TUXEDO TALKS

1 •

OLIVE

I swallowed bago ko siya sagutin. "Uhh- okay okay lets start with Mr. Noah" Tumayo ang panganay ng Leroux at inimbitahan niya ko sa isang kuwarto kung saan naka handa ang dalawang upuan at may isang mesa sa gitna.

Tingin ko ginawa talaga nila to para sa interviews dahil sa itsura ng kuwarto. Malaki ang kuwartong to, Kasing laki siguro ng kalahati ng isang malaki na Gym.

Naupo ako at inihanda ko na ang mga tanong na ibinigay sakin ng manager namin.

"So how do you feel about your success mister noah?" He smiled at inayos niya ang kaniyang upo.

"Ofcourse i feel great. I mean after all my hardworks, Lumago rin ang kumpanya namin. By the way just call me Noah" He answered. Tumango ako at isinulat ko kaagad ang sagot niya sa dala kong notebook.

"What's your greatest secret to gain success?" This is quite specific. Hindi ko rin alam kung bat ganto ang mga tanong ng manager ko.

"Inspiration." Matipid niyang sagot and that made me raise my eyebrows. Hindi sapat ang sagot niya.

"Uhh who's your inspiration?" Hindi niya ko sinagot and instead ay tumayo siya.

"Come with me." Tumayo narin ako at sinundan ko siya. Papunta ata kami sa loob ng kuwarto niya and when he's about to open it, i asked.

"Uhh Noah? Can you answer the question first?" Napaka bastos, Tinatanong ko pa siya tapos iiwanan niya ko dito?

He looked directly at my eyes with his smile again at tiyaka niya binuksan ang kuwarto niya. Sinenyasan niya ko na pumasok kaya't dahan dahan kong pinasok ang kuwarto niya at doon nakita ko ang napakalaking painting ng isang babae.

"She's my inspiration. Cindere Dereine." Napakunot ang noo ko. I thought that he's single. Nakita ko ang sagot niya sa isang article about his lovelife and he said that he doesnt have one.

"Where is she?" I'm just really confused oh baka naman gusto niya lang talagang itago?

"She's always inside my heart" Seriously? Hindi ko alam na may pagka corny pala ang mga leroux, Well everyone has a different side that is barely shown.

Nakatingin lang siya dun sa portrait, Touching it like its real. Tinignan ko ulet ang notebook ko to see if there's still any questions left- there is one last question.

"Uhh Noah, Anong pakiramdam ng maging isang leroux?" Natigilan siya at napatingin siya sakin.

"Being part of this family? Well if you're a leroux, You're going to have to be a person who's far from the real you. You need to do everything base on the task that was given to you perfectly. Kilala mo na ang head diba? That old bastard. He was the reason of this all. 'Simon Odeil Leroux' our father. Nag iba ang ugali niya simula nang mawala ang mom. He's been bitter for like five years since that day when our mom died cause of her cancer."

I think thats already too much. Tinanguhan ko siya and i thanked him for his time. Ininterview ko narin ang ibang leroux.. lahat sila maayos naman ang mga sagot pero ang nag stay sa utak ko ay ang sagot ni Noah. He's the second head and the most serious one and i wonder how that girl 'Cindere' handle his attitude.

- - -

NOAH LEROUX

That girl was something. Inaayos ko ang aking suit at umupo ako sa terrace with my whisky.

Sumulyap ako sa painting ni Cindere. Hindi siya namatay, i know she's hiding somewhere para iwasan ako.

She's running over and over inside my mind since i first met her. Kinuha ko ang framed picture naming dalawa at tinignan ko ulit ang itsura niya.