Aleckxe

CHAPTER 3

"I'm sorry I was late. May tinulungan akong magandang binibini kanina, If I may emphasize." Nakangiti nitong pahingi ng paumanhin. Naubo siya sa sinabi nito kaya napalingon sa kanya lahat. 

"Ehem. Okay. So should we start?" abrupt niyang salo sa sarili. 

"If you please." Tugon ni Drei na mukhang nang-iinis. Paano'y nakangiti talaga ang mokong. Mukhang nang-iinsulto.  

"I'll do my bestest to the ends of the earth if that would surprise you, Mr. Alfonse." Tigas niyang balik rito. 

Binuksan na ang malaking LCD screen para masimulan ang presentation nila. Kahit na ilang na ilang siya sa mga titig ng dating bestfriend niya, tuluyan niya ng inilagay ang pokus niya sa ginagawa. 

"Our works are the result of our restless days and nights, skip of meals, gradual change of concept, uniqueness, and brainstorming for this week. I present to you, our concept." Nag-flash sa screen ang malaking 3D exterior and interior design ng proposed concept niya. Nagpalabas siya ng iba-ibang topics, concept origin, small ads at iba-ibang images ng urban areas at recreational activities, especially for summer.  

"We must admit for a fact that almost all designs and concepts are of common sttings and origins. Like beaches and resorts which are usually located seaside. Other recreational activities are out of reach when we're too busy with our paperworks and family. Fun is never enjoyed unless we plan for it." Wala pa ring reaksyon ang mga ito kaya may bigla siyang naisip. 

"Let me play your imagination, gentlemen. Let's do a scenario. You are bound from work, with so much papers to get done, and too near to enjoy summer vacation or outing. Your boss demands a great effort from you. Just so in time your loving wife requested you to accompany her. She plans on spending her summer for a shopping spree. Your children would all oppose. Your eldest daughter, after too much stress and pressure from College Studies, offered you she would love to go to the beach to ease her mind and enjoy fresh air and inner peace. Your son would rebel and tells you he loves scouting so much and would want to go with you for a father-and-son manly camping. Your youngest daughter cried and forced you to accompany her on amusement parks and would hate you if not given. And you, of all people, would be demanded to choose a tension-breaking, nerve-wrecking decision that would affect your family's summer. What would you do?" Napatango ang lahat ng mga personnels doon, maliban kay Drei. Bukod kasi sa kanya, lahat ng naroon ay mga ama na. Siya lamang ang nakakunot ang noo. 

"Would you leave all your paperworks and go with your wife for a whole summer shopping spree and let your children exhaust of boredom? Or would you accept your daughter's offer and leave your son rebel and your youngest crying? Is it choosing your son's manly one-on-one camping time and let your girls sacrifice their comfort? Or granting your youngest's request and leave your family hating their summer?" 

Sa kalagitnaan ng kakaseryoso niya'y nahagip ang tingin niya kay Drei na humihikab. Kumulo ang dugo niya sa sobrang inis. Aba'y ang demonyo talaga kahit kailan, tukso. Ang sarap mag-wild at pagsusuntukin sa sikmura.

"Or can I give a suggestion?" pilit ang ngiti niyang tanong kay Drei. 

"What do you suggest?"  

" What if we locate those four amazing FUNS in one place? Choose a big rural space where activities such as climbing and camping can be possible? Build malls somewhere at the attractive part of the establishment, and provide resorts or any relaxing places where it can be. See? An instant access. Whether it is planned or an impromptu vacation, all choices should be available and no worries of having a nerve-wrecking decision-making to do." Napatayo lahat ng personnels doon at nagpalakpakan. Sobrang saya niya because their idea worked! 

"Nice idea!" 

"Excellent!" 

"Brilliant! Bravo! That is such a wonderful concept. What do you say, Mr. President?" tanong ni Mr. Buenavieja, isang stockholder ng Alfonse Corporation. Tensed siya sa naging facial expression ni Drei. He seemed distant and very serious, hindi kagaya kanina. 

"I believe we where all pleased with this idea. All bodies have the same opinion or is there someone opposed to this?" walang sumagot kahit isa. "Alright. So this idea would do. Let's finalize this concept and we will start two weeks after the contract signing. This conference is dismissed." Mahaba nitong wika saka nilapitan ang kanyang trusted employees, at si Mr. Buenavieja. Siya nama'y naghintay lamang sa may corner hawak-hawak ang contract. Pagdako'y nilapitan siya ng mga ito saka pumirma na. 

"That was a splendid presentation hija. Tinulungan mong mabunutan ng tinik ang mga ama na kagaya ko in that aspect. I was surprised for you to come up with unique ideas. Make your way to the top. Godd luck." Napangiti siya sa compliments and advice na binigay ni Mr. Buenavieja. This old man is such an inspiration., isip niya. 

"Thank you Sir. I will do my utmost best to create my own title in this field, large enough to reach your ears. Thank you." Pagpapasalamat niya. Hinatid niya na ito papalabas kaya nakita niyang kinakausap ni Drei ang isang magandang babae sa lobby. Mukhang sweet pa sila kaya lalo tuloy siya nainis.  

"A perfect womanizer. Sana hindi ka na lang um-attend ng meeting. Wala ka namang ibang ginawa dito kundi lumandi." Inis na baling niya sa sarili. Saka niya nakita na hinalikan ito sa pisngi nung babae. Napalingon si Drei sa dako niya kaya huling-huli siya sa akto na nainis sa nakita. Napangiti ito ng sobrang sweet. Namula tuloy siya ngunit sinaway niya ang sarili nang papalapit na sa ito sa kanya. 

"Hey. Congrats. You did well in that presentation." Bungad nito. 

"I didn't know you're my client." 

"You should've asked. Afterall, we were bestfriends, right?" Napatawa ito kaya lalo lang siyang nainis. Hinawakan nito ang kamay niya pero pinali niya ang kamay nito.  

"Hindi kita kilala. Hindi ikaw ang Drei na naging bestfriend ko dati. You're a complete stranger. I have to go now, playboy." Diniin niya ang huling salita. She was too dissapointed with what happened to his former friend. Umalis na siya bigla at kinausap ang crew niya. Bago umalis si Drei ay tinitigan nito ang mukha niya pero wala siyang pakialam. Nag-announce siya ng after-party para sa tagumpay nila. Ang lakas ng sigaw ng crew niya dahil sa Big Bang na nakuha nila.

His thoughts were filled with Aleckxe. Everything. Kung paanong ang timing na nagkita sila kanina. Na ito pala ang persona ng appointment niya. That she became very dangerous and intelligent. Na mukhang lumala ang pagiging mailap nito sa kanya. Na nagkita na sila ulit after 8 years. That she became a very beautiful lady and oozing with sexiness... Napangiti siya sa huling naisip. He became very naughty dealing with girls. Hindi pa rin pala nawala ang dating attitude nito aside from one thing¬ -na nagsuot ito ng dress. Kilalang-kilala na niya pati bituka ni Aleckxe. She hates wearing dresses or even thinking about it. Or maybe not anymore, isip niya. What would 8 long years do? Enough to change an attitude. Break relationships. Find new ones. Make single ladies turn to commitment-COMMITMENT? 

"What are you thinking Drei? Stop it. Imposible naman yatang nakasal na siya these past years. Maybe she had a child already. Or a loving husband na mahal na mahal niya. Or, or... Oh shit. This is catastrophe." Iling na na lang ang nagawa niya. All he can do is pray, na sana hindi pa nga. That would be terrible for him. Matagal niyang hinintay ang pagkakataong ito. He would not waste it. Kung pwedeng paghiwalayin niya ito at ang mahal na asawa nito, he'll certainly do it. Nakuha na niya pala ang contact ni Aleckxe dun sa babaeng nilapitan niya kanina sa lobby. Naalala niya pa ang ginawa niyang taktika... 

"Hello, pretty. Would you mind answering my query?" saka niya ito nginitian ng ubod-tamis. Kinilig talaga ang chick. Saka sumagot ng "Of course, Handsome." Dinahilan niya na kinailangan na niyang umalis ngunit hindi niya nahingi ang contact nung interior designer na nasa loob. Binigay nito ang paper na may numerong mukhang landline at isang number na sinabi ng babae ay sa kanya raw. Napatawa lang siya. Hindi naman niya hiningi. Nag-request pa itong humalik sa pisngi niya kaya pinaubaya niya na. Saka niya nakitang inis ang nakapinta sa mukha ni Aleckxe. 

"I don't know much, but I'm sure na inis ang nakapinta sa mukha niya kanina. Could it be-? Uh. No Drei. That would be really impossible. Nakita mo naman kanina 'diba? Coldness. Freezing point. Walang emosyon. She was too different." Pakli niya sa sarili.