Breathless (Book 1&2)

Harder to Breathe #3

Harder to Breathe #3
Noreen

"Oh baka naman matunaw ang picture ng anak mo niyan kakatitig mo!" Napatingin ako sa may pinto matapos marinig ang boses ni Ron. Agad ko siyang nginitian at saka mabilis na bumeso. "Lunch?" tanong niya.

"I'm waiting for Keysha." Sagot ko saka nilapag yung picture frame na kanina ko pa hawak at tinitignan. Umupo si Ron sa harap ko after naman niyang kinuha din iyon. Ngumiti siya bago nagsalita.

"Gandang bata. Mana sa pinagmanahan." He commented. He looked at me na parang may ibang ibig sabihin.

"Gaga! Saan pa ba magmamana yan? Ganda ng nanay, pogi ng tatay!" Sagot ko saka kinuha iyon sa kamay niya. He shortly laughed bago ulit nagsalita.

"Nga pala, na review ko na yung about sa expansion ng branches natin. Wala namang problema bukod doon sa isang probinsya." He reported. Kumunot ang noo ko, doon niya pinagpatuloy ang pagsasalita "Some of the locals are protesting, they don't want their land to be touched. Mas gusto na daw nilang sakahan yung lupa kesa ipagbili at tayuan nang kung anu-ano!"

"Have you sent someone to talk to them about the matter?" tanong ko saka inabot ang folder na hawak niya. Huminga ako ng malalim. Iyong part pala na sinasabi niya, yun yung isa sa pinaka malaking project namin ngayong taon. "Can't you go there and convince them?"

"Impossible!" sagot niya agad "Di kaya ng beauty ko. Saka medyo wild ata ang mga tao doon, kaya siguro hirap din makapasok ang mga possible investors."

"Exactly. That's why we have to push through this project!" Sagot ko naman agad. I stood up saka napatingin sa may bintana "Kung tayo ang mauuna doon, it will be a big opportunity. Mas lalawak ang network natin, making us as solid number one network company. We have to reach that province. We have to convince them. We have to win their trust!"

"That's why I am assigning you in this project!" Sabay kaming napatingin matapos marinig ang boses na iyon. Ngumiti siya kay Ron saka diretsong lumapit at humalik sa noo ko "I know you can do it."

Napapikit ako matapos maamoy ang manly perfume niya.  Ang sarap nun sa ilong, yung tipong gusto mong isiksik ang mukha mo sa leeg niya maghapon. It's my favorite scent and Robb always use it. I am the one who literally introduced that perfume to him and ever since that day, iyon na rin ang ginamit niya.

"But B-Babe. This means that I have to personally visit the site and-"

"And personally convince them." Dugtong niya sa sasabihin ko.

"Is that really okay?" tanong ko "Papayagan mo-"

"Of course, it's been a while since you focus on a certain project, I know you missed this kind of work. You know me, I won't tie you down unless you asked me to." He said at doon ko narinig ang mahinang hagikgik ni Ron. Ang bakla talaga kung ano ano iniisip!

"Paano si Keysha?" tanong ko "This province is far away from Manila. Won't she-"

"Our daughter is smart enough to understand this kind of situation. You don't have to worry about her. Isa pa, I want you to personally gain the local's trust dahil may isa pa akong goal." Inabot niya sa akin ang isa pang folder "I want to buy that small island and make it into a resort."

Inisa isa ko ang pictures nun. The island itself is raw. Hindi pa nagagalaw, wala pang kung ano but what I've noticed is the sparkling white sand it has. Tama si Robb, malaki ang potential ng island na ito lalo na sa mga tao na gusto naman ng bago, yung hindi pa crowded, yung hindi pa masyadong na explore.

"This is good." I commented.

"I know." He proudly replied "I'm counting on you."

"About the lunch, inaantay ko si Keysha, she'll be here any minute now. Are you going to join us?"