Their Toy

- 32 -

"Did Daniel Montreal receive my sponsorship already for his campaign?" Tanong ko sa sekretarya kong si Rita when she entered my office.

"Yes Miss Vezconde, he already received it. In fact, he wants to meet you. He asked if you could have a dinner with him to thank you for your sponsorship." Sagot nito. I smiled.

"Great! Let him know that I can have a dinner with him tonight at seven. I want to meet him too." Saad ko.

"Yes Miss Vezconde. I'll call him now." Tugon nya.

Muli akong napangiti. My plans are working. Since Daniel is running for Mayor, he needs money for his campaign for his candidacy. I hired a private investigator yesterday to know some details about the three demons and I already knew a lot of things about them. At base sa mga nalaman ko, ang biyanan ni Daniel ang sumusuporta sa kanyang kandidatura sa pagtakbo nya bilang Mayor. His in-laws are rich and known for their mining business, at isa rin sila sa naging investor ng kumpanya nila Tito Manuel but they took their investment back when they knew the company's status and they decided to sponsor their son-in-law's candidacy instead, to help him for his dream to become a politician.

Alam ko, na sa politika talaga ang puso ni Daniel. He loves politics kaya nga noong nasa college palang sya, he became the president of the student council from his first year in college until he graduated from Saven University.

Since his in-laws sponsored him to his candidacy I also decided to sponsor his campaign dahil sa ganoong paraan ko makukuha ang atensyon nya. He's the only one left na hindi ko pa nakakausap ng harapan and now he wants to thank me for the money that I sent. This is really good, ang nangyayari ngayon ay naaayon sa plano ko.

*********

It's already seven thirty in the evening and I am thirty minutes late sa dinner namin ni Daniel. Well, I intentionally arrived late to test his patience and still, there he is-- sitting waiting for me.

Nagalakad ako papunta sa kinaroroonan nya. I'm wearing a white bodycon dress that shows a lot of my skin together with nude heels and a Chanel bag.

"I'm sorry kung pinaghintay kita." Paumanhin ko sabay upo sa upuang nasa harap nya. I smiled at him.

"Ali?!" Bulalas nya. Napaatras sya sa upuan dahil sa labis na gulat at ang mga tao sa paligid namin ngayon na kumakain rin sa restaurant na ito ay napatingin sa kanya dahil sa ginawa nyang ingay.

"Who's Ali? I'm Avah Vezconde." Nagkunwari akong walang alam. "You look as if you've seen a ghost. Mukha ba akong multo dahil naka-kulay puti akong damit ngayon?" Biro ko pa.

Hindi sya nakapagsalita. Nakatitig lang sya sa akin habang namimilog ang kaniyang mga mata. Napatawa ako nang palihim sa reaksyon ng mukha nya. His emotions are mixed, frightened, confused and shocked--those are the things that I am seeing in his eyes.

"Are you going to stare at me the whole day Mr. Montreal o baka gusto mong magsimula nang um-order ng kakainin natin? I'm hungry." Saad ko. Hindi pa rin sya sumagot tahimik nya lang akong tinititigan. So I grabbed the menu book and called the waiter and give my order to him.

"Kayo po Sir? What's your order?" Tanong sa kanya ng waiter.

Parang nanumbalik sya sa kanyang ulirat. "U-uhm. Y-yeah. I want this and this." Turo nya sa menu.