At The Sunrise

Chapter 15

All things done and sorted out! Sa wakas natapos na rin ni Yve lahat ng paper works at site visit. Inihabilin na rin niya ang ibang gawain sa secretary mostly of which is to arrange her meetings for the entire week and marketing plans para sa restaurant business nila ni Zach na sisimulan niya next week. It's 12 noon and she is feeling a bit hungry. Malamang dahit sa pagod at init sa labas. Agad siyang nag ayos ng sarili at tinawagan si Zach.

"Hey, I'm all done here sa firm. Anong oras mo ako susunduin?" agad niyang tanong nang makasagot ito.

"Andito na ako sa reception."casual na sagot nito.

"Oh. Kanina ka pa ba dyan? Di naman kasi nag message yung receptionist."

"Well, I told her it was not necessary. Ayokong ma distorbo ang ginagawa mo."

"Thank you. I'll be there in 5 minutes."

Agad niyang binaba ang phone para magbihis. Masyadong malagkit ang damit na suit niya. Nag retouch na rin siya ng make up. And she decided to put her pony tails on. Mas bagay kasi ang suot niyang blazer kapag nakaayos ang buhok.

Di nagtagal, nakarating siya sa ground floor and seeing Zach instantly on his business suit. As usual, he looks gorgeous. But what catches her attention ay mga iilang kababaihan sa office ni kinikilig habang tinitingnan siya lalo na ang kanyang receptionist. Agad tumayo si Zach nang makita siyang papalapit ang kisses her on the cheek. Kahit nabigla ay nakuha na pa rin kahit papano na maging casual dito.

"You definitely know how to get women's attention, Zach. Parang nakakita ng artista ang buong office dahil sa'yo."

"Pano ba naman kasi, gwapo ang asawa mo Mrs.Valeria. Ngayon alam mo na kung gano ka kaswerte."

"Di ka rin naman pala GGSS, noh?"

"Huh? Ano yan?"

"Di mo alam anong GGSS?"

"Nah. Never heard of that."

"Gwapong gwapo sa sarili."nakangiting sagot niya rito.

"Eh sa gwapo naman talaga ako, eh."proud na sagot nito.

"Ewan ko sa'yo. Umalis na nga tayo. Baka naghihintay na ang client mo."

"Sure, milady. By the way, I love what you did to your hair. You look stunningly beautiful."

"Why, thank you Mr. Valeria."

Nagulat si Yve nang bigla itong yumuko at bumulong sa kanya.

"If we're on a different place and a different time, you probably are naked by now."

Agad pinamulahan ng pisngi sa tinuran nito.

"Tumigil ka nga! Baka may makarinig sa'yo! Nakakahiya."saway niya rito.

"And so what? We're married at walang mali dun."

"Ewan ko sa'yo. Umayos ka at baka maubos pasensya ko, haharap ka sa client mo mag-isa."

"Fine. I'll behave, Mrs. Valeria."anitong nakangisi habang inaalayan siya palabas ng building at hanggang sa makasakay sila.

Tahimik lang naman si Zach habang nagbabyahe. At nasa malapit nga lang ang sinabi nitong meeting place nila. Medyo traffic kaya inabot sila ng 10 minutes bago marating ang lugar.

The place was nice. May garden papasok ng restaurant na napapalibutan ng mga bulaklak at ornaments. There were benches on the side of the driveway na may malalaking puno. You can see nature within the city.

Agad nag park ng sasakyan si Zach at inalalayan siya ulit makababa. And of course, as always been, gentleman ito habang papasok sa dining area.

"Good day, ma'am, sir. Welcome to Country Garden. May I get you a table for two?" masiglang bati ng service crew.

"We have reservation for 1pm. Under Zach Valeria." casual na sa got ni Zach.

"Oh, great. Mr. Rodriguez is waiting for you, sir. This way, please."

Agad silang sumunod ni Zach papunta sa likurang bahagi ng restaurant. Mas malawak ang garden doon at may iilang close cottages. At sa pinakadulo may malawak na function hall.

"I'll have my attendant take care of you in a bit, Mr. Valeria. Please, come in and join Mr. Rodriguez." anito habang tinuturo ang isa sa mga cottages na naroon.

There was a scent of tea when she entered the cottage. Maganda ang ambiance, di masyadong kalakihan sa loob pero tama lang para sa formal meeting. Nakasunod lang si Zach sa kanya habang nakagala ang kanyang mga mata sa iilang paintings na naroon sa loob.

"Good afternoon, Mr. and Mrs. Valeria. Please, sit down. May tinatawagan lang saglit si Mr. Rodriguez and he'll join us in a moment."sabi ng babaeng naghihintay sa loob.

"Thank you, Scarlet."sagot ni Zach. Sa tantiya niya ay secretary ito ni Mr. Rodriguez.

"Anything I can get for you?"

"No, thanks."sagot ni Yve.

She was actually busy checking around the place. The idea and the motif was actually great. It's like you are dining in a Japanese restaurant. The paintings were more of cherry blossoms with Hiragana inscriptions. That may explain the scent of the tea ng pumasok siya. Napangiti si Yve, she has additional idea para sa restaurant business nila ni Zach. It made her feel excited.

"Good afternoon, Mr. And Mrs. Valera. I hope I did not keep you waiting."narinig ni Yve na may nagsalita sa kanyang likuran.

She paused. How can she ever forget that voice?

"Not at all, Mr. Rodriguez. Kararating lang namin ng asawa ko."sagot ni Zach.

She was silent. She did not have the courage to turn her back. Why in the world did she forgot to check her husband's client's full name? But she had to do this. She just have to act casually. She took a deep breath before facing the man.

"Good afternoon, Bryan. I did not know it was you we're gonna meet. It's been a long time."she forced herself to act normal.

"Indeed, Mrs. Valeria."nakangiting sagot nito.

"You two know each other?" tanong ni Zach na bahagyang nagtaka.

"We were schoolmates back in College, Mr. Valeria." agad na sagot ni Bryan.

"Please call me Zach. We are gonna be business partners anyway so wag na tayong masyadong maging pormal." ani Zach habang inaabot ang kamay kay Bryan.

"Of course. And you can call me Bryan. I'm looking forward to this meeting, Zach. I hope everything goes well for my proposal."

"Yeah, sure. Let's hear it." ani Zach habang inalalayan siyang maka pwesto.

It seems her voice escaped her. The memories hunts her back. That pain she escaped years ago is now something she would have to face. He is her husband's business partner and she does not know how things will go for her. She took a deep sigh.

"Are you, alright?" bulong sa kanya ni Zach.

"Yeah. Napagod yata ako sa site tour ko kanina." she lied.

"Would you like to go home?" worried na tanong ni Zach.

"No. I'm gonna be fine."

May sasabihin pa sana si Zach pero dumating na ang kanilang pagkain. Kumain muna sila at maya't matang nagkukwentuhan tungkol dito sa restaurant. Zach keeps on engaging her sa kanilang pag-uusap but she just smiled and does not talk that much.

It is too hard to act normal in front of the person who you once built your world around, shattered it and leave you behind.
He is her ex.