Giovanni Clark: Gone Crazy (Golden Child Series #1)

Chapter 22

Chapter 22

CBI Awards (Part 2)

"Are you okay? What happened? Bakit kayo pinatawag?"

Pagkalabas ng boardroom, naabutan ko si Kuya Orpheus na naghihintay sa labas ng silid.

Napaahon siya mula sa pagkakasandal sa dingding para lumapit sa akin, seryoso at kritikal ang pag-aalala sa hitsura.

"K-Kuya... uh... may misunderstanding at..." Wala sa sarili akong napailing. "I don't know, Kuya. I was so... confused."

Iyon ang totoo. Kahit na-settle na sa usapan ang hindi pagkakaintindihan sa pagitan ng Mackenzie at Southern Valley, matindi pa rin ang pagkalito at kaba ko sa nangyari.

Sunod-sunod din, kalaunan, na nagsilabasan ang iba upang bumalik sa mga station. Sabay kaming napatingin ni Kuya roon. Tahimik akong tumabi para magbigay-daan.

Nang pagkakataon na ni Mr. Giovanni lumabas kasabay si Ian Bernardino at Mr. Blanco, sinundan ko ito ng tingin pagkalagpas sa akin.

"Ophelia? What are you still doing here? Oh!" Natigilan si Ate Michelle nang napansin ang katabi kong kapatid.

Pagkabalik sa akin ng tingin, nakataas na ang mga kilay nito. Alam ko na agad ang ibig sabihin ng hitsurang iyon.

"Kuya, this is Ate Michelle Velasco, one of my teammates. Ate Michelle," lingon ko muli rito. "This is my older brother, Orpheus Rizieri Mallari."

Tumango si Kuya at tipid na ngumiti, halatang nagiging civil lang kahit bakas sa hitsura na gusto pa akong kausapin.

Sa kabilang banda, pansin ko ang multong ngiti sa mga labi ni Ate Michelle kahit pinipilit nitong i-compose ang sarili.

"Nice meeting you, uh... Orpheus. How supportive of your brother, Ophelia, to come and visit you here!"

Hiya akong napasapo sa aking batok. "Actually, he's not a guest. He's one of our opponents, Ate Michelle. He's from Rouxton..."

Her eyes widened as soon as she realized.

"Oh! I'm sorry! Explains the familiar logo..." tukoy nito sa suot ni Kuya.

Before the conversation strays any further, Kuya narrowed his eyes at me for a second before turning to Ate Michelle, clearing his throat

"That's okay. Glad to meet you, too, Michelle. I really do. But as much as I'd like to contin-"

"Kuya," I cut him off.

Mataman itong lumingon sa akin.

"Kailangan na naming maghanda sa business plan presentation... Mamaya na lang tayo mag-usap."

Nakatulong ang bahagyang pagtango ni Ate Michelle. Later on, Kuya was left with no choice but to strain a nod.

"We'll discuss this later. All details provided."

Napalunok ako pero sa huli ay labag sa loob na tumango. Nauna na itong umalis sa kabilang direksiyon kaya naman pumanhik na rin kami ni Ate Michelle sa station namin.

I was secretly snatching glimpses of Mr. Giovanni. While busy maneuvering the laptop and the big screen, he looked unbothered to what had just happened.

I wished I could act like that. As if nothing happened. But I think... I think I was involved. I was thrown into this pitfall without my knowledge.

Kunot-noo akong napaiwas ng tingin upang ibalik ang atensiyon sa hawak na briefer.

All the other members were disturbed by the encounter, sure. But they seemed all relieved now compared to earlier. Unlike them, my mind was still filled with questions. Pabalik-balik sa isipan ang mga nangyari kanina.