Past The Storm Clouds

Chapter 37

Inangat ko ang tingin sa mga trabahador ng ilang sandali, head counting. I then looked back down on the screen of my laptop with zero focus.

"Ms. Valenzuela, pinasasabi ni Engineer Monteziano na baka late siya sa araw na 'to o... hindi maka-dalo," Engineer Guille answered my silent thoughts.

"Is that so," I murmured, clicking the space tab absentmindedly.

Ganoon din kahapon. Kung pagod na siya sa pag-handle nitong renovation ng restaurant ko, okay lang naman kung mag back out siya. It's not that I'm angry. I hired Ljard because he wanted to take over the project but where is he now? Handling another project with much higher compensation? Or perhaps a female property owner?

Bumuntonghininga ako at ipinagpatuloy ang pag-aasikaso ng updated plan para sa restawran. I'm okay with all of these, but I can't seem to get something out of my mind. I tried to quiet my thoughts, but it's hard to fight it. Simula kasi noong huling pag-uusap namin ni Ljard, gumaan nga ang pakiramdam ko ngunit sa mga oras na pababa na ang araw, bumabalik ang gulo sa isipan ko.

I groaned harshly. Gusto ko 'to. Ganitong buhay. Wala akong kailangan asahan. At walang ibang problema. Mas mapayapa. Like how I have always seen myself twelve years ago.

"Good morning, Engineer, I need to go back to Makati so please supervise for now habang wala pa si Engineer Monteziano," mahinay kong sinabi kay Raven.

"Makakaasa ka, Miss Ma'am," ani Raven sa akin.

Maghahapon na at hindi pa rin dumarating si Ljard. Busy siguro talaga siya. I guess it won't be bad if I cancel him? Dior is still up for this renovation anyway. The rest of Ljard's team can stay if they insist. We can compromise on that I'm sure. Gagawin ko iyon hindi dahil may galit ako kay Ljard. Wala naman dapat akong ikagalit. We're good, at least to me.

And whatever happened during our last meeting is not in between any of my opinions when it comes to him. It's purely work and integrity.

"Ate? Nasaan ka? You said lunch?" si Daena sa kabilang linya.

"Sino bang gustong mag lunch malapit sa hospital?" asik ko sa kanya. Trying to save myself from forgetting about our lunch-together agreement.

"Busy ako, e. Nasa kamay ko ang buhay ng... whole population!" she exaggerated.

"Maybe I'm busy, too, 'di ba? Inaasikaso ko ang dalawang negosyo, Daena."

Actually, I'm not that busy. Hindi naman talaga ako kailangan sa kompanya. The business goes on with or without me and there's still profit generated. Gusto ko lang sumbatan si Daena.

"Multitask pa more." I heard her giggles.

"I'll just pick you up so hintayin mo ako sa labas," sabi ko, ang mga mata nakatutok sa traffic light.

"Fine. Ingat ka."

If only she didn't remember about our agreement, I wouldn't have eaten a proper lunch again. Kahit maganda naman ang takbo ng negosyo ko, hindi talaga ako makahanap ng oras para tumigil sa pagtatrabaho. It's like it'll be the end of me if I stop and rest. Maliban na lang kung sobrang gutom na ako, at saka lamang ako tatayo upang magpakabusog.

I'm aware that it is a toxic productivity.

Sa labas ng bintana, kita ko si Daena na nakatayo, suot pa rin ang kanyang white coat. Complete doctor attire pa. I must say, she was able to flaunt the attire sexily. But... well, nasa dugo lang namin ang kaseksihan.