Nine
1820 Words
Leila Presley
Jules, okay ka lang talaga?" I asked for the nth time today.
"Yeah..Sipon lang to.." Pilit siyang ngumiti sakin, but I know better.
After the launching of Sabine Vinogble, Jules told me and E what happened to her, and I have never felt so devastated and proud of her at the same time.
I mean she survived that hell and kahit ako, kung ako yun? Hindi ko alam kung magiging maayos pa ba noon ang paniniwala ko sa lahat ng bagay. And will I even had the strength to continue living?
I don't know, and I don't wish something so tragic like that to happen to anyone, kahit pa kaaway ko or what.
I met her twin sister, Margaery who is completely her opposite and we instantly clicked.
It awes me how much nothing has seemed to change in their relationship kahit pa pitong taon silang nagkahiwalay.
I also met her parents, they were lovely and they care so much about their children, who speaking of, yung kuya na lang nila ang hindi ko pa nakikilala.
I bet he's also a good father like Senator Sandoval.
And according to Eduardo, dilf daw.
A lot has happened after the launching of Sabine Vignoble and I still have this gut feeling about my love-hate impression regarding Vincent.
Oo, naging makulay ang lovelife ni Jules--syempre I'm jealous but I am happy for her. Para nga silang mga bunnies na laging naka kulong sa kwarto. There was this one time na narinig talaga namin ni Eduardo ang mga kahalayan nila, mga pa inggit!
Still, kahit alam kong super inlove sila sa isa't isa--as a friend, ramdam kong may mali.
Nagulat nga ako ng pumasok na siya ngayon after a week.
Pero mas nakakapag taka na pinayagan siya ni Vincent given the fact that someone is stalking her.
Pansin kong maga ang mga mata niya, and knowing Jules, she'll talk when she's ready.
"Bakit kasi pumasok ka na? Asan ba si Vincent?" Hindi ko maiwasang hindi mag alala lalo pa at nakit ako ang kakaibang emosyon sa mata niya nung namention ko yung pangalan ni Vincent.
"He had an urgent trip to Spain that Seb asked him to." Mabilis niyang sagot.
Shit.
Something really bad is going on.
"Oh, okay. I missed you though.." Hindi pa din ako kumbinsido pero nilapitan ko siya.
"I missed you too Leslie.." Niyakap ko na lang muna siya ng mahigpit.
"Whatever it is, you know you can tell me right?" Bulong ko sakanya.
Tumango na lang ito, pero hindi nakaligtas sakin yun maluhaluha niyang mata.
Punyetang Vincent.
"Guys, andiyan daw yung anak ni big boss, he's doing rounds."
Timing talaga tong si Eduardo kahit kailan.
I made a mental note to talk to Jules mamaya.
Sabay kaming tumayo ni Jules dahil hindi maipinta ang mukha ni bakla.
"Akala ko next month pa ang dating niya? Saka, bakit parang tensed na tensed ka?" Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay.
"Eh kasi naman girl, ang gwapooooo..nakasando at boardshorts lang ampucha parang nasa beach lang!!" Kinikilig na balita nito.
"Hanep ka E, talagang tumakbo ka papunta dito, hindi mo man lang ako hinintay!" Hinihingal ding bungad ni Andre.
"Huh?Nakasando?Sure kang anak yun ni boss?" Nagtatakang tanong ni Jules.
"Oo girl, at lahat ng empleyado binebeso, kaya nga nag madali akong pumunta dito para makapag sipilyo at retouch! Kumain kasi ako ng squidballs sa baba, mahirap na first impression lasts pa naman!" Malanding sabi nito habang naghahalungkat sa bag niya.
Lahat kami ay nakatutok sa sunod na gagagwin niya, at napataas ang kilay ko ng tumili si E. Tuwang tuwa niyang binuksan yung maliit na listerin at nagmumog sa harap namin.
"He is that good looking that you are acting like that?" Mataray kong tanong habang nakapatong sa hips yung dalawa kong kamay.
Tumango tango na lang si E habang nagmumumog.
Sandali pa at pumunta ito sa trashbin at linuwa ang mouth wash.
"Isang bote ng patron mamaya Les, let's bet on that. And if I am wrong, you owe me one." Kumuha ito ng pressed power at nag retouch na.
"Fine. Kahit ikaw naman manalo, ako pa rin naman uubos non." Nginitian ko siya ng nakakaloko.
---
Okay fine, talo ako ni Eduardo ngayon. Naka sando nga siya and I cannot even begin to describe how perfectly tanned his biceps..I mean his skin was.
"Hi guys, sorry to barged in on you like this, as you can see, I am not your traditional CEO, but I hope you can see past through this. Allergic kasi ako sa suits, and since dad insisted that I come in today, I came in wearing my dream job." Nakangiti niyang bati.
"Your dream job is to become a beach bum?" I asked horrified.
I mean, baka may special needs itong anak ni sir Seven, sayang gwapo pa naman.
"You can say that..you must be, Leila?" Linapitan niya ako at hinalikan sa pisngi.
2-Nganga si Leslie for the second time!
2-Ngayon nanaman lang ako naging ganito ka speechless sa buong buhay ko, yung una ay nung pinagtabuyan ako ng magaling kong ex.
I just gaped at him as he strolled between all of us.
"One thing guys, I am really affectionate. So better tell me now if you don't want to be touched."
"Oh, I don't mind sir." Malanding sabi ni E, na nilapitan naman nito at hinalikan din sa pisngi.
"It's Trenton. You can call me Trent, Eduardo." Kinindatan pa niya si E.
"And it's also E, just E."
"Alright, now you must be Andre.."
"Oh no man--let's just shake our hands." Umatras si Andre habang hahalikan sana ni Trent.
Yikes, I think naumpog ang ulo nito ni Trenton nung bagong panganak pa lang siya.
"That's cool too." Hindi man lang to nainsulto, dahil hindi pa din mapunit punit ang ngiti sa labi.
"And you must be Julianne." Nakita kong tatanggi sana si Jules pero nahalikan niya na ito sa pisngi.
"Jules." Ngumiti ito ng pilit sakanya.
"Alright." Pinagsalikop niya ang dalawang palad at tingnan kami.
"From now on, I hope we'll all get along well, lalo na at kayo ang kukunin kong team that will be directly under my supervision. I have read your strategies and client histories, and so far you guys are the best we've got. Just keep on doing what you do guys. I am looking forward into working with you starting tomorrow and I am proud that you are a part of this company." He even balled his fist and raised it on the air.
Such a weird guy.
Pero fine, he's a puzzle and puzzles are interesting.
"Thank you Trenton. You are bizarre, but I am intrigued. I hope you will challenge us with new accounts." Sabi ko sakanya.
"I'll take all of that as a compliment..and yes Leila, you bet your sweet ass you'll be challenged." He winked at me.
Ay hala, hindi niya yata ako kilala when it comes to work. Hindi siya nagbasa ng maayos regarding the comapny rules, this weird handsome man.
"It's Leslie, only my family calls me that and shouldn't be you worried about harassment in the office with a mouth like that? Cat calling is not allowed in here you know."
Tumawa si Trenton sabay iling.
"You my lady, are the only one who called me on that. Let's just say that I was testing everyone, at ikaw lang ang pumuna sakin. Glad to know someone in this company pays attention to rules. And I sincerely apologize for playing with you guys." Seryoso nitong sabi.
I raised an eyebrow and nodded at him.
Infairness, I like his approach.
"So the kissing the cheek--" Hindi na natapos ni E ang tanong dahil tumawa nanaman ito.
"That my friend is true, I've lived with a commune in the outskirts of Ireland where all we had was love and affection, and I wanted to share that with you guys."
Okay, bawi muna, ang weird niya talaga!
"Holy s**t, are you for real?" Jules commented.
"I am. But don't worry I won't do that everyday, baka mapudpod ang lips ko, ang dami niyo pa namang empleyado dito."
Nag usap usap pa kami tungkol sa recent accounts namin, and ironically enough, he impressed us.
He even made a couple of suggestions on our proposals and we all silently agreed that he is good.
Nawala na din ang awkard athmosphere, kahit sakanila ni Andre, at nag aya siya na lumabas mamayang gabi for dinner to get to know us more.
----
"Mind telling me what this is all about?" Galit kong ibinagsak yung papel sa harap ni Jules.
Resignation letter.
I knew something is really wrong, ilang araw na hindi ko pa din nakikita ang anino ng asshole na Vincent na yun.
"I'm leaving." Tanging sambit ko.
"Why in the hell would you resign Jules?? Ano na kasi ang nagyayari sayo! Wala ka bang tiwala sakin para maglihim ng ganyan?" Frustrated na tanong ko.
I was pacing back and forth infront of her.
Alam ko I have no right to raise my voice pero hindi niya alam na halos gabi gabi ko siyang naririnig na umiiyak, I want to help her, Lord knows how much I want to hug her and console her just like she did when I was hitting my rock bottom.
"I'm pregnant."
Natigilan siya at humarap sakanya.
I examined her face.
She's happy, but there's something else..something so sad that she's struggling too hard to cover it up.
"Again, why?"
Pumikit siya ng marahan at nagsimula ng magkwento sakin.
I almost did not believe what she's talking about dahil super inlove sila eh--sila na nga lang ang tanging sign ko na may forever--pero pucha, ramdam ko yung sakit na nararamdaman niya.
Mas masahol pa sa nangyari sakin.
Ngayon nanaman lang ako nakaramdam ng ganitong galit.
"Putang ina. Putang ina." Nanggigigil kong sabi sabay yakap sakanya.
I am crying, I am feeling her pain.
Ayoko sa fact na mag isa niya itong dinala, if I have been a better and much attentive friend, sana day 1 pa lang ng pain niya nasamahan ko na siya katulad nung pagdamay niya sakin.
"Dapat sinabi mo sakin Jules nung umpisa pa lang.." Pabulong kong sambit. "Walanghiya siya Jules. He is so cruel."
"I know that now Les. Kaya nga uuwi na lang ako sa Bicol, I want to be with my family.."
"Tell them Jules. Sa lahat, they are the ones you need right now. At ako, andito lang ako, kami..shit, punyetang Vincent yan." Nanggigigil kong pinunasan yung luha ko.
"I will, tapusin ko na lang tong week, at sasamahan ko kayo sa charity event. I owe a lot in this company, kaya sasamahan ko kayo sa event, for the last time."
Humagulgol na lang ako ng iyak.
"Dadalawin kita lagi, I promise you that." Niyakap ko siya ng mahigpit at mas lalo akong napaiyak nung yakapin din niya ako ng mahigpit.
That son of a b***h.
............
- Writer
