JEWEL
Chapter Thirty-two
MEET THE BACHELOR WHO TAMED THE ANGELES GROUP OF COMPANIES' TIGRESS
SHE blinked twice and stared again in disbelief at the bold words written in the society page of the broadsheet Jigger placed in her table.
Binasa niya muli ang mga salitang yun bago tingnan muli ang dalawang litratong nasa ibaba ng title ng scoop. Hindi naman siya namamalikmata. Lalong hindi niya maitatanggi na siya talaga ang nasa mga larawang iyon kasama si Arnulfo. The pictures were taken the previous night where she ate dinner at Mon Bijou.
Their photos were vivid. The first one is where Arnulfo's laughing at her while she's looking away with cheeks flushed. Iyon yung nagkamali siya ng pandinig sa sinabi sa kanya ni Arnulfo. Sobrang nakakahiya yung moment na yun. Kung titingnan, para siyang teenager na nahuli ng crush niya na nakatitig kaya hiyang hiya siyang napatingin sa iba. The second photo is of her smiling genuinely. That was when she tasted the èclairs again. It was cravings satisfied moment. Sa plato siya nakatingin ng oras na yun kaya hindi niya napansin na nakatitig pala sa kanya si Arnulfo at nakangiti din. Kung titingnan, para silang couple na kinunan ng picture para sa pre-nup photoshoot.
She didn't bother reading the articles. She's sure that some of the informations are malicious and untrue. Pinasadahan niya ng tingin ang isang onset photo ni Arnulfo. It was a stolen shot too. It looks like he just got off from his car at papalakad sa isang direksyon. A stolen shot but his features were greatly shown. They should give the photographers some credits.
"Remind me not to invite this writer in our future events." she said and put the newspaper in the trashbin near her table.
"Cool down, princess. Wala namang masamang nakalagay sa article. I read it. It's about the struggles and victory of Arnulfo." kaswal na sagot sa kanya ng kapatid niya.
"I don't need to read it. I knew already that it was malicious. And besides, title pa lang ng article, nakakainis na. So petty."
"What's wrong? Why are you so sensitive with that 'petty' article. We've read worse articles involving you. Hindi ka naman ganyan maka-react ah."
Hindi naman siya nakasagot agad. Totoo naman ang sinabi ng kapatid niya. Marami nang articles ang naglabasan dati na nauugnay sa kanya. Yung iba'y over ang pagkakasulat, yung iba'y mas malisyoso pa dito, at ang iba'y mas malalaking kasinungalingan. Hindi naman siya ganoon ka-apektado dati. Wala siyang pakialam dahil ang katwiran niya'y alam naman niya ang totoo. Bakit nga naman itong specific na article na ito ay kinaiinisan niya? Dahil ba sa ayaw niyang makunan siya ng stolen shot na nakangiti? O dahil sa nauugnay siya kay Arnulfo publicly? Or is it because she looked soft with the emotions she displayed in the picture?
She was never branded as a tigress for nothing. Since the day she decided to join her family in the business world, she promised to be strong and independent. A woman with passion and drive. An independent woman with an intelligent mind and brilliant ideas that could help their company into maintaining its power, innovation, and stability.
When she broke her heart years ago, she learned how to pick her broken pieces little by little. With the help of her family, she fixed herself into someone more mature and dependable. No shrewed businessman could bring her down. That's when she learned how to hide her emotions. She always keep her composure and strong faćade. Ayaw niyang maging mahina lalo na sa harap ng ibang tao. Once you show people your weakness, they'll use it against you. And she's very careful with that.
