The Art Of Hating

Chapter Twenty-five

XXV. Unexpected

They've been calling me non-stop. What's wrong with them?

I just finished a round check for the new arrival of materials in the warehouse when Behati called my attention and told me that a certain Lotus Veron has been calling Dad's office for 30 minutes now. Seriously?

Hindi ko naman sinasadyang hindi sagutin ang mga tawag nila. Nagkakataon lang na puro missed calls na lang ang naabutan ko. We are really busy right now. Maiintindihan naman nila kung hindi ko nasasagot ang tawag. But seriously? Kahit sa office ni Dad ay ginugulo nila. I got a little bit worried. Baka may nangyari ng masama o kung ano pa man.

I've been very busy this week lalo na at inaasikaso na rin ang usapan sa suppliers namin sa Japan. We've been in contact with the company at sa susunod nga na linggo ay darating ang representative nila para sa mas detalyadong usapan at kontrata. We are just leveling-up the connections that we have but it doesn't mean that the essence of Filipino made has been put to waste. We are trying new materials that will strengthen the products and at the same time, we are still using the same methods and materials that has been part of the production since the very start. May parte pa rin ng establisyemento na tradisyunal ang paggawa dahil sa uri at klase ng laruang binubuo.

Tinatanguan ko ang bawat empleyadong nadadaanan at agad akong binabati. My phone is not with me. Siguro ay iyon ang dahilan kung bakit ang office ni Dad naman ang ginugulo ng mga bruhang 'yon. Nag-aalala tuloy ako. Did someone got pregnant or something?

Well. . . it's a good news, right? Nga lang, si Bria lang naman ang laging may lovelife sa amin.

Duh. What about you?

Napailing ako ng pinindot ang floor ng office namin para matawagan agad ang mga makukulit. My mind is mocking me again.

Fine. I am taken. Pero masyado pang bago ito sa amin kaya kahit na ilang araw na ang lumipas ay parang wala namang nagbago. Except that he calls sometimes. He said he's busy, too kaya nga hindi rin siya nakakapunta rito para mag-check dahil madami rin ang inaasikaso niya.

I find it weird that he shares something like that. Sa ikli ng usapan namin at kahit mga nangyari lang sa araw ang kinukwento niya ay kahit papaano may mga nalaman ako tungkol sa kanya.

His family's agency. . . His own building where he do most of his work. . . and Yugi-his poodle. He talks more about that dog.

Habang tumatagal ay mas lalo kong napapansin ang magaang aura niya. He really looked someone who would break your heart. He looked like a good boy and a playboy at the same time. And would act like the latter most of the time. But when you got to know him more. . . mas madalas pala siyang palabiro at isip bata.

At siguro nga kahit gano'n, hindi pa rin nawala ang Sarmiento sa dugo niya kahit na lamang ang kakulitan niya. He's a fucking natural flirt. Sarmientos' charm, they say.

Nakakahiya na wala akong masyadong alam sa kanya knowing that we know each other since college. I know him as . . . Cameron's cousin.

I know about Samientos' Security Agency, too dahil do'n naman mas nakilala ang apelyido nila. But Alexander's background? Wala akong masyadong alam. What I saw in the internet were bits of information about him being the heir of Sarmientos. Not his achievements through the years. Though his game was quite popular, his identity was still private kahit na kalat na ang stolen pictures niya. They could actually block it from circulating, too. But it's probably part of publicity. I don't know.

Nagugulat at napapaisip ako kung bakit bigla-bigla na lang siyang nagshi-share but. . . it's alright I guess? As a matter of fact, I don't find it annoying at all. Surprisingly, I like hearing his voice in phone calls. His voice seems deeper as if he's whispering on my ear. Parang tamad itong nagkukwento at tumatawa.