Kamala's POV
"Jen! Sabi ko naman na hindi na ako bibili ng dress, di' ba? Madami akong dress sa closet ko, sissy!" I tugged my arm away as Jen stubbornly tried to pull me toward the mall, determined to get me a dress for the upcoming contract signing in two days. Nagbago ang isip ko after kong sabihin kay Jen na bibili kami ng dress kasi naisip ko baka isipin ni Hachiro na masyado kong pinaghandaan 'to.
It's not that I don't want to make it memorable. I want our contract signing to be something special because this is my first time entering a business partnership. Just thinking about it makes me so excited.
Pero hindi naman ibig sabihin kailangan pang bumili ng bagong dress, di' ba? Madami akong dresses doon na isang beses ko palang naisusuot, and I have one in mind for the event.
Pero itong si Jen, medyo makulit. Aish.
"Nope! Business yun with Hachiro Jimenez! You need to look your best dahil baka madaming media ang pumunta para matunghayan ang contract signing ng isang Hachiro Jimenez. So sissy, magpapakabog ka ba?" challenge ni Jen sakin. Napasimangot ako sa sinabi niya kasi mas lalo lang akong kinakabahan sa mga sinasabi niya.
I haven't even been sleeping well these days dahil iniisip isip ko ang magiging contract signing. I mean, I am excited, but I'm also anxious. Signing a contract with one of the biggest CEOs in the country? It's mind-blowing. Hindi padin ako makapaniwala sa nangyayari. Wala akong idea paano kami biglang napunta ni Hachiro sa pagiging business partners. It was only a joke! I didn't mean what I said. Tinry ko lang mag-joke pero ito ako ngayon, sobrang bilis ng tibok ng puso dahil mangyayari nga ang contract signing. Ugh.
Pero siguro tama nga si Jen. Magkakaroon nga ba ng media? Pero ayos lang ba talaga 'to? Malalaman ng iba na nakikipagsosyo ng business si Hachiro sa isang no-name na chef. Baka makasira lang sa pangalan niya kapag nalaman ng marami.
"Wait, Jen. Ahm. I think I'll suggest to Hachiro that we keep the contract signing private. I—I don't think makakabuting may makakaalam na magkakaroon siya ng partnership sakin. Saka hindi ko rin yata kakayanin na merong media sa---"
"Sure." nagulat nalang ako ng bigla nalang sumulpot si Hachiro sa gilid namin ni Jen. Muntik pa akong mapatalon, si Jen napaigtad. Ngumiti siya sakin. "There will be no problem with what you want, Kamala. I also prefer that the media doesn't know about our partnership."
And Jen, well, she finally let go of my hand.
"Whaat?? That makes no sense!" I looked at Jen in disbelief. She seemed shocked by what she heard.
"Bakit naman?" nakataas ang isang kilay na tanong ko kay Jen.
"Duh?! Paano naman malalaman ng mundo ang magiging partnership niyo? And Kamz, partnering with a businessman is pretty normal, especially when you're running a business. And excuse me, Hachiro Jimenez is not someone to mess with, so even if—" tinakpan ko na ang bunganga ni Jen. I already know all of that Nakakahiya na kay Hachiro.
"Alam ko, sissy. But publicly or privately, sure akong magiging success 'to Jen. Isa pa you know me—I'm a private person." tinanggal ko ang kamay ko sa bibig ni Jen.
"Yes, I know. But business is business, Kamz. Madami ka talagang matatapakang tao lalo na kay Hachiro ka makikipagbusiness but well, can I still object? Isa ako sa mga taong ayaw magulo ang buhay mo kaya okay. Dahil sabagay, baka araw araw akong makipag-away kapag merong sumugod sayong hater." ngumisi siya. "Pero mukhang masaya yun, no?" tumawa siya kaya hinampas ko siya sa braso.
BINABASA MO ANG
Under The Same Sky (ON-GOING)
Romance--- In two different worlds, they walk separate paths, each carrying the weight of their own heartbreak. Two souls, once whole, now shattered, longing for something they've lost but can't quite name. In their solitude, they gaze at the same sky, a s...
