Hurricane (Disaster Series #1)

Kabanata 45

Midnight Drive

A week passed and I've been more busy. Both with my team at the company and my modular classes. Ginugol ko ang lahat ng trabaho sa company sa pag-re-review ng mga financial reports at pagsuri ng maigi rito kung may discrepancies man. I already joined a few meetings too.

Most days, I work overtime just because Dad's secretary sends me the paper late at due pa ang lahat ng 'to sa mismong araw rin na 'yon. I have a feeling that it's Tita Ada, or Mandy, that's making it hard for me.

I didn't complain though, because first and foremost, it will only turn out as a mere accusation. Secondly, if I indeed complain, it will only make them feel like they're winning. Besides, I have Tita Helen by my side.

At ngayon naman ay hindi na ako mapakali habang naghihintay sa conference room para sa meeting. My team is not going to present today but something about this meeting is making me feel nervous and uneasy.

My phone vibrated inside my arm bag but I don't seem to have the strength to check it. Hindi ko mapigilang hindi maging balisa.

Halos kompleto na ang lahat ng nandito except for the executive of Donahue Alcuesta, which is Luci. Tapos wala pa rin si Tita Ada at Mandy.

Pero ilang sandali lang ay tumayo na ang lahat sa pagdating ng executive, ayon sa protocol ng company every meeting. Luci entered the room with such an imposing aura, wearing his black suit. His black locks was yet again tied in a man bun. It didn't make him look less formal though.

He just... looks obscene. He makes me think of a novel where he's the strict, ruthless, and cold boss with his naive and clumsy secretary as the leading lady.

My imaginative mind got stopped when Mandy followed beside Luci, sumunod rin sa kanila si Tita Ada na kausap ang Mama ni Luci...

I gasped when Elise Suarez, and her brother, Theo, trailed behind them.

Nakita rin ako ni Theo agad. Umawang ang labi niya at hindi matanggal-tanggal ang tingin sa akin. It looks like he wanted to go near me but he can't when Tita Helen is already sitting beside me with another board member on my side.

I shut my eyes tightly. Parang bigla akong nahilo sa mga taong dumating.

And when I opened my eyes, Luci immediately found my gaze but something about Mandy beside him made me look away. Nanatili akong nakaiwas ang tingin sa banda nila at piniling balingan na lamang si Tita Ada na kausap ngayon ang Mama ni Luci.

I noticed Tita Hestia looking at me. Nandoon sila sa kabilang kabisera kaharap ni Luci dahil si Tita Ada ang nag-represent kay Dad na siyang wala ngayon.

I smiled at Luci's mom but she can't seem to return the smile when Tita Ada whispered something more. I waited a bit for her to notice but her forehead creased and she avoided my gaze.

My lips parted and I let out a sigh to let that go. Maybe she was too preoccupied with their conversation. Sa gitna ng naguguluhan kong ekspresyon ay nagkatagpo ang tingin namin ni Theo.

Ngayon ko pa lang napansin na sa mismong harap ko pala siya nakaupo!

Malumanay siyang ngumiti sa akin. He looked the same as before, nag-mature lang ng kaonti. His hair is brushed back and the obvious pomade made it shine. He still has this boyish and angelic vibe.

Nagtagal ang tingin ko sa kanya dahil sa hindi makapaniwala na magkikita kami ulit at dito pa talaga sa meeting na ito. I know he was not good with seeing me after I rejected him before but seeing him now, smiling at me and slightly blushing because of my stare, made me smile too. It's good to know that he doesn't have any hard feelings.