Kanina pa malagkit ang tinging binabato sa akin ng anak ng aming investor. Kasama ni Mr. Smith ang kanyang anak na lalaki na halos hubaran na ako aa klase ng titig na binibigay nito sa akin.
We dined out for lunch to meet up with the investors and discuss about the project. Gene did most of the talking but she never made me feel out of place since she always includes me in the conversation.
Panaka-naka ay tinatanong din niya ako kung anong masasabi ko sa mga bagay na pinag-uusapan nila. I admit I'm not really good in talking since I prefer writing proposals so I just offered them the honest opinion I could ever give.
Gene's forehead creased when she noticed the way how the young Smith looked at me. She faked a cough to call his attention.
"I'd appreciate it if you won't look at my girl that way, Mr. Smith."
She said, pertaining to the younger guy in front of us. Sa gulat, napahawak ako sa kamay ni Gene. I didn't expect her to claim me as 'her girl' in front of these people!
Napalingon naman si Mr. Smith sa kanyang anak. He tapped his shoulders saka kami binigyan ng apologetic na ngiti.
"I'm sorry about my son, Ms. Mijares. I brought him here cause he wants to see Ms. Altamonte. He saw her pictures on the internet as I've told him we'll be investing in your company. I never knew she's your girlfriend."
Gene nodded but she's poker-faced. His son smirked at the air upon hearing what Gene has said.
Damn, she shouldn't have said that.
The conversation went on with me keeping my mouth shut and the younger Smith's eyes locked on the other people around us. He never looked at me again, which is a good thing on my part.
Binisita namin ang site after lunch. Gene's venturing into hotels and resorts and this will be our project, the hotel in Cebu.
Since Cebu was considered the oldest city, people always come and go to this place. Isa sa mga dahilan kung bakit magpapatayo dito ng hotel ang M.A.R. Holdings. It is quite a big city. And of course, parating maraming tao. Halos wala ding pinagkaiba ang traffic dito at sa Maynila.
"Babe.."
Napalingon ako kay Gene. Nasa veranda kami ng hotel at nakatingala sa kalangitan habang nakaupo. It's our third night at pang-apat na araw na rin kanina dito sa Cebu. Everything's going well, I guess.
"Yes?"
She held my hand and made me sit on her lap. Inikot niya ang kanyang mga braso para mayakap ako sa kanyang baywang. I never thought Cebu will be this cold at night, or I guess it's just the weather. Or maybe it's just that Gene's hug was so warm it made the air cold.
""Why are you asking me that?"
"I just want to know."
Inamoy-amoy nito ang aking buhok. Sabay kaming nagshower kanina kaya for sure parehas din ang amoy ng aming buhok.
"It's not really important, Gene."
"Everything about you is important to me, Sab."
She's sounded stern serious and even if I'm not looking at her, I can sense her demand. Nagpakawala ako ng malalim na buntonghininga.
"You were my bestfriend's girlfriend when we met."
I can feel her muscles got tensed. Siguro ay nakalimutan din nito ang bahaging iyon ng kanyang alaala.
Ang sabi ng doktor, karamihan daw sa mga selective amnesia ay nakakalimutan kung anong huling naisip bago naaksidente.
She's thinking about me on that dreadful day of the accident.
