Ang nearest restaurant sa building ng Lion ay 500 meters away pa, so we rode in Gold's Peugeot SUV and ate in an Italian restaurant.

Kanina pa ako kating-kati na tanungin 'to si Jericho tungkol sa sinabing asawa ni Gold kaso hindi ako makasingit.

Medyo madilim sa buong resto kahit tanghaling-tapat. Everything was wooden and old feels. Naghalo ang liwanag mula sa labas at yellow lamps sa loob para sa warm ambience. The whole place smelled like baguette, pasta, and champagne. There was a bar counter near us at sa tabing pinto n'on lumalabas ang mga nagse-serve ng pagkain. Magkatabi sina Gold and Echo at kaharap naman nila ako sa four-seater table na may white linen cloth.

Inoobserbahan ko lang silang dalawa and it looked like Marigold was used being clingy to Jericho. Yayakap, ipapatong ang baba sa balikat ni Echo para magpa-cute, susukatin ng maliit niyang kamay ang malaking palad nito—para siyang pusang nanlalambing. Yung masarap sipain kasi mapang-abala.

Jericho really knew the services kasi may mga pagkakataon na pinupulis niya ang mga dumaraang waiter at sinasabing may mali sa apron, awkward ang paghawak sa tray baka mabitiwan, and if there were girls who carried heavy plates, inaalalayan niya o tumatawag siya ng ibang waiter para mag-assist.

Sobrang keen niya sa details na gusto ko na ngang awatin kasi feeling ko—at malakas ang kutob ko—na kapag natahimik kami sa mesa, magtatanong ako ng tungkol sa "asawa" niya. So I guess, he was making his actions an excuse to explain his side.

Pagkarating ng order naming hindi ko alam kung mauubos ba namin, saka kami tumahimik. We had clam chowder, alfredo lasagna, fried chicken platter, blueberry cheesecake, red tea, and mashed potatoes.

Ilang minuto rin kaming hinainan ng pagkain namin kaya pagkaalis ng servers, tiningnan ko agad silang dalawa. Ang classy gumalaw ni Jericho—or mas tamang sabihing ang smooth niyang gumalaw kaysa kapag kumakain kami sa bahay. Di ako sigurado kung binabagay ba niya sa lugar ang kilos niya o ano, but if ever he was doing that because we were in a fine dining restaurant, then he was good at his etiquette.

Saka bakit ko ba iniisip 'yon e nasa hospitality services siya? Lahat nga pala ng etiquette sa dining, dapat alam niya.

"Echo, try mo 'to. Parang masarap."

"MT, easy ka lang."

Ayaw mawala ng masamang tingin ko kay Jericho habang kumakain kami at pilit siyang sinusubuan ni Gold.

Marigold wasn't that serious type of lady and she was always the sunshine of the floor, pero sobrang clingy niya talaga kay Jericho, nagiging annoying nang tingnan.

"So!" I said in my high-pitched voice which caught their attention. I looked at Gold na nagulat yata sa pagtataas ko ng bgoses. "Hindi kasi nabanggit sa 'kin ni Mr. Iglesias na may asawa na pala siya. Friend kayo ng wife niya?"

"Ew!" sagot agad ni Gold na nakapagpaatras ng mukha ko. "Girl, makikipag-friend na lang ako sa hold-upper kaysa maka-close siya." Napatingin agad siya kay Jericho na napapahilot ng sentido gawa yata ng frustration. "Kalat na sa org na regular customer ng casino si Alleli, and they're looking for you, Echo. Hindi pa rin ba niya pinipirmahan yung annulment papers?"

"Sabi ko na, hindi mo siya mapipilit." Tamad na tamad si Jericho na tinulak-tulak ng tinidor ang laman ng plato niya.

Biglang hininaan ni Gold ang boses niya kaya bahagya akong lumapit sa mesa para makinig sa bulungan nilang dalawa.

"Nag-offer na si Peach na ipapa-pull out na lang sa tito niya yung record n'yo. Ayaw mo ba?"

"Baka kasi manghingi ng pabor. Alam mo naman si Peachy."

"Well . . ." Biglang lumungkot ang mukha ni Gold saka napakuba ng upo sa puwesto niya. "For sure, malaki ang hihinging favor n'on."

"Ibig sabihin, may annulment na?" tanong ko agad kasi mukhang magbabago na sila ng topic.

"His psycho wife doesn't want to sign the papers."

"Marigold . . ." Nag-aawat na si Jericho sa katabi.

Nanggigigil na bumulong sa kanya si Gold. "Echo, nilason ka niya para sa mamanahin ng anak n'yo. Kung hindi siya psycho, anong tawag mo sa kanya?"

Nilason?

Anak?

Whoah. Wait, the information was overloading. I ended up listening to Gold's nagging moments and watching Echo finished his food without his appetite.

Kahit gusto kong magtanong, mas ginusto ko na lang makinig. Pinagagalitan ni Gold si Echo tungkol sa asawa nitong nagkakalat sa kung saan-saang casino, babalik sa annulment papers, then lilipat sa offer para mapawalang-bisa ang nauna na nitong kasal, tapos babalik sa asawa ni Echo.

Noong nagsabi si Gold na pupunta lang siya sa restroom, sumabay na agad ako.

The restroom for ladies wasn't that huge. May three cubicles, long granite counter with two sink. And a long horizontal mirror. Hinintay ko talagang masakto kaming mag-retouch ni Gold bago ako magtanong.

"Looks like you hate Echo's wife," I said while applying my nude lipstick. I glanced at her on the mirror's reflection to check her reaction. She was making faces as she put a powder on her face.

"Alleli is a bitch. Lahat kami, ayaw sa kanya."

"And yet, she's Echo's wife."

She rolled her eyes and forcefully closed her compact powder. "She drugged him tapos ni-rape niya si Echo. And she even had the guts to create a sex video of them para proof na may nangyari nga sa kanilang dalawa. Mabait lang 'tong isa kaya niya pinakasalan. But me?" She cut the air using her hands. "I'd rather put her to jail because of what she did."

Parang gusto ko nang bawiin yung sinabi kong asawa ni Jericho ang pinag-uusapan namin.

"Pumayag si Echo r'on?"

She sighed and faced me with a boring look. "Girl, nasa Philippines tayo. Once you watched the video, baka maipakulong pa si Echo because of rape."

"Akala ko ba—"

"Babae si Alleli, siya ang nabuntis. Of course, she has the upper hand."

"Paano n'yo nalamang ni-rape si Echo?"

"Nakilala namin ang supplier ng drugs ni Alleli. That bitch is a fucking criminal and a whore. She's a high-end escort ngayon sa mga five-star hotel and even has her rate for an anal sex every night para pang-casino niya." She turned her back on me and went out first. "Don't tell that to Echo anyway. Baka bawiin niya si Alleli kapag nalaman niya."

I was left speechless.

I walked outside to go back to our seat with my brain floating in the air like shit because Echo's life exploded like dynamite in front of my face within a short span of time.

Hindi na ako nakapagtanong. Hindi na ako nakapag-react. Hindi ko alam ang sasabihin ko.

Jericho was clearly taken . . . but not the type of a love story na mahihirapan akong pasukin ang eksena because they were living a happy life.

Basically, he was a victim of an opportunist and Gold could attest to that. Marigold Tan wasn't the type na maninirang-puri dahil lang wala siyang mai-topic. I could feel her detest to that Alleli girl.

Lutang ako hanggang makabalik kami sa Lion. Paglabas namin sa elevator, nagpasabi agad si Gold habang yakap-yakap pa rin sa gilid si Jericho.

"Since I handle naman the office interior mo, Cinn, I'll assist Echo na for the redecoration. Don't worry, kahit walang pay, basta I'm with him. I hope you don't mind."

"Not at all," I answered and glared at Jericho who never let his temple not be held by his hands out of frustration. "Are you gonna stay here the whole day, Mr. Iglesias?"

He deeply sighed and shook his head. "Kailangan ko pang gumawa ng soft copy ng CAD para ipasa bukas for contractors. Uuwi ako by 2."

"Alright. I'll prepare for my meeting. Kayo na'ng bahala ni Gold sa dapat ayusin sa office ko." Tinalikuran ko na sila saka ako pumunta sa design area.

Jericho's life clouded my mind. At kahit binabasa ko ang ire-report ko para sa meeting, paulit-ulit ako sa iisang sentence lang sa loob ng fifteen minutes.

He was married, he had a child, and no annulment was filed.

Bigla kong naalala si Daddy. Not because he promised my mom that he loved her more above his mistresses, but he used to tell me that I had to love like a man. That my heart only belongs to one person and the rest are just past times.

Sad to say, I haven't seen that person yet. Halos lahat, past time lang.

Umakyat ako sa conference room sa 17th floor and found Rory's team waiting outside. Ang puwede lang makapasok sa meeting ay mga senior fashion designer, junior designer, at mga executive.

Hindi ko na-miss ang ambience. The last time I went here, nililinis ni Tyrone ang kalat ko dahil kay Jomari, and now I was back on track and needed to present something under the team I wasn't supposed to be a part of.

"Saw Mari and your interior designer in your office. Good to see them together."

Bigla akong naalerto nang may bumulong sa likuran ko. Paglingon ko, hinabol ko na lang ng tingin si Ty na naglalakad papunta sa kabisera ng mahabang mesa. His face was serious and ready for his job. He unbutton his navy blue suit which I didn't see earlier this morning kasi naka-folded sleeves lang siya. From that two golden button on the collar and a lion's head tassel chain, I already recognized my design.

He was wearing one of my creations before I went on my three-month leave.

"It's already 2:07, tell everyone to start," Tyrone said and check the papers in front of him.

Sa totoo lang, hindi ako makapag-focus nang mabuti noong unang mga minuto pero hindi talaga natiis ng tainga ko ang pagpe-present ng team nina Aurora. Damang-dama ko na hindi sila na-guide nang maayos. In front of us, in front of the directors, nagtatanungan sila kung ano na ang susunod na slide.

We were watching on a blank screen at nakasalang na sa projector ang report nila. However, kung ako ang nasa kalagayan ng mga creative director, pahihintuin ko na lang silang lahat.

"Where is your graph?" tanong ni Mr. Sarmiento na nasa harapan ko banda.

"Mr. Sarmiento, one moment," sagot ni Rory. Tiningnan niya agad ang mga kasama niya sa harapan para magtanong, and I dropped my jaw when one of them made a hand signal telling her na wala silang na-prepare na graph!

Oh my God, this was the kind of frustration I didn't want to witness.

"Sorry, I have the graph, Mr. Sarmiento." I volunteered to provide my team's presentation at sana hindi sumama ang loob nina Ameiry na gagamitin ko 'to for Rory's team.

"Are you sure it was for Aurora's team, Ms. De Chavez?" kontra agad ni Tyrone na bored na bored na yata sa meeting namin.

"I'm with this team. Of course, it is." Tumayo na agad ako tangay ang flash drive kung nasaan ang soft copy ng report ng team ko.

Ty's face was shouting for dismay. Gusto talagang ipahiya si Rory sa harap ng mga director.

Pagsalang ko ng presentation, ako na sana ang magpe-present pero nagsalita agad ang general manager.

"Since this is under Aurora Oso's team, I will let Aurora to present us the graphs." Ty looked at me with his challenging stares. "If this is her team's presentation, I'm sure she can present it without a struggle. Sit down, Ms. De Chavez."

Naiinis talaga ako kapag ginaganito ako ni Tyrone sa meeting. Ano bang gusto n'yang palabasin? Hinahamon na naman ba niya 'ko?

"Sir Ty . . ." We could see Rory's glassy eyes na parang maiiyak na sa harapan. She was presenting to all of us at hindi siya puwedeng tulungan ng mga junior designer niya dahil siya ang team leader nila.

"What's the matter, Ms. Oso? The data are in front of you. Begin."

"Tyrone—"

"Ms. De Chavez, I know you're in Aurora's team because of your original creation. But as a senior fashion designer, she has the responsibility to know the management of the whole project. This is a teamwork and we are in business. We encountered so many delays, we gave several rejections, the incompetencies are very visible, and it only shows that Ms. Oso is not qualified for the position of being a senior fashion designer. If she could present that graph to us, we will consider her team for possible projects in the future. If not, and she's not able to provide us what that slides are all about, then the board will decide to dissolve her team and Ms. Oso will be demoted as a junior fashion designer again."

Ang lakas ng kalabog ng dibdib ko habang nakatingin kay Tyrone na nakatitig lang kay Aurora. Sa ganitong pagkakataon, wala akong nasasabi kasi alam kong idadamay na niya sa desisyon ang directors.

Alam kong may mali si Rory. Kitang-kita ko nga, kahit ako, masasabi kong hindi siya deserving sa posisyon. But I could see myself noong pre-senior days ko—na nasa gitna ng meeting at hindi ako ina-assist ng senior kong papalitan ko na sana. The whole team was looking at me as if I was never a part of them. Na naluluha na 'ko sa presentation pero palihim akong pinagtatawanan habang natatakot ako.

I know Tyrone knew what he was looking at right now. He was being a monster like that man who put me to where I was now. That man I know he abhorred so much. The previous general manager he replaced.

I was witnessing my old self and that man who made Ty a monster.

Ang sakit ng biglang pagbabalik ng mga ganoong alaala. Ayokong makita 'yon na nararanasan ng ibang tao. Ayokong maalala ang mga taong gusto ko nang makalimutan.

"Once Ms. De Chavez take over the floor, I will consider the demotion of Ms. Oso. That's my condition for this meeting. I want everyone to do their job according to their job specifications. It's your responsibility to provide us your best efforts. We will not tolerate your ineptitude. And we will not condone other employees to tolerate their unskilled co-employees because that's unfair for everyone. I hope that's clear with you, Ms. De Chavez."

I glared at Tyrone who gave me his warning stares.

Nakarinig kami ng pagbagsak ng mic at pagtingin namin sa harapan, sapo-sapo ni Aurora ang mukha habang patakbong lumabas ng conference room.

And I wasn't prepared for that scene because it brought all the bad memories I had in my first presentation. The pain in my chest, the tears I couldn't stop, the words I couldn't utter, that moment I was asking for help, but my team never gave a hand.

Pero malakas ang loob ni Aurora dahil nakaya niyang tumakbo palabas. Kasi ako . . . tiniis ko ang lahat ng masasakit na salita mula sa mga director hanggang matapos ang oras.

I cursed that day when the executives told me I wasn't competent enough to be a senior fashion designer.

Because that was the same day I sold my soul to the devil para lang makaganti sa kanilang lahat.

♦♦♦