Chapter 24: Happy

The news of us getting back to together spread like a wild fire. I had no time to react. All famous media and celebrity media made an article about us, about when we started and how our relationship went when we were together. It was so detailed like somebody told them the whole story.

My phone is been vibrating since this morning. I'm receiving calls from different media and close friends. I'm inside my condo now, meditating just trying to calm myself down.

The rumors started when Anton Zobel allegedly fired Giselle Sy from her current position in Zobel Industry. He also withdraw their current and on going project with the Sy Corporation. Marami ang nagulat dahil noon pa 'man ay magka dikit na sa negosyo ang dalawang pangalan, isama mo pa na ex fiancee niya ito. Because of that rumor, Giselle was forced to speak up and defend herself. She answered to an ambush interview telling everyone that she wasn't fired. She resigned. Because Anton and I got back together.

And the brute, when asked by a close reporter, didn't deny!

Anton:

Let's have dinner later?

I replied:

I have other plans. May appointment ako with Mr. Lazcano.

Anton:

I'll come with you.

Kumunot ang noo ko. Is he serious? Laman na nga kami ng balita, didikit dikit pa siya sa akin.

I replied:

You can't. Business matter. After meeting na lang tayo magkita.

I spent my Sunday reviewing projects and proposals. Nakipag meeting din ako sa mga tao ko regarding sa on going construction ng tower na pinatatayo ko sa Pampanga. Sa hapon naman, ang team ko sa Antipolo ang ka-meeting ko, tungkol naman sa condominium na tinatayo rin doon.

I also had a meeting with my marketing directors regarding the pre-selling of our condo. So far, marami na agad ang nag avail kaya mas na e-excite ako na matapos.

Nag tayo rin ako ng warehouse sa Aklan para naman sa rotomolding and manufacturing ng furnitures. Muntik na ngang hindi matuloy ang project ni papa sa furnitures but I insisted it kasi ginawa niya ito para kay mama. He loves her wife so much that I know it will break his heart if I discontinue the manufacturing.

"Yes, Beni?"

"Adiiiii! What is this articles spreading early this morning?! You and Ali? Hindi mo na naman sinabi sa akin?! And I thought I am your best friend pero ang mundo pa ang unang nakaalam!!"

Nailayo ko sa tenga ang phone dahil sa sigaw niya.

"I'm sorry, okay? Masiyadong mabilis ang pangyayari. Ni hindi ko nga akalain na malalaman agad ng lahat?!"

"Kaylan pa?!"

I sighed. "Nung isang araw lang."

"Nung isang— nung nag bar tayo tapos iniwan mo ako?!" she shouted again.

My brow shut up. "Excuse me? Ikaw ang nangiwan! Umalis lang ako saglit para kausapin ang nakita kong kaibigan. Pag balik ko ay wala ka na!"

"Ihh niyaya ako nung foreigner kasi. Hindi ko matangihan."

"See? Anyway, hindi nung nag bar tayo. I think kinabukasan?"

"Hindi ko talaga maintindihan bakit ako ang best friend mo samantalang hindi ka nagsasabi sa akin!!"

I sighed. I just had my meditation kaninang umaga para ma relax ang katawan at isip ko tapos sisigawan lang ako ng babaeng 'to. Sumasakit na naman ang ulo ko ngayon'g naalala ko na kalat nga pala ulit ang pagbabalikan namin.

"Anyway, the reason why I called you is because my father, he's talking to my mom and I heard he's thinking of doing business with you. Kung sakali ba papayag ka?"

Beni Javier's family owns five star hotels in Visayas. They're known to that part of the Philippines. I mean, why not?

"I will have to see the proposals first, Beni, bago ako mag comment."

"I understand. Business is business kahit pa we're almost family. Kaya ayoko talaga sa ganiyan. I'm so happy with my work, nakakapagod pero gusto ko ang ginagawa ko."

I smiled for her. I'm so happy for my best friend that she got to choose the best path for her. At least she's happy with her career.

Dumating ang secretary ko saktong ala sais ng gabi. Tapos na rin akong mag ayos at naka bihis na rin ako ng business attire. Kinuha niya ang case ko tsaka kami sumakay sa sasakyan. Malapit lang din naman yung restaurant kaya kung ma traffic 'man, hindi pa rin male-late ng lalagpas sa isang oras.

"Good evening, madame. Do you have any reservation?"

"Yes, under Mr. Lazcano." ang sekretarya ko ang sumagot.

"This way, please."

The staff assisted me to the reserved table. I arrived early than the expected time pero nandoon na rin ang ka meeting ko. Mabuti na lang. Para matapos din agad.

"Good evening, Ms. Cojuangco. Pleasure to meet you."

I received his offered hand. Ngumiti lang ako para sagutin ang bati niya. He pull the chair to help me sit. Dumating agad ang isang waiter para mag serve ng drinks. Uminom muna ako pero nang dumapo ang mata ko sa kabilang table, halos mabilaukan ako sa nakitang naka upo.

Anton is sitting pretty just beside our table. He's drinking iced tea while looking at me, and now smirking. What the— paano niya nalaman na nandito ako? You stalker!

I should question my security now na parang kaydali naman malaman ang whatnots ko,

"I was so happy to hear from your secretary that you agreed to this meeting despite your hectic sched." he smiled. He's on his thirties, wearing glasses and for a businessmen like him, he's a bit... shaggy.

"I apologized that this has to happen in restaurant. My schedule tomorrow and the next days are full so this is the right time."

"Yes, I appreciate this actually. Here's the company's proposal for you." he then handed me a folder. I read all its content from page one to tenth.

I have been told about this actually kaya binasa ko na lang din for formality.

"Your company was referred to me by a close friend, actually. He's friend with the CEO Yeuseff Edwards."

I had a past partner before but that trucking company was suck that I had to pull off the deal after a year. Isang truck ng produkto ko ang nanakaw dahil lang sa kapabayaan nila. So, I'm going to trust this one again, dahil na rin ni refer ito ni Hades.

"I have agreed to the proposals. My secretary will contact your company for the details of our contract signing."

Ilang segundo lang ang lumipas nung umalis si Mr Lazcano ng lumipat si Anton sa inupuan niya. Now, the waiter went to us to get our orders. Bakit hindi siya lumapit e kanina pa ako naghihintay ng waiter kasi nga gusto ko ng kumain.

After I gave my order, sumingkit ang mata ko kay Anton na naka ngiti pa at nagkukunwaring lumilinga para iwasan ang tingin ko.

"Sinadya mong utusan ang mga 'yon na wag kuhain ang order ko para hindi kami magtagal sa meeting no?"

He looked at me slightly offended, "Hindi ako ganon ka-baliw sayo ah."

Ngumuso ako, "You lying freak. I know how you always control the situation to be in favor of you."

"You judge me too much, baby." ngumisi siya.

"I can't believe you're this obsessed."

Humalakhak siya na para bang nakakahiya ang sinabi ko pero yung mata naman niya halatang tama ako. I shook my head. This boy. Natigil lang siya nang dumating ang waiters to serve our food. Sumama ulit ang tingin ko ng umalis ang waiters.

"Ang saya mo diyan samantalang nagkakagulo ang media dahil sa ating dalawa," I mumbled before I took my first bite.

"Ano naman? People will always find out. It's just a matter of when."

"Ng ganito kabilis? Hindi pa tayo umaabot ng isang linggo."

"What's wrong? I was planning to announce it. Naunahan lang ako ng iba." he smirked again.

"You're enjoying this, right?" sarkastiko kong tanong.

"Oh I am, Adi, so much. I lost years with you. Ako na ang pinaka masayang tao ngayon sa buong mundo. It's my right to share it to them."

I can't keep myself from rolling my eyes while eating. This cheesy! Napansin ko tuloy ang pa simpleng tingin ng ibang diners malapit sa amin. Now, I'm sure nasa page na ulit kami bukas.

"I want you to free your schedule tomorrow."

"What for? I can't. Busy ako."

"I want to be with you."

Umirap ako. "Marami akong trabaho. I can't just abandon my work just because we got back. Tsaka wala ka bang trabaho? Ang dami mo yatang oras?"

"Kaylan ba ako nawalan ng oras sayo?" his brow shut up. Fine, he's right.

"I have given up my full authority to my brother. I'm done working. I have done enough."

My eyes went wide from what he said. Did he just resigned? No wonder the people is so eager to talk about us. He's been conquering empire for so long. Now that we got back together, he suddenly leave the company?

"You— you're crazy, Antonius!"

"I'm not, baby. It's Raphael's time to take care of that company."

"Pero may sarili din siyang kumpanya diba?"

Tumango siya, "So? I have 3 other companies of mine while I'm handling the Zobel Industry. Kaya niya yan."

"Kamusta na pala ang kapatid mo?"

His eyes went back to being cold for a moment. Hindi pa naka takas ang pag taas ng isang kilay niya. "Why are you interested with my brother? He's in love already."

"Oh you jealous madman! Nagtatanong lang ako. Kahit paano, siya lang ang naging mabait sa akin noon."

Then it hit me again. His family. His mother precisely. Sigurado na narinig na niya ang chismis. Galit na galit na siguro siya ngayon. She hates me so much for Ali. I wonder how she will handle this? Baka atakihin na naman ako non. Kahit pa sabihin na nagbago na ako, sigurado ako na hindi pa rin magbabago ang opinion niya sa akin.

I will always be that lowest woman in her mind. A disgrace not just to my family, to them, but to the society. I will always be that thug who beat people up. It pain me to think that my tainted image will forever be marked to everyone's head despite how I made an effort to change myself. It pain me to realize the reality of how this social perception works. It won't just change just because you do something good.

All I have to do is accept. Hindi ko mapipilit ang tao na baguhin ang tingin sa akin dahil iba na ako ngayon. Wala rin akong karapatan na kwestyunin sila sa opinion nila sa akin. Just like they don't have the right to question mine, to decide and dictate what's in it for me. Wala silang karapatan na baguhin ang takbo ng buhay ko dahil malaya ako, katulad ng malaya nilang pag bigay ng negatibo sa akin.

I gave up Ali because I couldn't take the harsh people. I surrender my feelings for him kasi akala ko iyon ang dapat at makakabuti. Napagtanto ko na sa ginawa ko, hinayaan ko lang ang tao na diktahan ang buhay ko. That was one of the biggest mistake I have done to myself. And I learned from that.

I said once that considering anyone's opinion of me will matter because of this business but when Ali came back to me, nagbago ang nabagong pananaw ko. Just like how I was when I was a gangster, I will shut off everyone's negative opinion of me. Iyan ang dahilan kung bakit ko siya iniwan at sisiguraduhin ko na hindi na 'yun mauulit. Hindi na ako padadala ulit sa mga sinasabi nila. I don't have the right to be ashamed of myself kasi kung mismong si Ali, hindi pinaramdam 'yon sakin, bakit hindi ko gawin para sa sarili ko?

My past will always be part of me. It's a reminder to myself that at least at some point, I got to choose the life I really wanted. How it was easy to just shut off everyone's opinion of me. How I get to do the things that makes me happy.

So fuck them and their hateful towards me. As long as I have Ali, I am happy. We can just see in hell next time, I will fuck them off there. After all, darkness has been and always be my turf.