Code Name: Snapdragon

Hanging

Chapter 15

Nakakita ng pagkakataon si Martin para mas humaba pa ang oras na kasama ang grupo kayat sinenyasan na niya si Chin na i-paserve ang pagkain lalo ang mga native foods na dala nila mula sa Pilipinas.

Walang kaalam alam ang grupo na kumontak na ng Filipino chef sina Martin para siyang magluto sa meeting na iyon at habang inilalapag sa mesa ang putahe ay halata ang pagkabigla ng mga negosyante dahil talagang kakaiba ang effort at iba sa nakasanayan nilang pagkain ang isa isang ibinababa sa mesa.

“Try our native sinampalukang manok I’m sure you gonna love it as well as this homemade side dish called Achara,” alok ni Martin.

“How about this? is this mango?” tanong ni Cleo Jean.

“Yes, you are right Miss Jean we called that Manggang Kalabaw, and we pair it with our authentic bagoong if you want a spicy one you better go for this one,” sagot ni Martin.

“Oh1 it smells good I wanna try it now,” hindi napigilang sagot ni Cleo Jean.

Agad na kumuha ng ilang hiwa ng mangga si Cleo at nilagyan ng bagoong saka kinagat. Sarap na sarap ito sa kinakain habang tila nangasim din ang mga kaharap sa paraan ng pagkain nito.

“It’s awesome! I love not just the smell but also the taste and you are right there’s something in it that keeps you asking for more, try it,” alok ni Cleo sa mga kaharap.

Pinaunlakan naman ng mga ito ang alok ni Cleo at maging ang mga ito ay nasiyahan sa kanilang kinakain habang pinanonood sila ni Mr. Tan.

“ Why don’t you try it I’m sure you will like it also,” puna ni Cleo kay Mr. Tan na nanonood lang sa pagkain nila.

“I wanna try this one,” sagot ni Mr. Tan na ang tinutukoy ay ang sinampalukang native na manok.

Nagsimula na itong sumubo at tahimik na tila ninanamnam ang sabaw lalo na ang karne ng manok na kanyang kinain, nakaabang naman sa magiging reaksyon niya ang mga kaharap.

“How is it?” himdi na napigil na tanong ni Cleo Jean.

“Taste good,” simpleng sagot nito.

“Let me try it,” sagot ni Cleo na tila nakulangan sa deskripsyon ni Mr. Tan.

Naglagay na sa kanyang soup bowl si Cleo Jean para matikman ang pagkain at hindi naikubli ang kasiyahan sa kanyang reaksyon.

“These foods look simple but once you taste them you will discover how delicious it is so what’s the secret behind it?” tanong ni Cleo na kay Martin nakatingin.

“Actually the taste of Manggang Kalabaw is almost similar to other mangoes but what makes you crave for more is the authentic bagoong that we offer internationally,” sagot ni Martin.

“You mean you export this product internationally?” gulat na tanong nim Cleo Jean.

“Yes Madam the same with the native spices added to Sinampalukang manok and not only that we also have some native products like bags, hats and other products popular in our country, actually we brought some for you and for their special someone,” sagot ni Martin sabay tanaw kay Chin hudyat para ilabas nito ang mga native bags at hats na dala nila para makita ang magagandang produkto na inooffer nila internationally.

“Wow what a masterpiece!” hindi napigilang wika ni Cleo Jean ng makita ang sumbrero at native bag na bitbit ni Chin sabay abot sa kanya ng pinakamagandas at makulay na disenyo.

“What can you say Mr. Tan isn’t good?” tanong ni Cleo Jean.

“Unique,” tanging sagot nito na blangko pa rin ang reaksyon.

“I think they can offer more than what we expect with these products they brought I’m sure they have a lot to offer,” komento ni Cleo Jean.

Nabuhayan naman ng loob si Martin at Chin ng marinig ang sinabi ni Cleo Jean.

“Okay let me think about it I will review your proposal and I’ll call once I come up with the decision but for now let us enjoy the food,” sagot ni Mr. Tan.

Natapos ang gabing iyon ng walang malinaw na sagot mula kay Mr. Tan kaya’t muling binuklat ni Martin ang business proposal niya dito at pinasadahan ng basa para sakali na may itanong sa kanya ay masagot niya ng buong kumpiyansa.

Inabot siya ng halos tatlong oras sa pagbabasa at pagsusulat ng mahahalagang detalye na pwede niyang bigyang diin sa muli nilang pag uusap ni Mr. Tan at pasado ala una na ng maisipan niyang huminga para matulog. Kalalapat pa lang ng kanyang likod ng mapansin na mensahe pala sa kanyang cellphone at binuksan na muna niya iyon para basahin at napagalaman na galing kay Mr. Fujiwara.

“How’s your day? Did you bring home the bacon?” matalinhagang tanong nito.

Nalungkot si Martin sa mensahe ng kaibigan at business partner alam niya na sobra ang tiwala nito sa kanya at umaasa na ng positibong resulta sa lakad niya kanina sa halip na sagutin ay nagtipa siya ng mensahe para dito.

Still awake?, mensahe ni Martin kay Mr. Fujiwara.

Sa halip na mensahe ang kanyang matanggap ay tawag ang isinagot ni Mr. Fujiwara.

“Why are you still awake my friend?” tanong ni Mr. Fujiwara.

“I can’t sleep,” tipid na sagot ni Martin.

“Why is there something bothering you?” nag aalalang tanong ni Mr. Fujiwara.

“To be honest yes, I'm still waiting for the answer from Mr. Tan and his team because,” sagot ni Martin.

“Why?what happened?” nagtatakang tanong ni Mr. Fujiwara.

“I guess Mr. Tan is the real business tycoon in this country he knows the ins and outs of the business and who will benefit the most from what I offer that is why he is still hesitant to accept my offer because we both know that it will be more on my advantage,” sagot ni Martin.

“Do you think you can’t persuade him?” nananantiyang tanong ni Mr. Fujiwara.

“I am not sure but I hope so,” sagot ni Martin.

“Well, I have something to tell but I want you to be very careful with your decision,” biglang sabi ni Mr. Fujiwara.

Napaisip naman si Martin ano ang sasabihin nito na konektado sa pinag uusapan nila.

“What is it?” tanong ni Martin.

“Remember Mr. Minamoto?” tanong ni Mr. Fujiawara.

“What about him?” tanong ni Martin.

“Remember he wants to meet you and offer some business deal with you? He is a very good friend of Mr. Tan they are like brothers I guess if you ask Mr. Minamoto to join you in your next meeting with Mr. Tan you will surely get a yes answer but be very careful in dealing with him because I heard he has much illegal business in his country and another part of Asia,” sagot ni Mr. Fujiwara.

“Okay let me think about it,” tanging naisagot ni Martin sa mga detalyeng ibinigay ni Mr. Fujiwara.

“I wish you good luck if you think you can win this project never mind what I told you okay?” bilin pa nito bago tuluyang nagpaalam.

Paglapat ng katawan sa kama ay hindi pa rin dalawin ng antok si Martin hindi kayang tanggapin ng isip niya na mauuwi sa wala ang ipinunta nila sa Macau at uuwing luhaan. Naisip niya tuloy ang binanggit ni Mr. Fujiwara at nabuo sa kanyang loob na kapag talagang hindi nagparamdam sa kanya si Mr. Tan sa loob ng tatlong araw ay mapipilitan siyang gamitin ito para mapa oo sa inaalok niyang business proposal kahit na nga may paalala na si Mr. Fujiwara sa track rtecord nito.

Dalawang araw na ang nakalilipas ay wala pa ring message o email mula kay Mr. Tan parang sinisilihang pusa na si Martin sa kakaabang at maging si Chin ay tensyunado na rin.

“Sir Martin ano po ang gagawin natin kung hindi natin napa oo si Mr. Tan matutuloy pa rin ba ang project natin dito sa Macau?” nag aalalang tanong ni Chin.

“It will never happen Chin hindi pwedeng mawalan ng saysay ang pagpunta natin dito,” sagotni Martin.

“Pero paano nga sir kung hindi na sila kumontak at makipag usap ulit?” pangungulit ni Chin.

“Hindi tayo uuwi ng Pilipinas ng hindi natin sila napapa oo tandaan mo yan I still have my ace at sana siya ang makatulong para maisara natin ang deal na ito,” sagot ni Martin na ang nasa isip ay si Mr. Minamoto.

Naiinbahan man sa reaksyon ni Martin ay pinili na lang ni Chin na magsawalang kibo.

Pangatlong araw ay wala pa ring paramdam si Mr. Tan kaya’t inutusan na ni Martin si Chin na kontakin si Mr. Fujiwara.

“Mr. Fujirawa you can inform Mr. Minamoto that I agree to meet him tonight,” bungad ni Martin sa kaibigan.

“Does it means Mr. Tan refused your offer?’ tanong ni Mr. Fujiwara.

“He never contacts me so I guess that is his way of saying no,” sagot ni Martin.

“And you can’t accept his answer right?” tanong ni Mr. Fujiwara.

“You know how big my plan here Mr. Fujiwara everything will be a waste if we cannot persuade him,” sagot ni Martin.

“Mr. Minamoto is a very dangerous man and now I regret why I mentioned to you about their friendship, I’m afraid that one day he will use you,” sagot ni Mr. Fujiwara.

“You don’t have to go that far I know how much you care for me and I appreciate that but for now what I want you to do is to set a meeting for me with Mr. Minamoto and that’s all you can leave everything to me,”sagot ni Martin.

Wala ng nagawa si Mr. Fujiawa kung hindi sundin ang nais ni Martin. Kaagad niya itong tinawagan at sinabi na pumapayag na si Martin na makipag usap sa kanya.

“Thank you so much, Mr. Fujiwara I owe you one, so tell me the detail about our meeting I’m so excited to see him,” masiglang sagot ni Mr.Minamoto.

“He wants to see you this evening at seven o’clock at Ruby’s Hotel and Restaurant,” detalye ni Mr. Minamoto.

“Okay I’ll be there,” sagot ni Mr. Minamoto.

“Don’t be late Mr. Evangelista is very punctual and he hates anyone who can’t respect time,” bilin ni Mr. Fujiwara.

“Yeah I know that,” sagot ni Mr. Minamoto.

Kagaya ng inaasahan maaga pa ay nasa meeting place na si Mr. Minamoto at matiyagang naghintay sa lobby ng pagdating ni Martin. Hindi pa nakakalipas ang ilang minuto niyang paghihintay ay natanaw na niyang paparating si Martin kasama si Mr. Fujiwara.

Kinawayan niya ito ng magtama ang kanilang mga mata para ipaaalam na naroon na siya.

“He is already here,” pasimpleng bulong ni Mr. Fujiwara kay Martin.

Agad namang umikot ang mata ni Martin para hanapin kung sino sa mga naroon si Mr. Minamoto at natanaw niya na may isang lalaki na malapad ang ngiti na tila kumakaway sa kanila at naisip niyang ito na ang sinasabing Mr. Minamoto.

Paglapit nila ay nagkamay sina Mr. Fujiawara at Mr. Minamoto.

“Thank you for accepting my invitation,” bungad nito.

“Meet my dear friend and partner Mr. Martin Vera Evangelista,” pakilala ni Mr. Fujiwara kay Martin.

“My pleasure, Mr. Evangelista thank you so much for this opportunity to meet you in person,” sagot ni Mr. Minamoto na iniabot ang kamay para makipag shake hands.

Inabot naman iyon ni Martin at saka inaya na maupo na sila sa mesa kung saan sila sinamahan ng waiter.

“I already told Mr. Evangelista that you requested to see him and talk to him in person and I said just like us you are a businessman who wants to expand your business and now you finally meet him you can discuss with him what you want to offer,”simula ni Mr. Fujiwara.

“I’ll go straight to the point Mr. Evangelista I want to ship my items in your country because I already have buyers somewhere in Luzon but the Philippine government is very strict in demanding this and that. Is it possible to ship it with your shipping company without undergoing the process that your government requires me to do so?” direktang tanong ni Mr. Minamoto.

“You said you are a businessman right? So I guess you know the protocol if you cannot obey it will be very hard for you to do business in our country,” sagot ni Martin.

“To tell you honestly I’ve been doing it and there some people government employee who helped me but since they already retired it is very difficult for me now to do business so if you agree with me your shipping company will be the one who will send my products with my clients,” alok ni Mr. Minamoto.

“By the way what products are in?” tanong ni Martin.

Biglang lumikot ang mata ni Mr. Minamoto at halatang ayaw sagutin ang tanong ni Martin at naramdaman ito ni Martin kaya’t si Mr. Fujiwara ang kanyang tinanaw para siyang mangumbinsi kay Mr. Minamoto na magsabi ng totoo sa kanya.

“You can tell him the truth and give him time to think about it,” hudyat ni Mr. Fujiwara.

“I can’t tell you righ now,” nag aalalng sagot ni Mr. Minamoto.

“Okay we respect that since we requested enough time to think about it I guess you can wait until we are able to give you an answer but for now we have a little request for you I hope you will never say no,” simula ni Mr. Fujiwara.

Nagulat naman si Mr. Minamoto sa sinasabi ni Mr. Fujiwara ngunit hinintay niyang sabihin nito ang nais.

“I know that you and Mr. Tan are good friends and Mr. Evangelista and his team are here for a business trip is it okay with you if you invite him tomorrow and let him know that you and Martin are starting a business together?” tanong ni Mr. Fujiwara.

“I can do that why not but just like you, I want a positive answer with my proposal as they say scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours,” matalinhagang sagot ni Mr. Minamoto.

Blangko ang reaksyon ni Martin ngunit kung nakikita lang ni Mr. Minamoto ang kuyom niyang palad ay baka mag alangan siyang magsalita pa ng sablay.