Ruining Mr. Clarke

Kabanata 4

Hinilamos ni Andrea ang kaniyang kamay, hindi pa rin makapaniwala sa nasaksihang kayabangan ng lalaki nang minsan sila'y nagharap.

She never thought that behind his Angelic face and reputation about him being respectful — especially to women — there lies the rude and smug Julian Clarke Veneracion.

Iyon ang gusto niyang paniwalaan. Na walang modo ang lalaki kahit matapos siyang mahimasmasan.

The fact that he didn't do something wrong to her doesn't justify her claims. Naintindihan niya ang naging reaksiyon nito. The media tails him twenty-four-seven and she just assumed that he can't afford to be involved in another interview.

Besides, he was transparent about his desires for private life, yet it was something a Journalist can't understand.

Maybe they do. She does know the value of privacy. Andrea won't cross the limits but in her line of work, she has to be keen not to slip even a single bit of information.

Masama niyang tiningnan ang kataasan ng gusali ng lalaki. She was standing beside her car, completely annoyed. Nababasa sa kaniyang ekspresiyon ang inis.

Alam naman niya na hindi siya nito maaalala. But she can't also understand why not?

Nabuhusan niya ito ng mainit na kape, hindi man lang ba siya tumatak sa isipan niya? Her fallacy yesterday was enough to make an unforgettable moment with him. Sino ba ang makakalimot sa kaniyang nagawa kahapon?

Kahit man lang sa list of persons he hates, nakatatak siya.

For sure he hated a lot of people. Kahit ilagay pa siya nito sa pinaka-most hated person niya, hindi siya magagalit. Saka na siguro kapag tapos na ang kaniyang trabaho.

If it wasn't Julian Clarke, she was probably held captive for accidentally pouring out the hot coffee on his expensive suit. Mainit. Hindi niya alam kung magiging concern siya sa balat nito o hayaan na lang ang doktor na gamutin ito.

But considering that she was a stranger to him, and knowing he meets a bunch of people in his everyday life, there's a small chance he would remember her. But still, she was annoyed.

For unknown reason, she felt annoyed.

Hindi niya matukoy kung para kanino. Kung para kay Julian Clarke Veneracion at sa pagiging makalimutin nito, o para sa kaniyang sarili. Either way, she's irritated.

She tsked in frustration, still glaring at the tall building. Clarke Construction.

Their construction company has been growing each year with millions of net worth. Dumoble nang maupo ang apo ng dating Presidente ng kompanya na si Julius Veneracion. He has the chemistry and power to haul buyers to choose their products. At kahit kababaihan ay nahuhumaling — hindi sa produkto — kung hindi ay sa nakaupo sa taas.

After all, he was a bachelor. Lagpas kalendaryo na ang edad nito pero tila hindi lumilipas ang kakisigang taglay ng lalaki dahilan para magwala ang ilang kababaihan sa kaniya.

A handsome one that every woman — excluding Andrea — would die to have him. They're willing to offer him every cent just to have a one-night stand with the bachelor.

And to her, it was disgusting.

Nawala ang tingin niya roon nang marinig niya ang ingay mula sa loob ng kaniyang sasakyan. Through the open window, she reached for her phone sitting on the driver's seat.

Mabilis niya itong sinagot nang makita ang caller.

"Hey, Chase. What are you up to this time?" bungad niya rito.

Muli siyang sumulyap sa gusali bago magpasya na pumasok sa loob ng kaniyang sasakyan.

She heard a laugh on the other line. "Wow! Ang ganda talaga ng bungad mo palagi, Andrea. Super nakaka-touch."

Malalim siyang bumuntong hininga. "Let's just meet in the usual spot."

"Nasa shop na ako. We're just waiting for you," ani Chase sa kabilang linya.

"Alright..." She hangs up the phone, buckled her seatbelt, and for one last time, her gaze falls back on the tall establishment.

Hindi siya makakapayag na hindi niya ito malapitan. She needs to have an exclusive interview with the hunk yet arrogant Julian Clarke Veneracion of Solaris City, the acting President of the Clarke Construction company.

Kailangan niya 'yon upang makabalik siya sa dating trabaho.

This job would be her big break. Ni isa ay wala pang nakaka-interview kay Mr. Clarke, and she'd make sure she would be the first to have a word with him, exclusively. Yet deep inside her heart, she knew interviewing him is not the goal.

The goal is to ruin Mr. Clarke. His reputation, his good image in the eyes of everyone inside and outside of the city.

She knew it would be her nightmare but she doesn't care. It's him over her career. At maliwanag pa sa araw kung alin sa dalawa ang kaniyang pipiliin.

"I had a stressful week. The media and everything, work and maintaining my image in the public, it's frustrating," Chase complained.

"Guess what you need?" Rachel, their other friend mentioned. "A long vacation, Chase. Hayaan mo muna 'yong hottie mong pinsan ang umasikaso sa lahat. After all, you two were working in the same company."

Andrea continued to sip on her iced coffee as she attentively listens to their rants. Chase... Yes, she's friends with Julian Clarke Veneracion cousin's, Chase Clarke. Dahilan ng bikig niya sa kaniyang lalamunan.

She met Chase while they were in college. Their names were all over the news, but at that time, she cares less about their status in society. Noong mga panahon na iyon ay hindi pa kilala ang pinsan niya ng madla —isa na siya roon. But she remembered Chase telling stories about her cousin living abroad, yet Andrea can't recall if she mentioned his name or not.

Nakikita pa lang niya ang kaibigan ay gumapang na ang konsensiya sa kaniya. Wala pa naman siyang nagagawa, magsisimula pa lang siya, at may pagkakataon pa para bitawan ang ibinigay sa kaniyang gawain. Pero hindi niya magawa.

"Si Kuya?" Chase shook her head, chuckling. "He'd accept the work in a heartbeat. Pero ayoko naman na iwan siya ng tambak na trabaho."

Nilayo ni Andrea ang kape mula sa kaniyang bibig at inilapag ito sa mesa. Sumasakit ang kaniyang tainga tuwing naririnig ang anuman ang tungkol sa kaniya.

"Oh, please... Tigilan niyong mag-usap patungkol sa tao na wala naman dito," usal niya na sinabayan pa niya ng pag-irap.

Chase and Rachel laughed at her bitterness.

"C'mon, Andrea. Just for this time, hayaan mong pumasok sa isipan mo si Kuya Ian."

"I'm not really interested in engraving his name or anything related to him in any parts of my body," she said nonchalantly.

Again, guilt sipped through her. Palagi naman niyang sinasabi na hindi siya interesado sa pinsan nitong lalaki. Kahit pa minsan ay parang binebenta ni Chase ang kaniyang Kuya Ian sa mga babaeng nagugustuhan nito.

Like Andrea. Chase like her not just as a friend, but also she wanted her to try her cousin, Julian Clarke Veneracion.

"I told you to try my cousin, Andrea."

"He's not some kind of food for free taste, Chase. At kahit anuman siya, hindi ako papatol sa antipatiko mong pinsan. Never."

Sabay na umiling ang dalawang kaibigan sa harap niya.

Mula noon, inis na talaga ang dalaga sa binata.

Ang rason? Dahil sa mayabang nitong ngiti.

Minsan na siyang nahulog sa patibong ng isang lalaki at kahit hindi pa niya nasusubukan ang buong kalalakihan sa mundo, nagdeklara siya na wala silang kwentang nilalang.

She once had her heartbroken. For the man whom she trust to carry her heart, fractured her soul. Nangako siyang hindi na muling iibig kung isa lang ang kahahantungan.

Hiwalayan.

Her heartbreak from other man doesn't have to do with Julian Clarke Veneracion. Ni hindi pa sila nagkakausap kahit na kaibigan niya ang pinsan nito. Pero hindi niya maintindihan ang sarili kung bakit naiinis siya sa naturang lalaki.

"Bakit ba inis na inis ka kay Kuya Ian?" Chase asked for the nth time.

"Kasi arogante siya," walang pagpigil niyang sagot. "He damaged a lot of women's heart and I don't want to be one of those people who were charmed by his charisma. Hindi iyon tatalab sa akin, at walang tatalab na kahit anuman sa akin."

Kailangan niya ang trabaho niya. If ruining Mr. Clarke's reputation is the only way, she would do it.

Not in a heartbeat, but it's the only way for her to be discovered in the world of Media.

Kumunot ang noo ni Chase.

"I don't really remember what did he do to you to call him that. I mean, hindi pa naman kayo nagkakausap, 'di ba? You just seen him on television but I don't understand where your hates came from."

"Nakalimutan mo bang nasaktan na si Andrea?" Rachel added. "Of course, she turned to be a man hater after her first heartbreak. Hindi ko naman siya masisisi."

"Pero mali 'yon..." Puno ng iritasyon sa boses ni Chase.

Andrea just shrugged, not wanting to explain her side. Hindi na niya maatim tingnan ang kaibigan.

Sa plano niyang paninira sa pinsan nito para sa kaniyang promotion, naisip niyang baka dahil doon magwawakas ang kanilang pagkakaibigan.

She thought of the consequences. So, she came up withe the idea.

Never tell them about her task.

"Gosh. Stop, you two. Hindi na natapos ang usaping ito," pigil ni Rachel sa kanilang dalawa.

"Andrea kept on badmouthing my cousin whom she hasn't meet yet.”

“Well, that was true,” depensa ulit niya. “I’ve seen and read enough to come up with a verdict. Babaero ang pinsan mo, at hindi ako papatol sa katulad niya.”

Dahan-dahan pa niyang hiniwa ang isang slice ng cake roon bago iyon sinubo.

Chase rolled her eyes again. “Kung hindi lang kita kilala, matagal na kitang sinampal sa paninirang puri mo kay Kuya Ian.”

“I’m stating the truth,” muli niyang usal. “Wala namang masama sa paghahayag ng damdamin.”

“Freedom of speech but people were abusing it. Isa ka na roon.”

Andrea heaved a deep sighed. Pati siya ay hindi rin maintindihan ang sarili.

She was hurt before. Hanggang ngayon ay tila kahapon lang nangyari ang lahat. Natibag ang iniiingatan niyang pundasyon nang dumating ang lalaking akala niya ay magiging kasiyahan niya.

It turns out, her life will be more miserable having a man beside her. Perhaps she hasn’t find someone who will hold onto her heart with gentleness.

Gusto niya ‘yon. Kaya minsan ay naiinggit siya sa relasyon na mayroon ang kaibigan niyang si Rachel.

“Bakit nga ba tayo nandito?” aniya nang maalala kung bakit.

“Oh, shoot...” Napunta ang tingin niya kay Rachel nang may kinuha ito sa sariling bag.

“Wait...” sabay naningkit ang kanilang mata nang may napansin.

Dahan-dahang tinaas ni Chase ang ni Rachel. Samantalang ngumisi lamang siya nang mapagtanto ang lahat.

“Oh my gosh! You’re engaged!”

“Yes... But not with Yves...”

Parehong kumunot ang kanilang noo.

“If not Yves, then who?”

Rachel smiled and started telling them behind her engagement.