said.
"Pero, hija.." Her dad said at me. Di ko alam na daddy's girl pala to.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Levista. My first priority is the client. Let's just put our center-point at that." Magalang kong saad dito.
I catch Architect Levista rolled her eyes. "But how can you say that, you were not even familiar with this firm?" She mocked me.
I chuckled. "Oh, dear. Don't try me." I smiled at her.
She smirked. "Go on. Ask away." Mayabang niyang saad.
I heard Russel chuckled too. He's enjoying this.
I glanced at the paper before to her. "You simplified your design by creating just a non-environmental and non-ecofriendly housing.
The lot area was small when basically it was specifically said in here that you must do a cluster zoning. Honestly, what do you really think about cluster zoning? Care to tell us?" I coldly said.
Namula siya sa sinabi. "Maari namang mag-aadjust iyan.." Pagrarason niya. "Cluster zoning specifies housing density for an entire area overall. Hence a developer is free to use some space for high-density housing such as apartments or garden homes."
I nodded at what she said. That's correct but she didn't applied it.
"Architect Levista, let me remind you that the time framing will be discarded if you change something on the plan. On the contrary, your plans was not on its standard base. I don't plan to outwit you but I can't approve it."
"I was not presenting the financial state yet."
Gusto kong mapatampal sa aking noo.
"Then that's a good thing. You can change your design habang wala pang time framing na nagagawa ang engineering department para diyan. The financial state must be presented also here." I paused.
"How about this two types of housing? You only designed one. It said in the report that it should be two-storey and one-storey. You even neglect the roof deck." I said.
"But it won't be economical?"
Mas lalo akong na-istress. Did someone really oriented her about this?
"Dear, it's a high density housing. That economical word is out of the list. The client is willing to pay. So we will give them the best."
I closed my eyes and calm my senses. "We have engineers to design the plans whether your design was safe or not. It's final. Submit another one." Wala siyang nasabi. She looks stunned and embarassed.
Nahihiya at namumula ang mukha niyang umupo pabalik habang isa isang tumango ang boards. Halos maiiyak na siya. She should mature, really.
"I'm glad your here. See, you can handle it well."Russel whispered.
I smiled. I don't know either. I was shocked too when those words came out naturally on my mouth.
I was about to adjourn the meeting when someone opened the door revealing the person I been missing this passed few days.
He gracefully walk in front of us with his fine suit. He looks so handsome. I was stunned for a minute.
"I'm sorry I'm late." Nicholas baritone voice echoed across the room. He then darkly stared at me.
"Nice to see you again, my Elizabeth."
- Writer
