Imulat ko ang aking mga mata at pinilit ang sarili na gawin ang mga dapat gawin sa opisina. Bumuga ako ng hangin bago nag-umpisang basahin ang mga dokumento na nasa lamesa ko. May mga bagay rin akong kailangan na pirmahan.

Ang unang meeting ko ay mamayang ala una pa ng hapon. Kaya ko naman sigurong matapos hanggang lunch ang mga dokumento na nandirito.

Iginugol ko ang aking oras sa pagpirma at pakikipag-usap sa mga empleado sa mga dapat nilang gawin.

I may not took a business related course but because of my parents and Kuya Kiel, I learned about business a lot. I also took lessons about economics and business management during summer. Wala naman kasi akong ibang paglalaanan ng oras ko kung hindi sa pag-aaral at pagmamaneha lamang ng kompanya.

It's my way not to feel lonely too. I'm trying myself not to feel lonely like I was before.

Natigil lamang ako sa pagpirma nang may kumatok sa nakasarang pinto ng office ko.

"Come in," tanging nasabi ko pagkatapos ay tumuloy na ulit sa pagpirma at pagkilatis sa mga proposals.

"It's already lunch time. Have your lunch first, Aingeal."

"Mamaya nalang Kuya. Kakain nalang siguro ako mamaya sa restaurant kung saan tayo mag-mi-meet ng investor,"

"Are you sure?" Natawa nalang ako kay Kuya Kiel.

"Opo Kuya." Tanging tango na lamang ang isinagot nito sa akin bago umalis sa opisina. Nahalata siguro nito na tinatapos ko ang mga dapat tapusin.

Hindi nagtagal ay natapos ko na rin at sakto lamang ang oras bago mag-ala-una.

Agad kong inayos ang nagusot kong damit. Today, I'm wearing a formal attire which is a long sleeve with a vest paired with my straight cut pants.

I checked my baguette type of bag if my phone, car keys, and wallet is there. I always took my pen with me just in case.

"Secretary Kang," pagkuha ko sa atensiyon ni Kuya Kiel paglabas ko sa opisina ko.

"Let's go. It's already pass twelve," tumango na lamang ito bago siya nagbilin sa iba. Nauna na akong maglakad dahil gamit ko ang sasakyan ko. Alam ko naman kasi na laging ginagamit ni kuya ang sa kanya.

Convoy nalang kaming dalawa. I played an acoustic song playlist in my iPod while in my way. Music is one of my way to cope with my worries and stressful days.

After seven minutes, we arrive at the restaurant where the Italian investor is waiting.

The restaurant he choose screams elegant and simplicity. It's quite a nice place. It doesn't look like a restaurant though. There's a garden type dine on the left side.

"Mayroon po palang ganito dito?" Halata ang pagkamangha sa tono ng boses ko habang iginagala ang tingin. Ganito na ang naging epekto sa akin ng hindi masyadong gumagala.

"Actually, noong nakaraang taon lang ipinatayo ito. Maraming mga turista ang pinipiling dito kumain,"

Pagkatapos kong pagmasdan ang lugar ay tuluyan na kaming tumuloy sa loob. Paniguradong naroon na ang Italian investor.

When we reach the table the waitress said, a man in black and white suit greeted us.

"It's great to see you, Miss Seawright." He has a thick accent.

"Sorry for making you wait, Mister Evozki," paghingi ko ng paumanhin. He just signal me to sit down as well as Secretary Kang.

Medyo nagulat pa ako nang may nakita akong bata na kaharap ngayon sa mesa ni Kuya Kiel.

"She's my daughter, Miss Seawright. Mind if she will share with us?"

"Oh sure, no problem. Hi there, little one!" Bati ko sa napakagandang bata na ngayon ay medyo nahihiyang ngumiti sa akin.

Pero mas nagulat ako nang hindi ito nagsalita bagkus ay gumawa ng senyas.

She placed her right hand on her forehead close to her ear and move it outwards away from her body. She just said hello to me.

She then form again her right hand into number five sign, holding her thumb to her chin. And then she swipe her fingers across her face, from right to left side.

Did she just said I'm pretty?

I smiled sweetly to her before I responded to her compliment.

I placed my fingers near my lips with my hand flattened. I moved my hand forward and slightly downwards towards the beautiful kid. It's a sign for thank you.

And then I formed the y shaped in my hand. My index ,middle, and ring finger were down against my palm, leaving my pinkie and thumb outstretched in the y hand shaped. By moving my elbow, I moved my hand with a y shaped back and forth so it goes from left to right. She's beautiful too.

Para itong kinikilig sa sinabi ko sa kanya. The two boys didn't dare to interrupt us instead, her father is smiling so wide while looking at her daughter.

"I didn't know that you know how to use the sign language, Miss Seawright. Oh, permettetemi di ordinare per noi prima," ngumiti ako bago nagsalita.

"Prenda il vostro tempo," pati si Kuya Kiel ay napalingon sa akin. He's not aware that I know how to speak Italian a little. I learned it when I heard my father talking in Latin.

"Lei è impressionante, giovane donna."

The Italian investor called the waitress to tell our oder. He asks us what we want so I just chose the simplest dish in the menu so as Secretary Kang. Kahit nagugutom naman na ako ay hindi naman pwedeng kumain nalang ako basta-basta lalo na't kaharap namin ang unang una sa listahan na mga potential investors.

After a while, our order came and we ate silently. Not too long, we finally talked about business which is the main thing we are here today.

"To be frank Miss Seawright, I want a business that can communicate with its consumers. Of course, we want to expand each corporation into bigger face, right?"

"That's right," I answered as my head turn up and down.

He's holding the black folder That Secretary Kang gave him. It consist the agreement and all. The only thing that it's not there yet is his signature.

"You really impressed me today," he then turned to his daughter and asks, "Natalia, che cosa può dirci al riguardo?" The kid turned her right hand into a fist and she bob it back and forth, resembling a head nodding.

Walang ano-ano ay pinirmahan na nito ang nasa loob ng folder. Hindi man lang ito nagdalawang isip na pirmahan ang kontrata.

"I'm looking forward to our future works, Mister Evozki." May ngiti na sambit ko.

Nauna nang umalis ang mag-ama. Nagpaiwan kami dito sa restaurant ni Kuya dahil sabi ko ay gusto ko pang kumain. Hindi kasi ako nabusog sa kakaunti na in-order ko kanina.

"That's quite amazing, Aingeal," papuri nito sa akin habang kumakain ulit ako. Siya naman daw ay busog na dahil nananghalian pa siya kanina.

"Nakakaba pala ang humarap sa investor Kuya," sabi ko pagkatapos kong nguyain ang kinakain kong pasta. Muli akong sumubo dahil mayroon pa akong isang appointment mamayang alas syete ang gabi. Kailangan pa naming bumalik sa kompanya. Pasado alas dos pa lamang kasi.

"Ni hindi ko nga nahalata na kinakabahan ka kanina," dahil sa sinabi niya ay agad kong itinaas ang nanginginig ko lang mga kamay. Natawa ito sa akin kaya napasimangot ako.

"Masasanay na rin Aingeal. Sanayin mo na ang sarili mo. The company needs you," tumango tango ako sa sinabi niya bago tinapos ang kinakain ko.

I sighed heavily when I got inside my car. Right, the company and the memories. I should take all these things seriously. I don't want to disappoint anyone.