Art of Serendipity

55

"I don't know with you, Ate. You seem so obsessed about having a boyfriend. Baka ikaw ang nangangailangan, just find for yourself and don't bug me," masungit kong ani. "Okay? So, shut the hell up and do your things there."

Days after clearing things out. Nag-finalize muna ako dahil hindi ko kinakaya kapag agad-agad since I still have flights going on. Ngayong araw lang ulit ako nagka-time because it is my day off and gladly, Ate Noreen sort things out for me and Ryle to meet. Dito kami sa coffee shop ngayon magmi-meet and I think, late na ako.

Late na talaga ako dahil pagkadating ko roon ay nandoon na si Rylan. He's facing his laptop though, kaya hindi niya pa ako napapansin.

I smiled. "Engineer Fajardo."

Doon na napa-angat ang tingin niya. His hair is in a clean cut and he is wearing a formal one, mukhang galing pa siya sa meeting or what. I feel bad tuloy.

He stood up. "Aya. Long time no see. Looking so good, huh? Were you this tall and slim?"

Niyakap niya ako kaya ganoon din ang ginawa ko. Pinaupo niya ako sa harap niya at pinatay niya na rin ang laptop niya upang makapagusap na kami. I am glad he is here!

"I'm sorry for making you wait for too long. I was not informed about the time. Si Ate Noreen kasi," I started.

He giggled. "It's not that long naman. Noreen already told me about your business with me, though. Very hands-on, huh? Still, look pretty."

I called for the waitress and ordered. "Of course, but before that, I want to congratulate you for making it to the top. Engineer Fajardo, lakas naman!"

"Thank you, Ms. Flight Attendant," ngisi niya.

My lips parted a bit. "How did you know?"

He sipped on his coffee. "My sister saw you in the cabin wearing your uniform somewhere in your own field."

"Tali?" I asked.

He shook his head. "Tori."

His photographer sister? I did not know that she saw me because I'm not that paying attention to the faces of our passengers.

I nodded. "So, is it okay for you if kukunin kita na engineer? Although, we already have engineers for the past years na gumagawa ng mga hotels namin but, hinahayaan ako ni Dad na pumili ng sarili kong engineer ngayon and ikaw lang ang kilala at medyo close ko. I hope that is fine with you. Aren't you busy?"

"Thank you for giving me your trust, Ms. Vegas. I would gladly accept your offer." He smiled. "I am not that busy. May katatapos lang ako na project so it is really fine."

The conversation didn't last for so long since I still have things to do, including the meeting with the Velez Art Gallery. I am not that nervous because I know that the owner won't be coming, representative lang daw ang ipapadala ayon sa sinabi sa akin ni Ate Noreen. He is so busy to even entertain our small meeting and it's more convenient for me, hindi ko siyang kailangang makita.

Pagdating ko sa office ng company ay naroon na si Ate Noreen at hinihintay na lang ako, she even scolded me kaya sabay na kaming pumunta sa meeting room and to my horror... The fr*aking owner is there.

Levi is here.

"I apologize, we are late Mr. Velez," Ate Noreen started in a formal tone.

Parang natuyuan ako ng lalamunan dahil sa nangyayari. I was so sure that he won't be here! Bakit parang ngayon ay alam na alam ni Ate Noreen na pupunta nga si Levi! Hindi man lang ako in-orient ng gaga! She, as always, is betraying me! The heck!

"We just arrived too, Ms. Acosta," the girl beside him said. "We can start the meeting now since it's just between us. We are not waiting for anyone anymore?"

I glanced at the girl talking. Palihim na tumaas ang kilay ko nang mapagtanto ko kung sino iyon. Is that Kate? As far as I remember, mukhang siya nga. Hindi pa naman ako nakakalimot. So, she worked for him, huh? Mukha siyang secretary ni Levi, e. Well, baka mukha lang naman. Malay ko ba kung girlfriend niya 'to or what.

I don't hella care! Why am I even anticipating things here?

I gulped before sitting in front of him. I don't have to show any reaction at all, ganoon din siya. I just glanced at him and immediately gazed away when I noticed his staring. Damn it! Kinakabahan ako sa hindi malamang dahilan!

I noticed his features, though. Was he this tan? His hair is in a clean cut and he's wearing a black tailored blazer with a shirt underneath that is hugging his body perfectly, may neck tie pa at mukhang kagagaling lang sa din meeting. Wala na atang maipipintas sa lalaking ito hanggang ngayon. Well, maliban na lang sa panloloko niya noon.

"Okay, so first. I want to greet you a good afternoon. Thank you for coming and we are so sure that you are so busy to even go here but I'm glad that you really give us your time," panimula ni Ate Noreen. She started very enthusiastically. Nakakairita.

I was just looking at her. Walang pakialam sa kung sino ang nasa paligid pero napangiwi ako nang kurutin ako bigla ni Ate Noreen sa tagiliran. Bahagya ko siyang nilakihan ng mata para magtanong pero ganoon din ang ginagawa niya. What the f*ck is she want me to do?

I sighed heavily before glancing at Kate. "I know that you know that La Vegas is one of the leading Hotels here in Luzon and Visayas, so we really want to make it more vivid and graceful. One of it is the renovation and the adding of arts in all over our branches, the highlight of the renovation is the arts." I glanced at Ate Noreen menacingly. "I don't know what else did Ate Noreen told you but yes, you are our desired gallery and Ate Noreen told me that you already agreed."

T*ngina talaga nito ni Ate Noreen, e. Alam naman niyang wala akong alam sa usapan nila tapos ako pa pagsasalitain dito. This is not even a formal meeting!

"Thank you for trusting us, Ms. Vegas." Kate nodded. Bumaling naman siya kay Levi ngayon. "Levi, what can you say?"

Hindi natinag si Levi at nanatili ang titig niya sa akin. Tinaasan ko lang siya ng kilay, naghihintay ng sasabihin niya. I'm starting to get pissed because he doesn't really speak! The idiot is just looking at me like I was a puzzle he couldn't solve. Well, I am sure that if I were a puzzle, hindi ko hahayaang ma-solve niya ako.

The side of my lips rose up. "It looks like you're not interested, Mr. Velez. Are you?"

Kasi kung ayaw niya, e'di h'wag! Aba! Hindi naman namin siya kawalan!

Siya naman ang ngumisi ngayon. He tilted his head at the right. "I was just very flustered because you chose our services, Ms. Vegas."

"Clearly, I am not the one who chose you by the way, because if i am, I could have approached you first before Ate Noreen. So if you are not interested then it's fine, Mr. Velez. We can find other galleries instead," I sarcastically said.

Kung ako lang ang papipiliin ay wala sila sa choices ko. Sadyang tuso lang talaga si Ate Noreen! D*mn him if he is assuming things!

Mayabang siyang bumaling kay Ate Noreen. "You can do that?"

I saw the amusement in Ate Noreen's eyes. "Why? You won't accept this one, Levi? Sayang naman. This is also the time for you guys to catch up. You were friends, right?" she even emphasized the friend thingy.

I glared at her and she's just biting her lip to stifle a laugh. Pabida talaga kahit kailan. Nakikipag-usap pa siya na para bang ang tagal nilang naging magkaibigan ni Levi.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit inis na inis ako e siya naman 'tong may ginawang masama sa aming dalawa. He is not even guilty?!

But this is work so he can't just say things out of it and as of me, hindi dapat ako naiinis pero hindi e, parang pinapakita niya pa na pabor sa kaniya lahat.

I repeat. Professionalism over feelings. F*ck it!

~~~