Stonehearts 3: Aquamarine

Two

I was doing series of breathing exercise ng nasa elevator ako ng building ng mga Bardoquillo. Okay, you can do this Q. You can do this! Four years na, wala ka ng nararamdaman sa kanya kundi galit diba? Yes? Yes!

Salita ng salita si Karen, nagpapaliwanag dun sa mga engineers at architects na kasama namin - sponsored by Cube Calderazzo. Di kasi nila ako gaanong kinakausap dahil ang alam daw nila hindi ako nakakaintindi ng English at Filipino. I didn't bother correcting them. Saka hindi ko na rin sila iniintindi gaano dahil hinahanda ko ang sarili ko.

"Miss Godorecci!" Bati sa akin ng receptionist ng umabot kami nila Karen sa floor ng conference room. Mukhang inaabangan na nila ang pagdating ko, napagalaman ko kasi na malaking account ito para sa mga Bardoquillo, they would use our partnership to propel their business outside the Philippines.

Tinanguan ko siya, she stood up at inihatid kami sa pinto ng conference. The room's walls were made of frosted glass but you can see the silhouette of the people inside. Huminga ulit ako ng malalim. This is it, you have to face them Q. Like what daddy said, ito na ang pinakamagandang pagkakataon para doon.

The receptionist opened the door. Naunang pumasok ang mga engineers at architects na kasama namin. Sinundan sila ni Karen, I was stuck for a moment. Hindi ko ba alam kung papasok pa ako o hindi. I can feel my palms sweating out of anxiety.

I can hear people greeting people from the inside. "Is there anything wrong Miss Godorecci?" Tanong sa akin nung receptionist na kanina pang nagaantay sa pagpasok ko. Umiling lang ako, I took one last breath before I stride inside with my blue pumps.

Nakatayo ang mga Bardoquillo habang nakikipagkamayan sa mga kasama ko. All smiles and happy faces. "And this is Miss Aqui Marina De Yro Godorecci, CEO of the Godorecci farm and wineries. She will be the one to talk to you about the partnership because Mr. & Mr. Godorecci are booked for their Spain Convention." Paliwanag ni Karen.

Katahimikan.

"Miss Q these are the Bardoquillo." Dagdag ni Karen.

Walang umimik na kahit na sino sa kanila. Wala ring nagabot ng kamay sa akin. They all stopped. Parang tumigil ang pag-ikot ng mundo nila. Brinx was just gaping at me. The awkward silence was filling the air.

I cleared my throat before giving them the sweetest smile I have. Umaarte na ito ang unang pagkakataon na nakilala ko sila. "Hi, please call me Q. So shall we start?" Pinaghatak ako ni Allen ng upuan, yung isa sa mga engineer na kasama namin. I murmured my thanks, my team are all settled in pero sila Brinx nakatayo at nakatitig pa rin sa akin.

"Shall we start?" Tanong ko ulit, smiling tightly this time. Naunang umupo si Lizzie bago bumulong sa nanay niya. While Brinx is still standing, motionless. Hindi pa rin siya nagaalis ng tingin sa akin. Hanggang sa hinatak na siya ni Alexa para maupo.

Ako ang nasa kabisera ng mahabang mesa. Sa kanan ko nakaupo ang mga Bardoquillo. Si Graciella, Ranilo, Lizzie, Alexa, tapos ang pinakamalayo si Brinx. Good, tama yan. He should be far from me as much as possible dahil baka sumabog ang galit ko sa kanya.

Sa kaliwa ko sila Karen, Allen, Fritz, Neilson (engineers) tapos yung dalawang architects na sila Jordan at si Cerwin.

I was tapping my pen on the table, patiently waiting for someone from the Bardoquillos to stand and start the presentation. Pero bakit parang walang tumatayo? Are we just going to stare at each other all day?

"Are we just going to sit here and bore each other to death or are we gonna start?" I said nonchalantly. My patience failing me. Naiirita na kasi ako sa kakatitig ni Brinx sa akin. Simula pagkapasok ko hindi pa siya umiiwas ng tingin, tigas ng mukha.

Halos madapa si Alexa tumayo at nagpunta sa harap. She was holding a folder, "Miss Godorecci-"

"Call me Q." Putol ko agad sa kanya. Naawa ako, dati kasi si Alexa talaga ang close ko sa mga kapatid ni Brinx. Wala rin naman siyang ginawa sa akin. Pero parte parin siya ng pamilyang nanakit sa akin, kaya pasensyahan na lang.

"Miss Q, w-we have seven properties that has the potential to cater the Hacienda." I can hear her voice quiver as she speak.

I rested my head on my thumb and index finger, trying so hard to ignore Brinx's burning gaze. Alam kong ako parin ang tinititigan niya dahil nahahagip ng peripheral vision ko yun.

"As agreed on the initial contracts signed by umm-"

"My parents. Yes, carry on." Pagpapatuloy ko sa sinasabi niya. Pakiramdam ko kasi hindi niya alam kung anong itatawag niya sa mga magulang ko.

"Y-yes. Umm, kayo raw po ang pipili ng lupa kung saan itatayo ang Hacienda. S-so ito po ung mga lupa." I nodded my head as she swipe left on her iPad para mailipat din ung nakaproject sa harap ko.

Natapos na niyang ipaliwanag ang lahat ng patungkol sa lupa, pero non-bias wise wala talaga akong nagustuhan doon. Karen looked at me, "So Miss Q, may nagustuhan po ba kayo?" She asked. I heard Cerwin asking Karen kung nakakaintindi raw ba ako ng Filipino.

I sat properly, propping both of my elbows on the long, mahogany table. Making a bridge with my hands and resting my chin there. "Wala." Maikling sagot ko.

Nagkatinginan sila Ranilo at Graciella. I heard them murmuring to each other. "P-pero Miss Q, these are the best areas we have. M-may binigay na guidelines sila Mr. Luigi & Mr. Piero noon and I am confident na ung mga lupa na prinisent sa iyo ng kapatid ko met the standards." Lizzie blabbered, laughing nervously after it.

I looked at her emotionless. I crossed my legs before I leaned back at the big shrivel chair. "Yes I am very much aware of that Miss Bardoquillo. But then again, I still have the last say on this business. And if I say I don't like it, I don't like it."

Nagtinginan nanaman sila. Si Brinx tahimik lang, I saw Lizzie facing him and asking something. Umiling lang siya. I faked a sigh. "But it's fine with me, really. I am sure I can find another real estate company to-"

"Hindi!" Brinx finally finding his voice, stopping me mid-sentence.

"Hindi what?" I challenged him.

"H-hindi. W-we can give you a more satifactory set of areas tomorrow. Just give us the rest of the day to prepare it." He said in a low, cautious voice. For the first time since I arrived here, umiwas na siya ng titig.

"Okay then. I will see you all again tomorrow. Don't waste my time again and don't waste another opportunity." I said with finality before I stood up and headed outside of the conference room, Karen and our team trailing behind me. You need me now Brinx. Kailangan niyo ang approval ko dahil vital ito para sa business niyo. But I won't give it to you easily, I will make sure you'll be hurting and working real hard for this.