Kabanata 2

Single

I will meet Ares Madriaga at exactly 1 pm in a specific restaurant in the middle of the city. Papa will have a meeting that will possibly end late, kaya dapat akong mauna para harapin ang panganay na Madriaga. Papa will follow after his meeting.

The surname of Ares is not new to me. Not just because I'm friends with Sage, but also their surname has always been famous even before I went to college.

Andrada. Madriaga. Velarde. Estrella.

Apat na apelyido ang naabutan kong namamayagpag sa iba't ibang klase ng industriya. Their surnames are all known because of the influence of their ancestors that is passed until to their parents. At mas namamayagpag na ngayon dahil sa panibagong namumuno.

Ang impluwensya ng apat na apelyido ay nanggaling pa sa iilang henerasyon na lumipas. Ares is a Madriaga too, but he didn't depend on his family's assets. He made his own assets and name. He was able to reach the top of success using his intelligence.

He's clearly passionate in medicine. If he's not passionate, for sure he won't reach where he is now. 

Kaya hindi ko talaga makuha kung bakit biglang naging interesado siyang mag-invest ng pera sa kompanya. He's involving himself into the business field when in fact he sacrifices his family's business in pursuing his passion in medicine.

There's a reason why Sage is leading all their businesses. It's because he doesn't want it. Kahit isa sa mga branches ng kanilang kompanya ay wala siyang hinahawakan.

Also, shareholders have the legal rights to attend annual meetings. He owned chains of hospitals, it's almost impossible for him to come to the company just for the meetings. Kaya ang ideya ng pag-iinvest niya ay hindi ko talaga makuha.

It will be useless. Yes, he will become a major shareholder, but I don't think he can take the responsibility for it. Well, if he has strategies... baka kayanin niya pa.

I had a meeting at 9 am and ended at 10 am. After that meeting, I attended another at 10:15 am until 12 pm. Nang matapos ang meeting ay nagtungo muna ako sa office para mag-ayos sa sarili bago tumulak na papunta sa restaurant.

I left early since it's in the middle of the city and its weekday, I'm scared that I will be inside a heavy traffic. Mabuti na lang ay hindi naman masyadong mabigat ang daloy ng mga sasakyan.

I arrived in the restaurant at 12:45 pm. Pagpasok ko ay agad akong sinalubong ng isang employee para igiya sa nakareserve na lamesa. There are many customers, but it's not that packed.

Naupo ako at inilapag ang handbag sa gilid ng lamesa. Hindi pa umiinit ang pang-upo ko nang matanaw ang pagpasok ng taong agad kong nakilala. Agad akong dinalaw ng kaba sa hindi malamang kadahilanan.

I almost bowed my head just for him not to see me. Ngunit huli na ang lahat. Sa isang libot ng tingin, agad niya akong nahanap at hindi na nilubayan pa ng titig.

He's wearing a long white long sleeve that is folded until to his elbow, dark slacks and topsider shoes. He looks dashing with his simple outfit. The tattoo peeping on his nape and arms completes his dark aura. He looks ruthless and intimidating.

An employee approached and asked him. I saw him pursed his lips and answered the employee without removing his eyes on me.

Why is he here anyway? Wala naman kaming usapan. Hindi niya naman ako tinawagan na mag-uusap kami sa utang ko sa kanya. For sure, he hasn't decided yet. Wala siyang sinabi kaya sigurado akong hindi siya lalapit sa akin.

This restaurant is famous for formal lunch meetings. Posibleng iyon ang rason kung bakit siya nandito.

I put my hair on my back and leaned on my chair. Ipinagkrus ko ang dibdib habang tinatanaw siya, halos magpanggap na kalmado.

I'm so confident that he will not come near me. Ngunit halos kilabutan ako nang iginiya siya ng employee ng restaurant patungo sa table ko. Agad akong napaayos ng upo.

"Here's your table, Sir." the employee said while smiling. Niyuko pa ako at ngnitian bago nagpaalam.

Ares pulled the chair in front of me and took a sit coolly. Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay nang makabawi.

"W-What are you doing here?"

He raised a brow while amusement was dancing inside his eyes.

"I think you should greet me..." he said softly with a hidden smirk on his lips.

Habang siya ay tuwang-tuwa, ang puso ko naman ay hindi magkandamayaw dahil kaharap siya. I tried so hard to remain composed in front of him.

Hindi ako nagsalita sa kanyang sinabi. I only stared at him, trying to intimidate him but in the end, it was me that got intimidated.

"You should leave now. I have some important business." seryosong sabi ko matapos lumipas ang ilang minuto.

He licked his lips and slightly put his head to the side.

"Hmm. I will be your business," paos na sabi niya.

Akmang magsasalita ako nang matanaw si Papa na naglalakad sa pwesto namin. At halos hindi ko mairehistro nang makita si Zoey na nakasunod sa kanya.

Habang natataranta ako, kalmado naman siyang nakaupo sa harapan ko. Agad akong nalito sa uunahing gagawin.

The only plan that pops into my mind is to kick the man in front of me under the table to make him leave. Ngunit hindi ko rin nagawa nang tuluyan nang nakalapit si Papa.

Nanigas na lamang ako sa kinatatayuan. I watched my father looked at the man in front of me and almost bowed when he recognized him.

"I'm sorry for being late, Mr. Madriaga. I had a meeting."

Nalaglag ang panga ko at tinignan ang lalaking kaharap. I caught him smirked at me and stood up to present himself to my father.

"No worries. I just arrived,"

Hindi ko sigurado kung totoo bang tumitigil ang mundo pero sa pagkakataong ito, sa tingin ko ganoon na ang nangyayari. My brain literally stopped just to focus to the process on what's really happening.

"I brought my daughter with me since she hasn't eaten her lunch yet. I hope you don't mind, Ares." my father chuckled.

"Hmm. Not at all,"

The three of them were standing, but I remained on my seat. Gustuhin ko mang tumayo, sigurado ring hindi ko magagawa dahil sa panlalambot ng aking tuhod.

"Please take a seat," sabi ni Papa.

Dahil sa matinding gulat, halos hindi ko maiproseso. Nawalan ako ng gagawin at tila naging tuod na lamang sa kinauupuan.

My father took a seat, together with Zoey. Magkatapat silang dalawa habang katapat ko naman si Ares.

Mentioning his name on my mind almost gave me goosebumps. I just can't believe this. Hindi ko alam kung mahihiya ba dahil sa naging ugali kasama siya o dapat na akong humingi ng tawad sa mga nagawa.

I can't decide! Wala akong maisip na gagawin, lalo na't nandito rin sina Papa at Zoey.

"Let's have our lunch first before talking about our main purpose here. Let's take our order, shall we?"

Hindi ko magawang sumagot. Nakayuko na lamang ako sa lamesa.

"Sure,"

Zoey called the waiter. Mabilis naman iyong nakalapit. Naunang um-order si Papa, kasunod naman ay si Zoey.

"I'll have this fish fillet with salad, please."

"Drinks, Ma'am?"

"An orange juice will do,"

"Okay po," sabi ng waiter habang naglilista.

"How about you, Ares?" Zoey asked sweetly.

Napatingin ako dahil sa kanyang biglaang pagbabago ng boses. She's all smile while looking at Ares. Napaayos ako ng upo nang maiproseso kung bakit niya ginagawa ito.

"What's yours, Miss Anais?"

Bahagya akong napaigtad dahil sa biglaang pagtawag niya. Siya lang ang nakapansin noon dahil parehong si Papa at Zoey ay nasa kanya ang atensyon. Both of them didn't mind the question of Ares towards me.

I took a quick glance at the menu and looked at the waiter.

"I'll have the scallop pasta and... an apple juice for the drink." pilit kong huwag ma-utal.

"Okay, Ma'am. How about you, Sir?"

"The same with what she ordered."

Napatingin ako sa kanya sa gulat. Si Zoey na kaninang sa kanya ang atensyon ay lumipat sa akin. Bahagya pang kumunot ang noo, halos magtaka at magtanong.

"A scallop pasta and an apple juice, Sir?" the waiter asked for confirmation.

"Yes,"

Lumunok ako at nag-iwas ng tingin. Zoey is now looking at me suspiciously. Kung hindi lang nagsimulang magsalita si Papa, siguradong hindi niya ako lulubayan.

I don't have any connections with Ares, kaya hindi dapat ako kabahan. Pero iba ang nararamdaman ko. Sa paraan ng titig ni Zoey sa akin, siguradong iba't ibang bagay na ang pumapasok sa isipan niya.

Papa is talking with Ares for the whole time. My father is not usually talkative, pero ngayon ay mukhang nagsisikap na dahil sa kanyang plano. Hindi ko rin kayang makasabay dahil maliban sa hindi makahanap ng tyempo, hindi ko rin alam ang sasabihin.

Their conversation is not about business naman kaya hindi pa ako obligadong makisabay. I'm here for business and for business only.

Hindi ko na ibinalik ang tingin sa kanya kahit ramdam ang bigat ng titig niya sa akin. Kahit saan-saan na lang napupunta ang mata ko.

Nang dumating ang order, agad din kaming nagsimulang kumain. Akala ko titigil na sa pagsasalita si Papa pero nagkakamali ako.

"I heard you are single. My daughter here is single too," si Papa sabay sulyap kay Zoey, halos ilahad.

I didn't look at them. My eyes are all into my food, but my ears are attentive.

"Do you have any daughter?"

Nag-angat ako ng tingin at agad nagtama ang aming mga mata. He looks so serious that I can't tell if he's joking. Humalakhak si Papa, kinukuhang biro ang sinabi niya.

"Well, Anais here is already engaged."

"Hmm. Really," I can't hear the humor in his voice.

"Zoey is the only one who's single. If you're interested," he said meaningfully.

Nakisabay naman si Zoey. She covered her mouth and chuckled.

"Stop it, Pa. That's embarrassing."

"Bagay naman kayo. It's not embarrassing!"

I'm the one who's embarrassed.

Napaayos ako ng upo at nag-iwas na ng tingin. I shouldn't be embarrassed by what my father was saying, but it's too awkward. He's obviously pushing his daughter for his own benefit.

"What, Ares? Both of you can start knowing each other tonight." aniya, tuwang-tuwa.

Ibinalik ko ang tingin sa kanya para sa kanyang reaksyon. I caught him smirked smugly, while still staring at me.

"Bad thing, I'm already interested to someone." he said seriously.

Natigil ang dalawa sa pagtawa at parehas agad na naging kuryoso sa sinabi ni Ares. Sumandal ako sa kinauupuan at nakuryoso na rin sa kanyang sinabi.

I can already tell his type just by looking at him. Small waist. Big boobs. Big butts. Beautiful face. That's what he wants, I can really tell.

Nanliliit ang mga mata ko siyang tinignan, nanunuri. His type suits him though. He's also good looking, and with the firm muscles on his body, hindi na rin lugi ang magugustuhan niya.

He's naturally hot, and it tripled with the tats he has. I wonder what's the whole design of it. Hindi ko maiwasan maging kuryoso. It may sound ridiculous, but I wanna see it.

"May I know who she is?" si Papa, halos hilaw na ang ngisi.

Si Zoey ay nanahimik na, tila bigo at malalim na ang iniisip.

"I keep my relationships private," he said while looking at me.

I raised a brow and lifted my drink to take a sip on it. Hindi ko alam kung dapat ko bang paniwalaan ang kanyang sinabi. 

It's possible that he just said that to stop my father from pushing Zoey towards him. But also, from the way he's looking at me seriously, it's also possible... that he's really interested to someone.