Boulevard to Polaris (Virago Series #1)

even the odds

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CHAPTER THIRTEEN
even the odds
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We transferred Caliem in the private room just like how I promised. And as usual, umayaw pa si Gazer sa desisyon ko pero at this point ay wala na rin naman siyang magagawa kasi napaayos ko na 'yung kwarto ro'n at si Caliem na lang ang kailangan.

I also pinpointed a schedule for his transplant at pwede na raw sila magsimula two weeks from now or a month from now kasi depende rin naman daw sa schedule ng donor. Speaking of donor as well, hindi ko pa rin talaga matanggal ang mata ko sa lalaking medyo may katandaan na sa harap ko; si Sir Ian Vuerrero.

Nagpaschedule kasi ako ng appointment sa binigay niyang calling card kay Gazer kaya heto kami ngayon sa isang local cafe far from the hospital and far from Gazer's place. 

Sinadya ko ring huwag isama si Gazer kasi for some reason, ayoko muna siyang makita na nawawalan ng sigla ulit. Nagpaalam lang ako that I'm meeting a friend pero ang totoo ay dito ako dumeretso.

I've been here since an hour or two ago. Nag-uusap lang kami about business mula pa kanina at ang plano ko sanang mag-transfer ng asset sa kompanya niya. That's the only way I think of so I can get close to him.

Turns out, Vuerreros aren't just your normal business connoisseurs. They're far more than that and this man in front of me just proved it. He's skeptical in his movements and very wise in his choice of words.

I can never decipher him while we're talking about our estates and stocks. It made me wonder if I can ever see Gazer behave like this since I still think that they're sharing the same blood.

"The Madrigals had always topple everyone in business. And knowing now that you're also a Tolliedo amazes me because both families are powerful not only across Visayas but the whole country as well. I remember how I looked up to them before as an aspiring business man, lalong-lalo na sa pinakamatandang anak ng mga Tolliedo. Avara Tolliedo-Madrigal, right?" He asked, and I nodded in surprise after hearing my family's marks because I have no idea how influential our surnames were in terms of business.

"Tita Avara is the embodiment of elegance and rationality when it comes to business, I heard. I can see a reason why you looked up to her." I added.

"Not only that, but Avara is a beautiful lady. Silang tatlo 'ata ng kapatid niya noon ang mukha ng Visayas mula Cadiz hanggang dito sa Siquijor. Oh, I kept remembering my youth dahil sa'yo, ija. Para ka ring kapatid ng Tres Marias ng Tolliedo noon." Tawa niya pa na sinabayan ko na lang din. 

Long time passed ever since I heard somebody complimented my features and how much I looked like my Mom and her sisters. 

"I've also heard your name multiple times whenever I'm in a board meeting with my colleagues. And you have no idea that I'm so delighted to hear that an honorable and beautiful woman such as you called to invite me for a cup of coffee. Ang daldal ko, ano?" He formally smiled at me, and I smiled back in response while sipping my coffee. Hindi rin nakalagpas sa paningin ko ang pasimpleng pagtingin niya sa kasuotan ko na parang kinikilatis niya kung ako ba talaga 'to.

Well, unlike the casuals I wear, I'm now wearing my beige-colored tube skirt, paired with my white three-fourth-sleeved polo na pinatungan ko ng classic beige-colored blazer din. And usually, 2-inches stacked heels lang talaga sinusuot ko but now I'm wearing a 4-inch white stilettos na kanina ko lang binili kasi sobrang bothered ako sa susuotin ko ngayong haharapin ko na ang tatay kuno ni Gazer.