Programmed Wife

Chapter 11

For an entire hour of Rui listening to the presentation for a new movie, Leyla have counted thirty-two sighs and too much shaking of the head to count. She can clearly see how her boss is so unimpressed by the story line presented.

"That would be the end of the movie," the director remarked.

Rui did his signature kind looking eyes, together with a smirk. The look he usually does whenever he is about to crush someone's dreams. Leyla immediately knew, he's about to ruin this poor man.

"Director Diaz, I know that this will be out second collaboration if I accept this proposal that you have right?"

"Yes Mr. Andrews, I directed once for the movie Starfish that was written by one of your signed writers," he excitedly answered.

"Yup, I remember. This time, you wrote the story."

"I did! Not trying to brag, but this story just came into my mind one day. I wrote the script in just two days. That's how inspired I felt."

"Yeah, I mean you don't have the credit to brag after all."

Parang nabato sa kinauupuan niya and direktor na hindi makapaniwala sa kung ano ang narinig.

"I don't have what?"

"The female lead grew up in a very poor environment, she's left by her father who just died to her cruel stepmother and two stepsisters. But one day, she fell asleep in a tower where she was left in," pag-uulit ni Rui sa kuwento na narinig.

"That's the flow of the story, yes..."

"Then she woke up underwater?" bahagyang natawa si Leyla sa pagkakasabi nito. He sounded so sarcastic.

"She somehow became a mermaid and then she fell in love with a rich man that she saw from the yacht."

"Isn't it so magical?" the director said in pure joy and admiration.

"It's too magical. It sounded like a bunch of fairy tales mashed up into one. You did not ever bother to explain how she suddenly turned into a mermaid."

"No! no, no. If that's the problem, then we can end it with her waking up. It is all a dream, that's going to be perfect."

"That sucks."

"Wa-wha?"

"You have the talent with directing, but this story is unacceptable. You are well aware of it from what I can tell since your recommendations of the leads are the most famous actors right now,

You are trying to sell the movie by having famous people play the roles. I can't agree to that."

"You don't understand art! Ngayon nakikita ko na, wala ka talagang alam sa ginagawa mo!" Sigaw ng lalaki habang biglaang napahampas sa malawak na lamesa.

Nagulat si Rui, hindi dahil sa galaw ng lalaki, kung 'di dahil sa biglaang pagtayo ni Leyla para harapin ang galit na direktor.

"Mr. Diaz, I don't think this manner is necessary. Please calm down."

"B*tch, I was not talking to you. Hindi niya lang alam ang ginagawa niya tapos ako ang sasabihan nin'yo? Nasisiraan na yata kayo!"

"Sir, you don't have the right to call me that. In fact, I am trying to be polite right now, ayaw ko na mapagalitan ng boss ko. In case na kung ano man ang masabi ko."

"Go on. I give you all the permission."

Mr. Rui said in a very low voice. It looked like it woke up something inside of her. Huminga siya nang malalim bago hinarap ang walang galang na lalaki.

"For the title, you presented The Sleeping Beutiful Mermaid. I have read all the books that you have combined multiple times. It is too noticeable. I am actually surprised that this script took you two days, it's nonsense. It can be done by an elementary student in five hours."

"Don't you dare disrespect me!"

"Just so you know, every meeting is recorded for the purpose of checking the details easier in each presentation. And I can perfectly remember how you raised your voice at me, calling me a-"

"I don't really appreciate that Mr. Diaz, I don't think this partnership will push through. You might need to find a different-"

"Whatever! You don't understand what real art is! You only focus on stupid cheesy story lines."

"At least those aren't from plagiarized children story books. That's just too low," Leyla smiled too sweetly and it just made Mr. Diaz burn in anger. On the other hand, Rui started to giggle. He seems to enjoy how good Leyla is at roasting the rude guy.

"This is humiliating!"

"It really is Sir, I hope you chose to leave rather than staying for more humiliation, because I swear, I can continue and give you more if you want to."

Parang puputok na ang mga ugat sa noo ni Mr. Diaz dahil sa panggigigil. Ang kan' yang kamay ay biglang humablot sa pinakamalapit na bagay sa tabi niya, isang ballpen na bigla niyang hinagis kay Leyla.

Rui had enough of it. Kahit na kanina lang ay gusto niyang itaboy si Leyla, ngayon ay mabilis pa sa isang kurap niyang hinablot ang pen sa hangin na sasakto sana sa mukha ng babae.

"You're getting a bit too physical don't you think?" he asked in a deep serious tone. His eyes almost turned fiery at how deadly he's looking at the man in front of him.

"Get out of here," he ordered, then forcefully threw the pen back straight into his protruding belly. "Take your stupid pen and write another trash piece."

Bago pa makalaban ang lalaki, hinatak ni Rui ang manggas ni Leyla.

"Oy! Teka, ay!" she rushed to gather her things to catch up on him walking as fast as he could.

"Bilisan mo, kung ayaw mo na mabato ulit ng ballpen."

"Sir, my legs aren't that long. Teka lang naman, kaya ko naman siyang labanan kung ballpen lang ang usapan!" it did not show earlier, but now, Rui can tell that she is really agitated. Much more that he is. She even held her little stapler real tight.

"He has a dirty mouth. Don't take it too-"

"Sir, bakit naman papayag ka na makipag-meet sa mga ganoon ang attitude? Kita mo ba, sinabi mo lang naman ang totoo pero balak ka pa niya gawan ng masama. Minsan naman please, isipin mo na baka mapahamak ka ganon? Paano nalang kung wala ako kanina sa loob."

There was a moment of silence in the office when they entered. With pure confusion in his face, Rui watched Leyla mumble in anger.

"You know I saved you, right?"

"Tapos kung makapagsalita-huh? Saved me? Ano?"

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Rui na parang nagtatanong kung ano ang sinasabi ng lalaking ito.

"From the pen? You should have let me get hit by it," she whispered.

Rui's eyebrows raised in shock "Are you nuts?!"

"I could have punched him really hard in self defense!"

"Are you serious? That's what you were thinking of?" may bahid ng pagkamangha sa pagkakasabi nito. He did not expect a savage side to a very delicate looking girl like Leyla.

"You can't punch him still!"

"Sir, you gave me the go signal, to do anything. Remember?"

Rui shook his head to with a slight grin in his face.

Ilang sandali pa, napansin ni Leyla ang oras.

"Sir, you have the next meeting in thirty minutes. It is for report of the department of finance and marketing."

"I am not really in the mood to sit around and listen to someone, can you just fetch me their written report? If I have additional questions, I'll just talk to the heads directly."

Wala pang isang iglap, lumabas na ng pintuan si Leyla para sundin ang utos ng lalaki.

On her way to the office of the marketing department, she noticed her colleagues look at her funny.

"Hello Miss Leyla!" a girl tapped her by the shoulder. It was a girl in in the marketing department that she has never seen before.

"Who..."

"Hi, my name is Roca! Minsan tinatawag din nila ako na Roca-Roca!"

Leyla watched the 5'5" tall woman with two high pigtails. She twirled to show off her cute pink floral dress. Pagkatapos ay patalon-talon pa siya na lumapit kay Leyla. Her face turned from calm and beautiful to a very confused and horrified one.

"She's very... energetic," she thought to herself.

Roca started to almost dance around her while she's watching.

"Ang ganda mo teh! Alam mo ba, akala ko no'ng una, artista ka pagpasok mo rito!" hinaplos pa ng dalaga ang buhok ni Leyla na muntik ng mapaupo para lang umiwas sa paglapit ng kamay niya. Lalo namang natuwa ang babae.

"Too cute! Idol na talaga kita!"

"Mi-Miss Roca, I-I- just need the report-"

"'Wag mo akong ireport! Hindi na kita susubaybayan tuwing kumukuha ka ng kape promise!"

"What?"

"Huh-What?"

Sabay na napatulala ang dalawa.

"You watch me?" Leyla asked. Napalayo na naman siya dahil sa narinig.

"Ang ganda mo nga kasi, nabibilib ako."

"Right... right," tumatango-tango si Leyla habang pasimple na linuluwagan ang pagitan nila.

"Promise, hindi ako stalker or some sh*t! Nabibilib lang talaga ako kasi tignan mo nga 'yong sarili mo, mukha kang artista. Tapos nag-apply ka sa entertainment agency as a secretary?"

"Uhm..." Leyla scratched the top of her head. Not sure as to how she's going to respond to a compliment on that level.

"Gaga ka rin 'no girl?"

"Ha?"

"Target mo ba si Mr. Rui? Mas mahirap 'yan! Mabuti pa mag-artista ka nalang."

"Miss Roca, hindi ko talaga maintindihan kung ano 'yong ibig mo na sabihin, sorry. Pwede ba na makuha ko na 'yong report?"

"Report ng ano?"

"Sa marketing plan tsaka report for the month?"

"Ah! 'Yong report lang pala, kala ko naman kasi kung anong report."

Nakahinga ng maluwag si Leyla.

"Finally, I need that report to escape this conversation. Please just give it to me!" isip niya sa sarili.

"Akala ko naman kanina irereport mo ako! Hahaha!" her laugh echoed in the whole room.

"Yeah, ha-ha-ha. Please..."

"Wala sa akin 'yong report."

"Po?"

"Receptionist lang ako rito teh, sinundan lang kita kasi nakita kita paglabas ko ng CR."

Leyla slowly blinked, unable to process what she just heard.

"Ay promise teh, di ako stalker. Nakita lang kita, kakatapos ko lang tumae."