Nights Like This

CHAPTER 26

Parehas kaming hindi makapag salita sa Vance sa gulat.

Vance is just wearing a white shirt tucked in his gray pants at naka sabit sa isa nyang braso ang coat nya that matches his pants. I looks like he just came straight from the office and went straight here.

I blinked for a few times and a few more just to make sure na tama ako ang nakikita and it's because not of the drink na hindi ko pa naman nakakalahati't para lang akong nag juice.

Before, I was thinking of all the scenarios about how would I act when I bump to someone I know. In my mind, I am thinking that there's a huge possibility that I'd bump to one of my friends or a friend of my my friend. Out of all the people, hindi si Vance ang inaasahan kong makikita ko rito.

"Finally nagkita na rin kayong dalawa," sabi ni Jaye na naka masid sa amin.

That caught my attention kaya lumingon ako sa kanya ng naka kunot ang noo.

"What do you mean? Anong finally?" tanong ko sa kanya pero hindi sumagot si Jaye. His eyes are on Vance's direction na para bang he's waiting for him to explain himself.

Habang tumatagal, I am finally getting a gist of what is happening here but I need the confirmation to come from their mouth. I have connected the dots. Hindi naman mahirap na hulaan kung anong nangyayari but it's just too shoking not just for me but for Vance as well.

"Camila..." tawag ni Vance sa pangalan ko at sya na ang pinagbalingan ko ng atensyon.

"You are the owner of this place?" tanong ko and I tilted my head because I said that wrong. "No. You are the owner of this place," sigurado kong sabi.

It makes sense. It makes so much sense that I want to question if everything is just pure coincidence... or not.

Vance knows who I was even before he started working at the company because he was the one who brought me to A1 Hotel. Kaya ba ayaw syang ipakilala sa kain ni Jaye? Isa pa. Nung hawak ko yung phone nya. It's the same person na kilala namin ang nireplyan ko.

Nag igting ang panga ni Vance saka huminga sya ny malalim. He fixed his posture nang maka bawi sya sa gulat. Balik sa default expression na naman ang mukha nya but I could see na he's fidgeting with his bag na dala dala nya.

"I am."

Kinagat ko ang labi ko saka tumango while I divert my gaze to him. "I figured."

Kaya pala parang kilalang kilala nya yung drinking habit ko. Kaya pala inaasar nya ako na hindi ako sure kung nakita nya na ba ako o hindi. Nasa harap ko na yung sagot.

"I'm sorry, Camila. I didn't really intend to hide this from you-"

Pinutol ko ang sinasabi nya saka nagsalita. "You do. You really intended to hide this from me because kung hindi, you wouldn't say na hindi mo pa ako nakikita sa inuman when in fact, I am a regular here in your bar. If you didn't, magpapakilala ka kaagad sa akin. But it's okay," sabi ko sa kanya while I look at him, hoping that the look in my eyes would give him assurance na I don't feel bad in anything about this. "I understand why you have to do that. It's your private life anyway."

Humakbang sya palapit sa akin while his eyes are all on me like he's weighing my reation and my facia expression. "Are you sure? Like what I told you before, I don't want me to make you feel unomfortable so please don'te hesitate to tell me if you are."

Tumango ako saka nginitian sya habang inabot ng kamay ko ang Tequila Sunrise na halos maubos ko na and as if na ikakalma ako nun sa dagundong ng dibdib ko and it will erase the tension

Parang tumatagos pa rin sa balat ko ang mga titig nya sa akin.

"I am not, Vance. It's okay and I really understand. Nagulat lang talaga ako that of all people, ikaw pa talaga."

Nagtaas sya ng isang kilay. "Why? What about me?" tanong nya.

"You are my boss, Vance. Nagugulat lang ako thaat our connection goes beyond being officemated dahil una, your Dad is acquainted with mine and now, you own the bar that I consider my hideout. We're way more connected than I thought."

"Is it bad?" tanong ulit nya.

Iniling ko ang ulo ko. "No. It's not. I don't mind."

Mukha namang okay na si Vance sa mga sagot ko because he stopped fidgeting on his bag and his face and body looks more relaxed now.

"Ang pangit nyo naman ka bonding ni Vance, Camila. Ang boring nyo! Akala ko pa naman magkaka sampalan na tayo dito para naman my thrill," comment ni Jaye na nalalala kong nandyan pa pala at kasama pa namin.

Tumayo ako para maka lean forward and I reached my hands to him. Nanlalaki ang mata naman syang humakbang palayo para maka ilag. "Halika dito. Pa sampal ako kahit isang beses lang sayo para naman may thrill just like what you said."

Jaye shielded his arms in front of him although I cannot reach him kasi may harang sa harap ko at and he's already far away from me. "Ang bayolente mo naman! Ipa- dampot kita sa guard dyan."

Nagtawanan kami and that made the atmosphere aroound us extra lighter. Nawala na yung nabuong tension kanina na nagpa dagdag sa kaba ko. Nagbibiro lang naman ako. Hindi ko naman talaga sya sasamplain. Isa pa, I really understand Vance's position here.

In a way, I think it's a good call na hindi ko alam yung fact na yun umpisa pa lang at ngayon ko lang nalaman kasi there's a huge possibility that I'd never come back here again. Dito ako naglalabas ng streess ko at rants ko then malalaman kong sa boss ko 'to, then that might both put us in awkaward situation. Ngayon kasi, iba. Kahit paano nakilala ko na si Vance and he's seen a bit of me already. Alam na nya kung paano ako and I know that he doesn't mind kaya it's easier for me to process and accept.

"Tara. Sama ka sa akin. I'll show you something," sabi nya sa akin saka bumaling kay Jaye. "Ikaw munang bahala dito."

Tumango si Jaye and signalled na mauna na kami dahil may inaasikaso syang customer. Hindi naka ligtas yung pag angat ng sulok ng labi ni Jaye. I just jokingly scoffeed my face at him.

Tumayo ako bitbit yung bag ko at sinundan si Vance kahit hindi ko alam kung saan kami pupunta, sinundan ko pa rin sya. It wasn't long nang itulak nya yung pinto na for staffs only and held it longer para mauna akong maka pasok. There are dalawang doors na magka harap sa isa't isa at isa pa na katapat naman ng pinto na pinasukan namin. I don't know what is that kasi wala namang sign na naka lagay sa mga pinto.

Kasunod ko lang na pumasok si Vance at kasabay ng pag sara nya ng pinto ay ang pag lunod ng tugtog na galing speakers at ang mga kuwentuhan ng mga customer na naroon. Tahimik na ulit and hindi ko alam kung anong sasabihin ko sa kanya but somebody has to break the silence so we did.

"What-" panimula ko.

"This-" aniya.

Sabay kaming nagsalita kaya napa ngiti ako kasi we are both startled when we talked at the same time haang nag tama pa ang mga mata namin na nanlaki sa gulat.

"You go first, Cami. What are you going to ask?"

"I was just going to ask kung ano 'tong mga pinto at bakit tayo nandito?" tanong ko sa kanya.

Vance smiled. "That's I'm about to tell you actually."

Lumakad si Vance sa kaliwang part at binuksan nya. I saw yung mga magkaka hilera ng nagtataasang metal and glass shelves kung saan naka lagay yung mga alak na stock. I think the amount of the alcohol here may last for a month dahil ang dami at iba't ibang klase ng alcohol. Walang wala pa sa bilang ng naka display at ng ginagamit sa labas.

"This is where we keep all the wines and we are very sensitive about this room, hindi namin hinahayang may maka pasok dito because this room alone costs hundreds of thousands. Probably millions worth of alcohol so we are very careful about this. Sinecure din namin na it's on the right temperature at yung mga shelves, shake proof just in case lumindol."

Tumango ako. I took a good glance on the drinks saka sinara na rin ni Vance and then we moved too the door na kaharap ng pinto na iyon. That room is basically the storage room. Naka stock naman doon yung lahat ng iba pa nilang kailangan na supplies and lastly, Vance's office.

"Do you live here?" tanong ko sa kanya kasi hindi ako makapaniwala sa nakikita ko.

It is very evident na lagi sya rito because his office could also be his room dahil may sofa bed at may cabinet din sya for clothes. Yung CR nya may shower rin. Nilapag ko yung bag ko sa sofa bed at roon naupo instead sa chair na nasa harap ng table nya. Tumabi sa akin si Vance kaya nasa magkabilang dulo kami nitong sofa.

"No. May bahay akong inuuwian. The reason why it's like this is that I am constantly busy with everything and wala na akong time para umuwi sa bahay ko because it's far. Besides, uuwi lang naman ako roon just to sleep ormag shower at magpalit so to cut time, dito na lang."

"Nakaya mo 'to lahat? Working a full time job at day and being a CEO of your own business at night?" amazed na sabi ko sa kanya. "Not to be nosy but why don't you just quit being employee and just focus on your business?"

"I want to be successful in both fields, that's why I can't give up one of it. It's tough but when I finish a work and at the end of the day or I accomplish something, that is so rewarding for me and it boosts my confidence as I always have the hunger to show what I can do."

Bigla tuloy akong nahiya na mag reklamo about my work and my life lalo na ngayo na nakikita ko na kung paano umiikot yung buhay ni Vance. Now, I'd like to dismiss the tought that I have worked enough. Hindi pa pala. Hindi naman sa dina- down ko yung sarili ko or ini- invaldate ko but I am just so amazed with Vance that I want to work harder with that kind of mindset and be like him.

"I admire you, Vance." Hindi ako nag dalawang isip na sabihin yun sa kanya because I really am.

Vance flashed a proud smile. "Thank you, Camila. I appreciate it."

Hinayaan ko lang si Vance na mag kwento because for the first time, boses nya ang nangingiibabaw sa pagitan naming dalawa at hindi ang akin. Hinayaan ko lang because I want to hear his stories.

"Hindi talaga madali lalo na sa time management especially nung inuumpisahan ko pa lang 'tong bar. It was right after I graduated college. I was struggling with everything lalo na nang mag back out yung kasama ko dapat dito na kaibigan ko. I was juggling between working and building my own. Looking back, it was worth it. That experiences bought me here and I'd be willing to have more struggles if that would mean na I will be successful."

If it isn't just so embarassing to give him a standing ovation and a well round of applause ng mag isa, gagawin ko. Grabe! admiration is an understatement now. Minsan lang magsalita si Vance ng ganito and it leaves an impact.

I don't know what I should or what I can say aside from that 'wow' that slipped through my lips. Not that I learned baout him as a boss, mas nakilala ko din sya as a person. Letting me in here in this office made me learn somehing about Vance who rarely talkes about himself.

May kumatok ng tatlong beses at biglang bumukas yung pinto at nahagip ng mata kong niluwa nun si Jaye na may hawak na bote ng Cloudy Bay Pinot Noir.

"Oh. Bakit nagtitinginan lang kayo dyan?" tanong nya sa amin and weirdly looking at us.

Hinugot ko yung mata ko sa pagkaka tingin kay Vance at yumuko.

"Why? Nag uusap naman kami dito," sabi ni Vance.

Jaye frowned. Naka tayo pa rin sya habang naka pagitna sa aming dalawa. "Usap lang? Ang weak nyo naman."

My forehead creased. "Ano bang dapat ginagawa namin dito?"

Ewan ko ba dito kay Jaye at hindi na lang kami diretsuhin sa gusto nyang sabihin. Ang dami dami pang paligoy ligoy eh!

Itinaas nya yung bote ng wine saka inalog sa harap namin ng mahina. "Umiinom."

And with that, we enjoyed the wine na dinala nya para sa amin.