Art of Serendipity

56

I already told to myself before that if ever we will meet again, I will never bring my bitter past with him because past is past but hell? He is so sarcastic. I hate people like that. Dapat alam niya 'yon! Napaka-arogante niya pa magsalita. Parang kami pa ang swerte kapag tinanggap nila ito. For I know, they must feel lucky because we are the one who approached them! Magbabayad naman kami ng tama at kung gusto pa nga nila ay sobrahan namin! Duh!

"C'mmon, hindi naman kami namimilit kung ayaw," I muttered. I don't know if they heard that, though. Mas mabuti nga kung narinig dila para alam nila.

Ate Noreen leaned on me to whisper something. "Stop being bitter nga. Kausapin mo ng maayos 'yang ex mo. "

"What the f(ck? We are their d*mn client for f*ck's sake. Kawalan nila kapag umatras tayo so why are you scolding me? Why don't you scold them for being this arrogant? " pabulong ko ring asik sa kaniya.

"Makisama ka na lang," bulong niya bago tumikhim at bumalimg sa kaharap. "So, uhm, is it fine with you, Levi?"

Levi sighed. "It's fine, Noreen."

Ah wow, first name basis? Close sila? Psh, whatever.

"Great!" Ate Noreen clapped her hands out of joy. "Then, can we have your sample designs so that we can have our referencqqqe?"

"Uh..." Kate interrupted. "We headed straight from the other client to here so I forgot to bring our portfolio, but you can go to our gallery anytime instead. I apologize for that."

Napataas ang kilay ko at sumandal sa upuan ko. What an impulsive act. They are not even prepared! We are not their priority so why am I even wasting my time for this?! Umasim talaga ng sobra ang mukha ko nang marinig iyon at hindi ako nahihiyang ipakita sa kanila iyon.

Ewan ko ba kasi kay Ate Noreen kung bakit pinipilit niya pa ito. Yes, the quality of their works are out of this world, but do not know how to manage their priorities, or at least, make their priorities equal or whatnot. Hindi 'yong kami pa 'yong iaagrabyado nila. Palibhasa kasi ay nangangailangan kami kaya sinasamantala nila. I hate those kind of attitude. Nakakainis, sobra.

"Uh… I am sorry but we can't go to your gallery as soon as possible because we are busy too." Ate Noreen glanced at me.

I rolled me eyes downward. "We need the designs right now. You can't just expect us to waste our time going to your gallery. I guess, we are not that important to you that is why you forgot to bring the important things here," I strictly said. "We are your client too. Just so you know."

I suddenly felt Ate Noreen's foot on my foot, she is hurting me as a signal for me to shut up. Kumunot ang noo ko sa kaniya. What? You expect me to just shut my mouth here? Hell, no!

At talagang papupuntahin pa nila kami sa Galley nila? Hello! Ayaw ko na nga bumalik doon! Baka masuka lang ako kakaisip sa mga memories ko roon! I'd rather have a hard time finding other galleries than having them.

"The important thing here is the moment we presented ourselves to you, Ms. Vegas," Levi suddenly said. "Why do you need the sample by the way? Nakalimutan mo na ba ang structures ng arts namin? I bet, you clearly know that."

Agad na nag-init ang ulo ko at inis siyang tinignan. "Excuse me, Mr. Velez? Are you saying that I should remember your arts everytime of my life? Are you expecting me to adjust myself for the impulsive act of yours?!" bahagya nang tumaas ang boses ko. "Look, we were fine if you have some difficulties on your part, but you think that the attitude you are showing is not offensive? Think of it. We are professionals here."

Hindi ko mapigilang unahin ang inis ko sa kaniya kaysa sa trabaho. Nakakainis siya! Anong pinapalabas niya? Na dapat maalala ko siya? Bakit? Who the hell is he? Dapat ba sambahin ko siya para hindi ko siya makalimutan?! Nagiinit ang dugo ko sa kaniya ngayon, baka kapag ako napuno, palayasin ko talaga siya rito! He is in my f*cking place! My place, my rule! He must be following it!

"Ms. Vegas, I am deeply sorry. It was really my fault because I forgot the folders and portfolios. Don't worry, I will bring that to you once it settled," Kate apologized for Levi instead. "Levi doesn't know that I did not bring it. Don't blame him. I'm really sorry."

Lalo akong napuyos sa inis dahil may nagtatanggol pa talaga sa kaniya. Babae pa! Lakas mo talaga, Levi! You are still a f*cking playboy and flirt! How disgusting. Kahit talaga umupo ka lang diyan ay may babae pa rin talagang luluhod sa 'yo, ano? Napakagaling. Slow clap for that!

I crossed my arms and glared at Levi. He seems enjoying the events here. I saw humor in his eyes. I just shut up because I don't want to say something I regret later. Nakakapagod na magsalita sa mga taong hindi naman sineseryoso ang mga nangyayari ngayon. Mind him, we are in a meeting! I thought he is hands-on? Bakit ito ay hindi niya man lang mai-check? Nakakatawa… Despite of him being this way, marami pa ring humahanga sa kaniya kaya siguro siya hindi nagaalalang banggain ako.

"It's fine. I am sorry for my niece as well. She is just so tired that is why she is that grumpy" Ate Noreen laughed nervously. Sinipa niya pa ako muli sa ilalim ng mesa. What the hell?! "Just email us for more information and if you are going to bring the designs here. We will have our meeting again once we picked our desired designs. Thank you for coming again, Levi and Ms...?" Ate Noreen doesn't know the girl's name.

"Kate na lang, I am Levi's secretary." Kate smiled.

Secretary naman pala. Bakit first name basis din sila? Kate should call Levi 'boss', 'sir' or whatnot, right? If I were him, I would not let him call me something not formal, including my nickname. That is an act of unprofessionalism.

But I don't care if she just more than a secretary. Ano bang pakialam ko? Wala, Aya. Do not ever meddle.

"Okay, Ms. Kate. Have a nice day!" And then Ate Noreen dragged me out of there.

Pagdating sa Office ay pumamewang agad siya sa harap ko. "H'wag mo naming ipahalatang hindi ka pa nakaka-move on sa ex mo! Ako ang nahihiya sa 'yo, e!"

"What? How is that my fault? Dapat priority nila tayo dahil malaking project 'tong binibigay natin sa kanila. They are very privileged to have us!" I hissed. "At nakamove-on na ako. How many times do I have to tell you that?"

Walang hiya. Nasisi pa ako. Kasalanan ko bang nakakainis ang ugali ng Velez na iyon? Malay ko ba naman kasing dadating kami sa puntong kakailanganin ko siya para sa design design na 'to! Hindi ko naman ginusto lahat ng ito!

Well, that was what I planned before but I disregard that idea. Matagal ko nang ibinasura iyon kaya hindi ko talaga inaasahang darating ang araw na ito. I hate it!

"You know what, Ate? These are all you fault. If you just listened to me to find another gallery, then we are all okay, here?" I turned the table. I blamed her. "If you are just being considerate about our past, hindi mo na sana pinilit na sila ang maging supplier. Look what happened!"

She sighed heavily. "I am sorry for the thing that you guys fought in front of us a while ago. I did not know that that will happen in the first place. Tsaka, I take consideration of your past naman, I just think that their artworks are more feasible than any other galleries out there. You know what? How many times do I have to tell you too to set aside your past? Kasi, Aya, let us be practical here. Hindi ka naman bobo. Alam mo na tama ang sinasabi at iniisip ko na sobrang makakatulong sila sa atin kaya bakit ba sobrang nega mo riyan?"

See that, Levi? Magaaway pa yata kami ng Ate Noreen ko nang dahil sa 'yo.

I bit my lower lip and sat on my swivel chair. "Fine! But please, don't include me with your meetings anymore, please. Hindi ko matagalan na… Basta!"

"Tsk. Parang wala kayong pinagsamahan sa ina-akto niyo, e." She siddenly giggled. "Pero aminin mo, he became hotter than last time!"

D*mm. I don't know what to do with this woman...

~~~