"Ayon sa napag-meeting-an namin, our CEO is stepping down on his position and will only focus on being the chairman. Due to his age, his health is declining so he needs to rest."

Napanguso ako habang nagsusulat sa notebook. Our accounting manager went on a meeting earlier together with the managers from the other department and higher-ups. Ngayon, sinasabi niya sa amin lahat ng napag-meeting-an nila para aware din kaming mga nasa laylayan.

"Within this week, his youngest son will be coming here in the Philippines to take over the position. You know, the two older sons are already managing their own companies so the last company that the chairman has will be going to the youngest."

"How young is he?" I asked lazily. "Maka-youngest ka, eh. Nakakailan ka na. Konti na lang, iisipin kong teenager 'yan."

Nagtawanan ang mga kasama ko. Pati ang manager namin ay natawa na. Nagpatuloy siya sa pagsasalita.

"For your information, Miss Areeya Cervantes, he is already 27 years old. He might not be young for us but he will be the youngest CEO in the country. That's why I kept on emphasizing the word youngest."

Napatango-tango na lang ako't hindi na nagsalita.

"Ma'am, ang laki naman ng age gap masyado ng magkakapatid?" dagdag na tanong ni Dian.

Ngumiti ang manager. "Since ilang buwan ka pa lang dito, Dian, you might not know that the chairman's current wife is his second. The first one, who was the mother of his two older sons, died because of heart disease. The eldest son is 45, the second is 42 and the youngest, Mr. Hunter Santiago, is 27 years old. May fifteen at eighteen years na age gap ang dalawa sa kan'ya."

Napatango-tango ulit ako. Kahit na mahigit two years na akong nagtatrabaho dito, ngayon ko lang nalaman ang tungkol sa bagay na 'yon. Well, I'm not here to know the family tree of my boss. I'm here to earn money.

"Sa Friday ang official na pagtuntong ni Sir Hunter sa position bilang CEO ng RES Telecommunications kaya naman lahat ng empleyado, kailangang nasa auditorium para i-welcome siya at makinig sa speech niya habang nagpapakilala. 'Wag na 'wag kayong mali-late, ha?" paalala niya.

"Yes po," sabay-sabay na sabi namin.

"And after that, may company dinner and welcome party tayong lahat para sa bagong CEO natin. Ni-reserve ng company ang isang buong restobar para sa lahat ng empleyado ng RES Telecommunications kaya naman sulitin n'yo 'yon, okay? Tutal, wala namang pasok kinabukasan kaya hindi kayo dapat mangamba kung malalasing kayo nang sobra."

Nagpalakpakan ang mga kasama ko sa opisina habang humihiyaw dahil sa excitement. Nakipagtawanan na lang ako sa kanila bago itinuloy ang trabaho dahil tapos naman na ang announcement.

Well, I don't really care about that. Kahit naman sino ang maging CEO namin, wala namang magbabago. Noong si Mr. Renato pa ang CEO, napakadalang ko lang siyang makita. Sa sobrang laki ng kompanya, hindi na niya napupuntahan ang iba't ibang department. Kung hindi pa magkakaroon ng awarding ceremony at iba pang events, hindi ko pa malalaman itsura ng pinaka-boss namin.

Sigurado ako na kahit gaano kabata itong bagong CEO namin, ganoon pa rin naman. At wala akong pakialam dahil ang gusto ko lang ay sumweldo at mag-enjoy sa buhay.

***

Wednesday came, I got a message from Tanya. Magpupunta raw sila ni Daisy sa bar and she wants me to come too. Nag-reply ako at sinabing susunod ako.

Nang matapos ang trabaho, dumeretso ako sa condo para mag-dinner. Nagtagal pa dahil sa sobrang traffic kaya naman late na akong nakauwi. Nagluto ako ng kaunting pagkain para sa dinner ko bago nagsimulang gumayak.

Nang matapos maligo, pinatuyo ko kaagad ang buhok gamit ang blower. Pagkatapos, nag-apply ako ng makeup na madalas kong ginagawa sa tuwing nagba-bar kaming tatlong magkakaibigan. I really hope that Leo won't come because he'll only stop us from enjoying the night. That man, hanggang ngayon, akala yata'y estudyante pa rin kami.

Nang makapaglagay na ng cat eye using my waterproof eyeliner, I applied my red lipstick. I only use this color whenever we're partying. Otherwise, nude lipstick ang gamit ko.

Almost 10:00 p.m. na nang matapos akong gumayak. Isinuot ko ang black stilettos na bumagay sa red halter top dress na suot ko. Kinuha ko rin ang black pouch at doon inilagay ang wallet, cellphone at car keys.

After that, lumabas na ako ng condo at sumakay ng elevator papunta sa underground parking lot. Nang makarating, mabilis lang din akong nag-drive paalis dahil may kalayuan ang bar na pinuntahan ng dalawa.

After 30 minutes, I arrived at the bar. Nag-park muna ako bago tumawag kay Tanya. Mabuti na lang at sinagot. Ibig sabihin, hindi pa sila lasing.

"Hey, where are you?!" malakas na tanong niya. Malakas din ang tugtog sa kinalulugaran nila. "Please, don't say that Leo came with you."

Tumawa ako nang dahil do'n. "Hindi, okay? Hindi ko siya sinabihan. Nandito na ako sa labas, nasaan kayo?"

"Basta pumasok ka, makikita mo kami kaagad. We're sitting on a C-shaped couch, okay?"

Nag-okay na lang ako bago pumasok. At tulad nga ng sinabi nila, pagkapasok ko, nakita ko kaagad silang dalawa na kumakaway. Si Tanya, may sigarilyo pa sa daliri habang kumakaway habang si Daisy naman ay iniinom ang shot niya. Lumapit na ako sa kanila at nakipag-beso.

"Glad you came!" Daisy said before I sat in the middle of them. I looked at Tanya who's busy smoking the cigarette between her lips. I chuckled. "Is there a problem?"

Nagbuntonghininga siya bago sumandal. "I just hate my boyfriend."

Narinig kong tumawa si Daisy bago uminom ng shot niya. I smiled a little when I saw her small tattoo behind her ears. I looked back at Tanya once again.

"Anong nangyari?"

She looked at me. "He broke up with me for the smallest reason I've ever heard—as small as his dick, Aree. He broke up because I never cuddled with him after having sex." She scoffed. "Akala naman niya hahabulin ko siya?"

Tumawa na lang din ako nang marinig ang lumalakas nang tawa ni Daisy. Sinalinan ko ng shot ang glass ko bago ito ininom. "Why do you hate cuddling ba?"

Nagkibit-balikat siya. "Sayang ang oras."

Daisy laughed. "You know that Tanya never dated for love. She only dates to satisfy her needs. We all know that being clingy and cuddling with someone were only done by people who are in love."

Tumango-tango ako. "Sabagay, may point. So, nag-bar kayo for that?"

Tumango si Daisy. "She's looking for a new man. I'm only here to accompany her."

I chuckled. "Maghanap ka na rin ng lalaki mo."

Tumawa siya. "Kapag may pumasa, why not?"

The drinking and smoking of cigarettes continued as Tanya kept on ranting about her ex-boyfriend. All of her exes were smitten by her beauty and her good performance in bed, she said, and all of them fell in love with her in the end even though she made it clear to them that she doesn't like it when unnecessary emotions are already involved.

It's already 12:15 in the morning and the alcohol is starting to act up inside. Tanya and Daisy were now dancing in the middle of the dance floor, enjoying the upbeat music that's playing inside. I took a cigarette from a packet and lit it up as I started smoking it.

Wala nang alak sa table namin kaya pumunta ako sa bar counter para um-order ulit. Feeling ko naman, hindi na iinom ang dalawa kaya nanatili na lang ako rito at uminom mag-isa. Kaya ko rin namang gumising nang maaga gaano man ako kalasing kaya siguradong makakapasok pa rin ako sa trabaho.

While I was pouring my second shot of tequila, someone sat beside me.

"JD's," he told the bartender.

Tumango ito bago kumuha ng shotglass at isang bote ng Jack Daniel's saka iniabot sa lalaking nakaupo sa tabi ko. Lumingon siya sa akin at bahagyang ngumisi bago binuksan ang bote. Pagkatapos, nagsalin siya sa shotglass at nakipag-toast sa akin. Bahagya akong ngumisi bago nakipag-toast sa kan'ya. We drank our shots and I smoked my cigarettes after.

"You're new here, right?" I asked.

He nodded. "Haven't been to the Philippines for a few years. Ngayon na lang ulit nakauwi."

I laughed. "I'd never do that."

His forehead creased. "What?"

"If I'm already living a comfortable life overseas, I'll never come back here in the Philippines. I mean, there's nothing here. The country's already messed up due to numerous corrupt politicians sitting on their throne. So, what made you come back here?"

He chuckled sexily as he poured his glass another shot. It made me gulp for some reason as I looked away. I continued smoking my cigarette until there's nothing left. I threw it in an ashtray near me before pouring my glass another shot.

"I had to go back. My time has come."

Tumawa ako nang malakas. "Parang mamamatay naman."

He smirked. "I don't think there's any difference."

Napanguso ako bago ininom ang shot ko. Hindi na ako nagsalita dahil pakiramdam ko, may malaki siyang pinagdaraanan. Hindi naman sa nahihiya ako. Wala lang talaga akong pakialam.

"So, why are you alone here?" he asked.

I shrugged. "I'm not."

"Did you come with your boyfriend?"

I scoffed, laughing. "I don't have one. My friends are there. They're probably playing with their new boytoys already."

He chuckled. "Why don't you join them? Why don't you find your own boytoy too?"

I scoffed. "I'm tired of playing with men. Pare-pareho lang namang walang kwenta."

Tumawa siya nang dahil do'n. "Easy there, lady. I don't think you should generalize us."

I rolled my eyes. "No. Lalahatin ko dahil gusto ko. 'Wag mo nga akong pigilan."

Tumawa siya nang tumawa pagkatapos n'on. Hindi ko na siya pinansin pa at itinuloy na lang ang pag-inom. Nang mainip dahil puro alak at pulutan lang ang nasa harap ko, tumayo ako para pumunta sa pwesto namin kanina. Kukuhanin ko sana ang dalang sigarilyo ni Tanya pero na-out of balance naman ako. Mabuti, nahawakan kaagad ako nitong lalaking katabi ko kaya hindi ako bumagsak.

"Hey, are you alright?" he asked.

I nodded. "Yup. Tinamaan na yata ako ng alak." I chuckled.

He sighed as he helped me stand up straight. "I see. You've been drinking here for hours."

Napakunot-noo ako. "You know?" He nodded. "Kanina ka pa dito?"

He nodded. "I probably arrived earlier than you do." He chuckled before looking at the place my friends and I stayed earlier. "Do you want to go there?"

I nodded. "Don't help me anymore. Kaya ko. Malapit lang naman."

He grinned. "Sure."

As soon as he let go of my arms, I almost kissed the floor because I really couldn't stand up on my own! Gladly, he caught me once again. Gaano na ba karami ang nainom ko?! Naiilang akong tumingin sa kan'ya at ngumiti bago nagpahatid sa kan'ya papunta sa table namin kanina.

Nang makaupo kami ro'n, kumukha kaagad ako ng isang sigarilyo saka sinubukang sindihan pero hindi ko mahuli ang dulo nito. Sa huli, kinuha na niya ang lighter sa akin at siya na ang nagsindi.

"Thanks." I offered him the remaining cigarette but he declined. "You don't smoke?"

He shook his head. "No. Not my thing."

I chuckled. "So, what's on your mind now that you're with a woman who smoked a lot?"

He chuckled. "I actually disliked it."

I scoffed. "I don't care. But, why would you dislike a woman just because she smoked?"

He shrugged. "I don't know. It's just that . . . it's not pleasant in my eyes to see a woman who does something only a guy is normal to do."

Napakunot-noo ako sa sinabi niya bago ko siya pinagtawanan. Pinakita ko sa kan'ya ang hawak na sigarilyo.

"May nakalagay ba sa sigarilyo na for men only? Sinabi ba na bawal manigarilyo ang mga babae?"

Umawang ang bibig niya. "I-I don't mean that—"

"Hindi lahat ng bagay na ganito, lalaki lang ang pwedeng gumawa, okay?" Humithit ako sa sigarilyo saka nagbuga malayo sa kan'ya. "Smoking and drinking is not solely for men. It may not be pleasant in your eyes, but women can do whatever they want to do. Alright?"

Hindi siya sumagot. Ilang sandali pa, bahagya siyang lumapit sa akin at inilagay ang takas na buhok sa likod ng tainga ko.

"Want to . . . go out?"

Napakunot-noo ako. "Be specific. You don't need to be careful with your words with me. I've had a lot of experience with men, sir."

He smirked. "Are you up for a . . . one-night stand?" he asked sexily as he moved closer to me. "You've caught my attention earlier when you arrived, that's why I took this chance to be with you now that your friends are not with you anymore."

I scoffed, looking at him. My eyes are seeing twice of him already but it's still clear how handsome and dangerous he looked to me.

"So . . . you want me . . . under your sheets?"

He smirked. "I want you . . . under my sheets."

I scoffed. Pinatay ko ang sindi ng sigarilyo sa ashtray na puno ng upos nito bago lumingon sa kan'ya.

"Are you okay with kissing lips that taste like cigarettes?"

He smirked before he ran his finger on my cheek, down to my neck.

"Try me, then."

Upon he said that, he aggressively claimed my lips, pushing his body on me, as he pulled me closer to him.