Samuel & Olivia

QUINCE

Pagbabalik

♔ Samuel

“Good Morning Mom! You asked for me?” walang katok katok na pumasok ako ng opisina ng Nanay ko… I use to do that noon pa man, unless na pigilan ako ng secretary niya dahil may ka meeting itong importante. I halted my steps after the door and I closed it. She is not alone may kausap siya… nakaupo sa visitors chair sa harap ng table ni Mommy. She looks familiar… she didn’t even look my way, kaya pinasadahan ko siya ng tingin mula ulo hanggang paa. She’s wearing what we call a “power suit”, black high heeled ankle boots, gray cropped fitted pants and a blazer with a black undershirt. Gorgeously powerful woman!

“Good Morning Son” may mapanuksong ngiti si Mommy

“Come in, sit down… I have someone I would like you to meet” I sat down on the chair in front of her visitor. She hasn't acknowledged my presence since I entered Mom’s office, she’s just looking straight. I was stunned… dumbfounded even but amazed too when I finally was able to see who the visitor was. God! years have passed since I last saw her, My Beautiful Angel… No! “The Beautiful Angel” because she’s not mine anymore. The Venus incarnate is back and she’s looking sinfully stunning… God! May igaganda pa pala siya! F*ck!... I know I am staring rudely but I can’t take my eyes off her.

“Good Morning, Mr. Aguila” she greeted me with a dashing smile that could melt any man’s heart… para akong pinitik sa noo at natauhan…

“Olivia Robles, What the f*ck are you doing here?” pasinghal kung sabi

“Samuel Roman!... You don’t have to be rude!” sita sa akin ni Mommy

“She’s here because I asked her to, she’s an applicant” paliwanag niya pa… hindi ako umimik, Tang na! Me and my big mouth again. Pag kay Olivia talaga nawawala ako sa wisyo. Sh*t!

“If you can’t be professionally polite… you can go, I’ll call you when I’m done interviewing her” Sh*t! Nasermonan pa ako…

“Ok, Call me when you’re done!” tumayo na ako saka tuloy tuloy na lumabas ng opisina ni Mommy. Hindi ko kasi alam kung paano talaga siya pakikiharapan… God! Bakit ba siya nandito? Naka move on na ako sa kanya… nag girlfriend na nga ako para tuluyan na siyang kalimutan. P*ta! naman kasi! - Naka move on pala ah, Bakit parang apektado ka? Tsss! - Shut up mind!

Three years… three f*cking years of trying to forget and now that I’ve finally make the move to totally move on, she will f*cking parade herself in front of me… smoking hot as hell! The f*ck! Man! And why is she applying in my company? And why is Mom entertaining her application, I don’t want her here. - “Come on man, are you forgetting you still have an apology to make” kausap sa akin ng matino kung utak - Oh Sh*t!... Yeah! I still have an apology to make and Me and my big mouth is being an a**hole again.

**I can still remember my talk with Doc Zane

“What can I do for you Mr. Aguila?” mapanuya niyang tanong sa akin ng nakaupo ako sa harap ng lamesa niya. We are in the Director Office, dito ako itinuro ng receptionist sa lobby ng hospital.

“Good Morning Doc, Do you have time? Can I invite you for lunch?” I wanted to talk outside, personal kasi ang sadya ko.

“I’m sorry I don’t… I know what you came here for has nothing to do with any medical attention. It’s personal am I correct Mr. Aguila?” masungit pa rin siya sa akin… OK lang at least kinakausap niya ako.

“OK, I will not beat around the bush… I would like to ask if you know where she is? I’ve been to the Hacienda they told me, she resigned already.”

“She? really Mr. Aguila… kahit pangalan niya hindi mo masabi” pagsusungit niya pa rin

“I’m sorry Doc! I really came here to apologize… I found her letters to Mom and I realized I’ve treated her unfairly. I’ve been so mean and cruel in my words and I wanted to make amends and correct my mistakes” malumanay kung sabi

“Finally! nalaman mo rin” bulalas niya bigla, pumalakpak pa

“But your apologies are too late already” dagdag niya pa, nangunot ang noo ko sa kanya

“Doc Zane, Please… I’m sorry we end up the way we did but I really have a life outside the Hacienda and I can’t stay here.” malumanay pa rin, wala akong karapatan magmalaki, ako may mali.

“Yeah! You have a life and it’s not here… What I cannot understand is the way you treated her after you regained your memories. Alam kung hindi mo naman nakalimutan ang mga nangyari sa Hacienda pati na rin ang tungkol sa inyong dalawa.” natatawa niyang sabi pero alam mong nanunuya lang, well deserve ko yun sa mga nagawa ko sa kaibigan niya. Nangako rin ako sa kanya noon…

“Again, Doc Zane I’m really sorry… but I can’t be with her”

“Why? Because she’s just a Farm Manager not enough for the high and mighty Mr. Aguila? I can’t understand you there… never thought that the soft spoken, bubbly and good-humored Roman I knew would turn out to be the an arrogant and heartless man.” he snorted, as if so disgusted to even talk to me. I have nothing to retort back and just look down.

Pero hindi pa pala siya tapos...

“I regretted that I introduced you to her… she already told me to take care of you, the night she brought you to the Hospital unconscious. My curiosity got into me… Why did she brought you to the most equipped and modern hospital in our province… Why did she order for a CT scan just to make sure you’re ok and put you in the most expensive hospital suite?” nakahawak siya sa baba niyang parang nag iisip ba… saka nagpatuloy sa sinasabi...

“And then talked to me after, not to let you know that she’s the one who brought you here. I was so intrigued kung bakit takot na takot siyang malaman mo na siya ang nagdala sayo sa Hospital. Kaya ng magka amnesia ka and asked for the one who brought you here… siya pa rin ang pinatawag ko, kahit na ang pangalan ng tao niya ang iniwan niya sa hospital.”

“Ngayon sising sisi ako na ginawa ko yun, sana pala naniwala nalang ako sa sinabi niyang hindi ka nga matutuwa at ikakagalit mo kapag namalam mong siya ang sumagip sayo” napa buntong hininga siya pagkatapos ng mga sinabi niya

"For your information, Mr. Aguila... you could have been a victim of kidnap for ransom, if not for Olivia. Inarbor ka niya sa mga muntik ng dumampot sayo ng maaksidente ka. Para lang sa kaalaman mo..." dagdag niya pa, para akong sinampal sa malaman ko... napaka laki talaga ng utang ko sa kanya... pero apaka G*go ko!

“But as I’ve said already your apologies are too late… she’s not here, haven’t seen her since we got back from the Metro. The time you kicked her out of your bar, remember that Sir? Well, since then I haven’t seen her or even heard from her… like you, what I only knew is that she resigned from her job.” paliwanag niya

“And for my own peace of mind too, If she will contact me or Belle… I will avoid telling you where she is, I’m sorry but I can’t let her be hurt again. That precious girl doesn’t deserve to be treated like you did to her, she deserves someone who will treat her like a princess because she is one.” naka ngisi niyang sabi…

“Yeah! She deserves someone better and I know that’s not me” balik ko sa kanya

“Thanks Doc for accommodating me, again I am sorry for what happened… and I will hope someday when we cross paths all of you will have the heart to forgive me. Salamat ulit!” tumayo na ako

“I hope so too, don’t worry I know time will heal us all… we are just too hurt right now, that girl is so dear to us.” sagot niya

“Unsolicited advice - I hope someday you’ll change your perspective in looking at Olivia’s status in life, it shouldn’t matter how rich or poor that someone is, when it comes to love. I’ve seen how you look at her and I know you’ve loved her and she too loves you… that’s the only thing that should matter.” dagdag niya pa… na ngingiti na siya, a genuine smile…

“Thank you for coming here and intending to ask for an apology… but for now, let's just leave it at that as she’s nowhere to be found” habol niya pa… he offered his hand for a handshake and we did

That’s the last time I've heard something about her… and now she’s back! And she’s here in my company. And again I am rude and arrogant to her! Way to go Samuel!

~~~~~~~~~

“What’s wrong with you! You don’t have to be impolite and disrespectful” bungad ni Mommy ng pinatawag niya na ako sa opisina niya… she’s in the lounge area of her office, sitting on the iconic Bloom Easy Armchair beside the sofa.

“I did not raise you to be one!” she rarely raises her voice to me… but when she does I know she is truly pissed off with me.

“Mom, I’m so sorry… I was not able to control my mouth” malumanay kung sabi

“I was just shocked and stunned to see her here” dagdag ko pa

“Haayy! Naku Samuel… I can understand you were stunned but to raise your voice on her and walk out instead of apologizing. God! You were beyond rude” sermon niya pa rin sa akin, Yeah! Alam kung pinalala ko pa ang sitwasyon ng lumayas ako without even saying sorry.

“Mom, I’m sorry OK… I know my fault, I know I am way out of line” sumalampak ako sa sofa

“Why is she here anyway?”

“She’s an applicant, I told you!” na pahawak na siya sa sintido niya… stress na sa akin kaya nanahimik na ako

Sabi ni Mommy, nakita niya sa LinkedIn ang profile ni Olivia… and she’s looking for a job here in the Metro. And after checking her Curriculum Vitae, the attached credentials and even her references she decided to offer her a job. She will be working as Mom’s EA and she’s lending me hers. - She wanted to extend a helping hand to her as she’s just starting in the business corporate world, as Thank you na rin daw sa pag kupkop nito sa akin noon. Haayy! Ayoko na kumontra… bahala siya.

Tyron left the company already, he is the one managing our Accounting and Law Firm. A year ago we started the Firm when he passed the Bar Exam halos isang taon na akong walang EA. I am coping but I really need one now as studying Law is catching up with me, I am in my last year… - Yeah since she went away, I needed another distraction so I went back to school.

~~~~~~~~~~~

After a week…

Today is Livi’s First Day of Training as Mom’s EA… at napag sabihan na nga akong maging professional makitungo sa kanya. I need to control my emotions when I am around her, I’ll do my best.

“Good Morning Gia! Good Morning Jude” I greeted my staff

“Good Morning Boss!” sila lang tumatawag sa akin ng Boss, karamihan ng empleyado namin… Mr. Aguila or SRA.

“Mrs. Angeles will be joining us maybe by next week or two weeks from now” balita ko sa kanila

“Thank God!” bulalas ni Jude, binatukan siya ni Gia

“Grabe! Bakit hirap na hirap ka na?” asar niya dito

“Eh kasi naman po, mula ng umalis si Tyron hindi na tayo magkandaugaga noh… matagal na akong hindi nakakauwi ng tama sa oras” reklamo nito

“I am so sorry Boo Bear” paglalambing ko dito… tawang tawa si Gia sa reaksyon ni Jude nag pa nganga kasi ito sa pagtawag ko ng Boo Bear.

“Boss naman eh!” pabulong niyang sabi, pasimple pa akong inirapan… tinawanan ko lang

Told them about the newcomer… I’m sure Mrs. Angeles will show her around. All weekend my thoughts have been swirling around the gorgeous creature. Haven’t seen her though after that encounter in Mom’s office. I heard she already submitted all her requirements and signed her contract. - This is really happening we will be working together, Sh*t!

I gave in with my curiosity and browsed on her profile in LinkedIn, she went to study abroad for MBA… I don’t know how she was able to afford that but that doesn’t concern me anymore. She worked in a very prestigious company and has worked directly under the CEO himself. I knew that man… he’s one of the Legends in Investments Companies with his friends. She was able to get experience working in Europe’s pioneer Investment Company… I can’t fault her credentials. As much as I don’t want her here, she’s actually an asset to our company. I hope she delivers well.

- And I am happy to see she's growing, expanding her horizon… and I really wish her nothing but success. Ako ang unang magiging masaya pag nangyari yun. Maybe just maybe I’ll look at her differently and there will be a future that Samuel can be with Olivia. It is still a silent prayer after ng mga sinabi ni Doc Zane sa akin, tama siya I need to change my perspective in looking at Olivia’s status in life. But she’s been away too long and I am with someone now… so I don’t know what lies ahead, for now I’ll just let it be.

Before lunch there is a soft knock on my door…

And comes in Mrs. Angeles with the Venus incarnate in tow. I know I’ll see her today. She’s confidently walking towards my table looking directly in my eyes. Gone is the timid Olivia but I am loving the change in her. Sassy girl! Today she’s in a black suit with a white undershirt and a Christian Louboutin pumps. - The Beautiful Angel… apaka Ganda! Ang Sexy pa… Bwisit!

“Good Morning SRA” bati sa akin ni Mrs. Angeles

"Good Morning Mr. Aguila" sabi naman ni Livi

“I just would like to introduce Ms. Olivia Robles, Mrs. Aguila’s new Executive Assistant” pakilala niya kay Livi, nasabi na ni Mommy na nakiusap siya na… wala na sanang makaalam sa nakaraan namin. Kaya kahit si Mrs. Angeles walang alam na kilala ko na siya dati pa.

“Pleasure to meet you Ms. Olivia” nilahad ko ang palad ko sa pakikipag kamay at tinanggap naman niya yun. Her hands are cold… nginitian ko siya, ngiting Roman Magsasaka. Even though my heart is racing… It is singing with happiness seeing her “Love” Yeah! There will always be a place in my heart that is Olivia Robles, kahit na anong tanggi ko… she will always be someone for me. I can still feel the spark I always feel whenever I look at her.. Much more if I touch her.

“Same here, Mr. Aguila” tipid din siyang ngumiti…

“Please do sit” paanyaya ko sa kanilang dalawa pointing to the two chairs in front of my executive table.

“So, how’s your first day so far” kausap ko kay Livi

“It’s OK I think… everyone have been nice and Mrs. Aguila’s schedule is not that full today so I am doing well for now. Thank you Sir for asking” naka ngiti niyang sabi pero may pagtaas ng kilay… alam kung iniisip niyang I am just playing nice dahil nandito si Mrs. Angeles. Nginitian ko lang din ulit siya…