When You Were Mine

Chapter 35

"MS. FORD, I thought I already told you kung ano ang hindi ko nagustuhan sa huling presentation niyo?" Pagputol ng lolo ni Dan sa kasalukuyan kong pagpe-present para sa proposal namin.

"Yes Don, in fact we've made some changes—"

"There is slight changes yes, but all in all it's still the same."

"But if you look closely—"

"I don't need to look closely to know that I didn't—"

"Hmn, I liked it though."

Napatingin ako kay Michelle sa sinabi niya, she smile and winked at me.

"You liked it?" Napakunot noong tanong ng Don.

"Yes, it's cool. Though I don't think I have a say in this right? My father is the board member, I'm just his representative." She shrug her shoulder.

"But how can this presentation can actually be of help para sa renovation ng isa sa pinakamatanda at malaking hotel namin? Can't you see this is—"

"That's enough."

Natigilan ang lahat at napatingin kay Dan na nakaupo sa dulo at puno ng mahabang conference table.

"Give me the contract and I'll sign it."

"What?! Daniel Jorge!" Pag-alma ng lolo niya.

"I'm the CEO of this company and I've decided. Give me the damn contract and I'll sign it." Tiim bagang na sabi niya bago tumayo at lumabas ng conference room.

"Wow! Congrats Kathy!"

"We did it! We got the project!"

Masayang lumapit sina Mara at Justin sa akin.

But instead na matuwa ay napasunod na nalang ako ng tingin kay Dan nang nakamaang. "Sandali lang ah, I need to talk to him."

"Why—"

Hindi ko na sila hinintay at mabilis rin na lumabas ng kwarto.

I burst inside Dan's office without knocking and find him leaning on his desk with crossed arms, looking down.

"Why did you do that?!"

Napaangat siya ng tingin sa akin. "Do what?"

"Yung sa meeting! Ano yun, bigla mo na lang in-accept ang proposal namin without even listening to our full presentation?"

"Kathy naman, you got the project hindi ka pa ba masaya?"

"Is this your way para bumawi sa akin? Then no, I won't accept it. Yes I wanted this project but not when it was given to me out of pity."

"Pity? Kathy! I accept this proposal dahil gusto ko, hindi ba pwedeng yun na lang ang dahilan? Bakit kailangan mo pa bigyan ng ibang rason?"

"Because I was being grilled there! Hindi mo ba nakita kung paanong pinapamukha sa akin how much they disliked our proposal then suddenly you'd go with this project? Ano ang iisipin ko?"

"Exactly! I was saving your face, ayoko ng ginagawa sayo sa meeting, ayoko na pinahihirapan ka nila at nasasaktan kaya ko ginawa yun."

I chuckled at nag-iwas ng tingin, gritting my teeth. "How ironic huh? Ayaw mo akong masaktan at mahirapan when you're the one who hurt me the most and the reason kung bakit ako nahihirapan."

Napatiim bagang siya. "Seriously Kathy? Anong katigasan ba ang meron dyan sa dibdib mo? Lahat na lang ba ng gawin ko mali at hinding hindi mo na ba ako mapapatawad?"

Natigilan ako sa sinabi niya, siguro nga ang tigas ko na dahil hindi ko magawang buksan ang isip ko para sa kanya. "Ang dali lang sana magpatawad kung sana hindi mo ako pina-ulit ulit na pagmukhaing tanga."