Stranger's Bed

Chapter 1

"Ava, gising na. May presentation ka ngayon hindi ba?"

Napabalikwas ako sa kama ng marinig ko ang boses ni Manang. It's 8:30! 10 AM ang presentation ko at hindi pa ako naliligo!

I rushed into the bathroom at mabilisang naligo at nagbihis. Matapos kong mag-blow dry ng buhok ay bumaba na ako.

Naabutan kong nagbabasa ng dyaryo si Daddy habang sumisimsim ng kape. Humalik ako sa pisngi niya at nagmadaling kumuha ng french toast na nasa hapag.

I was about to get out of the house when he called me. "Do you need a ride, Ave? Your mom told me you have a presentation today."

Hindi na ako nag-isip pa at tumango na lang sa kanya. I could really use a ride right now that I'm running late. Tahimik kami sa sasakyan habang nagme-make up ako.

I'm not close with my Dad. He left us for another woman when I was 5. And he came back just months ago, before my graduation. I heard that his business went bankrupt and was closed. Then he had nothing left for a living. So he begged my mom to take him back.

"Anong oras ka ng umuwi kagabi? I was up till 2 AM pero hindi ka pa umuuwi."

I rolled my eyes and continued with what I'm doing. "5 AM, Dad. Mom doesn't usually fuss with me going out. She knows my friends and she knows where I'm at."

Hindi na siya sumagot at inabala ko nalang ang sarili ko sa aking cellphone.

May mga mensaheng iniwan si Jared doon na humihingi ng tawad. Ilang beses din siyang nag-miss call. Bumuntong hininga ako at ipinagsawalang bahala ang mga iyon.

Binura ko ang mga mensahe niya at binasa ang sa mga kaibigan ko.

From: Krea

Where have you been last night? You were gone when I woke up! Are you alright?

From: Ivy

Ave, where are you? Did you get home safely? I called Krea and she told me you were nowhere to be found last night. You have a presentation today at 10, right?

Kinagat ko ang aking labi at mabilis na nag-isip ng sagot. Ivy's text was 20 minutes ago and she would call me non-stop if I don't respond to her after an hour!

To: Ivy

Sorry Iv, I was too wasted to go back to Krea. I saw my old friend at the dancefloor and he took me home. I'm on my way to Marco Polo right now. See you later.

To: Krea

I'm so sorry I was wasted as well last night. My old friend took me home. I'm okay, Krea. How did you get home?

Memories of last night came flashing through my mind. I still can't remember who was that man. What was his name and why did he take me into his unit.

And... did we 'do' that thing?

No! Agad kong ipinilig ang ulo ko to shoo those thoughts away. Napasulyap sa akin si Dad pero hindi na siya nagtanong.

I immediately went out when the car stopped at Marco Polo. I uttered my usual thanks to Dad before blasting inside the hotel.

Inayos ko ang aking suot at siniguro ang mga gamit para sa presentation. Dalawa dapat kami ni Joshua sa pagpe-present ng design na ito kung hindi lang siya nagkasakit kahapon.

Iginiya ako ng sekretarya ni Mr. Del Mundo sa waiting area. Tatlo pang mukhang magpe-present din ang nauna sa akin doon.

Nang pinapasok na kami ay nakaupo na ang limang lalaking naka-amerikana at seryoso ang mukha. The board of the Hotel group.

Ang nasa gitna ay ang CEO at may-ari ng Marco Polo group na si Mr. Peter Xi. Ang dalawang nasa kaliwa niya ay isang medyo may edad na at ang isa naman ay mukhang nasa kanyang early thirties. Sa kanan ni Mr. Xi ay namukhaan ko si Mr. Del Mundo, ang matalik na kaibigan ng CEO at ang General Manager ng Marco Polo Ortigas. Sa kanyang tabi naman ay isang lalaking pamilyar sa akin.

Mestizo at may pagkakahawig kay Mr. Del Mundo. I'd guess that he's his son. His shoulders are well defined and his biceps are hugged by his coat as if he just finished working out on them. Matangos ang kanyang ilong at bahagyang malaki at malalim ang kanyang mga mata na parang sa manika. His gaze is piercing right through us as if he's waiting for everyone to commit mistakes. He's even scarier than the CEO!

He locked his gaze in mine and I did the same. Ilang sandali ko pa siyang tinitigan sapagkat hindi ko mawari kung saan ko nga ba siya nakita. Natigil ang pag-iisip ko when he cleared his throat and motioned for us to start. I probably just saw him on magazines or something.

Matapos mag-present ng tatlong nauna sa akin ay ako naman ang humarap sa kanila. I greeted them all the same and started with my presentation.

Everyone is intently listening with my presentation but that man... he just stares at me as if he was trying to figure out who I really am.

Nang matapos ako ay nagsimula na silang magtanong tungkol sa aking design.

Unang nagtanong sa akin si Mr. Del Mundo.

"Sa'yong idea lang ito, hija?"

Umiling ako at ngumiti sa kanila. "No Sir. I have a partner who helped me conceptualize these ideas but unfortunately, he is sick today."

"So why do you think we should get this design of yours and not theirs?" Agad na nalipat ang tingin ko sa lalaking mukhang anak ni Mr. Del Mundo.

"Well, my design is a jive of nature and contemporary. Something that they forgot to offer. We want our guests not to feel too alienated by too much nature. We want them to feel the presence of the urban life they came from as well as take a rest from it. And aside from its minimalistic design, it also features different edges of aesthetic concepts which would always be adjustable according to the way you want it."

This will be a big project for me if I close this deal. Marco Polo is planning to branch out in Palawan and they want it done in the next two years. That's why they went to search for a design that would cover both interior and exterior aspects of the project.

"Really, you can adjust it to whatever we want? How about if we want you to change everything you made?" Nakangising tanong niya sa akin.

I cleared my throat before answering his question. "My apologies Mr. Del Mundo, but I think you won't be needing me and my design if you want to change everything."

Kalmado at nakangiti lang ang iba pang mga lalaki which made me lose the tension I'm feeling. And the nerve of this guy to ask me questions like that! We're not even acquaintances!

Ilang sandali pa silang nag-usap ng mahina. Matapos ay nagtanguan ang mga lalaki at umubo ang matandang Del Mundo.

"Thanks to all of you for coming. We will let you know whoever we choose by tomorrow afternoon. You may go."

Agaran kong niligpit ang aking laptop at mga gamit. I can't wait to get out of this room. The air in this room is polluted because of that man!

Nakipag-kamayan pa ako sa board bago magtungo sa pinto. Napatigil naman ako nang may umubo sa aking likod. Agad kong nilingon ang pamilyar at mahanging mukha ng lalaking nagpahiya sa akin kanina.

"Ms. Angeles, I'm very disappointed that you forgot my name so quickly."

Ilang sandali pa akong naestatwa sa hamba ng pinto kung saan niya ako iniwang tulala.

"We've met before?" Tanong ko sa sarili ng hindi ko na halos maaninag ang papalayong pigura niya.