The Devil's Heartbeat [Ongoing]

CHAPTER FOUR

Nagpauna na ngang maglakad papasok sa opisina si Kuya Nash,habang kami namang dalawa ni Kuya Aes ay nakasunod sa kan'ya.

"How's your school?"he asked.

"Aiming to become Summa CumLaude."saad ko na may nagmamalaking ngiti.

He laughed. "That's good to hear."

Sakto non ay ang pagbukas at pagpasok namin sa opisina,medyo nagulat pa ako dahil madaming tao sa loob na akala ko ay sila mommy and daddy lamang ang nandoroon.

"Have a seat."daddy said at iminuwestra ang tatlong magkakasunod na bakanteng upuan.

Umupo naman sa kaliwa si Kuya Nash kung saan malapit sa pwesto ni daddy,si Kuya Aes naman ay nasa kanan katabi na ang sa tingin ko ay stakeholders,naiwan ang bakante sa gitna nila so doon na ako umupo.

"Mister Lim,Mister Chua,Mister Walter..."it was our mom na nasa kabilang parte na gawi ni daddy. "I bet you already met my second oldest, Aestherious Skyrios Della Cruz."pakilala ni mommy kay Kuya Aes.

Napatawa ang mga lalaking binanggit n'ya. "Of course! Of course! How can I forget this young man. I can't say anything! He is such a great dealer and handler. I'm literally impressed."

"Thank you,Mister. Walter."saad ni Kuya Aes with a wide smile.

"But, I'm curious...I mean we are curious. Who is that woman between the two Della Cruz?"saad ng may katandaang lalaki.

Napatawa si daddy. "Meet my youngest daughter. The last born of Della Cruz family...Athaleah Skyreign Della Cruz."

Medyo nailang ako dahil nabasa ko ang paghanga sa kanilang mga mata. Hehehe. "Nice...nice to meet you po."medyo nahihiya pang ani ko.

"She feel shy."saad ng isa pang lalaki at natawa naman sila maging ang parents namin except nga lang sa mga kapatid ko na seryoso ang mga itsura.

Ang daming tao,naiilang ako.

"I'm Shin Chua,Miss Della Cruz."pakilala ng sa tingin ko ay nasa sixties pataas ang edad. "I'm one of your business partner from Italy. I'm glad to meet you..."ngumiti ako ngunit pilit dahil nakakailang ang paraan ng titig n'ya. "You are such a beautiful woman,raised by a gorgeous woman."

Akma kong tatanggapin ang pakikipag-kamay niya ng hawakan ni Kuya Aes ang braso ko,nagtaka naman ako.

"No need to shakehands,Mister Chua. Introducing yourself is enough."

Napatawa ang matanda."The typical attitude of Della Cruz."binawi n'ya ang pakikipag kamay kaya naman ay binitawan na ni Kuya Aes ang braso ko.

"I'm Luke Walter from America,one of your business partner too."nginitian ko na lamang din s'ya,sa hula ko ay nasa late forties naman siya.

"I'm Michael Lim,from Canada. Nice to meet you, young lady."nasa fifties naman ang itsura niya.

Sa tatlong matatanda ay yung Walter at Lim lamang ang may magaan na titig sa akin. Guni-guni ko lang ba...pero kasi sa paraan ng titig nung Chua ay...sabihin na nating hindi ako comfortable.

"Well,we are just waiting Belial to came. Psh! The man who's feeling important as always..."it was the Chua,halata ang bagot sa kaniyang mukha at pananalita.

Inilibot ko ang paningin ko sa loob ng opisina. Bukod sa amin at sa mga matatandang business partner nila mommy and daddy ay may ilan-ilan ding nandito,I think they are their secretary. Yeah. Obvious naman.

"I want to know more about you...Miss Della Cruz."

It was Mister Chua again. Napalabi ako at bahagyang nagulat. What is his problem? or I'm just the one who's giving misconception.

"Hehehe..."wala akong masabi.

"What did you do for living?"he asked.

Napatingin ako kay mommy na katapat ni Kuya Nash,she just signed me na sagutin na lamang iyong tanong.

"Ahm...I'm currently third-year college student studying BBA course."

"Oh? Student and taking business administration..."napatango ako,it was Mister Walter. "You want to enter business too,huh."I nodded again. "Why? Is your parents are pressuring you to pursue that?"

Nagulat ako. Literal na nagulat at nanlaki ang mga mata. I looked at our mom and dad and I saw how they eyebrows meet.

Shit!

"No! No..."agap ko. "I'm pursuing business administration 'cause I want to have business too. They are not pressuring me nor told me to take business because it is me who want to take it."

That's true. I want to enter in business field too.

"Hmm..."sabi na lamang n'ya na may kasamang pagtango.

I don't know but hindi ako kuntento sa sagot niya,parang hindi kumbinsado.

"Where do you study?"it was Mister Chua again.

Damn it!

"The place where she's studying is none of your business,Mister Chua."it was Kuya Aestherious again.

Nilingon na nito si Kuya Aes na may masamang titig ngunit sinalubong lamang iyon ng kapatid ko. Kinabahan ako bigla. "As far as I know I'm not talking to you."

"And...as far as I know,the place where she is studying is not part of this meeting. This meeting is for our businesses."

Ngumisi ang matanda. "Still trying to act innocent infront of her? Trying to protect her even though you can't undo what agreed upon. You are funny, Aestherious Skyrios. You are funny"sarkastikong sinabi niya iyon.

Mas lalong sumama ang tingin ng kapatid ko. "Vaffanculo,vecchio."

Mariin at ramdam ko ang pang-gigil ng ibigkas iyon ni Kuya. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang ibig niyang sabihin pero sapat na iyon upang manglisik ang mga mata ng matanda.

Mister Chua was about to speak when someone knocked on the door. "Mister Belial is already here,ma'am and sir. He is already waiting inside the meeting room."

It was one of their employees. Nangapa bigla ako ng gagawin ng bigla silang tumayo at inayos ang kanilang mga suot. Napangiwi ako ng mapansin na ako lamang ang tanging naka-uniform dahil lahat sila ay naka-formal suit.

"We'll go ahead."paalam ni Mister Lim.

My parents and brothers nod to them,and me...I'm waiting what is my next move. Are we going to eat naba? Exact 11:00 P.M na I'm hungry na kasi.

"Aes,you take care of your sister. Give her the clothes she needs to wear. I don't want Belial to see her like that."it was our dad. Nag-igting ang panga ng aking kapatid at napaiwas ng tingin,halatang hindi gusto ang pinapagawa ni daddy.

What's wrong? Kinakabahan tuloy ako.

"Let's go,Nash. We will wait for you there. Don't do anything stupid."pahabol pa ni daddy bago lumabas kasama sila mommy and kuya Nash.

I heard his long and heavy sighed. "Your clothes are inside that cabinet."itinuro niya ang pulang cabinet kaya napatingin ako roon. "I'll be outside first and wait you there so we can go to the meeting room together."

I want to ask him some question pa pero nakalabas na agad s'ya.

Ang bilis naman nun.

Nagkibit balikat na lamang ako at dali-dali na ngang nagbihis. I don't want to feel nervous but I can't help myself but to feel it.

Minutes passed and I'm now wearing white sando with black blazer on top and pencil skirt. I'm also wearing YSL heels and ipinusod na lamang ang hanggang bewang kong buhok,I also fixed my full bangs...and then done!

"Let's go."I said when I go out.

Sinipat pa muna niya ang kabuuan ko bago tumango at naglakad papuntang elevator,sumunod naman ako. Bukod sa kinakabahan ay nagtataka rin ako why my brother is very very very quiet,hindi ako sanay.

"I know I'm not good brother to you. I can't protect you from them. But I want you to know that no matter what happens...I love you."

Ang lalim at ramdam ko ang emosyon n'ya while binabanggit ang mga salitang iyon,talagang litong-lito na ako sa mga sinasabi at ikinikilos niya simula pa lang kagabi.

"I don't understand,kuya. You're confusing me."I saw how his eyes shut and let out the heavy sighed. He looks so problematic.

I thought bibigyan n'ya ako ng paliwanag pero nauna na siyang lumabas sa elevator. Patakbo ko naman siyang hinabol dahil ang bilis niya maglakad.

"Where is that freaking woman?"

Napatigil si Kuya sa akma n'yang pagbubukas ng pintuan ng opisina.

"Chill,Belial."

"I don't have much time for this nonsense meeting."

Nalilito ako. Ano bang nangyayari?