CHAPTER 16.

THERE ARE ONLY a few people I trust in this world I live in. The ones who devote their lives to me and are loyal. Who are willing to risk their lives for me. And myself.

It's hard to know if someone isn't true to you, but with enough betrayals in your life, it'll be easier to spot someone who only has bad intentions and would stab you in the back when you're not looking-literally.

The only person I trust for now, was Trisver. But there were even times where I become doubtful of him but he has his ways of proving to me that he isn't an enemy.

When we were kids, there was a time when we fought because he doesn't want me to go with my former friends before when they asked me to come with them to a bar because according to him, they're no good for me. I didn't listen, which almost killed me.

He was only wearing a white t-shirt underneath a black hoodie, and a gray sweat pants when he entered the bar. He was sweating and panting, and he straight up grabbed the glass of alcohol I was about to drink, and gulp it down his throat. There was poison in that drink. He lasted for at least two minutes before he passed out. Good thing his father was outside, inside his car, because he knew it'll happen.

Since that day, I never doubted his words and actions. I always trust whatever he says and wants me to do, because I knew he was a loyal to me not because I was his boss, but because we're friends.

"It's been almost three weeks. The only progress we have so far, is you and Roa becoming friends."

Mula sa labas ng binatana ng kotse, napabaling ako ng tingin kay Trisver na nakaupo sa tabi ko. He was serious while look down at his iPad and was typing on the keyboard.

We're on our way now to meet a potential business partner who wants to have a conversation with me over coffee. Dapat ay si Tito ang kausapin niya regarding our business, but he insisted and said I was the one he wanted to talk to about this business. And right now, Trisver's replying to the emails of his secretary.

Napabuga ako ng hangin. "Isn't that the goal?"

"Your goal is to lure him so we can successfully execute our main agenda." He raised his head to me and stared at me, eyes were still serious. "Ni hindi ka pa nga nangangalahati sa plano natin."

Napakurap ako. "Pati ba naman ikaw pinipressure ako."

He sighed softly. "Quincy, I just want to let you know that this isn't the only plan we have. If this one fails, or if you fail to do this on time, we still have a bunch of plans with a much larger success rate."

Hindi ako nagsalita. Napabuga na lang ako ng hangin at saka binalik ang paningin sa labas ng bintana.

I also wanted this mission to end fast, because I'm afraid I might fail this one, knowing how I acted these past few days when it comes to Kace.

He kept on bugging my mind. He wouldn't leave even for a second. I knew exactly what this means, but I didn't want this to be deeper than how it is now. Mas magandang putulin na bago pa humaba at lumabong.

Ilang minuto lang, nakarating na kami sa cafe na napag-usapan namin ng client. It was a high-end cafe where you wouldn't be able to enter unless you had booked and reserved a table before coming. And I guess, he reserved the whole cafe because when we entered, there was no one else inside aside from him and the barista.

He was wearing a three-piece tailored black suit, and I could tell it was expensive. He was reading the menu and when he noticed that someone entered the cafe, nag-angat siya ng tingin at nagkasalubong ang mga tingin namin.

I stopped walking and quickly turned around to look at Trisver. Napahinto na rin siya at inangatan ako ng kilay.

"Is that the senator's son?" tanong ko sa mahinang boses. "He's the one I'm supposed to meet here?"

Trisver simply nodded. "Yup."

Kumunot ang noo ko. "He's the one who wants to be business partners with us?"

"Actually, it's his dad who wants to work with us. But since the senator is busy, he sent his son in his stead."

Napairap na lang ako. He didn't tell me in advance that I was gonna meet with someone like this guy. Well, it doesn't matter. He's here for business and so am I.

Bumuga na lang ako ng hangin at saka lumakad na. We greeted each other when I sat down across him. A waiter came to take our orders, and we started a casual conversation while waiting for our orders to arrive.

"So, anyway..." Ibinaba ko ang tasa pagkatapos kong sumimsim doon. Bahagya kong ihinilig ang kaliwang balikat at braso sa upuan ko. "Gusto ninyong mag-invest din sa company namin? Do you even know what our company does?"

He bit his lower lip before he also put down his cup. No matter how much I try to ignore it, he's undeniably attractive. 'Yong klase ng hitsura na mala-Korean male idol. Soft tingnan. The senator's old and ugly as hell, so he might have gotten his genes from his mom.

"Yes." Ngumiti siya.

I smirked. "Even senators invest in this kind of business, huh." I sighed. "You could've talked to my uncle instead of me. Siya ang nagma-manage ng business namin for the time being--"

"But you're the one I want to meet."

Napatitig ako sa kaniya. Hindi ako nagsalita kaya he took it as a chance to go on with his talk.

"Here." May nilabas siyang brown envelope mula sa kaniyang attache case at nilapag 'yon sa harapan ko.

With brows in one line, I picked up the envelope and took out what's inside. It was something like a contract, kaya binasa ko. Napaayos ako ng upo nang may mabasa akong nagpagulat sa akin.

"Wait... what?" Napaangat na ako ng tingin sa kaniya. "You want me to marry you?"

Tumango siya. "Well, my father wants me to marry you as a way to seal and maintain the deal if you agree."

"No," mabilis na sagot ko at saka padabog na binalik sa lamesa ang papel. "I'm not signing--"

"Miss Azarcon," may pagbabanta sa boses na tawag ni Trisver mula sa likuran ko. Nilingon ko siya sandali bago ko binalik ang paningin sa anak ng senador.

"No," ulit ko. "I don't want to. Tell your father our business is over."

Hindi ko na siya hinayaang magsalita pa. Mabilis akong tumayo at bitbit ang bag ko na lumakad palabas ng cafe.

"Quincy!" tumaas na nang bahagya ang boses ni Trisver, may bahid na ng inis. "Fucking stop being a brat and come back here!"

Papasok na sana ako sa kotse pero napahinto ako at nilingon siya. He stopped in front of me to throw a glare at me.

"What!?" Pati ako at nagsisimula nang makaramdam ng inis. "Do you really think I'll agree to that?! And you didn't even tell me that it was this kind of agreement?! Marrying me off for the business?! Are we in some of kind of a busllshit, cliché movie?!"

His jaw moved. "Quincy, alam mo kung ano ang importansya ng tinatawag mong bullshit sa isang business. And I thought relationships don't matter to you? Marrying for convenience shouldn't be a problem with you."

I scoffed. "Oh, really? Hindi dahil sa matagal na tayong magkakilala, pwede ka nang mag-decide para sa akin!"

His glared intensified. "Quincy, may I remind you that I am your adviser and I know what I'm doing."

I groaned. "Oh, fuck you and your bullshit advises." Tumalikod na ako at lumiko ako papuntang kalsada. "Aalis ako! Don't you dare follow me!"

"Quincy!" sigaw niya sa pangalan ko na inulit-ulit niya pero hindi ako nakinig.

I continued walking, still fuming mad. I couldn't believe he decided on his own about that! Kahit bali-baliktarin pa ang mundo, I was still his boss! He may be my adviser, but his decision means nothing if I don't agree with it! Damn it!

Hindi ko alam kung gaano na ako kalayong naglakad. Huminto lang ako nang nakaramdam na ako ng sakit sa anklse at talampakan ko. I quickly looked around to see if he followed me or he had people follow me. I know he had at least one person to follow me, nagpa-panic 'yon kapag hindi niya alam kung nasaan ako dahil alam niyang siya ang malalagot kapag may nangyaring masama sa akin.

Napabuga na lang ako ng hangin. May fast food sa kabilang side ng kalsada at bigla akong inatake ng kagustuhang mag-stress eating, kaya noong nag-green light at kaagad akong tumawid at pumasok sa fast food.

I ordered enough food that'll keep me busy while I curse Trisver in my mind. At noong medyo kumalma na nga ako, sakto namang tapos na akong kumain. I still didn't want to go back home, kaya pinagpatuloy ko ang paglalakad ko papunta sa kung saan. May nadaanan akong mall kaya pumasok na rin ako ro'n at bumili ng kung ano-anong hindi ko naman kailangan.

My phone kept vibrating in my pocket, so I turned it off and continued with my shopping spree. Nasa kalagitnaan ako ng pagpipili ng dress sa isang shop nang may nakita akong pamilyar na pigura ang dumaan sa tapat ng shop.

"Tito?" I subconsciously mouth after seeing the person. I wasn't sure if I saw it right, kaya hinagis ko sa sales lady ang mga bag na hawak ko at saka ako patakbong lumabas ng shop para sundan ang tao.

Now that I was walking behind him, I could confirm that he's really my uncle. Three of his men were following behind him. Akala ko ba busy siya? What's he doing here?

Pumasok siya sa isang cafe, and his men stopped in front of the door as if they're security guards on duty. Si Tito naman ay umupo sa pinakadulong table ng cafe. May lumapit sa kaniyang waitress pero umiling siya kaya umalis ito.

His men know what I look like, so I couldn't just walk in. They'll probably see me and inform uncle about me. Ayaw kong malaman ni Tito na nandito ako, at mas lalong ayaw kong malaman niyang sinusundan ko siya. He might be thinking that I'm still talking with the senator's son. Or maybe not.

Bumuga ako ng hangin at saka lumakad papalapit sa railings at nagkunwaring tumitingin sa ground floor para hindi ako mapansin ng mga tao niya. Kahit hindi ko nililingon ang ulo ko, ginagalaw ko lang ang mga mata ko para makita ko kung sino man ang sadya ni Tito rito.

A guy with black suit was walking towards the cafe. He looked familiar, but I couldn't look at his face properly since he has his phone on his ear and natatabunan ang mukha niya ng cellphone mula sa view ko.

And my guess was right, siya nga ang kakausapin ni Tito dahil dumiretso siya sa table kung saan nakaupo si Tito.

He really looked familiar, kaya hindi ko na naialis ang paningin ko sa kaniya. I just couldn't tell where I saw him and who he was. I trust my memory a lot dahil hindi ako mabilis makakalimot, but I just couldn't remember where I saw him. Maybe I bumped into him when I was wasted when I went clubbing?

Hindi ko na napigilan. I turned around and I walked towards the cafe. He really looked familiar and I wouldn't be able to sleep tonight if I won't know who he is.

Hindi ako pumasok sa cafe, pero umikot ako para makita ko ang kahit side profile niya. Wala nang ibang katabi ang cafe at dahil glass ang walls, madali ko na lang makikita ang mukha niya.

I leaned on the wall as I watched his face intently. His hair was brushed up and his thick eyebrows went well with his almond, dark eyes. The way his mouth moved also was very familiar to me.

I bit my lower lip as I continued to think hard. I kept thinking of all the people I know or met that has the same features as him. And when it all went down to only one person, unti-unting namilog ang mga mata ko at napaawang ang mga labi ko.

"Roa--"

Hindi ko na natuloy ang sasabihin ko dahil may biglang kamay na nagtakip sa bibig at mga mata ko, sabay hinila ako paalis.