Meeting you again

After 8 years

California

Nagising si Niko dahil sa tawag. Kinapa nya sa side table ang cellphone nya sabay sagot nito

"Eniego, I need you to go back to the Philippines" Narinig nya ang Dad nya on the other line

"But Dad" Angal nya dito

"No buts, Mr Perez, our GM for our Mindanao office will retire next month. I cannot find a suitable replacement. For the mean time be the interim manager until we find his replacement. Fly before the week ends so you still have 1 month for the hand over. And you can look for a nice Filipina just like your mom for a wife.

"Dad" Angal nya sa last sentence ng Daddy nya

"But please prioritize the turn over before the wife searching " pabirong turan ng Daddy nya

"Ok, I will take care of the Mindanao office but in return, please go through my business start up proposal and help me on it."

"Ok, I will go through the business proposal. And don't forget the wife search. You're on your 30's already"

Bumangon na sya sa kama, sabay hawi ng buhok nya " Noted Dad, If the right one comes along "

"And when would that be? When were too old to take care of our grandchildren? " Sermon na naman ng tatay nya

"Bye Dad" pilit nyang tinapos ang usapan at binabaan na nya ito ng phone.

His Dad established this Mindanao Branch around 5 years ago. Their business involves industrial materials, the Head office is in California but the main factory is in Bulgaria, mas mura kasi ang labor don but with better reputation than made in China or India.

May dalawa silang branch in the Philippines, cguro dahil mahal ng Dad nya ang Philippines, since he has a filipina wife. They have the distribution office in Manila, Pero yong sa Mindanao ay Distribution at the same time my assembly lines din ito. So parts lang ang ini import nila from Bulgaria factory at sa pinas na inaasemble.

Mas ok na bumalik sya sa Pilipinas, para maka iwas narin kay Sandra, his last girlfriend. The relationship lasted only for 2 months, but that was 6 months ago. Pabalik-balik parin ito sa apartment nya and does not accept the fact that he is not interested to her anymore.

After a while, nag ring na naman telephone nya and he saw it was her mom " Hello Ma"

"Niko, I heard from your Dad na uuwi ka sa pinas."

"Yes Ma"

" Ok, I'll ask your cousin to clean up your apartment "

" Ma, Di ba may nagrent don? "

"Kaya nga, they will give 30 notice para ma vacate na yong apartment mo "

"I'm flying in 3 days Ma. Di rin naman ako magtatagal don. I'll arrange for my accommodation . No worries "

"Ok, your old enough, send my regards to your Aunt and cousins. OK"

"Ok Ma, I'll see you tomorrow. I'll be there , Ill turn over to property management my unit today"

"Ok that's good, at least makita man lang kita bago ka uuwi sa Pinas"

"Yes Ma, see you " at ngpaalam na sya dito

He message his cousin to clean his property in one of the subdivision. Hindi alam ng Mom nya, that he bought a house in the Philippines 5 years ago. Akala kasi nya sya ang ipapamanage nang tatay nya sa Mindanao Office, kasi he was in charge with it's construction. Pero pinabalik sya nito sa California when the business starts operating there.

First Day in the Office

Maaga syang ngpunta sa office since, he arrive early the previous day, tinulog na nya the whole day ang jet lag nya kaya maaga syang nagising.

It was early but the receptionist was already there, naglilinis sa desk nito. Nakangiti syang lumapit dito.

"Good morning Sir " Bati nito nang mapansin ang pagpasok nya sa office building

"Good Morning, I'm Nick Eniego Robertson " pagpakilala nya sa sarili

" Oh, Good morning Sir, Welcome to the Philippines. Let me escort you to your office " "ang pogi " pabulong na sabi nito bago sya inescort towards the elevator

" Thanks "

The office is only a 3 floor building, ang first floor nito ay showroom but 1/4 of the it is the reception to the office building . The 2nd floor is the sales office and marketing , then the 3rd floor was the Admin and meeting rooms. on the back side of the building was a very huge warehouse and the assembly line. Alam na alam nya ang building structure nito, he designed it and was fully in charge during construction.

" Do you want me to show you around sir" Tanong ng receptionist when they were in the elevator.

" Later nalang, pag anjan na ang mga staff, so I can meet them." Reply nya dito

" Marunong po kayong magtagalog sir?" Gulat na tugon ng receptionist

"Hahaha, oo naman, I studied here before. " nakangiting sabi nya

"Ah ok sir " Namula ito, dahil sa pagkahiya sa komento nyang pogi earlier at tahimik na syang dinala nito sa magiging office nya."Here we go sir, Do you want some coffee or tea sir? " tanong nito bago sya iniwan

"I'm ok , you can go back to your post baka marami ka pang gagawin. "

"If you need assistance po. you can ask Rhea, yong secretary ni Mr Perez, nasa next room lang po. "

"Ok, Thanks " He dismissed the receptionist with a smile,

Nilabas nya ang laptop nya, to take care of some mails ng marinig nya ang receptionist na may kausap, outside his office

"Good Morning Ms Leila"

" Good Morning Jo"

" Ms Leila, are the auditors coming back today?"

"Yes Jo, Guide them to Meeting room 2 please when they arrive. I book it for them in the calendar"

"Noted Ms Leila, maganda na mabait pa " Side comment pa nito bago bumaba.

Is that her? Napatanong si Niko sa sarili, the voice is so familiar at Leila din ang pangalan. Gusto nyang lumabas ng office nya at silipin to confirm if it was Leila Santillan , pero parang dumikit ang mga paa nya sa sahig at ayaw itong gumalaw.

Flashback,

When he arrive in Manila 8 years ago natangap nya ang message that she arrived home safely at nabasa din nya ang post nito na ng deactivate ng social media. So he tried contacting her on her mobile number

Galit ka ba?

Hello? Galit kaba dahil sa kiss?

Sorry na.

Leila, I miss you

Please send me a message once you read this,

He tried calling the number " The number you dial is out of coverage area"

After a month he tried messaging John , but John just replied. "She is out of coverage, seryoso ata sa review nya "

After few months he tried calling the number again " The number you dial is invalid "

He did not able to contact her. After his board exam, agad na syang pinasunod ng Dad nya to US.

A few times din nya itong hinanap sa social media when he was in the states. Pero mailap talaga ang dalaga. 5 years ago nabalitaan nya kina John na nasa Singapore ito when he was busy with the construction. Akala nya ok na sya, he is not affected anymore of Leila, pero ng marinig nya ang boses nito after 8 long years, He realized he's 3 years crush did not end 8 years ago.