Chapter 3: Unbelievable

"They didn't accept our proposal."

"Tss, paepal naman." Walang gana akong sumubo ng kanin. Kasabay kong mag-hapunan sila mommy at daddy. It's our commitment in our family, my house is separated to them but we're having family dinner two or three times every week.

"Levi, your words." Mahinahon akong tinignan ni mommy. "What did I say? Be kind to everyone, even in secret. Beauty and kindness."

"How about the brain?"

"What's the point of having a brain when you're not kind?"

Tumawa si daddy, nginusuan ko lang si mommy. Matapos kong tulungan si manang na katulong namin sa bahay ay nagpaalam na ako kila mommy at daddy para umuwi dahil may pakakainin pa akong aso sa bahay. I missed living with them but I want to prove them that I'm now an independent girl. Isa pa, I could go here anywhere I want. Sa malapit na village lang naman ang bahay ko.

"Hello, baby! You miss mommy?" Pagkauwi ko ay sinalubong ako ng aso ko. I carried her and caressed her hair.

Lumabas si Hector sa kusina at nagpagpag ng kamay. "Pinakain ko na si Flappy. Alam kong male-late kang umuwi, eh."

"Did you feed her a lot?"

Umiling siya. "Sakto lang."

Tumango-tango ako. He has duplicate key of my house, I'm not worried at all. My father trusts him and I am too, he's a protective little brother. Kapag wala akong oras na pakainin si Flappy ay siya ang nagkukusang magpunta dito.

"Anong sabi ng papa mo? Alam niya nang hindi tinanggap ang proposal niyo?"

Agad akong nairita dahil doon. What's the point of shaking hands with me when he can't even accept our simple proposal? We just need a supplier, my father offered him a lot. Sa kalkula ko ay mas kikita sila sa partnership at walang mawawala sa kanila. Ang gusto lang namin ay makatipid.

"I can't really get it. Bakit kaya hindi nila tinanggap? The Zillanide's President is close to our family, isn't he?" nang-iintriga na tanong ko sa secretary ko. "Isa pa, may laban naman tayo at hindi naman natin sila tataguan kung may problema. Hindi ko talaga matanto yung dahilan."

"The Zillanide's President is living abroad for good, he's handling international matters." Nalukot ang mukha niya at tumawa. "Forget about it, don't stress yourself."

I smiled at him. "Hmm, thank you. You could go home."

"Sige, miss Levi."

"Lock the gate."

"Mmm."

Hindi ko na tinanaw si Hector at diretso na ng kwarto ko. I carried my dog. This dog has an attitude sometimes, tuwing tinatabi ko siya sa akin ay umaalis sa kalagitnaan ng gabi para matulog sa couch. She's worse than a cat, I still love her. Nakakatakot pala talagang mag-isa sa bahay.

"Freya! May saltik ba yung CEO niyo? Kasi ako wala, eh. I can't believe this!" I frowned, tumawa ang dalawang kaibigan ko. Si Zoey at si Freya. Freya is working in Zillanide, Zoey is also an employee here in my father's company.

Mas mataas ang posisyon ni daddy sa akin pero ako ang mas nai-stress kaysa sa kanya tuwing may problema. Ang tito ko ang founder ng company at kasalukuyan siyang nasa ibang bansa. Hindi ko alam kung paano nakakapag-chill si daddy sa sitwasyon namin, nagpa-plano pa yata silang mag-abroad ni mommy.

Maybe he's plotting something.

"Freya, help us and don't just stand here. Hindi ba medyo mataas naman ang posisyon mo doon? Head ka ng isang department, malapit ka sa mga may mataas na position." Nginisihan ni Zoey si Freya, umangil lang ang isa.

"I'm not a traitor to my company," sabi ni Freya. "Dapat nga ay hindi ako nag-pupunta dito, eh. Sa sobrang loyal ko sa company, baka hindi na ako makipagkita sa inyong dalawa."

Sumandal ako sa inunuupuan. We're in our company's coffee shop. Ito ang paborito kong lugar dito, minsan ay dito na rin ako nagtatrabaho. It's cold here inside and that's what I like the most.

"You're overreacting. We are not rivals."

"We're not rivals pero may galit sa CEO yung isa dyan."

Agad kong dinepensahan ang sarili ko, "Hindi ako galit."

"Kanina ka pa nga nagra-rant tungkol sa kanya, paano mo nasabi na hindi ka galit?" sabi ni Zoey, nagtawanan na naman silang dalawa. "Hindi bagtit yung company natin. Si Levi ang bagtit."

"I can't help you guys, really. Kahit pa head ang position ko doon. Ni minsan sa isang linggo ko nga lang nakakasalubong sa trabaho yung Zillan na 'yon, eh. Nakita mong pagkalaki-laki ng building ni Zillanide. And he's not the person who likes crossing his presence with another person, he's that arrogant," Freya explained to us. Nagkibit-balikat na lang ako, bahala na.

We just lost our crude oil supplier, and I don't even know what to do with this matter. Papalit-palit na kami ng supplier dahil ang mga ganoong negosyo ay mabilis malugi, komplikado rin ang proseso ng mga ganun.

"Si Shan pala ipapakasal na, ano? They need it to make their company's relationship stronger. Isa pa, they've been in a relationship together, although it's been five year ago."

"I'm envious." Tumayo ako, inayos ang sling bag at tinignan silang dalawa. "Our company's situation is embarrassing, isn't it? Kami ang kailangan na maghabol."

Other companies are too lovable that they want to maintain their partnership and friendship by creating two adorable love birds. Kami ay minsan na nga lang mag-propose ng partnership ay tinanggihan pa. Ako ang gumawa ng mga papers para sa proposal tapos tinanggihan lang ng isang lalaki? That's unbelievable.

"It's okay, Levi. Do you think Shan likes it? She doesn't like force marriage," pahabol ni Freya bago ako lumabas ng coffee shop, tumatawa lang ang isa.

"I wish I'll be in force marriage," sagot ko naman.

Matapos asikasuhin ang papers na ibinigay sa akin ng isang empleyado ay nag-inat ako at naghikab. Should I sleep? Maaga akong natulog kahapon pero parang gusto kong matulog. Beside, there's literally nothing to do.

Pumikit ako habang nakasandal sa swivel chair. Ilang minuto akong ganoon lang hanggang sa marinig ko ang pagbubukas ng pinto ng office ko. What is it now?

"Miss Levi, this is urgent."

I slowly opened my eyes and looked to me secretary. Seryoso ang mukha niya at parang nagtatakbo pa papunta rito.

"Bakit?"

Naghabol pa siya ng hininga at napahawak sa dibdib. "The CEO of Zillanide... he requested a meeting. He's giving us a chance to discuss and explain our proposal."

"Oh, he must be crazy," kalmado kong utas.

"Miss Levi naman, eh!"

Mariin akong napapikit. "Alright, I'll go. Isn't there any employees to represent that simple meeting?"

"That's our last chance. We need someone in a higher position so they'll know that we are persistent," he said. "Have you ever seen water put in a shotgun as ammunition?"

"Good metaphor." Napangisi ako. "Let's go, you'll drive."

Nang makarating kami sa Zillanide ay nagsimula na naman akong lamigin. Magkadugtong ang building ng Zillanide at ng Financial Firm ng mga Aragon, the relationship of the two companies were indestructible. That Zillan and Aragon were friends. Ngayon ko lang rin nalaman. I even mistaken them as enemies.

"You're six minutes late," iyon ang unang sinabi ni Zillan nang makarating kami. Zillanide's lobby is spacious yet there's no employees here. People are just passing by the entrance straight to their offices.

"You emailed my father just one hour ago and we literally prepared nothing. And the traffic, I'm sorry about that," paghingi ko ng tawad at ngumiti. Nginitian ako ng secretary niya, komportableng nakaupo lang siya sa tapat ko at mataman na nakatingin sa akin. I gulped. Okay fine, he waited. But five minutes isn't that long.

He placed his hand on the table and moved it. Huminga ako ng malalim. Calm down, Levi. What's in front of you is just a human being, he's not that great. I swear, he's not worthy of the nervousness I'm feeling right now. He's just a human-being.

"My father offered big shares for this company, the payment for stock isn't included. Zillanide will get 2% more than what we'll get. We just need a supplier, an imperishable one. And we'll afford to risk it in order to save our company."

Tahimik lang si Hector sa tabi ko, ganoon din ang secretary ni Zillan.

"What's your company's problem?" he asked coldly.

"It's confidential, sir."

Did I just called him, 'sir'? Atleast hindi sa pangalan ko siya tinawag.

I looked at him. He smirked at looked away to avoid my gaze. Inayos niya ang tie a sa suit niya at tumikhim pagkatapos. Agad akong nahiya dahil doon. Sir at ma'am naman lagi ang tawag ko sa mga transaksyon namin. I feel conscious now, what's wrong with calling him 'sir'?

"Confidential ba?" Naging malumanay ang boses niya.

"Yes, it's confidential."

"Your company's problem is mentioned in the proposal."

My jaw dropped dramatically. I didn't remember declaring our company's problem in there. But I think I unconsciously stated that in there. I'm just desperate, hindi ko naman alam na siya ang makakabasa. At hindi ko rin inaasahan na binasa niya pala.

Tumawa siya nang mahina. "Are you that nervous? Ako lang 'to."

He's annoying.

"I mentioned that there because it's necessary." Tumango-tango ako sa palusot ko. "Malamang. And don't you see how much we trust Zillanide? That's the physical proof," dagdag ko pa.  He laughed mockingly again.

"The meeting ends here." Nakangiti pa rin siya.

Tumayo siya kaya ganoon rin kami, sinensyasan niya ang secretary niya. He looked at me again with that familiar gaze before walking away. Sinundan ko siya ng tanaw habang nakaawang ang bibig. The meeting ends here? Iyon na 'yon? That's fast.

"He didn't even say his decision. He's unbelievable."

Paglipat ko ng tingin ay napatalon ako ng mahagip nito ang secretary niya. Hindi ko namalayan na nandito pa pala siya. Nagpilit ako ng ngiti. Wala naman siguro akong sinabing mali pagtalikod ni Zillan.

"About our CEO's decision, he said no last time so it's a 'no' for now," sabi ng secretary niya. "He held this meeting to know your real intention."

"We don't have any bad intentions." I smiled, his secretary is kind though. "Does he have trust issues?"

"He trusts people easily. That's his problem."

Ha? Paanong naging problema iyon? I can't understand that person and I'm a little bit curious. I don't think he trusts people easily. If he trusts people easily, he'll trust me and my father. This is crazy.

"He'll send an email if he wants the partnership to happen."

"Here's the paper you're asking for, miss Levi."

"The research got cancelled because of the climate, miss Levi. We'll  continue the next month, that's the best decision instead of resuming the activity."

Nginitian ko ang isang empleyado. "It's okay. Kaysa naman hindi na talaga matuloy."

"Miss Levi, there's an urgent meeting. One our factory closes, the operator is unreachable."

Bumuntong hininga ako. "Tell someone to go to the factory's location. Someone in your department."

"Three of our machines are unable to be repaired, they're old."

Halos nag-babatuhan na kami ng mga papel at laptop. Wala sa oras akong napa-hilamos sa mukha. It's been two months. Stupid two months without his response. We really need it badly. Malaki ang lugi ng company namin dahil sa kung saan-saan na lang kami bumibili ng langis, at hindi pa ganoon kaganda ng uri.

In the midst of the inner chaos I could feel inside our company, I left our building. Nagtungo ako sa parking lot at nagmaneho papunta sa Zillanide. For that two months, he didn't even look at me in meetings. Hindi ako makahanap ng magandang tiyempo na harapin siya at kausapin. Is that busy? Is he that important?

Huminga ako nang malalim at saglit na pumikit. Kahit mag-mukha na akong desperada, ayos lang. I can't believe this, this is the first time I got rejected. Hindi ko alam, naiinis ako pag inaapakan ang pride ko pero ngayon ay wala na akong pakialam doon.

"I'll talk to the CEO." 

Napatayo ang secretary niya at tinignan lang ako.

"He's not here?"

"Don't hide him, where is he?" kalamadong tanong ko. Unti-unting lumingon ang secretary sa gilid kung nasaan ang hallway papunta sa office ni Zillan. Napatingin ako doon at napaawang ang bibig. Agad na umatras ang dila ko na kanina pa nangangati na magrant sa harapan niya.

His lips pursed. Napatingin siya sa mga mata ko habang naglalakad palapit sa direksyon namin. He's a wearing a navy blue suit with his crumpled tie and fixed hair. My chest almost explode when his menacing eyes pierced into mine. Nakakakaba, kinakabahan ako.

Huminto siya sa harap ko kaya't napilitan akong umatras ng isang hakbang. I gulped. Calm down, Levi! Calm down!

"Why are you not answering? Our business is losing. We need an oil supplier, is it hard to be our supplier?"

Nangiwi siya. "Ha?"

Unbelievable!

Umirap ako sa hangin. Oo nga pala, tss. "My name is Levi Terrano, I'm working at my father company. I sent a partnership proposal here since we need an oil supplier. I sent it three months ago. Naaalala mo?"

"I'm not into it. I'll decline the proposal," diretsyong sagot niya.

"Then, why?"

"I don't like it."

Halos matawa ako. Iyon lang? He's so picky! Hindi niya tinanggap dahil ayaw niya lang talaga. Wala naman sigurong hidwaan ang kumpanya namin. Baka naman may galit siya amin. Wag naman sana niya gawin na personal, trabaho lang naman.

"Don't go here when you'll just do something unnecessary. Schedule a meeting if you want to. Don't go here again."

Mabilis ang bawat hininga ko dahil sa sobrang kaba. Hindi siya malamig magsalita pero kinakabahan talaga ako. Halos i-sedate ko na ang sarili ko.

"Go back, solve your company's problem," dagdag niya at nagsimula nang maglakad papasok sa office niya.

"Hindi ako aalis dito hangga't hindi ka pumapayag."

Natigilan siya at akmang pipihitin na ang knob ng pinto sa office niya. I must be crazy for saying it. I'm hungry. Maybe I'll go back after eating lunch something.

"Sige, wag kang aalis dyan, ah?"

I sighed. Unbelievable!