My Destiny

CHAPTER 8

Abala si Stanlee sa harap ng laptop ng biglang bumukas ang pinto sa loob ng opisina.

"Hello Stan, I need to talk to you." bunghad ni Ericka.

"I thought your still in Bali?"

"We just arrived and guess what?"

"You're single again?"

"No!!!! Im getting married!" sabay pakita sakin ng singsing na suot.

"Congratulations" mabilis akong lumapit dito at niyakap. "At last you find someone to annoy and I can have my peace of mind."

"Thanks! You know I will always annoy you."

Kumalas ito sa pagkakayakap at eleganteng umupo sa visitors chair habang matamang nakatingin sakin.

"I know that face, what do you want?"

"I need your help.”

"About?"

"You know, there is this girl that Kenzo is always with, I think she like him a lot and im worried that she will ruin our relationship. I know naman na mahal nya ko pero sobrang close nila, he always talk about her."

"Come on, he already proposed to you, why still have that mindset"

"Shes different, at kahit he assure me that shes just a friend and like sister, I can't believe it."

"What do you want me to do then? Gusto mo bang bugbugin ko yang boyfriend mo."

"Ofcourse not! Don't you dare Stan. I Love him so much, so don't hurt him. I want you to take that girl away from us."

"What? Don't tell me..."

"I mean, make her fall in love with you, o kaya date her para di na sya laging nakakasama ni Ken, kunin mo yung atensyon nya. Don't let her be so close to my Love lalo na ngayon na ikakasal na kami. I don't wanna lose him, I Love him so much. Alam ko namang kahit sinong babae ay kaya mong makuha, so this is just a piece of cake for you. Please brother.”

"Im so busy for that, don't be so childish and trust your man." Bumalik na ko sa aking mesa.

"I trust him but not her." Tumayo ito at lumapit sa harap ko.

"Just go home and prepare your wedding. That's the best you can do and forget that crazy idea you have."

"I know you will like her, Shes Beautiful & Sexy, your type of girl."

"I had enough of that. Why don't you just be friend with her?"

"Hmmm, she even close to his parents, bakit ba kasi nauna nyang nakilala si Kendra kesa sakin. Maybe your right, I should be friend with her." Bigla itong naglakad at akmang aalis na.

"Wait! Did you just say Kendra?"

"Yeah, the super model. Why, do you know her." sabi nito sabay muling humarap sakin.

"She’s our latest Print Ad model."

"Really, so you meet her, what can you say about her? Lumapit ulit ito sakin habang ngiting ngiti at mukhang masaya ito sa nalaman.

"Did you guys date or are you close now?" Wala itong tigil sa pagtanong ng biglang tumunog ang landline ko.

"Sir, Mr. Satsumo is in line 2 and want to talk to you about our next project." Bungad sakin ni Mike ng sagutin ko ang telepono.

"Ill take it." Sagot ko at napatingin kay Ericka.

"That's my cue! i got it! Gotta go now. Don't forget what I told you ok. Bye brother dear." Mabilis nitong paalam at agad na umalis.

Kanina pa natapos ang meeting ko sa Japanese investor namin at ngayon nga ay di maalis sa isip ko ang mga sinabi ni Ericka. Kaya naman bumalik sa alaala ko ang huli naming pagkikita sa bar ng bigla nalang nya kong iwan.

"Pwede ba Trisha, just leave me alone." Mabilis kong inalis ang mga kamay nyang nakayakap sakin.

"What happened to us is nothing. Why don't you just forget it?"

"No, I know you still like me" panay lapit nito at pilit na sinisiksik ang malulusog na dibdib sa katawan ko.

"Look, im in a hurry and I don't have time for you." Sabi ko dito at agad itong iniwan para habulin si Kendra. Nakita ko itong agad na sumakay sa kotse na naghihintay sa labas. Mabuti nalang at nasa malapit lang ang kotse ko kaya madali ko itong nasundan. Ilang minuto lamang ang byahe ay huminto na ang sinusundan ko sa isang exclusive condo na alam kong hindi ang tinitirhan nya. Nakita kong may isang lalaking lumabas sa kotse at inalalayan syang lumabas. Sabay itong naglakad habang naka akbay ang lalaki dito. Napahigpit ang hawak ko sa manibela ng makita ang mukha ng lalaking kasama nito.

"The Hell, why is she with Kenzo again?"

I first saw them together in the airport, so sweet. They look really close and the way they talk, parang matagal na silang magkakilala. Mabilis kong pinaandar ang sasakyan at umalis na sa lugar na yun.

IT'S been a month since that Bar incident happened. Bumalik ako ng London for some projects at masaya ako na nakasama sakin si Luis. Im glad he have a great time when he met Dean & Mylie. Sa sobrang enjoy, nagpa iwan ang loko at gustong I extend ang bakasyon.

Now im back here in my moms house alone, hindi pa sana ako babalik pero mapilit si Kenzo dahil ilang buwan nalang ay ikakasal na ito, masyado atang nagmamadali at di na pinatagal ang preparasyon. Gusto nitong tulungan ko ang fiancée nya sa mga bagay na pambabae. At ngayon nga ay magkikita kami for Dinner.

"Im here, waiting for you outside." Sabi nito sakin ng sagutin ko ang tawag. Agad naman akong lumabas at sumakay sa kotse nya.

"They are waiting for us now"

"They?"

"Yeah, shes with her sort of brother."

"Is there something wrong? Tanong ko sa kanya ng mapansing parang may problema ito at medyo mainit ang ulo.

"Just a problem at my hotel.”

Mabilis silang nakarating sa restaurant na paborito nila Erica at Kenzo.

"Love, sorry na late kami, kanina pa ba kayo?" tanong ni Kenzo sabay halik sa fiancée.

"Hindi naman, oorder palang din kami" sagot ni Ericka ng tugunin ang yakap ng fiancé sabay baling sakin.

"Hi Kendra, mabuti nakabalik ka na from London." Bungad nya sakin sabay beso.

"Congratulations by the way. Im so happy for you too."

"Thanks. Did kenzo told you that your one of my bridesmaids?"

"Really, thank you. That's so sweet of you to include me on your special day"

"Ofcourse, your one of his close friend. I love to see you there."

"Kasama ko pala yung makakapartner mo, his a family friend and like a brother to me. Hope you get along well."

Bago pa ako makasagot ay may lalaking biglang dumating, ganun nalang ang gulat ni Kendra ng makita si Stanlee na lumapit at umupo sa upaang katabi nya.

"Here he is, Kendra I like you to meet Stanlee, and Stan this is Kendra, shes gonna be your partner on my wedding."

Hindi ko alam kong matutuwa ako o maiinis lalo sa katabi ko na todo ang ngiti ng mapatingin ako dito.

"Nice to see you again... Honey" bati nya sakin pero pabulong nyang binanggit ang huling kataga na dinig ko padin.

Mabuti nalang at dumating na ang waiter para kunin ang order namin. Ramdam ko ang mga tingin nya sakin habang binibigay sa waiter ang order ko.

"Love, Kendra wants to help in some preparation, she can be with you regarding some girly things."

"Well, if you like me to help Erica, Im not busy this days so just tell me whatever I can lend a hand"

"So sweet of you. Actually I need to go somewhere and since Kenzo is not available can you come with me."

"Sure! Just tell me when and ill be there. Im glad to help."

"Thanks! I can't believe that it's only two months before our big day. So sad my mom & Dad can't be here."

"Love, we know that they will be there not physically but spiritual and especially in our heart." Mabilis na lumapit sa Kenzo dito upang aluin ang fiancée na mukhang iiyak na.

Mabuti nalang at dumating na agad ang mga order nila kaya dito nabaling ang atensyon ng lahat. Naging masigla na ulit si Erica habang kumakain sila at panay na ang kwento nito hanggang sa matapos silang kumain.

"Love, my grandma texted me and ask if we can visit them tonight."

"Ok, hatid muna natin si Kendra before going there."

"I can take a cab if out of way naman kayo."

"Ako nalang maghahatid sa kanya." Sagot ni Stanlee.

"That's a great idea." Mabilis na sagot ni Ericka.

"Hindi na, baka makaabala pa ko."

"I insist. It's getting late and not safe for you to take a cab alone."

Para namang safe ako pag ikaw ang kasama ko. Sabi ko sa isip lang.

"Thanks stan, Take care of her." Baling dito ni Kenzo.

Nang makapag paalam sa kanila ay inakay na ako nito papaunta sa kotse nya at pinagbuksan ako ng pinto sa front seat.

"Are you avoiding me?" tanong nito sakin ng makapasok na ito sa drivers seat.

"What are you talking about?"

"About what happened in the bar. I......."

"Let's forget about it"

"What if I don't want to?" tanong nito ng paandarin ang sasakyan.

"I don't care." saad ko sabay baling sa kabilang side kung saan di ko sya makikita at ipinikit ko ang aking mga mata.

Ilang minuto lamang ay naramdaman kong itinigil na nya ang kotse at napansin kong nasa tapat na kami ng apartment ko. Wala akong natatandaan na sinabi ko sa kanya ang address at nakalimutan ko ding sabihin sa kanya.

"How did you know?" Tanong ko sa kanya.

"Let's say I have my ways in knowing something im interested with.”

"Thanks for the ride" sabi ko sa kanya at akma ng bubuksan ang pinto pero naka lock ito.

"Let's talk" saad nya sakin.

"I don't think we have something to talk about." Baling ko dito.

"We have a lot. Whats with you and Kenzo?"

"What?"

"Stay away from him"

"And why would I do that?"

"Coz I say so.”

"At sino ka para sabihin sakin yan. Kung ano mang meron kami, wala ka na dun."

"Alam mong ikakasal na sya, I don't want Erica to get hurt."

"Hinatid mo lang ba ako para sabihin yan?"

"Ilang beses ko na kayong nakitang magkasama, sinundo ka nya sa bar and you even stayed in his condo."

"You don't know everything.”

"Im warning you, kaya kong sirain si Kenzo if sasaktan nya si Erica."

"Wala kaming ginagawang masama."

"I don't want you to see him alone, unless with other people. Don't be too close to him"

"At bakit naman kita susundin?”

"Just do what I said. Kung ayaw mong mawala sa kanya ang hotel nya."

"Anong ibig mong sabihin?"

"Ako lang naman ang may ari ng lupa kung saan nakatayo ang hotel nya. Anytime na may gawin kang hindi ko magustuhan ay pwede kong ipasara ang hotel nya."

"You can't do that" bulyaw ko dito.

Iyon ba ng problema ni Kenzo na sinabi kanina. Hindi pa pala nya nabibili ang lupang yun.

"Don't try me honey. I can ruin him. Stay away from him and do everything I say kung gusto mong mapunta sa kanya ang lupang pinapangarap nya."