Kabanata 01- Muling Pagkikita

"How about we go to a more private place, Miko? I know hindi mo masyadong gusto ang maingay na lugar, may alam akong isang private hotel. It's very expensive, alam kong magugustuhan mo roon," sabi ni Mr. Lagrama kay Mikolaj habang binibigyan siya nito ng makahulugang tingin.

Nanatiling nakangiti lamang si Mikolaj ngunit sa kan'yang kaloob-looban ay gusto na niya itong suntukin sa mukha.

Kung makapagsalita ito ay para bang may kung anong namamagitan sa kanila. He was already a married man and already had children. It means he was already old. Anong tingin nito sa kan'ya, bayarang babae na makukuha lang sa pera?

Mikolaj wanted to slap the living hell out of him

Kung hindi lang ito business partner ng kanilang kompanya ay baka kanina pa niya ito hinamon ng suntukan. Unfortunately, hindi niya magagawa iyon dahil first, they will lost one of their biggest investor and business partner, second, Mr. Lagrama was man that you should not offend.

Mikolaj was only an ordinary employee. Wala siyang laban kung maisipan nitong magsumbong sa kan’yang boss. If that were to happen she would really lose her job. Mikolaj worked in a gaming developer and animation company as a chief design officer.

Although the company was just a humble and average type of organization, Mikolaj was still thankful and even held great importance towards the company kasi it was the only one company that hired her immediately after multiple rejections from other jobs she applied to. More than that, she badly needed a job for her daughter.

Uminom si Mikolaj ng tubig bago sumagot, “That would be unnecessary, Mr. Lagrama, since napirmahan niyo na naman po ang kontrata then I would be on my way. Thank you for extending the partnership, I’ll tell my boss your sincere regards. Have a nice day,” pagpapaalam ni Mikolaj at nagmamadaling tumayo.

Her feet were itching to leave the damn place. Kung hindi lang talaga nagkasakit si Andrew, hindi na sana niya makikita pang muli ang matandang ‘to.

For some reason, since the moment they met sa founding party ng kompanya ay para bang nagkaroon ito ng interest sa kan’ya. Mikolaj was not blind, and probably those who have eyes can already tell ang paglalandi sa kan’ya nito. Mikolaj wanted to explode in anger and intense frustration.

Napahinto si Mikolaj nang maramdaman niya ang kamay nito na nakapulupot sa kan’yang pulupulsuhan. Napataas ang kilay niya at madilim ang mukha niyang tinignan ang kamay nito.

“How long will you playing hard to get, Mikolaj? Ako na nga ang naghahabol sa’yo, ikaw pa ang may ganang umayaw. You are wasting an opportunity here, you are a single mother. Dapat iniisip mo ang kapakanan ng anak mo,” mahabang sabi ni Mr. Lagrama kay Mikolaj at sumimangot.

Hindi nakapagpigil si Mikolaj at marahas niyang inagaw ang kan’yang kamay at nakasimangot ding tumingin sa kaharap.

“Mawalang-galang lang, Mr. Lagrama. I don’t understand kung bakit nasali ang anak ko dito. Oo, single mom ako but I don’t see any wrong for you to say that. Parang pinalalabas mo na hindi ko maibigay ang kinakailangan ng anak ko. Pinalaki ko mag-isa ang anak ko, I can support my daughter with or without anybody’s help,” matigas niyang tugon.

Mikolaj felt a boiling sensation in her chest up to her head. Kinuyom niya ang kan’yang mga palad at pilit na pinapakalma ang sarili. Kalma lang, kalma. Konting tiis pa.

Mr. Lagrama gritted his teeth in annoyance and once again held her wrist tightly. “Just listen to what I say, Mikolaj. I can give you and your daughter a good life. Why can’t you just give yourself to me. Alam ko namang gusto mo rin pero nagmamatigas ka lang naman. In fact, you are the one who approached me first with the intention na perahan ako ‘di ba? Tapos ngayon nagmamaganda ka?”

Like a bomb, Mikolaj anger exploded. She showed an ugly expression at biglang nangati ang kan’yang kamao na manuntok. Especially dahil malakas ang boses nito nang sabihin nito iyon kaya maraming tao ang napatingin sa kanila. Mikolaj didn’t spare any attention sa kung ano mang iniisip ng iba dahil sa isip niya ay hindi niya ito papayagan na ipahiya siya.

So what kung mayaman ito? Mikolaj had been putting up with all his harassment. Isa itong bastos at masiyadong malaki ang tiwala sa sarili dahil lang sa pera nito. Matagal na siyang nagtiis. Mikolaj knew na hindi lang siya ang target nito. In fact, kalat na sa lahat na marami itong kabit at ‘yung iba ay buntis pa.

Mikolaj viewed this kind of man as the worst of all worst and the biggest scum. Forget all the consequences. Wala nang pakialam si Mikolaj basta’t lumapat lang ang kamao niya sa mukha nito ng dalawang beses. Baka lang naman matauhan ito sa pang-ga-gago.

“Excuse me?” Malakas niyang bulalas at nanlaki ang mga mata niya sa galit. “I don’t want to burst your bubble, Mr. Lagrama pero you dare to say to my face na ako ang unang lumapit sa’yo? Correction, it was my boss who first approached you. I may be introduced to you pero wala iyong malisya. It is pure business approach. I didn’t know Mr, Lagrama cannot separate business and personal matters at naisip mo iyon,” sabi ni Mikolaj at hindi niya nakalimutan na lakasan ang kan’yang boses.

Mikolaj never backs down in a fight, instead she attacks. Sumusobra na kasi, eh. Hindi na niya mapigilan ang galit kung ang pag-uusapan ay ang kan’yang anak at sa pagiging single mom niya. Bakit? Dahil ba single mom siya ay gaganituhin lang siya? Mababa ang tingin nito sa kan’ya na para bang makukuha siya sa pera.

“At isa pa,” pagpapatuloy ni Mikolaj. “I may be a single mom, but may boyfriend ako.” Pagsisinungaling niya. “ I’m sorry Mr. Lagrama but I hope you’ll stop having indecent thoughts about our business relationship. In fact, I really respect you dahil isa ka sa mga malalaking investors ng kompanya. Kakalimutan ko na nangyari ito, pero sana hindi ito makaabot kay boss. Ayaw ko ng gulo.”

Pinilit ni Mikolaj na huminahon. Rather than violence mas maganda kung pag-usapan nalang. Mikolaj can be quite a war freak but at this moment she chose to be rational. At least, in the last minute naisipan pa niyang pigilan ang sarili at mag-isip ng maayos.

Hindi maipinta ang mukha ni Mr. Lagrama ngunit ‘di nagtagal ay napangisi rin ito. “Do you think na papalampasin ko ang ginawa mo? I am still your superior yet you treated me rudely. People like you shouldn’t be tolerated. Don’t sugarcoat me with your words. Kung may lakas kang loob na tanggihan ako, may lakas din akong loob na isumbong ka.”

A table not far away from them sat a man in formal business attire listening to their conversation with a grim expression all over his face. Asher, who couldn't take the farce any longer, decided to intervene. He stood tall and approached them with a dark face and lips drawn in a straight line. Mr. Lagrama felt a shadow looming all over his body kaya hindi nito maiwasan ang mapatingin sa kung sino mang tao ang lumapit sa kanila.

The first thing he saw was the chiseled and well-shaven chin, and then he inadvertently looked up to see the man's eye. Pagkakita pa lang niya sa kabuohang mukha nito ay pakiramdam niya ay tumakas ang kaluluwa niya sa kan’yang katawan. His knees went soft and he heard a buzzing sound in his head.

Napatingin rin si Mikolaj at bumugad sa kan’ya ang isang malapad na dibdib. Umangat ang tingin niya at nakita niya ang isang malinis at napakagwapong mukha. The man in front of her was like an epitome of perfection. A male god.

The man was very tall. Hanggang dibdib lang si Mikolaj rito. She even felt small when she’s beside him, pakiramdam niya ay kaya siya nitong takpan kapag nasa harap niya ito. Not only was their height difference so great even their body built had a huge difference too. Mikolaj was petite while the man was muscled and fit.

Nagulat si Mikolaj sa biglang pagsulpot nito at hindi nakaimik. Asher swept a sharp glare toward Mr. Lagrama before wrapping his arms around Mikolaj’s body and putting his hands on her slim waist. Asher pursed his lips before talking.

“Honey, what took you so long? I’ve been calling you but you never answer my calls.” Asher stiffly complained in a deep voice. He spoke to her gently and fondly, like he was whispering her nothing but sweet words.

Hindi nakapagsalita si Mikolaj dahil sa pagkalito at gulat. Something about him made her feel nostalgic but she can't fathom kung ano. Also, sa palagay niya ay hindi niya kilala ang lalaki, but she was distracted by his handsome face na biglang nag-loading ang kan'yang isipan.

Muling tumingin si Asher kay Mr. Lagrama and gentle look on his face disappeared the moment their eyes met. Nanginig ang tuhod ni Mr. Lagrama at namutla.

“M-Mr. Del Cuangco,” kinakabahang bati ni Mr. Lagrama at iniwas ang tingin dahil wala siyang lakas ng loob na tignan ito sa mata.

Del Cuangco’s were one of the most powerful and famous family in the country. Marami silang business sa pilipinas and their wealth were immeasurable. All the properties were confidential but it was estimated na hindi lang ito limited sa pilinas, they also have many properties all over the world. Although sikat ang pamilyang ito just like a family of entertainers in the entertainment industries, they were low-key. They don’t flaunt their riches but everybody knew how powerful and wealthy they were.

Napakunot ang noo ni Mikolaj nang marinig iyon and her eyes deepened as she stared at Asher’s side profile.

Hindi pinansin ni Asher ang bati ni Mr. Lagrama. He was distraught. “I heard your wife went to the rehabilitation center,” panimula nito.

Mr. Lagrama’s lips twitched and he instantly knew. Makapal ang kan’yang mukha at sa katunayan, ipinagmamalaki niyang hindi siya kailanman naging tapat sa kan’yang asawa at pamilya. Pinakasalan lang niya ang kan’yang asawa para makuha ang kan’yang mana and never did he love his wife. At first, he was interested in her but soon he found out that he was also interested in other women kaya napagtanto niyang hindi niya naman talaga mahal ang kan’yang asawa.

Yet, he can’t break his relationship to her dahil kailangan niya ito para sa kan’yang business. In fact, his wife was soft-hearted and weak, which he took advantage of and manipulated. But all things destruct themselves when it was too much and soon his wife drowned in madness and became irrational. She went crazy. Pero patuloy pa rin si Mr. Lagrama sa kan’yang bisyo.

“And your son seemed to be on the headlines lately. I guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, am I right, Mr. Lagrama? GAMMA seemed to have a bright future,” Asher said coolly but it was clear that he was not impressed, instead, it disgusted him.

Pakiramdam ni Mr. Lagrama ay parang may bumara sa kan’yang lalamunan. Like him, his eldest son also had numerous women pero hindi niya iyon pinapansin as long as it wouldn’t affect his growth and studies to be his successor pero dahil palagi itong nasa balita dahil sa pangbababae nito, medyo naaapektuhan na ang image ng kompanya kaya nababahala na siya.

Mas dumilim ang mukha ni Asher and he set off an intimidating air around him. “Such an eyesore. You should mind your own business and stop frolicking every woman like an animal in heat.”

It was not an advice but a warning. Nag-iba ang kulay ng mukha ni Mr. Lagrama. From red to green, and green to white. All his life, it was the first time he was shamed like this, his old heart couldn’t take the emotions at tuluyan siyang napaupo pabalik sa upuan.

A lot of people were watching them and the murmurs around the restaurant seemed to get louder and louder with each second.

Asher led Mikolaj to leave the place. Tahimik lang si Mikolaj but her heart was in chaos, the big warm palm placed on her waist sent a tingle sensation at hindi mapigilan ni Mikolaj ang mamula. Although she was braved and sometimes a little bit thick-skinned, but she was without shame. Something like this intimate gesture made her really shy.

More than that, napasilip si Mikolaj ulit kay Asher at naningkit ang kan’yang mata. Now she knew why he was familiar.

Asher quietly led her to his Mercedez- Benz and opened a door for her. “Get in, I’ll take you home.”

Seeing his stoic face and eyes on her made her heart jumped. Hindi alam ni Mikolaj ang gagawin.