Lovers

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Piano

I remember the first time I got a project. Unang proyekto kong hinawakan noon simula nang bumalik kami mula Hong Kong ay isang government project. Mainam na rin iyon dahil ipinangako ko bago umuwi ng Pilipinas na magfo-focus ako sa trabaho. That I'd make sure I will think of only work and projects. So that I'd forget about what happened back there. So I took the management's decision for me.

Government projects go through a bidding process. Bibilhin mo ang bidding documents para makasali. At alam ng mga account managers na kapag gobyerno, hindi lang bidding documents ang pagkakagastusan mo. Upang makuha ang pabor nila para sayo, minsan kailangan mo rin iyong bilhin. In this business, we refer to these shady transactions as under-the-table. It was so hard to get information about that project at first, there were times I would stalk employees of the government agency just so I could learn about their whereabouts. Para makilala ko sila. I did so many things, though without strategy, to win the bidding.

In the end, I lost the bidding. Hindi naman na-disappoint sa akin ang management, in fact they encouraged me to be hungrier next time. They paired me up with Kim dahil pareho kaming kulelat sa aming first projects. It was at that point that I realized I was not going to get any better if I don't step up. Kaya pinagbutihan ko na. I became more eager to get projects with Kim. We planned and we strategized. Since then, lahat ng proyekto naming hinawakan ay naipanalo namin. Experience, really, is the best teacher.

"How do I look, huh, Li-Li?" Si Kim habang tumitingin sa isang full length mirror sa kanyang kwarto. I rolled my eyes at the way she called me. Dalawa lang ang maaaring dahilan sa pagtawag niya sa akin nang ganoon. She calls me that when one, she feels like taunting me, or two, she feels good about herself and she knows she looks too damn good.

"Great." I said without emotion and with another set of rolling eyes. Ngumuso siya. Tonight is MEC's annual fund-raising event.

"You're really beautiful." My voice was filled with assurance. Tinotoo niya ang sinabi na susuotin ang red off-shoulder dress na may mataas na slit. The material is flowy but it's not as glossy as satin. I mentally noted to ask Kim kung anong materyal iyon. She bought it from a dress shop in Scout Borromeo. Her creamy white skin was glowing because of the popping red color of the dress. She partnered it with nude stilettos making her look tall, not that she's not tall enough. She looks 5'8 now. Her shoulder-length hair's curls were loose adding sophistication to her look. She giggled at what I said. My eyes immediately flew to the dangling crystal earrings she had. I wonder who gave that to her? That's a new pair.

"Who did your make-up?" I asked dahil napansin ko ang soft make-up niya na tama lamang to highlight the best features of her face. With her chinky eyes and clear skin, she's really stunning. Magandang maganda siya kahit hindi matangos ang ilong niya.

"I did, of course. I'm getting better, no?" Then she started her litany of using the right make up tool for your skin type. I rolled my eyes for the last time before we got out of her house to finally go to the party. Sa pagkakaalam ko, alas-sais ako nakarating sa bahay nila. Nadatnan ko siya noong nagbibihis na at tapos na ang paliligo at make-up. We left at 7:45 pm. Classic Kim.

Alas otso na nang makarating kami sa venue ng event sa isang exclusive place sa loob ng Forbes Park. The setting was screaming of elegance and sophistication. Isang tingin pa lang, alam mo nang high-end party ang nagaganap. The main structure is of old Spanish Architecture descent. Mistulang malaking bahay na bato na napapaligiran ng well-maintained na damo. I remember Ricci telling us na marami daw na exclusive members ang naglalaro ng polo dito, including one of the richest families in the Philippines na may-ari ng pinakamalaking porsyento sa stocks ng MEC. I told Kim about that and she told me the only polo she knows is a polo shirt. I wonder if it's a joke or it's true?