Love in a Rush II (LR 2)

47

KINABUKASAN, HINATID NI GERARD SI SHAYLA SA OPISINA, BAGO TUMUNGO SA BARANGAY. He was thankful that she didn't insist to go with him. Otherwise, he would feel conscious if Shayla was around, and he wasn't sure how he would be able to deliver his speech. Fortunately, Shayla agreed to stay in the office because she had a lot of things to do. Kailangan nitong mag-turn over ng trabaho sa bagong hire na Account Executive para sa Pizzo Non-Life Insurance. Kailangan din nitong mag-update ng schedules niya, at umattend ng meeting on his behalf, dahil nga wala siya sa opisina ngayon araw na ito.

Ngunit napansin niyang halos buong araw ay hindi ito nagtetext o tumatawag man lang sa kanya. Nang matapos ang kanyang gathering sa iba't ibang Barangay ay kaagad siyang sumakay sa kanyang Alphard, at sinubukan tumawag kay Shayla ngunit hindi ito sumasagot.

Napagdesisyonan niyang tawagan na lamang si Peachy.

"Hi Peachy. Is Shayla's meeting with the board done?" tanong niya.

"Uhm, yes, Sir. But she's in another meeting po."

"Another meeting? What meeting?" taka niyang tanong.

"It's a meeting with Pizzo Non-Life Group. Dumating po kasi ang chairman ng USC, and they are meeting with Sir Percival po. Pina-join na rin po si Ma'am Shayla."

"USC? You mean Utt Sanders Company?" tanong niya.

"Y-yes, Sir..." Peachy was unsure if she would have to state the obvious. He had the feeling that she knew of his antipathy towards Utt Sanders.

He clenched his jaw before he spoke. "Okay, Peachy. Thank you."

After they spoke, he dialed Shayla's number again but she still did not answer. He decided to send her a text message instead, but noticed that he has a message in his inbox. He opened it and realized it was from his wife.

"Hon, Percival invited me to join the meeting with Utt as your representative. He would like to invest kasi on PGC. Hindi ko nga lang nasabi kay Percival na I want to go home early sana kasi kailangan bumili ng fairy wings nina Gwen at Bree for their presentation tomorrow in school. Kakanta yung mga anak natin. : ) I'm very excited. Ok lang ba for you na i-accompany ang mga bata sa mall? If not, maglalakas na ako ng loob na magpaalam kay Percival. Love you and only you kaya wag na manlalaki yang butas ng ilong mo at mag-aamok ng away ha?"

Hindi siya mapakali. He had to call her despite knowing she must probably be still in a meeting as of the moment. Thankfully, he mustered to control himself, and stop bugging Shayla.

Huminga siya ng malalim, at pilit na pinakalma ang sarili.

Yeah, he was overly possessive, he thought. And it was not a good thing if he trusted his wife, right? He asked himself.

Mariin siyang napapikit at sumandal na lamang sa kanyang upuan. Si Mang Ed naman ay pinagmamasdan pala siya.

"Didirecho pa ba tayo sa opisina, Ardy?" tanong ng matanda.

"Wag na Mang Ed..." hindi niya mapigilan sumimangot. "Direcho na tayo sa bahay."

Simula pagkabata ay si Mang Ed na ang kasa-kasama niya at family body guard, kung kaya't alam nito kung kailan siya may dinadamdam.

"Tinext nga pala ako ni Ma'am Shayl, dahil hindi ka raw sumasagot sa text message niya. Ang sabi niya ay ipasabi sa'yo na sina Gwen at Bree ang papiliin mo ng fairy wings."

He crossed his arms and looked out the window. Ilang saglit pa ay binalingan na niya ang kanyang fon.

"Pls call me when you're free. Thanks." Pinadala niya ang text message kay Shayla.