Lost Wisdom (Forgotten Trilogy #1)

CHAPTER 4

Nandito kami ngayon sa meeting board room dahil may kailangan pag-usapan sa company.

Napatigil kami dahil may kumatok sa pintuan at ito ang secretary ni Daddy.

She smiled, "Sorry to interrupt your meeting pero may delivery po for Ms. Collins."

Napatingin agad ako sa hawak niya. It's a bouquet of roses. Lahat ay nakatingin sa akin.

"Lorenzo, mukhang may pumoporma yata sa anak mo."

"Ang swerte ng magiging boyfriend niyan."

"Ang sweet naman ng suitor ng anak niyo."

'Yan ang iilan sa mga naririnig ko sa loob.

Tumayo ako para kunin ito, "Thank you po."

As I seated back in my chair, napatikhim ako, "Sorry, you may now continue the meeting."

Ngumiti naman si Mommy sa akin at nag proceed na sa discussion habang si Daddy ay nagtaas ng kaniyang isang kilay, maybe questioning who gave the flowers to me.

Umayos ako nang pagkauupo, I glanced at him. Matalim ang kaniyang mga titig sa bulaklak na hawak ko ngayon. What's wrong?

"Our company is currently partnered with three of the highest-rated company in the world. As the head of marketing, I suggest that we're going to have an investigatory visit and team building in each company. Is that okay?" Mommy explained, seriously.

Nakita ko namang seryoso siyang nakatingin sa harap at biglang nagsalita.

"So, we have to go to each country? Maybe we can divide the team to have a good focus and access on each partnership," he asked, calmly.

Mommy nodded at him, "You have the point, Engr. Rodriguez."

Nakikinig ako sa pinag-uusapan nila pero 'yung atensiyon ko ay nasa ballpen na pinaglalaruan ko gamit ang aking mga kamay.

Daddy stood up, "Okay, we have to divide now to have a group strategy kung papaano ang approach natin sa kanila."

Tumango naman ang mga ibang kasama naming sa meeting habang ako ay pinaglalaruan pa rin ang ballpen.

Minsan naiisip ko kung paano mamuhay ng simple lang. 'Yung walang masyadong iniisip na mga standards and expectations sa harap ng mga tao.

"Okay, we're done choosing our teams. We're settled to go, next week. Be sure to have your team building report accomplishments as we go back here to check the negativities in the partnerships."

Hindi ko namalayang tapos na pala sila nag team-up, hindi ko tuloy naring kung saan ako kabilang. Dibale, hihingiin ko nalang ang minutes of the meeting sa secretary ni Daddy.

Daddy asked, closing his laptop, "Are we all good?"

"Yes, sir," they answered in chorus.

He nodded, "Okay, the meeting is adjourned."

Tumayo na ako at aalis na sana ng board room pero bigla akong tinawag ni Daddy.

"Aleana, go to your mother's office. May pag-uusapan tayo."

Napalingon ako sa kaniya at tumango.

Nauna na akong lumabas dala ang bulaklak at naglakad papunta sa office ni Mommy. Ano na naman ang pag-uusapan namin?

Nang makapasok na ako sa office ni Mommy, sakto namang dumating silang dalawa at sinarado ang pinto.

"What the meaning of that, Aleana?" he asked, pointing out the bouquet in my hands.

I bit my lower lips, avoiding eye contact with him, "M-Meaning of what, Daddy? I don't understand."

Hinawakan ni Mommy ang braso niya, "Lorenzo, calm down. Wag mo namang takutin ang anak natin. Maybe she had an explanation. We should listen first."

Huminga siya nang malalim gabang nakatingin sa akin, "Okay. Explain that to us, Aleana. May manliligaw ka na ba pero hindi mo sinasabi sa amin?"

I calmed myself down before speaking up, "W-What? It's not what you think, Daddy. You both knew na hindi muna ako interesado sa mga ganiyang bagay, diba? I'm not a dumb person para makuha lang sa isang galawan."

"Kung nagtataka ka kung kanino 'to galing, sa kaibigan ko. It's from Harper, one of my best friends. A thankful gift para sa pagkakaibigan namin. He appreciates what I do even in small things but you, all you see are my mistakes, Dad. Sorry to say that, but that's what I feel in what you're doing to me." Pahabol ko pang sabi habang nakatingin sa kanilang dalawa.

He approached me, "Aleana, inaalagaan ko lang ang image mo."

Natahimik nalang si Mommy sa gilid dahil sa pagsasagutan naming dalawa ni Daddy.

"Yeah, you're worried about my image, as always. Daddy, you're ruining my rights in socializing with other people. Excuse me, I need to go," I faked a smile, leaving both of them speechless in Mommy's office.

Dali-dali akong naglakad papasok ng office ko at nagulat ako nang madatnan ko ang nakaiinis na engineer na nakilala ko. Naka upo pa siya sa working chair ko, huh? Kapal!

I crossed my arms into my chest, "Anong ginagawa mo na naman dito, Engr. Rodriguez?"

He glared, grinning at me, "Bawal ba? Oh! I remembered, there are no rules that forbid entering a co-worker's room. Am I right, Ms. Collins?"

Hindi na ako nagsalita at naglakad na palapit sa kaniya, "Aalis ka o itutulak kita palabas?"

"Chill, ito na nga tatayo na." Tumayo na siya habang tinititigan ko siyang mabuti.

Nilagay ko muna ang bulaklak sa kabilang mesa at umupo na sa aking working chair.

Nakita ko namang nakatayo pa rin siya sa harap ko. Ano bang kailangan niya?

"Your suitor gave that to you, right?" biglang tanong niya sa akin.

"No, it's from my best friend.." Maikli kong tugon sa kaniya while I open my laptop.

Bumulong siya ng ilang mga salita pero hindi ko 'yun narinig.

Nag-angat ako ng tingin sa kaniya, "Anong sinasabi mo riyan?"

He shrugged, "Nothing, I'm just saying that I know you didn't listen attentively to the meeting earlier and I just want to tell you that we're teammates."

As I heard that, my eyes narrowed in front of him.

So, the whole week of the trip, kasama ko siya? This man, he's killing me.

Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay, "If you're kidding around, hindi ka nakatutuwa."

"I'm not. Bawal sa supreme court ang walang evidence. Here's the copy of the three teams." Kinuha niya sa kaniyang bulsa ang papel at binigay ito sa akin.

Dali-dali ko naman itong kinuha sa kamay niya at nang makita ko ang pangalan ko sa tabi ng pangalan niya, napahawak agad ako sa ulo ko.

He smirked, looking calm at me, "You're with me in the next seven days, Ms. Collins."

"I don't –" he pinched my cheeks so I stop talking.

He leaned in, whispering in my ears, "Take note, you're in my care for a week. I'm going to my office now, Ms. Collins."

Ngumiti muna siya sa akin bago siya umalis sa harap ko. An overconfident man, tsk.

His words are killing me! I hate it.