Breathless (Book 1&2)

Harder to Breathe #17.2

Harder to Breathe #17.2
Noreen

"Pinag-sasabi mo?" takang tanong ni Ron, I was about to look back at Cloud again when the Mayor's secretary saw us both.

"Ma'am." simpleng bati niya sa akin, ngumiti ako at tumango.

"Hi! Gusto ko sanang makausap si Mayor or kahit si Gabriel." tinignan niya ako at mukhang nagdadalawang isip bago ako sinagot. "I know I do not have an appointment today pero if you could just relay na andito ako, maybe Gabriel will come out and see me."

"Ma'am kasi-," natigilan siya matapos mapatingin sa likod ko, Ron and I looked back at doon namin nakita ang isang babae.

Matangkad, meztisa. She is sporting a burgundy colored hair na mas lalong nag enhanced ng makinis niyang mukha.

"Ma'am Kanna," bati niya doon sa babae.

The woman smiled at me, hindi ko sure kung mas bata siya or kasing edad ko lang. She has a pretty face na somewhat familiar.

"Is my brother inside?" she politely asked the secretary. Tumingin muna siya sa akin bago sumagot.

"Yes Ma'am Kanna. Meron po si-," hindi na niya pinatapos ang pagsasalita ng secretary, she walked towards the direction of his father's office kasunod ang isang babae na sa tingin ko ay ka edad lang din niya. Unlike Kanna, she looks simple and timid. She even smiled at me bago naglakad kasunod ni Kanna.

"You want to see my brother, right?" nilingon niya ako bago ngumiti. "You can come with me."

Ron and I walked really fast para makahabol sa kanilang dalawa. They went straight to the office at malakas na sigawan ang sumalubong sa amin pagkabukas na pagkabukas ng pinto. The two immediately stopped matapos nilang makita si Kanna.

Gabriel was shocked to see me too or ako ba talaga ang tinitignan niya?

Pasimple akong tumingin sa side ko kung saan nakatayo yung babaeng kasama ni Kanna. I think she was the one Gabriel was looking at habang nakakunot ang noo.

"Teacher Ann," Gabriel calmed his face and tried to smile to both of us "Noreen. I didn't expect you to be here." bati niya.

Ah. Teacher pala siya.

I can still feel the tension between the three. Kanna was just looking at his father na halatang galit na galit. Gabriel and the mayor was obviously having an argument before we arrived.

"Bad timing." maikling kong sagot kay Gabriel and smiled a little, he tilted his head and raised his shoulder a bit bago ngumiti din, ngiti na alam ko na ang ibig sabihin.

Mayor Martinez angrily walked towards me, Ron when stood between us. "It's okay Ron." Ron stood beside matapos akong tumango at ngumiti rin sa kanya.

"Please tell your husband that we do not have any plan of selling that island." Mayor Martinez firmly said.

"Sixty million, Mr. Mayor. We are willing to pay sixty million for that small island."

"Sixty million pesos?" Kanna asked while raising her left eyebrow.

"Dollars." maikli at diretso kong sagot.

I was looking straight at the Mayor's face. He clearly heard the amount of money we are willing to give but I was amazed how stable he was. He was clearly unfazed na parang maliit na halaga lang ang lumabas sa bibig ko.

"Hindi ako ang tipo ng tao na bumabawi sa sariling salita. We don't need your money." Mayor Martinez then walked out of his office, dali dali ring sumunod ang secretary niya sa kanya. I was about to call him again but Gabriel tapped my shoulder.