Learning How To Love Again

The CEO

“Be confident! Don't be shy about what you have because confident is an asset that could be use in your daily life.”

Pagkatapos ko sa CR ay bumalik na agad ako sa table namin. Ayokong pagurin ang mga paa ko sa kakalakad no, lalo na't naka stilletto heels ako.

Just like earlier, may mga mata paring tumitingin sa akin. Nakakahiya talaga and most of them are boys. Tsk!

"Now since he was already here, let's all welcome... The son of Mr. Monte... The new CEO... Mr. Louis Monte!" The MC announced and the spotlight turned on his direction.

The people around me were clapping.

Wait.

What?!!

Siya?

O M G!

I saw him walking in the aisle. Slow motion
You can really see that he has a broad shoulders.
His grey suit was buttoned outside his black shirt and grey tie.

He looks so smart, elegant and authoritative. So professional.

Malapit na pala siya kung saan kami nakaupo.
Nakita na naman niya ako. And I didn't know that my mouth was slightly open. Not until someone squeeze my hands.

"Lala.. He's looking at you." Sabi ni Annie na pinipigilan ang bibig na makitang nagsasalita.
Kinagat ko nalang ang lower part ng lips ko tapos tumingin kay Annie. Nakakahiya talaga.

Tumingin na naman ako sa lalaking naglalakad at biruin niyo, tumitingin parin siya sa akin! At naka smile pa!

Hindi rin maiiwasan ang mga masasamang tingin sa akin ng ibang babae dito. And I can see in my peripheral vision that Liam is getting mad, I think.

Nilagpasan na ni Louis kung saan kami nakaupo kaya napainom ako ng tubig.

I can't blame him for looking at me and smiling kasi nga nagkabangga kami doon malapit sa CR.

"Haba ng hair mo te." Sabi ni Ellise. Tiningnan ko lang siya but I didn't throw an expression at her. Nakakahiya kasi and shocked parin ako sa pagsmile niya sa akin na kitang-kita ng lahat.

"Thank you." Sabi niya sa MC.
"It's my pleasure to speak in front of you..........." He was just so professional. His gestures, his expressions, and everything was perfect for a CEO.

Nakikinig lang kami sa kanya. As in lahat kami na nandito. Sino ba naman ang hindi makikinig sa sobrang gwapo at hunk na taong nagsasalita sa harap niyo?

He end his inspirational message for us by quoting something.
"We come together as our beginning. We keep together as our progress. And we work together for our success. This is our success." He said while raising his right hand with a glass of wine for a toast.

And the crowd says "cheers" then we drink our wine.

Galit na naman si Liam.

"Enjoy the party. Thank you for coming." Sabi niya and he left the stage.

"Thank you Mr. Louis. At this juncture, I'm going to announce awards. Kung akala ninyong prom lang ang mayroong ganito, nagkakamali kayo." The MC laugh and pati na rin kami kasi nakakatawa siyang tingnan sa inasal niya sa stage. Bakla kasi.

"And, we come up to this awards by judging kanina pagpasok ninyo. Hindi niyo lang siguro napansin dahil hindi kami nagpahalata. But then what's the use of walking in the aisle with your nice suits, beautiful dresses and make ups? Diba?" The MC explained.

Tama din naman siya.

"So I have the winners here in my hands." He said and binuksan niya ang kanyang hawak-hawak na papel.

"Best in Gown.. From the Department of Research and Development." Huminto siya sa pagsasalita then the spotlight turned to the direction of the table ng mga taga R&D Department.

"The best in gown goes to... Shane Lamoste." Sabi niya na dahilan ng pagpalakpakan namin.

Ah... Oo, kilala ko ang mukha ni Shane pero dati di ko alam pangalan niya, ngayon lang.
Siya yung nasa Research and Development Department na smile face.

Pumunta na si Shane sa stage and binigyan siya ng isang bouquet ng bulaklak.
Sinabihan siya ng MC na manatili sa stage.

"Unfair naman kung babae lang diba? Kaya the best outfit for men goes to..... Liam Monero." We clapped our hands together for Liam.

Deserve niya din naman. Kasi ang gwapo niya sa suot niya.
But hindi pa rin niya ako pinapansin. Tsk!

Tumayo na siya at pumunta sa stage. Katabi ni Shane.

"Now let's move forward to Most Elegant. For men, we have Jacob Hernandez, from the Marketing Department. And for women, we have Eunice Salceda from the same Department." We clap our hands for them. Deserving naman sila. Super elegant.

"Earlier, we decided that the Miss Head Turner and the Queen of the night will be awarded to only one person. Deserving kasi siya as well as the Mr. Head Turner and the King of the night. But for now, let's all welcome, the obviously and undoubtedly Mr. Head Turner and the King of the night.......... Mr. Louis Monte!" We clapped our hands together.

Nakita ko siya na tumayo. Nasa left side pala siya ng stage nakaupo together with his father and his.... mother, I assume. Ang bata kasi tingnan parang ka-edad lang namin.

Nasa stage na siya, sa gitna ng dalawang magkapartners.
There's one thing na hindi talaga mawala-wala sa mukha niya, his smiles. Kaya gumagwapo siya ng lubos.

"The most awaited moment ng mga girls, I know. Sino ba naman dito ang hindi gustong makapartner ni Mr. Louis? Diba? Gusto ko nga siyang makapartner eh." Pabiro na sabi ng MC na natatawa. Tumawa rin kami sa sinabi niya. Si Louis naka-smile lang.

"Now, the Queen of the night as well as the Miss Head Turner goes to.....Miss Lalaine Sanchez!" Sabi ng MC.

"Lala! Ikaw yun!" Sabi ni Ellise na tuwang-tuwa. Hindi parin ako umimik sa gulat.

"Lala! Tumayo ka na." Sabi ni Annie na tuwang-tuwa rin.
Nag-smile nalang ako sa kanila at tumayo.

Lahat nakatingin sa akin. Nagpalakpakan. Nakakahiya.

Ang ibang mga babae nagbubulungan, parang against the result.?

Lumakad na ako papuntang stage at kitang-kita ko ang ngiti ni Louis na parang nagsasabing, I like the result. Tsk!

Tumabi ako sa kanya.
"Nice to meet you again." Sabi ni Louis.

Huh? Ano bang sinasabi nito? Again? Nagkita na ba kami dati? Ah.. Oo, kanina.. Nung nabangga ko siya.

I just smiled at him. Kasi nahihiya ako no. Hello? CEO kaya siya.