****
“Why do you resemble her? Bakit may singsing ka sa daliri mo? When did you get married? Wala siyang suot na singsing! But you have Shan! What’s going on?”
“Are you an Attorney?”
“Atty. Zillia Trifona Melanie Trillanes-Gopez.”
“Why are you freaking out?”
“Kumusta?” Tumayo nang maayos si Peyton at nakipagkamay sa nalilitong abogada.
“I was talking to Zillia first, Monteverde,” sabi ni Vienne sabay tayo mula sa sopa.
“I’m sorry.” Agad niyang bumalik sa kanyang laptop.
“It’s already past 9, can you tuck her to bed?”
“Sure, say good night to mommy Vienne, Shan.” Nang makapagpaalam ito ay magkahawak ang kamay na nagtungo sina Peyton at Shan sa elevator.
Pinanood pa nina Vienne at Ziya ang dalawa patungo sa taas.
“Refrain yourself from having plenty of questions, none of them would get an answer. Keep wondering.” Akmang hahakbang palayo na si Vienne kay Ziya subalit humawak ito sa kanyang braso.
“How do you want your birthday?”
“No celebration at all.”
“I filed a leave for a week, I told them my mother’s sick, God forbid me, now you’re saying no celebration at all?”
“It’s your idea to celebrate, execute a plan, manager.” Tinaasan niya ito ng mga kilay, nanatiling nakahalukipkip ang mga kamay habang marahan sa pahinto-hintong pagtapik ng takong niya sa sahig.
“Enzo will stay until November 12. Your parents are coming home on November 11 at dawn. Andito na ba lolo mo?”
“Yes.”
“Automatic, you have guests associated with business, and politics. Oh, invite the Chancellor nominees! We will throw an after party that’s why we’d need to start at six sharp in the evening,” sabi ni Ziya na noon ay nakaupo ng komportable sa inuupuan kanina ni Vienne, hawak niya ang isang panulat at papel.
“Venue?” Tanong ni Vienne nang maupo ito sa single sofa, abala siya sa pananaliksik sa mga balita sa YouTube.
“Mansiyon mo.”
“Food?”
“You’ll hire Italian and Japanese chefs.”
“Drinks?”
“Your wine cellars are wide open.”
Unti-unti niyang napagtanto na lahat din ng gastos ay kargo niya. Hinugot ni Vienne ang maitim na card mula sa wallet niya at saka ito inabot kay Ziya.
“You know Ariana Grande?”
“Yep!”
“Invite her to my birthday, to your after party.”
“You’re more into orchestral music, why are you inviting Grande? Oh, Peyton is a die hard fan of her. Alright,” tatango-tangong bigkas ni Ziya.
“You like her too, you danced with Yves like a slut in front of me,” walang kaabog-abog na sabi ni Vienne ngunit wala man lang kaemo-emosyon sa kanyang mukha. “Invite her at all costs. Good night.”
—Monteverde-Armani—
Mas pinili ni Peyton ang outdoor workouts. Kaya’t nang umuwi siya ay bitbit niya na ang pusa ni Vienne. Mabilis siyang naligo, nagluto ng agahan, at lumabas dahil wala na sa tabi niya ang pusa na kanina lamang ay naglalaro ng bola.
