Lacuna • Book 2 of Change [Ricci Rivero]

twelve.

"Dad." salubong ko sa tatay kong naghihintay ng kasama si Donny sa isang dinner place. "Sorry, medyo matagal yung biyahe."

"Who are you with? Bakit pugto ang mata mo?" Donny asks as he pulls out the chair for me. "Engineer Rivero picked me up. Dad's instruction." sabi ko and he was still skeptical for a second. "You instructed him to, Tito? How come I didn't know?" he added as he takes his seat. Hindi agad sumunod si Ricci sa loob kasi binaba niya lang ako sa harap. He could've taken the Valet but he insisted na siya na ang magpapark ng kotse. "Di na kami nagkausap since this morning. Di ko yan alam. By the way, where is he?"

Ricci entered the dining area and he looks like he just got out of the restroom to wash his face. He approached my Dad and Donny. He gave them a hug and when it was my turn, we both didn't move ng freely but he hugged me anyways ng sobrang pilit to give my Dad and Donny a scene. Pinagpag ko ang balikat ko at itinaas ang collar ng white coat ko. "You didn't have to do that. I'm clean." sabi ni Ricci as he takes his seat beside my dad and infront of me. I could kick him under the table but I'm afraid, I'd still be the one to cure him. Hold your horses, Alexandra. Nagsisimula palang. No fun of you kick his ass this early.

"I'm clean? You just got out of the restroom, Engineer Rivero. With or without contact to the cubicles or the different parts of the restroom, humans are magnets of bacteria. Napakadumi ng restrooms. I just can't get sick now dahil napakaraming surgeries ang nakaline up for me."

"Ganyan ka na ka OC?" he asks. "I can't risk it. Matagal na akong OC. Simula nung araw na yon, na OC na ako. I hate dirty things. Lalo na, dirty peopl---"

"Alexandra, stop it." butts in my dad who was listening to the both of us argue. told you, Rivero. You have to let your guard down. Wag masyadong mapride; ikaw na nga nanakit, ikaw pa ang nakatungtong sa stool. "Stop what, dad?" I smirked. "Its not like I'm not stating facts?"

"I know, anak but can you please save that for later? Magpatayan kayo sa bahay, bahala kayo. Wala kaming pakialam." sabi ng tatay ko and raised his hand to call out the waiter. "We came here for the meeting since kung sa bahay, tutulugan mo nanaman kami, doc." Donny added. I rolled my eyes and yes, point taken. Sige na, di na ako lalaban. Di na ako iimik. "What are we here for anyways? Is Engineer Rivero going to build a hospital for me?"

Nagkatinginan silang tatlo. My heart was beating so fast, "Yes." my dad said and it almost dropped. I thought I'd lose my shit since I didn't expect that I'd be exactly correct. "Engineer Rivero will help us about that project. Since we have Architect Pangilinan onboard, I don't see any problem with starting soon. Right, doc?" my dad added.

"My own hospital? Dad, isn't that too soon?" I questioned my dad. Ricci was smiling at me widely as I try to interrogate my dad about this incoming project. Dad cleared his throat and sighed deeply before he could explain. "Well, your brother at ang mga ninang mong doktor ang mga investors at stockholders, anak. Pati ang mga kaibigan mong nagpapractice na in the Philippines, we can give them a head up about this idea."

"So this is still just an idea?" I asked again. I turned to Donny, questioning him. "Did you know about this?"

"Yes. It has been a while. Your dad has really been in to talking to me about this project." he said and tapped my cheek. "This is your breakthrough, Alex. We've been waiting for this all this time---"

"I know but.. really?" I talked to Donny with my eyes. He knows what I mean. Should I really push myself to work with my ex in this project? We could be okay but we can never be friends again. I never get myself to befriend him again, not until I identify what's that missing part that I've been wanting to ask from him in the long run that I've been carrying on.

Ricci noticed and he smirked. He rolled his eyes away from us and fixed his shirt and his things. "I think we're done and over with here, Sir. Looks like Dr. Gumabao wouldn't want to do business with me." sabi niya and stood up already; he was already going to leave kahit di pa dumadating yung pagkain. Sinipa sipa na ako ni Donny from under the table and he whispered to me. "I know you hate him but do this for you. We need a good damn engineer na kaya kong makatrabaho. You know me, I can't work properly with the people I can't reprimand and plan things with. Now, pigilan mo yan and seperate your personal matter from business." he scolds at me and fairly made his point. I held my forehead and sighed deeply. Okay, Alex, breathe. Breath. Para sayo at hindi sa kanya. Business at personal matters, magkaiba. Priorities.

Naglalakad nang palayo si Ricci nang ibaling ko ang tingin ko sa kanya. "I'll be gone, effective immediat---"

"Bumalik ka nga dito." not just a hint of bitterness was evident when I said that. Pati annoyance at hatred, nakahalo narin. "Why would I, Dr. Gumabao?"

"Work with Donny."

"For what?"

"For my hospital."

"What for?"

"Do it for the job. We'll pay you. I'll pay you. Sige na." sambit ko pa.

Inis na inis na ako ha? You're not entitled to be setting me up in this situation. Ikaw dapat pinapahabol ko sakin.

Bumalik si Ricci sa upuan niya at ibinaba ang gamit niya. My dad and Donny rolled their eyes and sighed deeply in frustration. "Lets set this straight ha? Business is business. Wag niyong ihalo ang personal issues niyo sa isa't isa kung gusto niyong magtagumpay. Be professionals. Di na kayo 19 or 20." sabi ng tatay ko in frustration at wala na akong ibang nagawa kundi ilayo ang tingin at iabsorb nalang ang sinasabi niya. Naghintay kami for a few more minutes and everyone fell silent— akala ko ba, dinner meeting to? Bakit parang ang tahimik naman nito to be considered as a meeting?

Amidst the silence, a familiar gesture hit me from behind the bushes. Ricci kicked me from under the table. When I turned to look at him, nakatingin lang siya sakin and acted innocently. "What?" I asked him, raising my voice just like how I did it before nung hindi pa ako galit na galit sa mundo.

"I'll work for you for free."

"You have to get paid. Ayoko."

"I don't want to get paid. Unless... you want it my way?"

"Anong your way?"

"Go ka ba? Baka mamaya, ayaw mo ah?"

"Ano nga?!" mariin ko sabi dito at sinipa siya pabalik mula sa ilalim ng table.

"Lets make a deal. I'm not just gonna do it for the job, I'm going to do it for you kasi pangarap mo 'to. Then sige, pay me. Basta mode of payment is by your love. Or pay me back with your forgiveness instead. Sapat na yun para sakin."

"That's how you do business in selling your expertise? Engineer Rivero, that is so unprofessional."

"Not really and I know that, Doc. I know could do so much better than this but remember what I promised you 8 years ago?"

What? Na mahal mo ako at di mo ako iiwan?

"Na pag naging professional na ako, I told you, I'm going to fulfill my promise and work for you?"

Ah. Iba pala.

"Here I am. So.. if you insist on paying me for something I'm willing to do for free, are you up for the bargain and the payment method?"

"Ang baba naman ng standards mo." I chuckled.

"If I really have to lower my standards just to be able to win you back, Alex, you know I'll do it. I will always be willing to do it. We've changed. I've changed. You have to give me the chance to prove it to you."

You are Engineer Ricci Rivero. You're a professional basketball player and an eligible bachelor in the Philippines. Why still run after me, your nerdy doctor 8- year ex-girlfriend, who's thriving in New York with her success in Cardiothoracics Surgery at nananahimik na habang ang daming nagkalat na magagandang babae sa Pilipinas.

"I want to do it for you, Alex." he pleads once more and this time, he turned to look me in the eye seriously.

"Then do it, Engineer Rivero." I said. Naghalumbaba ako sa harap niya and looked at him straight in the eye, seducting him in his vulnerable stage. He looked away and rolled his eyes; patay malisya sa koneksyon na ginawa ko sa mga mata namin. Di parin siya nagbabago, napakarupok niya parin kapag tinititigan ko siya ng ganito. "Surprise me."