Nights Like This

CHAPTER 27

Umagang umaga pero nainis na naman ako dahil ayaw mag start ng kotse ko. I called si Kuya Reno to fix my car but according to him, isang oras pa bago sya maakakarating and i don't have much time because I should be driving my way to the office now. I also called our family driver para ihatid ang isa sa mga kotse sa akin so that I could use something temporarily habang inaayos pa yung kotse ko but none of them are available as of the moment kaya wala akong choice but to book a Grab.

Pag dating ko naman sa company, I am just lucky na hindi ako late at sakto lang na nakarating ako but as soon as I entered the office, nilapitan agad ako ni Sol because apparently, nagpatawag ng maagang meeting si Gabriel that at exactly 9 instead of the scheduled na dapat ay after lunch. Kailangang nasa meeting room na ang lahat ng heads becuse ngayon paparating yung mga representatives ng machinery company na gagawa ng ipapalit sa mga old ones.

"Camila. In my office please," ani Sir Vance na kararating lang at nagmamadaling pumasok sa office nya.

Umagang umaga pa pang pero ang hectic na kaagad. Sana kayanin ko all through out the day.

"Na email ko na sa'yo yung file kagabi. Have you seen it?" tanong ko sa kanya nang maka pasok ako ng office nya.

"Coffee ka muna," aniya and then pointed the two cups of coffee na naka patong sa lamesa nya katabi ng bag nya.

Kinuha ko yung isa and he ordered me the coffee that I ordered last time that I was with him at the cafe.

"Thanks for this. Ano? Nakita mo na ba?" tanong ko ulit. I sipped om my coffee and feels a little better dahil because of the first caffein intake for the day.

He's leaning on his computer while standing up at kitang kita ko ang tense sa muscles nya while aki naman, buong katawan ko ang tensed. This meeting is a big deal because the higer ups really wants to bag the deal with EISA Machinery Inc. without any probkem and as soon as possible sana.

"Yes, nakita ko na and you're welcome." Dinukot nya yung phone nya sa bulsa nya saka may binasa roon. "Good job, Camila. Ready na agad yung files."

I proudly smiled. "Of course. Actually, dapat ngayon ko lang tatapusin yung graphs but ayaw kong mag cram so I sacrificed a few hours of my sleep to do that."

It's really a good call na tinapos ko na kagabi kasi kung hindi, baka nagngingisay na ako sa panic ngayon on top the palpitation that I willbe getting from my coffe that hasn't occured to me yet. I don't know if the report will be used for today meeting because the presentation is about how the new machines would elevate the production quantity.

"Talaga? Ayaw mong mag cram pero late mong binigay sa akin yung report about the suppliers the other day saka nag overtime ka para lang matapos," sabi nya sa akin.

"Okay. In my defense, akala ko talaga the next day pa yung deadline so... But anyway, bumawi naman ako sa ngayon."

Vance just laughed a bit pero kita sa mata nya na para nyang sinasabi nasya ang nanalo.

"Will you be okay later? Nandun si Gabriel saka si Zara," tanong nya sa akin.

He's referring to the meeting that will take place in no less than fifteen minutes. Since this is a big deal for everybody, I'm sure those two will be professionals. Nakakahiya naman kung magkakalat sila roon.

"Of course, I will be. That's work and I have to be professional," sagot ko sa kanya.

Tumango sya saka dinampot ang mga gamit nya na nasa lamesa.

After I found out na sya ang may ari ng ZONE17 and he opened up a bit of something about himself, I became more casual with Vance. Only if kaming dalawa lang or kapag wala namang ibang nakakarinig. For me, gusto ko pa rin namang ma maintain yung safe distance ko with him and not to lose the professionalism at work.

It's more favorable for me because mas madali na yung communication naming dalawa ni Vance. He became more open and vocal to me both at work and personally.

"Mr. Xu, this is Camila Serrano. Daughter of Congressman Serrano," pakilala ni Gabriel sa akin.

I don't like how he introduced me to the old businessman so I extended my hands to properly introduce myself.

"Nice to meet you, sir. Camila Serrano, assitant manager of operations," pakilala ko. It's totally unnecessary for him to mention that my father is a congressman.

I didn't think twice to correct him because I didn't want them to think that I had an easy way up here and I used my connections for me to reach my position and invalidate my hardwork because of their assumptions.

"Nice to meet you, hija. Please send my regards to your father," sagot ni Mr. Xu na CEO ng EISA.

I streched my lips to form a fake smike and then nods sabay bitaw sa kamay ng negosyante. Ano pa nga bang inaasahan ko. It's always like that. When they know that family I belong to, I am treated like Iam not my own individual.

"You sit here Camila" Gabriel pulled the chair om his left, the first chair after ng sa kabisera kung saan sya.

"No it's okay, sir. I'll just..." Inikot ko ang mata ko para maghanap ng bakanteng upuan and they're all occupied by the heads already.

"You will be doing the minutes of this meeting, Cami. You have to sit closer to me," aniya.

It looks like I have no choice so umupo na lang ako. I am not supposed to be in this meeting because this should only including the heads, Mr. Xu and the lawyers as they will be discussing the clauses of the contract.

Kaya ako nandito isbecause Maui, his secretary, is on leave and he requested for me to do the minutes of the meeting and although I am loaded with all the reports that I have to check, they're paused muna buti na lang, wala akong deadline today ng morning.

Pagka upo ko, hinila din ni Vance yung upuan sa tabi ko at roon umupo. I am not surprised nang tumabi rin si Zara sa kanya. She's all smiles to him pero pag napapadpad ang tingin nya sa akin, lalong tumatalas. Paano ba naman, hindi sya pinapansin halos ni Vance with her antics.

I sighed and wished for this meeting to come to an end.

***

Saktong lunch break kanina when Kuya Reno called me na na check na nila yung car ko and the problem is the battery and they have to charge it. As I wasn't there, hindi nila mapa tow yung car ko and they have to do it when I am present so sabi ko naman, bukas ng umagatutal, weekend naman bukas. The charging might take ten to twenty four hours and I told them to check everything and if may something, ayusin na rin nila. I will be commuting for three days at least.

"Hindi ko nakita yung kotse mo sa parking," sabi ni Vance habang pababa kaming dalawa sa elevator.

"It's battery died so I'm just gonna have it recharged bukas," sabi ko sa kanya.

"Paano ka uuwi? Commute?" aniya. Naka kunot na agad yung noo nya like it is not a good idea na mag co- commute ako.

"Yes. I'm booking a Grab now," sagot ko sa kanya. I briefly showed him my phone na naka open na ang app.

"Huwag na. I'll just drop you off. I don't mind," aniya.

"It's okay, Vance. Grab's safe naman. Hindi ba didiretso ka pa ng ZONE17? It will be a hassle sa 'yo kung ihahatid mo pa ako. Just use that time na magpahinga. Lalong magiging busy na naman tayo," sabi ko sa kanya.

Like what we all expected, we bagged the contract with EISA for the machines. Contract signing na lang ang hinihintay and they will be officially gonna be doing the machine and will be workig with them.

"Dadaan pero ihahatid muna kita," sabi nya. "Mas magiging hassle sa 'yo if mag co- commute ka pa. Also, para sure ako na nakaka uwi ka ng maayos."

Dahil pinilit nya na ihatid ko, hindi na ako nag book. Paano ba naman, hindi ako tinantanan habang nasa lobby kami. Ako, pa exit na and sya na dapat ay pa parking.

The ride on the way to my home is pretty chill and I didn't know na naka idlip na pala ako. He drives so smooth and his car smells like lavender kaya para akong na hypnotize na matulog. Lalo pa ng magpatugtog sya ng soft jazz and then we are stucked in the traffic. Na realize ko na lang na nakatulog ako nang gisingin nya ako dahil nasa baba na kami ng tower ko.

"Sorry, Vance. I didn't really mean na maka tulog," sabi ko sa kanya habang tinatanggal ko ang seatbelt sa katawan ko. Napansin ko rin na naka kumot na sa akin yung coat nya and amoy na amoy ko yung scent nya.

It smells like a mix of vanilla and tobacco.

Soft yet rough.

I checked the corners of my mouth. Baka mamaya, nag laway pala ako. That's so embarassing if ever.

"It's fine. Magpahinga ka na when you get home. You deserve to rest," sabi nya sa akin.

Vance leaned his body backwards and then he got the paper bag na may tatak ng Jollibee. It's a take out food.

Kumunot ang noo ko nang ilapag nya iyon sa lap ko."Ano to? Bakit may ganito?" tanong ko sa kanya.

Sinilip ko yung loob at agad na umakyat sa ilong ko ang amoy ng chicken joy.

"I figured na baka you'll be too tired to cook or prepare something for yourself so dumaan na ako ng drive thru kanina habang tulog ka."

"Really? Thank you, Vance. Tinatamad na nga ako but I assure you, I'll eat this first before going to bed."

Vance pressed hus lips together for a smile saka tinanguan ako.

I got off from his car and watched him drove away, all while being touched with his thoughtfulness.