SEE YOU

Chapter 11

Joreign's POV

It has been awhile no'ng nag punta ako ng party na may kasama na maliban kay Dalta. I took a glance at Cluvin who is majestic in his white tuxedo with his hair up exposing his forehead. He didn't even wore some make-up. He's too handsome already. His thick eyebrows were the focal point in his face in addition to his deep blue eyes that can make any girl shout and blush once it lands on your eyes. His mere presence is enough to gather attention.

He was a bit far from me kasi kumuha siya nang drinks samantalang ako ay nandito sa isang table with other businesswomen and investors. It was more than an hour and a half since we got here. And trust me, hindi naging madali ang pagpunta namin dito.

***Flashback***

"I can't go," Dalta who was looking worried patted Cluvin's shoulder. "You take my place instead."

I was speechless while Cluvin was constantly shifting his gaze between me and Dalta. Medyo hindi ata niya 'yon in-expect. Ako rin eh. Hindi ko alam kung matutuwa ako o kakabahan or both. Para akong na e-excite na hindi ko maintindihan...

"You take care of her and don't let any man come near her, understand?" Pag bibilin pa ni Dalta. Cluvin who was still a little lost just nodded in response. He lowered his head and smacked his lips then proceeded to bite it. At kahit pa naka tungo siya ngayon hindi rin nakalampas sa paningin ko ang pag ngisi niya at pag ngiti.

What did I just saw?

"Can I come too?" Imik ni Tiboy. Obviously, he was eavesdropping. He walked near us with his hands in his pockets, in his usual jokester mode. He's grinning. Alam kong sasama 'yan siya kahit hindi mo payagan. I mentally face palmed in my head.

"Hindi ka pwedeng sumama." Pang babara agad ni Dalta. Agad na bumagsak ang balikat ni TIboy pero hindi ito nagpatinag. Kinulit niya lang naman ng kinulit si Dalta. Akalain mo nga namang may mas kukulit pa kay Dalta?

Well to make the long story short. Pinilit parin ni Tiboy na sumama, actually hanggang sa eroplano ay kasama namin siya. Pero mukhang may urgent meeting din siyang kailangan puntahan kaya pagbaba namin sa eroplano ay ibinilin niya lang kay Cluvin na huwag akong papabayaan sabay alis halatang nagmamadali. At dahil diyan naka hinga ako nang maluwag. I wouldn't have any idea on how to handle both Cluvin and Tiboy. 'Yong interaction pa nga lang nila kanina hindi ko na matagalan, 'yon pa kayang pagsamahin ko silang dalawa sa isang party?

***End of flashback***

Honestly I'm grateful na si Vin ang kasama ko sa party. Not Dalta, and most especially not Tiboy. Kung si Dalta ang kasama ko, malamang sa malamang ay hindi ako no'n tatantanan at pilit na didikit sa'kin anumang oras. Para 'yong linta eh. Si Tiboy naman, for sure gano'n din. Baka dinaldal ako no'n nang dinaldal hanggang sa dumugo ang tenga ko. Nabalik ako sa reyalidad ng marinig ko ang mga palakpakan ng mga tao. Dumako agad ang tingin ko sa emcee na kakatapos lang palang magbigay ng speech. She just welcomed everyone and that was it.

The applause were a sign. It means oras na para makipag-socialise. At hindi man ako nakakatayo sa kinauupuan ko ay narinig ko na ang pangalan ko. I looked behind to see who called and to my surprise it was Miss Ella. The owner of the biggest mall here in the Philippines. One of my inspirations when it comes to business. She's the icon of the most hard-working woman, far more greater than me. And she's eight years older than me, she's 35. And she's a friend of mine. Oh and Dalta pala.

"Joreign! It is nice to meet you again..." lumapit siya at nakipag-beso beso. I was all smiles at her. Siyempre she's my favorite woman eh I'm glad she's here.

"And you look so classy tonight!" She added.

"And I should say the same thing to you..." She was also beautiful in her long red gown that had many diamonds in it. She was even wearing her red necklace to pair with the dress. Stunning as always. Hindi mahahalata sa kaniya na 35 na siya. She's young-looking, radiant, and very energetic. I think magkapantay ang energy nila ni Dalta.

Umupo na kami sa isang table sa corner para makapag-usap nang pribado.

"So, how is business lately? Balita ko ay nagbabakasyon ka? Himala ha, ang Joreign na kilala ko ay halos magpakasal na sa trabaho..." I took a sip of wine at what she said. I am far from enjoying a vacation.

"Nako, nandon ako kila Dalta...and Ate trust me hindi ako nagparoon para magbakasyon." Pagsagot ko. Sabay naman kaming tumawa, she knows Dalta too...let's just say the three of us are close. I met her when I was abroad, she was still starting back then at ako naman ay student palang. At noon pa man ay alam ko na magiging successful siya, look at her now...she's the owner of the biggest malls in the Philippines. Much bigger than Mall of Asia, that is. That is why she is my role model.

"So, about Dalta...I heard na nagpapagawa na ulit siya nang hotel and resort, tama?" I nodded. Napa palakpak naman siya at ngumiti.

"Yes, he's currently at the site...may aksidente daw eh. It needs to be resolved immediately."

"Ganoon ba? Eh ikaw? How's your business?"

"Well, it's doing great. But I am currently behind the scenes of another project." She looks shocked but in a good way. Inusog pa nga niya ang upuan malapit sa akin.

"Ohh, care to tell me what that is?" halatang excited siya dahil pinuno na niya nang wine ang glass na hawak niya. May balak ata 'tong magpakalasing?

"Well...it's not much but I am planning on launching my own cosmetic line." Agad naman niya akong tinapik sa braso. Ah, nakakalimutan kong ang love language nga pala niya ay physical touch. No wonder, tatlo ang anak niya.

"OMG! That's going to be great, you can count me in. I know a few investors who are interested in that industry, I'll notify them." Dire-diretso niyang sabi. Who would've thought na ganito lang pala kadali ang makahakot ng investors? Hindi ko mapigilang ngumiti kasi talaga namang easy win 'yon para sa akin.

"Wow, really? Then I guess kailangan ko nang mag doble trabaho para mapabilis ang launch." Pagbibiro ko. She grinned at me, ohh there's a price. Of course there is, this is business we're talking about. She put her hands together and gave me that look.

"And in return? What should I give you?" I crossed my legs and comfortably sat on the chair. Buti na lang talaga nandito si Ate Ella, kasi kung hindi baka nando'n na 'ko sa ibang table nakikipag-plastikan.

"Aishh! Kilala mo na talaga ako 'no?" She giggled like a child. Mind you she's a mother of three.

"Sign a contract with me." She says. I squinted my eyes as a way of anticipation.

"I just want your amazing restaurant to be in my malls. You know it will be an honor if you say yes."

She's talking about my restaurants. I have a few that are very famous, and in regards to what she said about it being in malls...well yung mga restaurants ko kasi ay kumabaga may sariling establishments. You won't find it in malls kasi usually nasa mga secluded siyang area. Oh I know, baka iniisip niyo na bakit nasa secluded na area hindi ba dapat sa mga ma-tao?

Let's just say, I always choose a place that is a landmark within a city and place my restaurant near. A marketing strategy I keep in mind. Kung iisipin magkatulad lang kami halos ng 7/11 nang strategy. Yung akin near landmarks, yung 7/11 lagi mong makikita sa mga kanto ng kalsada...hindi man laging nasa kanto, but mostly ay nando'n.

"Well, I do think it's a great proposal. You can send the contract to my secretary." Thinking about what she said, there really is value in having some of the restaurants inside a mall, lalo na kung yung mall na 'yon ay pagmamay-ari ni Miss Ella. It's a win-win for me.

"Noted!" She exclaimes. She poured some wine on my glass, the one that I just emptied and she pours herself some too. We both made a toast hoping for more success.

"By the way, wag kang titingin ha," She knocked on the table to have my attention focused in it. "May lalaking kanina pa sa'yo nakatingin, yung nakaputing tuxedo malapit sa window. Mukhang nabighani sa taglay mong ganda! hihi." Bumungisngis pa siya bago ubusin ang wine niya. She said not to look, pero do'n palang sa description niya. I know it's Vin. From my peripheral I saw him holding a glass of wine and elegantly taking a sip.

"Ah, about that, he's my date." Mabuti na ang ma-clarify agad kaysa may iba pa siyang meaning na mailagay. Pinanlakihan niya ako nang mata at nakanganga pa siya, I awkwardly laughed. Hindi mo talaga aakalaing nanay na 'to eh. Kung umasta parang bata, no wonder mas magkasundo sila ni Dalta.

"Don't tell me--" bago pa niya matapos ang sasabihin niya ay inunahan ko na ito.

"He's a friend." I stated. She immediately looked at Vin who was standing alone while sipping from his glass and she looked back at me.

I was pouring her some wine this time.

"Joreign," She softly calls out. There is this tone in her voice, concern. A sudden change in her aura was evident, she's now on her mother mode. I can feel it.

She reaches for my free hand and gently squeezed it. "Look, I know..."

"I know it's been hard for you for the past few years, I can never help you with everything. I can't make it painless, Joreign. Alam kong iisipin mo na, ayan na naman ako, nasa motherly mode...but I want what's best for you. And as your friend, I think it's time to heal yourself again. Trust me when I say, that the man standing over there looked at you with the most softest and purest set of eyes. He cares." she rarely gives me advice, but when she does...I am suddenly reminded that she is truly 8 years older than me, a bit older...a tad wiser than me.

I looked down unable to meet her gaze or even shrug her words. She spoke of the truth that I have to heal again. I have to, I know that but its the truth I never dared to set foot on. I don't think I can. It's hard to face the truth.

"It's still---" I tried to reason something out but she cuts me off.

"If you never allow yourself to mend, i'm sorry to say this but you're hopeless. He cares for you I can see that, but none of that matters if you cared no more about yourself. It doesn't make you less of a human to ask for a little help. It doesn't make you less of a person to open up again."

"It's just like business though...there are risks." I commented. She sighed.

"You know very well, that without risks there aren't any gains. You can't grow tenfold without risking half of it all. And the same goes with love, you can't expect to love without risking your heart." She says.

"Ironic, I don't have a heart." Tinapik na ulit niya yung braso ko. I flinched.

She then gave a re-assuring smile before finally saying, "You have a heart, you're just afraid to let it beat again."