Destiny Played it Well

CHAPTER 43

"Tawag ka ni Sir. Marcos." my co-worker said. Aist! Di ba siya marunong makiramdam na iniiwasan ko siya? Simula nung nag confess siya nung isang araw, hindi ko na alam paano kibuin siya nang normal. Yung like comfy na kibuin siya. Now? Diko na alam, iniiwasan ko talaga siya.

"Bakit daw?"

"Because I said so. Follow me at the conference room. We have SOMETHING IMPORTANT to discuss." Sulpot ni Sandro sa likuran ko and he emphasized the word important. Bakit ba andito siya lagi sa network namin eh hindi naman siya lagi naka-tambay dito dati ha. Dahil butihin akong employee at ayaw kung matanggal, sinundan ko nalang siya. Pagkarating namin sa conference room, kami lang tatlo, kasama yung Head officer ko.

"Good afternoon Ms. Sagrado. Have a seat, Ms. Sagrado and Sir. Marcos." turo ng Head sa upuan. Nananadya ata si Sandro dahil sa harap ko pa talaga umupo. Iniiwas ko na nga yung tingin ko sakanya eh. "Sir. Marcos is now your boss..." ahm? Anong bago dun? Boss ko naman takaga siya ah.

"Ah... Ma'am, Lei? Boss ko naman po talaga siya." pagklaro ko kahit ako ay naguluhan konti.

"I know, but this time, you are his personal journalist." nanlaki agad ang mata ko sa sinabi ni Miss. Lei.

"What?! How come?" nagulat si Miss. Lei sa biglang pag taas ng boses ko. "Ah..I-I mean, y-you know, like... How did that happened? Isn't that not allowed?" cross fingers sana hindi allowed.

"It is prohibited.." oh yes! HA-HA! "If our big boss doesn't require you to do so. BUT, it is allowed when our big boss recommend you to do that part." parang nanlumo ako sa sagot na nakuha ko pero si Sandro parang tuwang-tuwa naman na makita akong nanlulumo. Tinaasan ko agad siya ng kilay saka masamang tinignan.

"What?" he mouthed then shrugged. Tss! Kainis!

"Any violent reactions?" Ms, Lei asked.

"Ma'am, there are so many interns you can assign and willing to take that job, who's really hungry to experience that. I mean, why me?" too late to realise, I sounded like being arrogant.

"Why not you?" sabat niya. Nanandya talaga eh.

"Should I assign you to Mr, John if you don't accept this task?" Ms, Lei said. Oh hell no! There's no way makikipag partner ako kay John. Now I'm stuck!

"No, Ma'am. I'll accept the offer." I immediately thought.

"Alright. Congratulations. Close to promotion ka na talaga, Ms. Sagrado." puri ni Ms. Lei. Ewan ko kung matutuwa ako or not dahil mag kakasama na talaga kami ni Sandro for sure, iniiwasan ko nga eh.

"Ah eheh... Salamat po." I tried my best na ngumiti saka kinamayan siya.

"I'll leave you guys now. I have another conference meeting. If you'll excuse me." paalam ni Ms. Lei na ikinataranta ko. Kaming dalawa na ang maiiwan ni Sandro?!

"Thank you, Ms. Lei. You may go now." pasalamat ni Sandro. Di ako maka-kibo sa sobrang kaba. Bakit kaba kinakabahan Erah? Kumalma ka nga. Parang gusto kung pigilan si Ms. Lei lumabas at mag makaawa na kahit bigyan niya ako ng mabigat na trabaho basta wag lang ito. "So, your avoiding me huh?" ayan na siya.

"What? No... I-I mean nope. I'm not avoiding you." I stuttered. Oh crap! Now what?!

"Don't worry, I won't bite you silly!" na nananadya ba talaga siya? Alam niyang naiilang na ako eh. "I just found out you took pictures of me while I was heading out from the bar last month." he smirked. Shoot! Hindi ko sinabi sakanya dati na ini-stalk ko siya kaya yan yung reason nag ka-kilala kami ni Simon.

"Ahh... That? T-that was just part of my job.." Cap. That wasn't part of my job. Those pictures ay para extra lang.

"Oh really? Cause according to this, hindi naman kailangan yun sa job mo." He knows. Wala na akong kalusot-lusot. Sumandal siya sa upuan saka tinignan ako na parang nang-aasar.

"What do you want from me Sir. Sandro?" diritsahan kung tanong.

"You" he said without hesitation straight into my eyes.

"S-sorry, w-what?" parang nabingi ata ako sa sinabi niya.

"I want you to work for me." nag iba agad ang ihip ng hangin. Nang gagago ata siya ehhh.. "just work with me and you will get the promotion you want." gatong niya.

"No, Sir. Gusto ko yung pinag-paguran ko at pinag-hirapan ko if ever ma promote man ako. I already gave my word to Ms. Lei. Let's just do this." napairap nalang ako sa pagiging mapilit niya. Alam niya namang iniiwasan ko siya eh tas siya itong lapit nang lapit. "Ano po bang unang ipapagawa niyo?"

"Just come with me always in every event, activities, meetings—"

"Woy.. over ka ha. Do you think I'm your secretary?" reklamo ko, balak ba naman akong gawing secretary.

"Nope, but if you want, I'd be happy to work with you." napangiwi nalang ako sa sinabi niya. Loko-loko talaga.

"Bahala ka dyan sa buhay mo. May ipapagawa ka na ba?"

"I have a meeting today with one of my client—" naputol yung pagsasalita niya dahil tumunog yung phone ko. "Go ahead. Take your call." he said then I nodded saka kinuha ang phone ko sa bulsa. Pag tingin ko kung sinong tumawag, it was Simon. Napakunot ang noo ko agad kasi di naman yan tatawag for no good reason.

"Si Simon, wait, sagutin ko lang." excuse ko pero nag bago bigla ang timpla ng mukha niya.

"Just take that call right here." makiki-usisa ka lang eh. Tsk! No choice, sinagot ko yung tawag kahit nasa harapan ko lang si Sandro.

"Hello? Woy Simon. I'm still working." bungad ko.

"Oh shoot! Sorry, I didn't mean to disturb you. I just wanna remind you about our dinner tomorrow night" Simon said on the other line. I almost forgot na may dinner pala kami bukas, buti nalang pinalala niya. Ayan tuloy na pre-occupied na utak ko kaka-isip pano iwasan si Sandro.

"It's fine. Buti pinalala mo. Just text me the location.

"Oki doki. See yah!" then he hang up the call. Hindi ko man lang nasabi na andito yung kapatid niya.

"Why did he call? What does he need?" ayy? Marites yarn?

"Nag ask siya ng favor sakin last time nung nasa Ilocos tayo if we could make a video about these new products that they will be launching, might as well daw pwede ko gawan ng article." I explained.

"What? He could just ask his PR team. That Simon!" He groaned. He looked pissed.

"I didn't know na kukunin mo ako as your personal media manager kaya nakapag yes na ako kay Simon. Just let me do this for your brother." Ano ba yan?! Journalist yung trabaho ko pero parang iba na yata ito papunta.

"Fine. Just this once." He surrendered. Akala ko aangal pa siya, talagang di ko siya uurungan.

"So yeah. See you tomorrow, Sir. Good luck with your meeting—"

"Meeting cancelled." he simply said. What the?

"What?!"

"I said it's cancelled but you have to come with me." He's unbelievable! Cancelled yung meeting tas isasama ako sa lakad.

"San tayo pupunta?" na nanadya ata siya eh.

"Just shush and come with me" I narrowed my eyes looking at him. Sarap bigwasan eh. Alam na iniiwasan siya.

"I'll just get my stuffs." tumayo na ako saka akmang aalis na sana when he grabbed my wrist.

"Just be with me tonight. I'm sure you would love this." he said in a deep tone voice then parted the strands of my hair na tumabig sa mukha ko dahilan para manigas ang buong katawan ko sa pag dampi ng kamay niya sa mukha ko.

"B-bakit? Saan mo'ko d-dadalhin?" I stuttered. Dang it Erah! Umayos ka!

"You'll find out." he said and wink before he let go of my hand.