TRIGGER (COMPLETE UNREVISED VERSION)

Three

Julianne Victoria 

Isa isang nag datingan ang PR team ng Sabine Vignoble. Nagpakilala kami sa isa't isa at nagsimulang ayusin ang mga mock ups habang hinihintay yung CEO nila. Nasa executive boardroom kami ng building ng Imperio León at nakikita kong medyo tensed ang mga kaharap namin. Kinabahan tuloy ako, dapat pala nag research muna ako ng tungkol sa CEO nila.

Hindi naman kami usually ang humaharap sa clients lalo na pag naka sign na ng contract. Leslie is usually the one finalizing with them, pero since big account ito, we had to oblige to the demand of the CEO. According to Leslie, medyo micromanager daw si Mr. Gutierrez, kaya kailangan namin ulitin yung presentation sa harap niya.

Mukhang pressured yung mga kaharap namin, which tells me na isang pagkakamali lang nila, they will get fired or something. The CEO must be that callous.

If there's one thing I'm good at, it's people watching. After that dreaded day, mas pinili na lang yata ng utak ko na i-shut down ang social interaction at maging introvert. My therapist decided that I should go to coffee shops para naman daw kahit ayoko makipag interact, I'll still be surrounded with people.

Well, ang logic daw ng experiment na 'yon is to get out of my comfort zone without getting out of my bubble. And that bubble is represented by the table or space that I am sitting at. It's my choice to share a table or ignore my surroundings by putting my earphones on.

Weird noh? So that's when I started noticing, observing and reading people's faces and reactions.And itong mga mukha ng nasa harap ko ay medyo nakaka bother.

"Okay lang kayo?" Puna ni Andre sa kaharap namin. Hindi lang pala ako ang nakapansin.

"Actually hindi, ngayon lang din naman namin kasi mami meet si Mr. Guttierez, and we were warned about how unsympathetic he is. Apprentice kasi siya ni Mr. Castell and you know what they say about the old man.."

"Holy shit." Mura ni E.

"Calm down guys." Sabi ni Les. "We can do this, for sure we have convinced the company enough. Kung hindi, eh sana wala tayo dito." She smiled.

 Buti pa si Leslie super confident. Magsasalita pa sana si E ng biglang bumukas yung pinto at may pumasok na guards. Yung parang pang PSG. s**t. Hinawakan kong yung kamay ni Andre na tahimik sa tabi ko,buti pa siya relaxed medyo na tense kasi ako habang tumayo kaming lahat.

Shit.No. Freaking. Way.

"Goodmorning.Please, sit." Bati nung lalaking nakabangga ko kagabi sa bar.

 Ahhhh!!!

 Nooo!!!

Nakailang sigaw yata ako sa utak ko.Bigla kaming nagkatinginan nung lalake. I mean ni Mr Guttierez pala.Nakita kong nakilala niya ako kahit ganito itsura ko. He smirked for a split second then cleared his throat.

"Hmm." Panimula nito. s**t,he's staring me.

"Surely, PDA can wait Miss?"

"Huh? Oh." Naka hawak pa pala ako sa kamay ni Andre.

And I thinked I gripped him too hard when Mr. Gutierrez came in. Haay I hate this.Hindi ko tuloy na appreciate yung fact na magka holding hands kami ni Andre dahil sa bwisit na lalaking yan.Lahat na tuloy napalingon sakin.

Narining ko lang tumawa ng mahina si Andre at inayos ang upo niya habang nakataas ang kilay ni E at concerned naman akong tinitigan ni Les.

"Now, can we proceed? Or is there anything else you need to attend to Miss--?"

 "Sandoval. It's Ms. Sandoval. And yes, PDA can wait Mr. Gutierrez. Please proceed." s**t, it's like last night all over again.

What is up with this guy?He's like bringing out the b***h in me.Nakita kong nagulat lahat.Well,welcome to the club guys.

"Feisty Ms. Sandoval. Let's just hope your feistiness can help you keep this account." Hindi niya na ako hinintay magsalita. Umupo na siya hudyat para simulan na ni Leslie and campaign overview.

I mentally slapped myself for the way I acted.

"Hey, you okay?" mahinang tanong ni Andre habang nag didiscuss na si Leslie.

"No."

Kung hindi lang ako mag ppresent ng mock ups di talaga ako pupunta dito. Medyo malawak kasi ang market ng Sabine Vignoble kaya hindi macocover lahat ni Leslie ang discussion, kaya no choice ako dahil lahat kami may kanya kanyang ididiscuss.

"Gusto mo labas muna tayo?" He whispered.

 Buti na lang talaga na didistract ako ni Andre.

 "Hindi ba parang disrespectful naman na umalis tayo in the middle of a business meeting?"I whispered back.

 Ay hindi Jules!

 "Kaysa hindi ka okay?" Hala Jules.

Pinamulahan nanaman ako ng mukha.Ano to? Ako na ba ang type niya? Wag ka assuming Miss.Free spirit kasi 'tong si Andre--to put it mildly. First day pa lang niya sa team namin, hindi ko na matanggal sa isip ko yung dimples niya. Maliliit lang yun pero ang appeal. Malumanay siya magsalita, gentleman at hindi pushy masyado.

 Hindi lang yata ako ang nakapansin nito dahil ang dami niyang ka text lagi--not that I'm spying on him or something. Tiwala kasi siya when it comes to his phone kung saan saan niya lang pinapatong sa office, and I might have peeked twice--or thrice just to ease my curiosity.

True enough kahit calls, girls whose names were Tatiana, Jessie, Ella---not that I keep tabs or what. As I've said, his phone is always displayed for any one to see. Given na close kaming tatlo nina Leslie and E, alam niya yung limitations niya especially sa mga biruan. But then time flew by and na cross niya yung barrier ng group namin nina Les, in and out of the office. And I noticed his lingering looks on Leslie.

Yeah, it sucked but it was okay. Ang ganda kaya ni Leslie. Para siyang si Audrey hepburn na pinay. Mahilig nga lang talaga siya mag quote ng lines ni Vilma and Jolina, but she's a real person. Dun ko na realize na yun ang definition nung word na crush. Yung tipong okay na ako na nakikita ko lang siya kahit sa malayo.

Hindi rin naman ako masyado affected lalo na pag napapansin kong extra gentleman siya pagdating kay Leslie. They are both beautiful people (inside and outside), and I would be ecstatic if they end up together.

Yes, there were parts of me that wished I was her, but I know I can't be her, even if situations were reversed. Kaya nga crush lang eh, kalma lang.

Siguro kung di nangyari yung mga nangyari noon, hindi ako ganito na parang kaka tubo pa lang ng pimple at nagnanakaw ng tingin sa heart throb ng school. Yup, ganito ka premature ang emotional growth ko. Hindi ko na sinagot yung tanong niya. Tri-ny ko na lang tignan si Les habang nag didiscuss pero nagkatinginan nanaman kami ni Mr. Guttierez.

Hindi ko alam kung kanina pa ba siya nakatitig kaya binawi ko na lang yung tingin ko. 

Nung ako na yung magdidiscuss ng mock ups, para na akong naka auto pilot. Well, sabihin na nating pinasimplehan kong uminom ng xanax 15 minutes bago matapos yung discussion ni E. I didn't know where I got the extra boost of confidence not to stutter or do something stupid.  Kinailangan ko lang iwasan yung tingin niya dahil baka kung ano naman masabi ko. Hindi ko alam kung okay ba yung discussion ko pero parang okay naman kasi nakangiti sakin si Les.

"So, for our proposed campaign, we will be making a short movie preferably to be shot in Tuscany or France or your winery in La Adrada. We have already discussed the financial aspects of this campaign with Mr. Castell when we had a video conference and he didn't mind the cost as long as the message will be delivered. We are well aware that this year is the 50th founding anniversary of the vineyard and he wants to dedicate our campaign for his late wife, Sabine. That is why we are asking everyone their full cooperation and focus in making this campaign work.That is all. Thank you." Again, who is this Jules that is confidently discussing infront of these people? Lasing pa yata ako. Or high ng xanax?

Dahan dahan kong tinanggal yung mock ups habang nakatalikod ng biglang may pumigil sa pagkakahawak ko nun. Kung ikaw yung naka upo sa conference table, iisipin mong tinutulungan niya lang akong ayusin yung mga mock ups.

"Next time, don't wear these kinds of clothes Ms. Sandoval." Biglang tumayo ang balahibo ko sa likod ng marinig kong bumulong si Mr. Guttierez aking tenga.

Crap. Goosebumps. What the hell?

 "Why, Mr. Guttierez?" Lumingon ako ng konti, causing his lips to graze against my ear and cheeks.

 "There is nothing wrong with what I'm wearing. Maybe you should check in with your thoughts, I think there's something wrong with it."

Wow bakit ang taray mo nanaman Jules? Eh kasi kung ano ano ang sinasabi niya! With that pasimple akong naglakad pabalik sa kinauupuan ko. But then again, goosebumps.

Pasimple kong hinawakan ang pisngi ko habang paulit-ulit na nag replay yung moment na nadaanan ng lips niya yung tenga at aking pisngi. Para tuloy akong tanga sa upuan ko and I can feel his eyes on me up until the meeting was done.

 ----

"Well?" Les was crossing her arms in front of me.

Kakauwi lang namin sa condo and we decided to order in dinner. Nasa kusina si Andre at E para kumuha ng drinks.

"Anong well?" Hinihilot ko yung sintido ko habang naka sampa sa couch.

"Ano yung kanina sainyo ni Mr.Guttierez?" Inilapit niya talaga yung mukha niya sakin.

"Bakit ka bumubulong Les? Amoy ko pa yung garlic bread oh." Natatawa kong sabi.

"Ang weird niyo kasi."

"Hmmn. Actually siya yung nabangga ko kagabi sa Gramercy..." Mahina kong sabi.

"And come to think of it...Shit." Bigla akong napaupo ng marealize kong girlfriend niya yung inaway ko.

"Seryoso? Wow. Ang liit talaga ng mundo." Umupo siya sa tabi ko.

"Indeed. Haaay Les, for sure nagdadalawang isip na yun na tayo mag handle ng account nila. Pano kung tanggalin tayo dahil sakin? Haaaaay."

"Ano ka ba Jules. Kung professional siya hindi niya gagawin yun dahil lang sa hindi niyo pagkakaintindihan kagabi. You apologized naman sabi mo. Anyways wag mong isipin yun." Inakbayan niya ako.

"Isipin ang alin?" Tanong ni Andre na may dalang Jack Daniels.

"Wala. Pahingi nga niyang Jack, bigyan mo muna tong si Jules para ma relax." Ani Les sabay yakap sakin.

Buti na lang talaga ang swerte ko sa kaibigan kong 'to. Never siya nag ungkat tungkol sa buhay ko. Well, may oras na medyo pushy siya pero alam kong concerned lang siya sakin. I rested my head on her shoulder and accepted the glass of JD. 

----

Vincent Alexander

Who is this woman? Last night, she was a force to be reckoned with. A spit fire that made Sandra Revilla lose her poise--and she's a Ms. Earth title holder. She's one of the many girls that my friends tried to set me up with. Not to sound too cocky but yes, girls not women.

Then this morning, she's like a feisty hot librarian.That little white number she's wearing--to anyone it would look plain. Bigla yata nagkaroon ng HD yung mata ko at napansin kong light pink yung lace nung bra niya.

Bakit ba kasi light pink?Pwede naman puti yung suotin niya? But then ano namang difference? Mapapasin ko pa din naman yun. Halos 3 months na din ako dito sa Pilipinas and all I did was micromanage everything to assure that our base here is secured. Hindi lang kasi Sabine Vignoble ang hawak ko dito, kasama na rin yung ibang subsidiaries ng Imperio León.

I made sure that I participated in the recruitment of my staff especially the ones for the key positions. I made sure that everything was in order. One thing I learned from Seb Castell is that, nothing beats micromanagement--though as much as possible I try to be subtle about it.

Yes, I work hard--but I also play hard. I'm already 28 years old, yet I still have so much to prove. Having been Seb's apprentice and future successor of his empire is a big responsibility. Plus the fact that his wife was my father's sister. Kaya ganun na lang ang kalaki ang expectation ng board sakin, lalo na ngayong matanda na si Seb.

So instead of really going out there to meet women, I settle for blind dates with girls. Sabi nga nila, you can't have everything, and for now I'm okay with shallow conversations with socialites and pageant title holders--it has kept me focused on my company and my bed warm enough.

But then came along this hot little spitfire..

It didn't matter that I was the CEO and that I was supposed to be her boss. Hell, for a while there even I--forgot that I was the boss.She intrigued me. One thing though, the spark in her eyes remained the same as last night's.

Speaking of, ang pula ng isa niyang mata. Probably irritated? She should get it checked out! Pero di pa rin natakpan yung pagka lightbrown nito and a bit shade of yellow and orange pag naiinis siya. And don't get me started with those freckles that are beautifully scattered on top of her cheeks..

 Ano pa kaya kung nasisinagan na ng araw yun pag umaga? And preferably while lying on my bed?And her scent...fucking hell. I can only imagine for now. I dialed up a number and requested for her files. One thing I'm good at, is having control--on everything.

And I am aching to control this feisty little spitfire that is Julianne Sandoval.

∴ ∵∴ ∵∴ ∵∴ ∵∴ ∵