Seductive Return

3. Starting A Business

BABABA na sana si Suzie ng kanyang sasakyang nang biglang tumunog ang kanyang cellphone. Kinuha niya iyon sa bag at tiningnan kung sino ang tumatawag. Nang makita ang pangalan ni Angela ay kaagad niya iyong sinagot.

“Hey,” nakangiting bati niya rito kahit na hindi naman siya nakikita.

Hindi kaagad siya nakarinig ng sagot mula rito. Sa halip ay nakarinig siya ng tila pagkabali ng kung ano at mga ungol. Kung hindi siya nagkakamali ay may suntukang nagaganap bago may kumalabog.

Napangiwi siya. Siguro ay kasalukuyang nasa “other” job si Angela. Hindi nga lang sigurado si Suzie kung parte ba iyon ng FBI or something na mas sekreto pa roon. She just knew that Angela has deep connections. Hindi niya ito tinanong tungkol sa mga hinala niya sa “other” job nito dahil mukhang wala naman itong planong sabihin sa kanya. Pero alam niyang alam ni Angela na may hinala siya tungkol dito.

“Suzie. Have you talked with my cousin already?” tanong ng kaibigan niya na para bang walang kasalukuyang nagaganap sa paligid nito ng mga sandaling iyon.

Pwede ba silang mag-usap ng sandaling iyon? “Err–we haven’t met yet. I’m still in the parking lot.”

“I calculated wrong then. I might have been too excited.”

Suzie chuckled. “You’re more excited than I am.”

May narinig siyang nagsalita ng hindi niya maintindihan bago siya nakarinig ng tila sumalpok sa kung saan. Hindi talaga iyon ang oras para makipag-chikaha sa kaibigan niya.

“Bakit ka nga pala napatawag?” tanong niya rito.

“Hmm…” she heard a punch being thrown. “Good luck. And don’t be too nervous about my cousin. He has a soft spot for you. I have to go.”

Toot.

Hindi makapaniwalang napatitig si Suzie sa kanyang cellphone pagkatapos siyang basta na lang babaan ni Angela.

Napailing siya. Hindi naman iyon ang first na tinawagan siya ni Angela ng walang dahilan para lang makarinig ng tila nagpapalitan ng suntok sa background nito.

Whatever.

Humugot siya ng malalim na hininga, sinuri ang mga requirements na dala, sinipat din niya ang sarili sa salamin kung presentable ba siya bago binuksan ang pinto ng kanyang kotse.

Hindi siya dapat nerbiyosin dahil sandali lang naman ang meeting niya kay Keith Myers.

Right.

Keith.

Her friend’s cousin. Her former friend. Her ex’s best friend.

“I wonder how he is now?” nangingiting tanong niya sa sarili. “Is he still as rude as ever?” Hindi niya maisip ang isang maamo at mabait na Keith. The man seems to be born as a menace.

A fond smile briefly crossed her lips. She missed him and his brooding.

Nang dumating siya sa ground floor, tinanong niya ang gwardiya sa direksyon na kinaroroonan ng Angelica Cafe, kung saan magaganap ang kanyang meeting. She will meet the head of the leasing department there for the signing of the leasing contract on SkyLine Mall as well as its owner, Keith Myers.

When she arrived, the man she was suspecting to be the head of the leasing department stood up and held his hand out. She did a quick survey of the place and found no Keith there. She’s not sure what she felt then, relieved or disappointed.

“Good morning, Miss Cruz. I am Edgard Castillo, head of SkyLine’s leasing department. It’s nice to meet you.”

Binigyan niya ito ng munting ngiti at inabot ang kamay nito para makipagkamay. “Nice to meet you, too. You know me?”

“I did my research, ma’am, as per the requirements of Mr. Myers.”

Tumango siya. Naiintindihan naman niya ang mahigpit na seguridad. After all, Keith Myers doesn’t just accept anyone. It was said that most of his tenants are known and successful businessmen.

Mr. Castillo gestured for her to sit before he sat himself. “My apologies, Mr. Myers cannot join us today due to a conflict of schedule.”

“Oh, it’s okay. Wala kang dapat na alalahanin.”

Mas mabuti nga iyon. Hindi kasi niya alam kung paano pakikitunguhan ang binata.

“I hope you don’t mind that I ordered on your behalf.”

There was already a steaming cup of black coffee and a blueberry muffin waiting for her. Just what she needed.

“No, of course not.”

“Let’s get straight to business?”

“Sure.”

Nakatanggap na siyang ng kopya ng draft ng kontrata at napag-aralan na niya iyon. Kagaya nga ng inaasahan niya kay Keith, polido at satisfactory ang kontrata ng lessee at lessor. Hindi siya nakahanap ng loophole kung saan pwedeng may kaharaping suliranin ang isa sa kanila.

Muli nilang pinag-usapan ang kontrata, only citing the important details in it. The meeting went smoothly and quickly. Kalahating oras lang ang dumaan bago natagpuan ni Suzie ang sarili na nakipagkamay kay Mr. Castillo na pirmado na ang kontrata.

He advised her to go to the accounting department so that she could pay the deposit and down payment right away. She did as he said. Binisita rin niya ang soon-to-be store niya. May mga tao ng nagsisimula para i-redesign ang bakanteng space. SkyLine Mall was the one who recommended her to the contractor and they were good.

She stayed for a while, buying snacks for the workers, talking and supervising their work. When she was satisfied, she bid them goodbye for the day.

Pabalik na siya sa parking lot nang mabangga siya sa isang solidong pader. Nang tingnan niya iyon ay muntik na siyang mapanganga. No other than Keith Myers himself. Kung dati ay hanggang leeg siya nito, ngayon ay hanggang balikat nalang.

Mabilis na umatras siya para bigyan sila ng distansiya. She was quite surprised that they ran into each other. After all, his staff told her that he was busy, and thus not being able to attend the meeting with Mr. Castillo.

“I’m sorry! Hindi ko sinasadyang bumangga sa iyo, Mr. Myers!”

Pinigilan niya ang matawa nang makita ang pagtalim ng mga mata nito kasabay ng paglalim ng pagkakasimangot nito. Hindi pa rin pala ito nagbabago. He’s still as intimidating as ever.

“Suzie.” he said in a deep voice, like he wasn’t used to talking. “What Mr. Myers? Gusto mo bang punitin ko ang leasing contract mo dito sa mall ko?”

She gave out a nervous laugh, because she knew that Keith would really tear the leasing contract if he put his mind to it. “I see. Still intimidating people, eh, Keith?”

Tinaasan siya lang siya nito ng kilay bilang sagot. Hindi niya napigilan ang mahinang tawa na kumawala mula sa kanya.

“Accompany me for lunch.”

Iniikot niya ang mga mata. “And demanding now.”

Natawa siya sa pandidilat nito ng mga mata sa kanya. Without a word out of his mouth, he offered her his arm. Kaagad siyang umabrisyete rito na magaan ang pakiramdam. Hindi sila nag-awa na dalawa walong taon na ang nakakalipas kaya siguro pinapansin pa rin siya nito. Dahil kung hindi maganda ang tingin nito sa kanya ay duda siya kung makakatapak ba siya sa SkyLine Mall. So she guessed they’re on good terms now. Which, of course, she was thankful for.

Iginiya siya nito sa isang pamilyar na restaurant. Anfred. Tumaas ang isang kilay niya. Kilala niya ang may-ari ng restaurant na iyon, katulad ng pagkakakilala niya kay Keith.

“Is Lance here?” tanong niya.

She felt nostalgic as they approached the said restaurant. It’s been so many years. She didn’t expect the longing in her heart. She missed everything in her homeland. Lalong-lalo na ang mga kaibigan niya, ang kanyang barkada. She’d been part of a chaotic friendship that only consisted of boys. Well, her and Angela. Of course her friend was also a part of the barkada.

They’d often hang out anywhere, doing nothing, or doing everything.

Na-miss din niya ang kanyang eskwelahan. Though days before graduation were really dark, she barely remembered what happened then.

“No. Gusto mo ba siyang makita?”

“Nah. I’m fine catching up with you.”

Nginitian niya ito ng ubod tamis, itinulak naman nito ang kanyang noo gamit ang hintuturo nito na siyang ikinatawa niya.