Hooked By His Twin

4

4

Three months passed...

Ava Empire Company:

            “You know, I’ve been thinking kasi Friday naman ngayon—why not to hang out with friends?” Suzette exhorted sa kaibigan at boss niyang si Ava.

            Ava was busy reviewing the interior designs that her dear friend Suzette submitted to her for a review and now proposed to her to hang out.

            Matipid na ngiti ang binitawan ni Ava. How can she celebrate? She’s still mourning about Drake’s death..

            “Thanks but no, thanks… I have a lot of things to finish.” Sabi ng dalaga saka itinuon ang pansin sa designs ni Suzette. As usual, her friends proposal plan was magnificent. That’s why she employed her because of her superb skills.

            “C’mon, Ava..Join with us! Ngayon lang naman ‘to..As you know, our dear friends Elisa and Nina just arrived. Gusto nilang mag-bonding naman ta’yo before going back abroad..” Pilit pa rin panghihimok nito kay Ava.

            “As much as I wanted to go, I really can’t---“

            “See you at 9:00 pm sharp—we’ll drop by at your flat.” Tumayo na ito and headed towards the door.

            “Suzette, I really can’t—“

            “Don’t drive your car. I’ll drive tonight, alright? Adios!”

            Nasapo nalang ni Ava ang sintido. Her spoiled little brat friend didn’t know how to give up.

            She gave a deep sigh. Marami siyang iniisip ngayon. Ang partnership nila sa MM Elite na nagbabadyang maudlot dahil sa pagkamatay ng kasintahan and that bad news that her mommy Stella called earlier…

            “Three stockholders withdrawn their shares, hija...I don’t want to put some pressure to you right now—“

            “No, my..It’s alright—don’t bother me. Is this about our partnership with MM Elite?”

            Ava heard her mom sighed in the next line.

            “Perhaps, hija...They were skeptical about our company’s stability.”

            “Then, I can prove to them that our company can stand even without our partnership with MM Elite.” She firmly said kahit masakit man sa damdamin ang katotohanang ‘di na maisasakatuparan ang mithiin ng kanyang ama at ni Mr. Monte Mayor.

            “...and I think I’m ready to be the CEO of the company, my. I want you to get rest, you’re not getting any younger para sa mga problema sa’ting kompanya.”

            “Are you sure about that, hija?”

            “Yes, my. Ibabangon na’tin ang kompanya ni Daddy even without clinging to MM Elite.” She then affirmed to her mommy Stella who just left a sigh after the call.

            She then shut down her apple laptop and prepared herself to go home. As she stood up from her swivel chair, she thought…

            “I will never let you down, daddy. Everything you’ve been through for this company will never be wasted.” She affirmed to herself.

            While on her way to her condo unit, hindi niya maiwasang bagalan ang takbo ng sasakyan ng papadaan siya sa MM Elite Company. She remembered Drake’s presence again habang kasama siya noon roaming aroung his company.

            Suddenly, her eyes caught a very familiar mannish physique. A man wearing a black leather jacket at nakikipag-usap sa guard ng kompanya.

            “God…It’s him—it’s Drake!” She uttered anxiously at inihinto ang sasakyan. Hindi niya maaninag masyado ang mukha nito dahil nakatalikod ang lalaki but she knew—it was Drake!

            Ava hurriedly parked her car—hindi niya maipahiwatig ang nararamdaman. But when she stepped out and roamed around—the red Ferrari car left in just a blink of an eye.

            “Good evening po, ma’am. Pero restricted na po ang kompanya para sa mga empleyado, no guests allowed na po tayo, ma’am..” Ang sabi ng guard sa kanya ng makalapit siya sa entrance ng company  nina Drake.

            “Magtatanong lang sana—was it Drake Monte Mayor? Ikaw yung kinausap niya ngayon di’ba? Saan siya nagpunta?” Sunod-sunod na tanong niya sa guard while her heart was pounding very fast. Unti-unti ring namuo ang mga luha sa kanyang mga mata.

            “Patawad po, ma’am...Hindi ko po masasagot ang mga tanong ninyo for security reasons lang po, ma’am.” Ani ng guard.

            “For Christ’s sake! I’m his girlfriend! Who was that? Was it Drake Monte Mayor?” She felt so annoyed sa tinuran ng guard and emotional, as well.

            “I’m sorry, Ma’am. Pero ‘di ko masasagot ang tanong ninyo for security reasons.”

            She went home puzzled out. The resemblances were very vivid. Hindi siya pwedeng magkamali—si Drake ang nakita niya. Her heart knew it was him!

            “If that was Drake, why does he have to conceal himself and pretended that he tragically died? I just don’t get it!” Suzzette exclaimed when Ava shared it to her friends.

            She have decided to go out and meet them. Mababaliw na siya sa kakaisip sa mga nangyari sa buhay niya. She needs her friends right now more than their consolations.

            “Yeah, right...This is really an eerie thing, ya’know? I just couldn’t believe it if that was true! Cheers to that, bastard!” Elisa said. Elisa worked in Paris and just came home deliberately to spend time with her friends lalo na ng malaman nito ang nangyari sa fiancé ng matalik na kaibigan nasi Ava.

            Naroroon sila sa isang sikat na Resto Bar and spent their night drinking luxurious red wines.

            Ava’s not that heavy drinker, but she had to. Gusto niyang makatulog ng mahimbing when she gets home. Ava wiped her tears after her fifth shot.

            “Hey, easy girl...We don’t have enough muscles to lift you later if you passed out.” Sabi naman ng isa pang kaibigan nila nasi Nina, galing pa itong London and decided to visit Philippines for the same reasons as Elisa.

            “I’ll be fine and for whatever this is, I need to know this eerie thing, straight to uncle Erik’s perspectives.” She has thought to talk about it tomorrow at Erik Monte Mayor’s office.

            “That’s right, girl..Pero pwede bang mag-enjoy muna tayo, please? I-delete na muna ang mga problema—c’mon let’s dance!” Anyaya ni Suzzette sa kanilang lahat. Tumayo sina Elisa at Nina. Nagpaiwan na muna siya sandali.

            “I’ll catch up later.” Sabi niya sa mga ito and sipped another glass of wine.

            Medyo tipsy na siya ng kunti and breathe heavily and she thought that would be enough to let her asleep. She grabbed her purse and texted her friends.

            Hindi niya maaninag ang mga ito sa dance floor dahil sa iba’t ibang dance lights and it was very dim to look for them kaya nagtext nalang siya kay Suzzette na mauuna na siyang umuwi.

            “I’ll go ahead. See you tomorrow at the office.” Ava sent a message to Suzzette and when she was about to start her car’s engine, her eyes spotted a familiar car.

            “God—he’s here! Drake is here.” Her adrenaline stirred abruptly. Tanaw niya sa loob na may babae itong kasama and that scenario stabbed her.

            “What are you playing, Drake? Why are you fooling me?” She uttered bitterly na may halong galit para sa nobyo.

            When the Ferrari car started its engine, sinundan ‘agad ito ni Ava.

            “It’s now or never—I need your answers, Drake!” Hiyaw ng kanyang isipan.

            The car stopped in front of a luxurious condominium building. Nang maka-park na ang sasakyan ng lalake, she heard her heart beats so fast.

            “Drake.” She confirmed bitterly nang lumabas sa sasakyang ang lalake at akay ang isang balingkinitang babae.

            She wiped her tears away. Walang kasing sakit ang naramdaman ni Ava when she stared at them. Naloko siya ng lalakeng minahal niya ng kay tagal…