Just like that

Chapter 4

"MAM, You have an 10:30 meeting today with the President of CGC. He wants to talk about the upcoming project that he and Sir Saite made."

She massaged her forehead and looked up to her father's secretary.

"Okay, Jeremy. Please remind me again for it later. You may go back to work."

Sumunod naman ito sakanya at lumabas sa Opisina ng kanyang ama. Siya ngayon ang namamahala ng kanilang kompanya dahil naki-usap ang Ama niya na kung pwede bang siya muna ang umasikaso sa lahat.

Ilang buwan rin ang itatagal niya dito dahil inatake nanaman sa puso ang kanyang ama at hindi niya kayang-hindian ang ama niyang nakaratay sa hospital bed.

She loves her father so much and she will do anything to make him feel better by agreeing in handling the company.

Nabahala rin naman ang kanyang ina kaya pinaki-usapan rin siya nito. Sa mga nakaraang taon ang Dad niya ang namahala nito. Simula noong maliit sila ng kuya niya. Kahit pa na naka-graduate na si Kuya Clark ay hindi ito paawat sa pag-tatrabaho. Siya parin ang CEO at ang kuya niya ay COO pa lamang. Napag-uusapan rin naman iyon nila na huwag nang mag-trabaho ang Dad dahil medyo kaidaran narin.

"I'm sorry, anak. But for your father's health, please." Those words swirl around her head. Pinakiusapan siya ng mommy niya.

Alam kasi ng mga eto na ayaw niyang humawak ng kompanya nila. Kaya ganun nalamang ang paki-usap nito. She dont want to see her parents like this that's why she agreed. Atsaka wala ang kuya niya ngayon sa bansa. As I remember, he's staying there more than a month. It's a company project and deals with foreign investors.

Nakita naman niya ang saya na bumalatay sa mukha ng mommy niya nang pumayag siya.

Sa ngayon nasa Hospital parin ang Ama niya at inoobserbahan pa.

She sighed. Sumasakit ang ulo niya kakaisip sa kompanya niya at ng Daddy niya.

Namomroblema siya ngayon dahil dalawang kompanya ang hinahawakan niya. Inaasahan niya sana ang kanyang kaibigan na si Camilla kaso MIA ito. Missing in Action ang bruha. Nang tinawagan niya ito cannot be reached. Malilintikan talaga sakanya yung babaeng yun. Pero hindi niya rin maiwasan mag alala sa kaibigan.

But then it's been a week since that incident in the bar happened.

She saw him.

After 5 years she saw the man that she loved. The man that is so dear to her. The man that she gave it all. Every piece of her.

She loved him selflessly. She loved him all, give him all without hesitation, without thinking of herself. Who settled for less than she desereve.

To the man that she loved but in return she got betrayed and played.

Just like that, she stumbled down on her knees. Bleeding but no can see. Screaming in silence for the pain that she felt but no one can hear.

But now, she is not that anymore. She build herself up, and saying to herself to stand up even when it feels like everything is crashing down. She is not that kind anymore.

She got back on her revelrie when someone knocked on the door. And her dad's secretary popped up.

"Mam, 10 minutes before the meeting." Oh right! She'll just busy herself with work para wala siyang maisip na iba.

Then she prepared. Retouch and such. And she'a ready.

"The proposal of Mr. Arellano is---"

Jeremy is discussing about the proposal while we are heading to the conference room. I cant concentrate and I cant even understand what he is saying. Lumiko kami sa hall at pinagbuksan ako ng pintuan ni Jeremy. I muttered my thank you to him and he just nodded.

My heels clicked on the floor as I enter the room there is a big oak round table that can accomodate 20 people. This room is very spacious. She saw an wide screen that will view the presentations in every meeting here.

There are Old men maybe in their late 50's talking and get silent as we enter.

"Good morning." I greeted. Nakita ko naman na inayos na ni Jeremy ang projector and laptop.

Tumikhim naman ang mga ito pakarinig sakanya.

"Good morning! You must be the daughter of Franco?" Magiliw na bati sakanya ng isang matandang singkit na medyo may katabaan.

"Yes, sir. I'm Natalie Ross Saite. An acting CEO for now. My father is in hospital and he is under observation." Sagot ko naman.

"Yes yes. I've heard that news. So can we start?"

"Sure, sir."

Napatigil ako sa paglalakad ng makita niyang may nakatitig sakanya.

Remyr. How his stare makes me stop. Very intense.

What is he doing here?

"Uh, Mam?" Rinig niyang sabi ni Jeremy na may pagtataka.

Her heart beaten rose up. She cant even think properly. They continuedly stare at each other as a memory flashes back.