Grow with the Flow

Chapter 19

Calling card

Hindi ko maiwasang ma-excite habang tulak-tulak ang cleaning materials. Papunta ako ngayon sa office ni Colton dahil dun naman ako na-assign maglinis.

Malaki na agad ang ngiti ko malayo pa man ngunit nang nasa tapat na ng glass walls ng silid ay unti-unting naglaho ang kurba ng labi ko 

Sa loob ay may tatlong ibang tao na naka-upo sa sofa na tanggapan ng bisita habang sa may bandang kabisera ay kaharap nila si Colton.

Dahan-dahang kong tinulak ang pinto para hindi lumikha ng ingay. Nang mapansin ang presensya ko ay napaayos ng upo si Colton.

Sinundan naman ng mga nasa harap niya ang tingin kaya't napaharap sila sakin.

Ang isa sa tatlo ay chinito at palakaibigan ang mukha habang ang isa pa na nakasalaming kalbo ay natukoy kong bading.

Namukaan ko ang huli bilang iyong investor na pinuntahan namin noon. Siya iyong hindi mawala ang ngisi noon at parang nang-aasar.

Lumiwanang din ang mukha niya nang tila'y naalala ako. "Oh, she's here!" excited pang sabi nito at lumapit sakin at naglahad ng kamay.

"Hi! I'm Kalix. Sorry I wasn't able to properly introduce myself the last time. Someone's very grumpy that time..." he said with that same smile na parang may inside joke sya.

Nag-aalangang tinanggap ko iyon. "Uhm, Nari."

Saka ko lang napansin na nasa tabi nya na pala yung chinito nang mag-salita ito. "Woah." manghang sabi niya habang tinititigan ako.

"You didn't tell me you had such a beautiful employee, Colton!" nakita kong pinunas niya ang palad sa shirt.

"Hi, Miss Nari, I'm Single." ngumisi ito sa akin at naglahad ng kamay.

"Perj." I heard the warning in Colton's voice, now he's standing on his feet.

Tinanggap ko na lang ang kamay ng napag-alaman kong si Perj.

Maya-maya'y natanaw ko ang bading na naglakad na rin palapit. Dahan-dahan niya kong hinead to foot at napanganga.

"Height, check!" sabi niya at sinimulang ikutan ako.

"Body curves, check!" nag-init ang mukha ko sa kahihiyan.

Nang matapos umikot at makabalik sa harap ay hinawakan niya ang baba ko at tinagilid ang muka.

"Face, super check!" 

I felt a strong hand on my wrist. Hinila ako ni Colton papunta sa likod niya at tinago.

"Colton, you've been hiding a gem all along! She's definitely going to click! She's perfect!" dama ko ang sobrang excitement sa boses niya.

"Shut up, Ish. Whatever you're thinking, it's not going to happen." humigpit ang hawak niya sakin.

I can't help but be curious to what they really are talking about.

Nanlaki ang mata nung Ish. "What? Don't tell me kaya ayaw mo nang bumalik sa trabaho mo sa Maynila because you want to hide her from the world." gulat na sabi nito. "Let's hear it from the lady, she might be interested with my offer."

"No!" agad na sigaw ni Colton.

"Ano ba 'yun?" hindi ko na napigilang sumingit.

Lumiwanag ang muka ni Ish. "Have you ever been scouted, Miss? I'm very much interested in recruiting you as a talent. We could offer you modeling or acting career, name it!"

Nanlaki ang mata ko.

Mabilis na humarap sakin si Colton. He cupped my face. "No, baby. Don't listen to them.." he told me sounding desperate.

Nakita kong napanganga si Perj sa ginawa ni Colton habang umiling naman si Kalix. "What a selfish bastard."

Galit na lumingon si Colton sa kanila. "For f**k's sake do me a favor and leave. All of you." he growled.

Nakita kong umasim ang mukha nung si Ish. "We're not even done discussing your own matter yet, Colton. The management can sue you for not following the duration of your contract."

"Damn, I don't care. I said I'm willing to pay for anything it takes."

Ish shook his head like he can't believe what's happening. "Okay, then just let me talk to the girl atleast." 

"I said whatever you're planning, I'm never going to allow it. The discussion ends there." he said through gritted teeth and I can feel his anger overflowing.

I reached for his arm and gently caress it. "Colton let me talk to them.."

He turned his head on me and he looks... I don't know, scared?

"Baby.."

"It's not like papayag na ako sa iaalok nila. I'm just going to hear them out then we'll talk about it. The two of us."

He stared at me for a long time. His eyes are almost begging. I didn't lower my guard.

He sighed exhaustedly and shut his eyes. Napayuko siya at lumunok.

"Promise me you'll immediately come to me after this." 

I nodded.

He wrapped his hands on my shoulder for a hug then he caress my hair at the back of my head.

"Then okay, baby.. As long as you'll come home to me.." he whispered.

Pinisil niya pa ang kamay ko bago tumalikod. I saw how he sent death glares to the three guys before coming out of the office.

Hinayaan niya kaming manatili sa opisina niya para mag-usap.

"Wow, how did Colton turned like that.." Perj uttered still in awe.

Umupo kaming lahat para makapag-usap nang maayos. 

Pinaliwanag sakin ni Ish nang detalyado ang tungkol sa alok niya. Nalaman ko rin na siya ang tumatayong manager ni Colton pero hindi naman daw ibig sabihin noon na siya na rin ang magmamanage sakin dahil napakalaki ng kompanya.

"Seryosong wala pang sumubok mag-scout sayo? I can't believe this. With a beauty like yours?" namula ako at hindi masabi ang tungkol sa pinagdaanan.

"As I was saying Nari, the moment I laid my eyes on you, I immediately knew that you could make it big. You have the factor and the star quality." he was very good in persuasion, I must say.

"I can assure you that the company would take good care of you. They would hone you and bring out the best in you."

My heart flinched at what he said, suddenly remembering how I've always wanted to be confident about myself.

"Here, take this." he said and handed me a calling card.

"I won't pressure you to give your decision now. I just hope that you think about this very carefully and not to take the opportunity for granted." he said with finality.

I heard Kalix sighed. "I hope you could also try to convince Colton to finish the contract first, Nari. Baka maapektuhan ang pangalan ng kompanya kapag nakasuhan siya."

Perj shifted on his seat. "I don't know if this helps but I think Colton's behavior is somehow affected with his past involvement with girls, Nari. His ex-flings would literally jump from him to another man so maybe now that he's finally in a serious relationship, he's just really afraid of losing you." he smiled warmly.

"...But I hope his own issues wouldn't hinder you from achieving something for yourself." he added.

I bowed my head and swallowed the lump on my throat while holding the calling card tightly.