Chapter 4: Danillo Zillan

"Saan ka pupunta?" tanong ko nang tumayo ang secretary ni Danillo Zillan. Nahihiyang ngumiti ito sa akin.

"Hehe, bibili ho ng pagkain ng boss ko."

"Ako rin, hindi pa nagla-lunch,"  Nginisihan ko rin siya. I'm kind to kind people."Pwede pasuyo na pabili rin? I'll pay for it. Kung anong bibilhin mo sa boss mo, kahit ganon na lang rin ang bilhin mo sa akin."

"Sige, miss Levi."

"Maraming salamat, ha? Kahit epal ang boss mo, buti ikaw mabait."

"Ahehehe! Salamat, miss Levi."

Nangalumbaba ako sa desk nang makaalis na siya. She's so kind that she even let me sit here beside her while he's working. Tumulala ako sa pinto ng office ni Zillan at napakagat sa ibabang labi. Hindi pa rin siya lumalabas, isang oras na mahigit ang nakalipas. Hindi kaya tumalon na siyang sa building para takasan ako?

Natigilan ako nang marinig ang ringtone ng cellphone ko. I frowned when I saw my dad's profile on the caller ID. I wonder what our building looks like right now, the rushing situation there must have gotten worse. Employees must be bangging their heads on the wall causing our building to collapse. And here I am, I'm chilling.

"LEVI!"

"Bakit, daddy?" kalamadong sagot ko at tumingin sa paligid, wala naman nakarinig. Kahit hindi loudspeaker ay nakakabingi pa rin ang boses ni daddy. Buti na lang at kay mommy ako nagmana. I'm a very calm person back then.

"Saan ka ba nagpunta?"

"I'm in someone's company. Nagtatrabaho pa rin ako, Dad."

Saglit na tumahimik ang kabilang linya. "You're working in someone's company?"

"It's not... No, of course. I'll just talk to you and mom later, Dad. I don't really know how to explain this, but I'm trying to help."

"Alright, Levi."

I smiled. "Sige, Daddy. I'll hang up now."

Pinatay ko na ang tawag at saglit pang tinitigan ang cellphone ko. I don't know if this is the right way, though. There must be another way but this is the simplest and easiest one, it's just that Zillan, he makes everything complicated without proper context.

Napatayo ako nang bumukas ang pinto ng office niya. Lumabas si Zillan mula doon at natigilan nang mahagip ako ng mga mata niya. Amusement filled his eyes and he almost laughed when he saw that I'm still here.

There's no way I'll leave this place until you say yes.

Tinanggal niya ang tie na nakasuot sa kanya at lumapit sa akin, napa-atras ako. "You didn't really leave."

"I'm true to my words," determinado kong saad.

Nakipaglaban ang mga mata ko sa kanya. Isinandal niya ang kamay sa desk na namamagitan sa aming dalawa. He chuckled. "Naki-upo ka pa talaga dyan."

I sarcastically laughed as well. Calm down, Levi. You're a calm, kind and a very patient person. Don't shout and stay calm and elegant all the time.

"Next time kasi, mag-offer ka sa akin ng guest room. I don't have any choice but to sit at this desk with your secretary."

"Go back and just listen to what I said. I'm not accepting your company's offer, find another supplier. It's impossible if there isn't out there." Naging seryoso ang tinig niya ngunit bakas pa rin ang pagiging kalmado roon.

Saglit akong napapikit at muling tumingin sa kanya. "Bakit ba ayaw mo? We offered a lot, wala naman kayong talo. What we need is just a small percentage of your monthly supply and we're determined to risk our shares. Are you a heartless person?"

"Is that your way to please people?"

Natigilan ako sa sinabi niyang iyon.

"Do you think that money is all that matters to me?"

I scoffed. "You're a businessman. Money is all that matters to a businessman."

He laughed, I could sense sarcasm and mockery in his every move. "You don't even know who I am," he said. "Should I teach you how to please people... without bragging?"

"Why won't I accept this offer? It's full of more bragging offers than genuinity. I don't like it."

Mabilis ang bawat kabog ng dibdib ko dahil sa sobrang kaba. Now I know why people look scared of him. His mouth is full of stabbing words that will slap your whole existence. I feel offended, I feel really offended. Even the way he looks in my eyes makes me offended.

"I don't like greedy people," he whispered out of his breath.

Buong araw ko iyong iniisip sa office at halos hindi na ako makatrabaho. Hindi ko alam, grabe ang naging tama non sa ego ko. Are we that greedy? We're just doing our jobs, I'm doing my part as the chairman's daughter, is there anything wrong with it? It's offensive, really offensive.

And, we just need their product. That's how business works. Hindi ko siya maintindihan sa parte na iyon. Pakiramdam ko ay naging kontrabida naman kami at manipulated niya na ang lahat para hindi sila magkaroon ng problema.

"Levi, clear your mind. Wag mo nang problemahin 'yon, hindi naman siguro mabigat." Nangalumbaba sa Zoey sa desk ko at tumingin sa akin.

"Paano mo nasabing hindi mabigat? Subukan mo kayang humarap sa taong 'yon, uuwi kang umiiyak." I frowned. I'm just overreacting, there's no way i'll find myself crying over that man. Kung hindi niya gusto ang mga taong katulad namin, hindi ko rin siya gusto.

Natulala si Zoey. "That's yummy."

"Ewan ko sayo."

Tumayo ako sa swivel chair at nagtungo sa ref ng office ko. Inirapan ko ang kaibigan habang naglalagay ng tubig sa baso. Tumawa lang siya.

We should find a supplier, I think there's someone out there. Supplier na madaling pakiusapan, mabait at hindi nang-aaway. Kahit sa malayong lugar pa sila sa Pilipinas, hindi ako magdadalawang isip na puntahan sila.

"Nag-aaya si Freya sa cafe mamayang gabi."

Ibinaba ko ang baso sa counter. "She won't drink coffee, trust me. Iinom ‘yon. "

"I know. Wala, samahan lang natin at baka pumasok na naman sa gulo."

"She must stop it. Drink milk instead."

Hinampas ni Freya ang table sa cafe at nagtatawanan silang dalawa, malakas silang nagkukwentuhan dahil kami lang ang customer dito ngayong gabi. They're so loud, akala  siguro nila ay beer house ito at hindi coffee shop. Sinamahan ko lang sila. No one would guide them home if I'm not here.

Napakurap ako ng maraming beses, parang umiikot at paningin ko. Nagtatawanan lang habang nagkukwentuhan sila Zoey at Freya sa aking harapan. There's a lot of glasses in front of me and I ordered iced tea. May nainom ba akong mali? I must've... what's happening?

Nasapo ko ang noo ko dahil sa sobrang hilo. Buong buhay ko ay hindi pa ako nakakainom, mahina ako sa mga ganito, ayoko rin ng ganito. I think I'll vomit anytime and anywhere. Please, no. Not here.

Ngumiwi ako sa dalawa at nagpilit ng ngiti para hindi nila mahalata. "Lalabas lang ako saglit. I'll find my car," sabi ko kaya napatingin silang dalawa sa akin.

"Sige, Levi."

Halos gumapang na ako paglabas ng coffee shop. Ang lakas naman ng dalawang 'yon, gising pa rin sila hanggang ngayon? I think there's nothing to worry about them, I need to be worried about myself. I really feel nauseous, I might die here.

Kahit hindi ko kaya ay pinilit kong mag-angat ng tingin para hanapin ang kotse ko. It's a black car, a very black car. Black... Where on earth is it?

Sa wakas ay nahagip ng mata ko ang kotse na di kalayuan sa kinatatayuan ko. Nilakad ko ang distansya noon. I want to sleep, I want to lie down. I finished the whole big glass without figuring out what that drink really is. It's not bitter that's why it didn't crossed my mind that it is a liquor.

Binuksan ko ang pinto ng kotse at nanlaki ang mga mata nang may makita na lalaki roon. Nakaupo ito sa driver's seat at nakapikit na. My lips parted while looking at him. I know this person, who is he?

"Get out of here, this is my car," kalmadong sabi ko sa lalaki, hindi siya nagsalita o nagising man lang. Nanatiling nakasara ang mga mata niya. Ano ba naman 'to!

"Get out!"

Napakagat ako sa ibabang labi, buong lakas kong hinila ang leather jacket niya palabas.

"Ahh!"

My lips parted, he shouted in pain. Nahulog siya sa kotse ko at nakabog ang tumama na likod sa sementadong sahig. Napa-atras ako at muntik nang bumagsak rin dahil sa sobrang hilo. Uminda siya sa harapan ko at mukhang namimilipit sa sakit habang nakahiga pa rin. I'm sorry, I really need to go home. I'm dizzy.

"Sorry, sorry talaga," paghingi ko ng tawag sa lalaking iyon. Pumasok ako sa driver's seat para lumayas na sa lugar na ito. My mind was in chaos, I literally can't think clearly.

"My goodness! What the?!"

Akmang imamaneho ko na ang kotse nang biglang tumayo ang lalaki at sumilip sa bintana ng kotse ko. What's with him?! He's crazy!

"That's my car," kalmado na sabi niya at pumipikit-pikit pa.

"What are you saying... this is mine!" paghi-hysterical ko naman.

"You're drunk, this is my car."

"This is mine!"

I started the engine. Bahala siya dyan, wala na siyang magagawa. I'm confident that this car is mine. Siya itong parang lasing at namali ng kotse na pinasukan. I can't talk to him seriously tonight. Bahala na.

Nasa parking lot na ako ng company na pinakamalapit na lugar ng coffee shop. Tinigil ko ang kotse at huminga nang malalim. Malalim na ang gabi, nakapatay na ang mga ilaw sa building ng company namin. Pumikit ako at sumandal. Dito na ako matutulog. I can't drive any longer. I'll be in accident.

"This is my car."

"AAHH!"

Napatalon ako nang biglang nagsalita sa backseat. Kahit hilo ay tumingin ako sa direksyon sa likod. I almost lose my breath, he followed me here! What on earth is happening? This is my car!

"GET OUT! WHAT THE- THIS IS MINE!"

Suminghap lang siya at pumikit. Nakahiga na siya sa backseat at parang antok na antok na talaga. Pati ba naman ang lalaking ito ay nakikisabay sa sitwasyon ko. My sight were blurry, I don't know what I am doing. Ang alam ko lang ay lumabas ako mula sa driver's seat para lapitan siya.

Pumasok ako sa backseat at umupo sa upuang hinihigaan niya. He's breathing deeply. "Out!" I shouted again.

"What's wrong with you? This is mine." Dumilat siya at pumikit ulit. "I feel dizzy. Get out."

Hindi na ako nakatiis at kinwelyuhan siya. I'm a very kind girl but this kind of act shouldn't be tolerated. Unti-unti siyang dumilat at tuloy pa rin ang mabigat na paghinga niya. Tinitigan ko siya gamit ang nanlalabong paningin dala ng hilo. I almost ripped his leather jacket as I looked at his eyes. His eyes, I know who is this. Who is he?

"I want to sleep," he whispered in a very guttural voice. "I'll go out."

Inaangat niya ang katawan dahilan para mag-tama ang mga dibdib namin. He stopped moving and my lips parted. Our chests remained attached with each other for a second. I could smeel the scent of a liqour. Para akong babagsak sa oras na gumalaw siya at umalis.

"Get out. I'll go out. Aray-" Napainda siya. "I can't do this."

Napangiwi ako at hindi rin makaalis sa pwesto. Lumayo siya nang kaunti dahilan para bumagsak ako sa katawan niya. "Wag muna. Aray, nahihilo rin ako."

I position made my eyes opened in shock. Nagkatinginan kami sa mga mata at kumabog at dibdib ko. Nakaawang ang bibig niya at mapupungay ang mga matang nakatingin sa akin.

"I can't do this," he whispered. I didn't say anything as he made our distance even closer. I can't... do this.

Dahan-dahan kong binuksan ang mga mata. An agonizing pain in my head come upon me. Masakit sa ulo, nakakahilo. What happened? Where on earth I am?

Napakurap-kurap ako, nakita ko si Hector sa gilid ng kama na kumakain ng kung ano. Napanguso siya nang makita ako. Did something happened? How did I got here? What happened... after our fight? Something must've happened.

"You're awake."

"What happened?" mabilis kong tanong sa kanya kaya natigilan siya.

"Uminom ka ba, Miss Levi."

Umiling ako. "I didn't. I will never. I just remembered hanging out with my friends. Sila itong umiinom. Hindi ko alam."

"Sabagay, hindi ka naman amoy alak. You're really weak at it, I know. You're drunk last night," he said. "Someone brought you here."

Agad na kumabog ang dibdib ko at halos marinig ko na iyon. That guy, I know who he is but I can't just absorb the truth. Did something happen between the two of us? What? How? I can't remember a thing. The only thing I remember was his eyes, his tumescent eyes.

"You won't believe who that man is. Hindi rin ako makapaniwala."

"Who is it? Is it..." I hesitated.

"It's Danillo Zillan, the CEO of Zillanide."