Calming the Storm

Kabanata 8

Nakakrus ang dalawang braso ko habang tanaw tanaw ang likod ni Ramiel. Dala niya ang lahat ng bag namin. Paminsan minsan siyang lumilingon sa akin at lagi ko naman siyang iniirapan! Buong biyahe namin ay good mood siya. Samantalang ako? Unting unting naba-badtrip sakaniya.

Kaya ito kami ngayon.

Pupunta daw muna kami sa villa sa isang private resort dito sa Aklan.

"We will eat our lunch. I will be having my meeting too. So expect some people to eat with us. Is that okay?"

"Why are you asking? Pag sinabi ko bang ayoko, hindi mo sila isasabay?" panunudyo ko.

"You don't like it? I'll resched—"

"Shut up! Ayos lang sa akin. Ganito naman talaga di ba? I will come with you to your business meetings here and there," halos tarantang pigil ko sa kahibangan niya.

This man! He's even willing to reschedule his meetings? Just for what? Because it wasn't okay with me?

The waitress guided us to a table with the best view of the island. There were two young men, probably around Ramiel's age, already sitting. They were chitchatting until they saw us.

"Ram," bati nila at tumingin sa akin.

"This is Audra Vellozo. Audra, they are my business partners."

"The fuck, Ram? What's with the formality?" one the guy chuckled. "I'm Caius La Ruel. Ram's cousin. This is Ismael Ruiz de Gallano."

"Dude, I can introduce myself."

"Shut the hell up. We will start our meeting," pigil sakanila ni Ramiel at bumaling sa akin. "Wag mo sila pansinin. I'll order you your shake. You want pineapple?"

Tumango ako. May pagkain na sa hapag. Sa tingin ko ay hindi lang naman sila magkakilala sa negosyo. Ang isa ay pinsan pa niya. I think they are all friends too.

Inasikaso ni Ramiel ang pagkain ko. Nakita ko pa ang ngisi ni Caius nang maabutan si Ramiel sa ginagawang paglagay ng kanin at ulam sa pinggan ko.

"Ram, you're doing well with our chains of hotel. Lola even wants you to handle the entire real estate. Anyway, since we have another one here in Aklan, they are expecting a lot from us. We will collaborate with the Contrera for the port so the Ruiz could be in line with our vision too."

"Yes, Caius. I'll get Rion or Abel anytime soon."

"Just go for Rion. Gabriel is fucking senseless these days," Ismael chuckled. "All for a woman."

"What's the difference with Rion?" Caius and Ram chuckled too.

"Mukhang may mas isip si Rion ngayon kaysa kay Abel. The Del Alcazars are doing well with his leading. They continued being on top. They have the best engineers and architects too. If we will succeed to have a contract with them this month, it will probably only take a few months before the hotel is completely built. No matter how complex the design is."

"We will keep the trademark of our hotel. Just assess the availability of transportation and access to our island. I don't want our future guests  have difficulties travelling to unwind," ani Ramiel at nilagyan pa ako ng ulam nang mapansin na paubos na ang kinakain ko.

Halos mamula ako dahil sa ginagawa niya. He's so attentive to my food that even when he's talking about serious matters, he notices my plate and attends to it.

"You like your shake?" tanong niya sa kalagitnaan ng usap nila. Making Caius and Ismael wait for my answer too!

"Okay lang. Masarap," agap ko.