59
"You both are the face and strength of Hotel Liance. The market will buy you." Yumi spoke.
I've been deciphering how they came up with this. Hindi ko makuha ng buo kung bakit kailangan naming pumunta doon at magpanggap sa media at sa mga tao.
"Korean media have been eyeing on you since they saw you at the Incheon Airport three months ago, Paris. You and Levence. Siguro ay hindi niyo ito nalaman pero naging matunog talaga kayo dito." She added.
"Yea." Tumango si Miko. "The heiress of the Luminance Group, is dating the only son of the Woo's. At magkasosyo sa iba't ibang klase ng business."
"The booming hotel chains of Luminance made it more interesting. Since the Nicam Gala will happen two days from now. Nabasa ko sa isang article na nagsimula ang hotel chains ng Luminance dahil ideya iyon ng anak ng Director. Ikaw ang tinutukoy. At ng anak ng isang mayamang-mayaman na stockholder ng Luminance mismo. That's Levence. Nakalagay sa article na kayong dalawa ang nag-conceptualize ng Hotel Liance. Dahil sa pagmamahalan niyo."
I don't know what is wrong with the media. They can twist the situation and add false colors into it. I don't even know where they got their source.
"If people knew about this, they'd be curious what's inside the Hotel Liance and the history of your so-called love story with Levence. They'd buy it. You know people nowadays. Mas interesado sila sa kwento."
Napabuntong hininga ako at sumalampak sa sofa ng sarili kong opisina. Dito ako dumiretso matapos kaming kausapin ni mama tungkol sa Nicam Gala na gaganapin sa Hongkong.
Yumi and Miko immediately ran to me. I called them.
Tinanong ko sa kanila kung kalat nga ba sa South Korea ang balitang may relasyon kami ni Levence. They confirmed.
"Kaya siguro kayo ang gustong ipadala doon. I'm sure your mom didn't like that. Kahit pa hoax ang lumabas na article tungkol sa pagkaka-establish ng Hotel Liance. The Board has the voting rights. Hindi siya basta-bastang pwedeng tumanggi. Lalo na kung para sa ikabubuti ng negosyo."
Yes. Mom didn't like it. She even had a tempered discussion with some of the board members. Even with Levence's dad.
Ang papa ni Levence ang nag-suggest na kami ang maging delegado ng Luminance. I have a suspicion where the media got their false sources but then confirming it won't change anything.
Mom didn't want the idea. Ayaw niyang magpanggap ako. Ayaw niya akong magsinungaling sa publiko.
But I guess this is inevitable.
"I'm sorry, honey... I tried to oppose. I disagreed. But the board members are positive. The media will buy it. Kayo ang ipupunta sa limelight. Only for the Gala, honey... For Hotel Liance?"
Nagsusumamo ang mukha ni mama nang sabihin niya iyon sa harapan namin ni Levence.
I couldn't say no, of course. Pumayag ako agad. Only that Levence spoke to me after mom talked to us.
"Paano si Vince?" Nagsalita siya sa aking gilid.
"He will understand. Magpapanggap lang tayong sweet sa media at papaniwalain natin silang nabuo ang Hotel Liance dahil sa atin. Tsaka dito lang siguro iyon sa South Korea. Huhupa rin. Maybe a month or two. And then we can go on with our lives. Me in the Philippines. And you to wherever you want."
Bilasang ngiti ang ipinakita ko sa kanya. I know he also didn't want what the board members agreed upon.
Knowing Levence, kahit pa sabihing nating nagkagusto siya sa akin ay hinding-hindi siya papayag sa ganitong set-up.
