Perfect Pieces

08

The whole flight, I was either watching a movie or eating. Hindi ako natulog kasi masisira ang body clock ko so I really did my best not to fall asleep lalo pa't si Luan ay nasa tabi ko lang na tahimik ring nanonood nung palabas. Pahingos hingos pa ako nung sipon ko habang pinapanood 'yung movie kaya ay napansin kong may inabot si Luan sa akin na panyo niya kaya tinignan ko iyon. It was his handkerchief. Alam kong sa kaniya iyon dahil may nakaengrave na Luan sa panyo.

"What?" I asked him.

"You're crying," he softly said at marahang pinunasan iyong pisngi ko. My eyes widened at inagaw nalang sa kaniya ang panyo dahil sa kahihiyan niya at narinig ko nanaman ang tawa niya.

"The movie is just sad," I answered and turned it off na since the captain already turned on the wear the seatbelt sign.

"Then don't watch it if it makes you sad," he softly said. "I don't want to witness... yo- people crying." he pouted a little bit and looked away kaya napatanga ako sa kaniya.

Paglapat ng eroplano sa lupa ay hindi agad ako tumayo, same as Luan. Madami kasing tao na naguunahan palabas kaya ay maiipit lang ako don and would probably hurt myself. Pagbaba ko ay bitbit ko na ang aking maliit na backpack na paglalagyan lang ng phone, wallet, passport, and a lipbalm and sunscreen.

"Do you have a ride?" Luan asked beside me nung naglalakad na kami palabas pagkatapos kuhanin ang aming mga bag.

"Yeah..." sasagot pa sana ako pero a black Range Rover pulled up in front of us at lumabas si Gio, the driver of abuelo. 'Yung tatay ni Gio 'yung driver nina abuelo dito noon but Gio's dad requested na kung sana ay full time body guard nalang siya kaya si Gio ang nasa amin. Siguro Gio is as the same age as kuya Apollo.

"Welcome home, Spring." he gently smiled at me and took my bag. Spring. I chuckled gently at that. Siya lang ang tumatawag sa akin noon pa man simula nung bata pa kami. Palagi kaming naglalaro noon kung umuuwi ako dito sa Spain eh.

"Thanks, Giovanni." I teased him. Ayaw niya sa full name niya.

Napalingon lang ako kay Luan nung tumikhim siya and raised his brow at me. My brows furrowed by the sudden action.

"Ah, Luan, that's Gio." turo ko kay Gio. "He's the son of my abuelo's ex driver and my friend. Gio, this is Luan, also my friend." nginisihan ko si Luan kasi wala naman siyang sinabi na gusto niya akong kaibigan pero sige na nga.

"Boyfriend?" Gio asked me.

My eyes widened. "No!" umiling agad ako at nakita ko ang pagtaas ng gilid ng kaniyang labi. "Luan, we should get going. May sasakyan ka ba? We can drop you off sa place mo," I offered.

He shook his head. "My driver should be here in a few." he gently smiled at me.

I nodded. "Okay! Ingat ka. Catch up sooner!" I waved at him before getting in the car dahil pinagbuksan na ako ni Gio. Hindi ko naman kasi iyon kaya buksan kasi ang bigat because it was a bulletproof car.

"He likes you," Gio said while he was driving. Napalingon ako sa kaniya dahil nasa shotgun seat ako.

I laughed loudly. "He likes someone else," I pointed out. Hindi ko alam bakit may konting something iyon sa dibdib ko but whatever.

"I doubt that." he laughed like a lunatic.

"Eyes on the road please," I rolled my eyes.

"Yes, ma'am." he grinned.

Pagdating namin sa village, ay tinignan muna kami nung guard bago kami pinapasok. Mga mayayaman lang talaga and elite people kasi ang nandito. Ewan ko ba kay abuelo kung bakit dito pa talaga napiling mamahay pero parang gets ko naman kasi marami naman silang pera.

Si Gio na ang nagpasok ng mga gamit ko sa aking kwarto sa itaas and I went straight to the car again pagka tapos kong magpalit to go to the company na pinag mamayarian nina abuelo. Wala siya sa bahay kasi may trabaho pa pala siya kahit sabado.

Nilagay ko ang aking mga kamay sa bulsa nung aking coat because I was called. Nakasuot na nga ako ng pantsuit eh nilalamig pa rin ako. It was the yellow pantsuit that Gigi Hadid once wore. Nagsuot nalang ako ng heels so it would fit the style.

People inside were looking at my direction. Nagtataka siguro kung sino ako and I just didn't mind them. Naturuan kaming magkapatid that business is business and if you show any emotions, it would be your downfall. Your emotions are your greatest weakness. And besides, hindi ko kilala ang mga taong nandito. Who knows? Maybe someone would offer a drink to me pero may laman palang lason at ininom ko naman.

"Where's Mr. Santiago?" I asked the receptionist sa floor nina lolo. May nakalagay kasi sa elevator na mga offices kasabay nung kung anong floor ito nakalocate.

"In the middle of a meeting, ma'am but if you have an important thing to say, I can schedule you a meeting next week since this week is full." she smiled at me. She looked like she was in her middle 20's. Older than me but not that much. Siguro kaedad ni kuya Archer at kuya Kyler.

"No, I can wait," I replied and sat down on the couch. I looked at the time and it was lunch already pala and I was hungry kaya ay tumayo uit ako at hinarap siya. "Actually, can you tell Mr. Santiago that Lani is here and is waiting for him?"

"Your last name, ma'am?" she asked. She has an English and a Spanish accent but she looked like she's a Filipina.

I shook my head. "Just Lani."

Nakita kong pumasok siya sa isang pintuan na may nakalagay na Office of the President. Malaki iyon na nakasabit sa may pintuan pero may nakalagay rin na maliit sa ibaba na 'and his wife'. Napailing nalang ako knowing abuela forced him to do that. Abuelo was actually a playboy back in his days kaya siguro pinilit ni abuela kasi selosa rin iyon.

"Ohmygosh! I didn't recognize you, ma'am Lani! I am very sorry for not letting you in! My apologies!" she exclaimed. I looked at her id and it stated there to call her Dionne.

"It's fine, ate Dionne." I smiled at pumasok na sa opisina ni abuelo. Wala namang kaso sa akin iyon dahil mabait naman siya sa akin.

I knocked on the door before opening and my eyes widened nung mapansin kong marami palang mga taong nandoon. Pero mas lalong nanlaki ang aking mga mata nung nakita ko si Luan na presenteng nakaupo don while his face has no emotions at all pero nung makita niya ako, I swear, his face softened a little so I smiled at him.

"Buenos días. Perdón por intervenir!" I gently smiled at the people there. "I'm Lani Santiago, su nieta. Puede continuar con lo que está discutiendo," tinuro ko si abuelo na nakatingin na rin sa akin. Naupo ako sa tabi niya and kissed his cheek before making myself comfortable.

"You just landed. Why didn't you rest at home?" abuelo asked me na mahina lang kasi parang may proposal pala itong ibang taong nandito. Ewan ko lang kay Luan kung bakit nandito siya.

"I wanted to see you," pabulong ko ring saad. "You know him?" I slightly turned my gaze to Luan.

"Yes. Why?" he eyed me suspiciously and I just grinned widely at him kaya mas lalong nangunot ang noo niya. "Lani?" he asked.

"Nothing, abuelo." I smiled and tapped his back.

Nakinig lang ako sa pinag uusapan nila na tungkol lang naman sa business kaya ay nabored ako. They were talking about investments and other things na gagawin to expand more the companies. Na bored ako because growing up, I always thought about mom and dad's work before at hindi kami masyadong engage magkakapatid sa business dahil hindi naman iyon pinipilit nina mama at papa.

Nakailang kain na ako nung brownies na pinadeliver dun and some business partners of abuelo are looking at me weirdly na kung bakit ako kain ng kain pero wala rin naman akong binigay na emosyon at focus lang ako sa akin pagkain. Kachat ko rin si Stella kasi pumuputak siya kung bakit absent ako sa klase at kung sana raw ay nalaman niyang pupunta ako dito ay sumama siya at sinama niya iyong dalawa. They were all pretty close to my grandparents too kasi minsan na pumupunta ako dito ay sumama sila.

"Take a break everyone," abuelo said at umingay nanaman iyong conference room kasi nagchichika ang lahat ng kung ano.

Tumayo na rin ako para uminom ng tubig ay pagdating ko don ay nakita ko si Luan na may kausap na mukhang may katandaan na at parang may pinag uusapan silang importante pero nung makita niya ako, he signaled and excuse to the other guy and walked to me na katabi lang ng dispenser.

"You're here," he said and leaned on the wall near the dispenser.

"And you are too," I replied to him.

"Want to grab coffee after this?" he asked me.

"Sorry but... I have to spend time with abuelo or he would turn in to a drama king again," pabulong kong saad kay Luan because abuelo might hear me.

Rinig ko ang mahina niyang tawa. "Let's grab coffee whenever you're free, then?"

Tumango ako. "You know where to call me," I said, partaining to my go to, i********:.

Nagtuloy tuloy lang ang meeting nila and I only talk when I'm giving suggestion to expand the company. Hindi naman bago sa akin ang ganito kasi kahit hindi ko pag aralan, gamay ko naman kasi minsan ay sumasama ako kina mama sa kompanya to handle things.

After the meeting, we bid goodbye and I just waved at Luan after I got inside the car with abuelo. Pagpasok ko ay may namumuong kyuryusong tingin sa mga mata ni abuelo and I know where this conversation would end again.

"¿Qué es, abuelo? Casi puedo escuchar tus pensamientos y casi puedo escuchar que estás haciendo un problema con esto ... otra vez." tamad akong tumingin kay abuelo na umiling iling naman.

"Sólo estoy cuidando de ti," he shrugged like it was nothing.

"If his family is really that dangerous, abuelo, then why are you letting them have a share on your company?" I sighed at humalukipkip ako sa gilid kasi ayan nanaman 'yung mga tinginan nila.

"Business isn't all about being in your safe haven always, Lani. It's all about taking risks," he explained to me pero hindi na ako sumagot.

After all, I wanted a job in the future who runs in to danger for a living, right?

Pagka uwi namin sa bahay, abuelo requested for me to cook because he missed my luto daw kaya ay nagluto nalang ako ng adobo at nagsaing. As I was waiting for the meat to boil, I was just checking out on my friends and my brothers and my parents to see what are they up to.

"Okay ka lang ba, diyan? Hindi ka ba naboboring? Go to places you haven't been to," utos sa akin ni papa having nag fifacetime kami. Nakita ko rin si mama na nasa gilid at pilit na inaagaw ang cellphone pero hindi ito binibigay ni papa.

"I'm not bored here yet, papa. I'm doing good. How about you?" we catched up about happened there back in the Philippines until I finished cooking.

"Can you do me a favor, Lani?" abuelo asked me in the middle of dinner.

"Of course, abuelo. As long as it's legal." I shrugged.

"We don't do illegal in this family," sumimangot siya "Can you attend a meeting tomorrow in the company? It's all about this condominium project. There will be architects and engineers from our company and from the partner company. Of course, their CEO will be there too."

I hummed. "Of course, abuelo. Just send me the soft copy about tomorrows meeting and I'll be there. What time is it?"

"It's 9 am tomorrow," he informed me and gave me the details all through out the dinner.

Kaya kinabukasa, maaga akong gumising to attend the meeting. Naligo na ako and curled my hair when it dried. I changed in to my clothes na pasok naman sa pang opisina. Just a brown trousers, white tube top then pinatungan ko rin ng kapartner nung trousers na brown blazer then black heels. I arrived there five minutes late kaya ay dumiretso na ako sa conference room not having time to at least drink my coffee kaya magpapadala nalang ako kay Giovanni.

"Buenas mañanas, lo siento, llego tarde," sabi ko kaagad pagka pasok ko sa conference and my breathing hitched when I saw the father of Luan, Luan himself, two guys who had the same features as him, and some engineers and architects.

"Seriously, a woman? Where's the CEO of your company? I don't trust women." a guy... I know na hindi siya tauhan ni abuelo because he had a different uniform.

"Disculpe, no me desprecie así. Qui es-tu pour me manquer de respect? Pwede ka nang umalis kung gusto mo," maldita kong saad sa kaniya.

"I can't understand you, when you speak three different languages at once," he raised his brow.

"This is why men like you, are trash." I rolled my eyes and walked towards him slowly. Hindi maganda ang gising ko and he provoked me. Wala na akong pake kung mawalan to ng project ang kompanyang to because, we had enough money to build our own towers. "You understand me, now? If you don't like me, being here, please go out. But the moment you step out of my conference room, this project is over and our company will not be signing the proposal of yours." mukha siyang multo sa puti ng mukha niya.

Pinalaki akong ng mga magulang ko na dapat magbigay ng respeto sa iba. Ganon naman ang ginawa ko. I gave trust to you, but the moment you do something to break my trust, I'm not giving you that again.

"Sorry, miss." he muttered lowly.

"You better be sorry because you mean it and not because you're scared to loose this project," I rolled my eyes and sat down in the front swivel chair. Tahimik ang mga tao sa loob ng conference so I blew a breath and gave a sweet smile. "Sorry for that and sorry for wasting everybody's time. You can go on, now." I gestured for the girl presenting in front na mukhang natakot na sa akin dahil napansin kong nanginginig ang kamay niya.

"Can we adjust that reception here?" I asked them and pointed the reception using my laser to the place I want it. "It's not good for the eyes."

"Of course, miss Santiago," the architect of the other company took notes.

"When will this project end, miss Santiago?" I looked at the side and the guy, na katabi ni Luan looked at me. He had some rougher features than Luan and the other guy, who looked the youngest, had the softest features.

"It's 3 to 4 years from now." sagot ko naman at tumango siya.

Nung nag break kami, nagpa dala nalang ako ng kape sa loob and stood up to stretch my feet bago ako tumingin sa may bintana at sa baba. Daming taong naglalakad sa baba at mukha nalag silang langgam sa litt.

"Hola, guapa." I looked at the guy beside me. God, he was tall. Probably like an inch taller than Luan.

"Flattering but I didn't get your name?" I looked up at him and he chukled.

"Rhys. Rhys Lavigne." he too his hand out.

I blinked and shook his hand. "Oh, Luan's brother?" I asked at tumango siya. "You look the same though you look more... I don't know... mature? Like I'm looking at the older version of him."

"Something going on with you and my brother?" dumating nanaman iyong isa that looked the younger version of Luan na kapatid niya pala. He's probably just 18.

"We're just friends," I replied.

"With benefits?" he asked again.

I chuckled. "Just friends. You sound like my older brothers. Has too many questions." I said and he scrunched his nose.

"You two, you're scaring her." Luan appeared at hinila ang nakababata niyang kapatid paalis sa tabi ko at siya ang pumalit doon.

Sumipol ang kuya niya. "Told you, Kylo, give her space so Luan wont be so protective." nakapamulsa siyang umalis and I so him rolled his eyes.

"Protective. What is he? A dog?" their youngest scoffed and walked away.

I chuckled. "Cute,"

"Don't let him hear that. He'll think about that, all night." Luan rolled his eyes at nakapamulsang nakatayo sa tabi ko.

"Sorry about earlier," he muttered kaya napatingin ako sa kaniya. "About the guy?"

"Oh. It's no big deal. I just hope he wouldn't be like that again," I said to him and shrugged.

"He will always be like that and... it's a big deal." he turned to me.

"Then why are you mad?"

"I'm not mad. I'm just... okay, I'm mad."

"Why?" I asked him again.

"Because he disrespected you like that. You don't deserve that." he answered while straightly looking at my eyes.