The Ace of Hearts

Chapter 77: Named After Him

... 6 months later...

Mula sa labas ng bintana ay natuon ang tingin ko sa bag na nasa aking tabi. Bigla kasing tumunog ang cellphone ko kaya kinailangan ko munang halungkatin. There were actually two cellphones in my bag. One for personal matter and another for business attendings. Pastel pink for my personal phone and white naman para sa business. I took the white which was the one ringing.

When I saw who's calling me, agad ko itong sinagot, "Yes, Ionne Sheiñelle  Velrama speaking," bungad ko. Kasalukuyang umaarangkada ang kotseng sinasakyan ko. Nasa likuran ako habang may driver naman sa harapan ko. He's in his formal suit at naka-shades. You wouldn't believe kung saang organisasyon siya galing.

"Good evening, Miss Shein. The newly aboarded cards and chips are already here. Kakarating lang po nila and the delivery company demands your attention to validate the said assets."

Ngumiti ako, "Yes, I am actually on my way there. Wait for me. Thanks, Desa," ibinaba ko na ang tawag at ibinalik sa bag ang hawak na cellphone.

"Matatagalan pa ba tayo?" tanong ko sa driver at napatingin sa harapan. Mukha kasing traffic. We might take a bit longer to arrive.

"Yes, mam, but I know a secret passage. Ayos lang po ba if we take another route? Surely, my boss wouldn't like you being in a hussle," nakatingin siya sa front mirror.

Tumango ako, "Sure, do what makes the travel more efficient. I can't be late either," bigla niyang iniliko ang sasakyan sa isang iskinita at napatingin lang ako sa labas. Huminga ako ng malalim and just let him do his work.

After almost an hour, tumigil ang sasakyan, "We are here, mam," agad kong kinuha ang pastel pink na handbag.

"I'll call you when I need you, Mateo," binuksan ko ang pintuan.

Tumango ito nang hindi ako hinaharapan. Basta sa front mirror lang siya nakatingin, "Copy, mam."

Isinara ko ang pintuan at tumalikod. Natigilan ako at hindi mapigilang mapangiti dahil sa tanawin. There is a black building in front of me. Gawa ang mga ito sa itim na salamin. It is not that tall like the Rossino building back then yet, malaki ito at maihahalintulad sa isang stadium. A fully black stadium made with glass. There were also golden linings for the design part.

Ginastusan talaga namin 'to. We hired the best engineers and architect in constructing the place. We want it elegant, but at the same time, showing a calm and relaxed environment. Sobrang sarap sa pakiramdam kapag nasa harapan mo na ang mga bagay na pinaghihirapan mo date. Now, I just have to go inside.

Maraming mga sasakyan sa labas, this is the parking station of the place kasi. Most of them were luxury cars. Ang mga tao naman, may mga hawak na camera at kinukuhanan ang kabuuan ng building. Nakangiti ang lahat, as if seeming excited to enter the place but not yet. Some reporters are even scattered, totally talking about the place.