Meeting Adriel

Nagpaiwan sa veranda si Geli. Pinag iisipan ang kanyang mga susunod na hakbang.

“Hi, sis!” Tapik sa kanya ng kapatid.

“Uy! I thought you’re having a date?” Gulat si Geli sa pagdatig ng kapatid.

“I didn’t push through. Ipapakilala niya pala ako sa mga magulang niya, haha!” Sagot nito kay Geli.

“Baliw ka talaga. So, what’s your alibi to her?” Tanong uli ni Geli.

“I told her that I need to come here to talk about this family issue. Which is true naman, di ba?” Pangangatwiran nito sa kapatid.

“So, you’re not serious with this woman?” Tanong uli nito.

“Of, course not! I’m not serious with any woman. So, anong pinag usapan ninyo ni dad?” Sagot ni Gelo sa kapatid.

“He seemed to be so determined for me to marry Adriel. His family is a family friend since war time pa pala. And the property na pinapa market sa iyo ni dad, ‘yong next project natin, kalapit nun ay pag mamay ari ng Montefalcon. His family and ours wanted to merge thru my marriage with Adriel.” Explain ni Geli sa kapatid.

“Wow! May malalim pala itong story. So, by marrying him, mas lalago ang business ng dalawang kampo. I heard his dad passed away, right?” tanong uli ng kapatid kay Geli.

“Yes, kaya he went on a trip last month to see his friend before he died until sa inilibing siya. And his last request was for me to marry his son.” Bumabalik sa mukha ni Geli ang frustration.

“Oh, ayan na naman naka simangot ka na naman. My advice sis is kilalanin mo muna si Adriel. Give him a chance. And besides, baka di ka rin talaga type nun, haha! Pinakisamahan lang niya si daddy.” Pangangantiyaw ng kapatid.

“You wish! Sana nga ganyan ang takbo ng isip niya pero hindi. The way magsalita si daddy it seemed na gusto din niya, eh. I guess he’s doing it for the business.” Sagot ni Geli.

“Ikaw ba gusto mo bang mawala sayo lahat ng tinatamasa mo now? Gusto mo bang sa future maghirap mga offsprings natin? I guess he’s also going to do that for the benefit of the family business. Pero sis, desisyon mo pa rin yan. Sa ngayon wala tayong magagawa pa. So, makipag date ka muna ke Adriel para mapag usapan ninyo ang mga ganitong bagay. It is better to get his opinion at hindi ‘yong sabi lamang ni daddy. Don’t worry, you always have my back.” 

“Melody, please contact Mr. Adriel Montefalcon. Ask him if I could have an appointment with him anytime na available siya.” I’yon agad ang imbukada niya pag bukas ng pintuan ng opisina.

“Yes, ma’am. Eto pala coffee ninyo.” Bigay ni Melody ng kape niya habang papasok siya sa kuwarto.

Magpahanggang ngayon ay nalilito pa rin siya and her stay in Antipolo over the weekend didn’t help. Nakatingin lang siya sa glass window niya.  Nakatitig lamang siya sa building ng Currency at Taipan.

“Ma’am, Mr. Montefalcon is on line 2.” Pag-inform sa kanya ni Melody.

“Thanks, Melody. Hello?” Medyo kinakabahan si Geli nang sagutin ang phone.

“Hello, Ms. Sandoval. It’s nice to hear your voice again.” Sagot ni Adriel.

“Geli nalang Mr. Montefalcon.”

“Please call me Driel as well, Geli. May maipaglilingkod ba ako sa iyo?” Kahit nuon pa, impressed na si Geli sa deep, baritone voice nito at ang suwabeng ngiti.

“Can we talk? I mean, I want to set a date with you. Nothing romantic, of course. I just wanted to talk about something important.” Medyo defensive si Geli but she doesn’t want to sound may gusto sa lalake.

“Sure, I think you want to talk about the marriage and the merging, right?” Prangkang tanong ni Adriel.

“Yes, exactly! I was taken aback by this news.” Sagot ni Geli sa lalake.

“I guess it is much better if we talk about it privately. I will arrange for a dinner date within the week with you.”

“We can have dinner anytime this week. I’m free.” Pagsisinungaling ni Geli. Ang totoo may series of meetings sya pero she cannot wait to talk to Adriel privately.

Nakipag appointment si Adriel ng Thursday evening at sakto ding bakante si Geli that time. Nasa roofdeck sila ng isang posh na restaurant sa Makati.

“Adriel, to be honest, I am not quite comfortable with this arrangement. I mean the marriage thing.”

“At first I was also having second thoughts pero kalaunan, I realized it is for the best.” Matter of fact nitong sagot.

“So you mean, Driel. You are okay with this arrange marriage? But how about your image, I mean being a bachelor.” Medyo kinakabahan si Geli sa conversation nila. Habang tumatagal, nare realize na niya kung bakit halos mabaliw mga kababaihan kay Adriel. Malago at medyo kulot na dark brown hair, deep brown eyes, mahabang pilik mata, matangos na ilong, kissable lips, matipunong katawan. Mga pisikal na kaanyu an ni Adriel which she failed to notice. And now, it is slowly manifesting.

“I don’t care about my status sa society. I just wanted to settle down. That’s all. ‘yong business, second lang ‘yon na reason because we all know both our businesses can manage without us merging.” Sagot nito kay Geli without taking his eyes off of her.

“But why me? I mean, there are lots of women worthy to be your bride…”

“Because I like you. You are different from all the women I have met.” Dahan dahang hinawakan ni Adriel ang kamay ni Geli.

Tinanggal i’yon ni Geli sa pagkakahawak.” But what about love?” She sounded frustrated when she asked this question.

“Love will eventually kick in. What matters most is we like each other. Do you like me?” He’s looking at her with pleading eyes.

“I... I like you, yes. Pero superficial lang. We...we don’t know each other that much. You don’t know me.” Natatarantang sagot ni Geli. That moment hindi niya alam kung anong gagawin niya at kung paano kumilos o anong sasabihin next.

“Then let’s get to know each other more. When my dad told me na pakasal sayo on his deathbed, I also find it ridiculous. But when my dad was gone, that’s when it hit me. My mom has her own life, my sister is married so I will be left all alone. Duon ko na realize, I wanted a wife, a family of my own. I was prompted to check your background and found out we have a lot in common. And our parents and even our forefathers were best friends. So why not seal it in marriage.”

“Give me time, Adriel. Hindi ko kasi yan nature na basta nalang pumasok sa isang relasyon lalo na’t no love involves.”

“Haha! I didn’t know hopelessly romantic ka pala? Like I said, napag aaralan ang love. What really is important is kasundo mo ‘yong tao at may respeto sa isa’t isa.”

“Talagang nalilito pa ako, Adriel.” Nagugulumihang tugon nito.

“Take your time, Geli. For the meantime, let’s enjoy the dinner and enjoy the night.” Ngumiti si Adriel ng nakakabighaning ngiti. Gusto na niyang mag agree na tama sila lahat. Adriel is indeed a good catch at hindi lahat ng babae nabibigyan ng ganitong offer.

Hinatid siya that evening ni Adriel sa tapat ng kanyang condo sa Meralco Ave. “Goodnight, Geli. Pag isipan mong mabuti. I am not going to force you and you have the freedom to decline. Your family wanted me to marry you for your family business. I wanted to marry you because I want you to be my wife. Lahat ng desisyon Geli ay nasa iyo.”

Tiningnan niya si Adriel. Magkatabi sila at ramdam niya ang sensual heat sa katawan ng lalake. Mabango at mapang akit. Saglit na gustong mawala sa katinuan si Geli.

“I have to go now, Adriel. Good night and thank you for the wonderful evening.”

“Thank you din, Angelika and good night.” Lumabas na si Angelika at derecho siya sa loob ng condo ng walang lingon lingon.

Hindi alam ni Angelika kung papaano siyang nakapasok ng condo unit niya. Sa unang pagkakataon, she felt weak. Never siyang naging weak sa lalake kailanman. At buong buhay niya, never pa siyang nakipag bed sa lalake. She remained a virgin until she reached the age of 25.

Masakit ang ulo niya ng pumasok ng umagang i’yon. Pagpasok niya ay bumungad sa kanya ang isang bouquet ng pink roses. Pinasok ni Melody ang kanyang coffee.

“Pinadeliver yan kaninang early morning. It came from Mr. Montefalcon.” Nginitian siya ni Melody ng may kahulugan.

“Ikaw Melody Powers binibigyan mo ng kahulugan. He’s just being friendly.” She tried to sound convincing sa half American niyang secretary.

“If you say so, Ms. Geli. May meeting pala kayo today with the finance pati sa marketing team ni Sir Gelo. He’s going to Davao in a week.” Nawala bigla ang antok ni Geli sa sinabi ni Melody.

“Really? Ba’t hindi ko i’yon alam? Please call him and tell him to come to my office.” Utos ni Geli sa secretary.

“Oh, ate. Pinatawag mo daw ako?” Pumasok si Gelo sa kuwarto ng kapatid at nagdala ito ng sandwich.

“Wow! Thank you sa sandwiches. I forgot to eat breakfast. Sa dami ng iniisip ko nakalimutan kong gutom ako.” Kinain ni Geli ang sandwich na bigay ng kapatid.

“So what happened last night?” Tanong ni Gelo.

“He sounded like he really wanted to marry me and wanted to merge with our company as well.” Nakakunot ang ulo ni Geli pag naalala ang conversation nila that night.

Tiningnan ni Gelo ang bulaklak. “Galing sa kanya? Nice. I think he’s being practical. He may also wanted to settle down and ikaw ang natipuhan niya. Iba iba naman kasi ang trip naming mga lalake. Seryoso kami lalo na kung paglalagay sa tahimik pag uusapan.”

“Ikaw ba Gelo wala ka pang natitipuhan sa mga dini date mo?” Tanong ni Geli.

“Wala ate. I am still having fun. Siguro darating din ang time na I want to settle down but not for now. Oh, my team will go to Davao next week for a site inspection. Do you want to come with us?”

“Isa nga pala yan sa itatanong ko. Bakit biglaan? Atsaka bakit hindi mo ako sinabihan?” Medyo naiiritang tnaong ni Geli.

“Check your messages, ate. I already informed you about it. Biglaan ang alis namin and we’ll stay there for a week.” Sagot ni Gelo.

“Omg, ang dami mong messages. I’m sorry, my dear brother. Tagal ninyo naman duon. No, I cannot go with you. Ang dami kong aasikasuhin dito. Video call mo lang ako pag anduon na kayo. When alis nyo?”

“The next day na, ate. Anyway, uuwian kita ng durian, hehe.”

“At Pomelo ha. Gustong gusto ‘yon ni mommy.” Nginitian ni Geli si Gelo.

“Sige ate see you later sa meeting. Mag prepare muna kami ng team.”

Lumabas na ng kuwarto si Gelo at naiwan si Geli. Hindi pa rin talaga siya makapaniwala sa nangyayari sa buhay niya.