Kriiingg!

20

"Ladiely?"

Napalingon ako nang may tumawag sa'kin. Hindi lang ako kundi pati si Mimi at ang dalawa naming kasama. Nandito kami ulit sa restaurant ni Clint para ma finalize ang budget para sa number of guests.

Napakunot ang noo ko nang nakita ang lalaki. He has curly hair---

"Allen?" Nanlaki ang matang tanong ko.

Ngumisi siya kaagad. "Buti naman naalala mo pa ako." Ngumiti lang ako sa sinabi niya. Muntik ko na siyang makalimutan dahil medyo pumuti siya at lumaki ang pangangatawan.

"Ano palang ginagawa mo dito?"

Napalingon naman ako sa mga kasama kong nakatitig samin. "May meeting---"

"Allen."

I was cut off by Clint. He has dark aura surrounding him habang nakatitig kay Allen pero ngumisi lang si Allen sa kanya.

"Ikaw ha, di mo sinabing---" Binatukan siya ni Clint! "Aray! ay putang*na gago ka talaga!"

Hinila ni Clint ang damit ni Allen papunta siguro sa office nito kaya agad akong naupo.

"Magkakilala pala ka'yo non?" Usisa agad ni Mimi.

"Ah oo. Schoolmate kami nong college." 'Yon lang ang sinagot ko at nagbasa ng libro para hindi na siya magtanong.

"Sa pagkakaalam ko, same school silang dalawa ni Chef Clint during college." Napahinto ako sa sinabi ni Mimi at napatingin sa kanya. How did she know that?

Umakto itong parang nag-iisip. "I think... third year sila naging magkakaklase at transferee non si Chef Clint pero nag transfer daw si Chef ulit sa dati niyang school." Sabi ni Mimi at tumingin sa'kin. "Hindi mo ba kilala si Chef dati? Mukhang close kasi kayo ni Chef Allen and close na close din silang dalawa ni Chef Clint."

Umiling kaagad ako, pursing my lips. "I just know Allen because of Kristian. That's all." I said calmly, trying not to stutter dahil I'm not sure kung magkakilala si Kristian at Allen.

Pinaningkitan niya ako ng mata. "Sure ka huh? Minsan kasi napapatitig siya sa'yo. I thought he just find you pretty but I guess you have a deeper connection."

He did?

"Wala kaming connection okay? And I know Allen during my fourth year in college."

Lies. She looks like she's absorbing my answer and thinks deeply. Hindi na din naman siya nagtanong na lihim kong ipinagpasalamat.

"By the way, how did you know that? .. I mean the informations?"

Napapikit ako nang hindi ko din maiwasang magtanong. Tumingin ako kay Mimi at ngumiti naman siya.

"I read that from a famous magazine. Silang dalawa ang na feature non for being the most successful bachelor 'buddies'." Mimi explained.

Sapat na sana para sa'kin 'yon dahil baka bumalik na sila Allen at marinig pa nila na nagtatanong ako pero si Mimi salita pa din ng salita.

"Kristian was also featured in that magazine too. That was displayed in his office."

"Alam mo ba, I also read that Chef Clint was very rich because of his family's business and now became richer not because of his family's wealth, but because of his hardwork and skills."

"Hindi ko nga din alam kung bakit nagpapart time pa siya eh, kasi sobrang yaman na niya."

Really? I didn't know that. Or was I too focused on my work that I didn't know what's happening to the people around me.