You are a Part of Me

7.

            "AND here is the man behind this another huge success, Mister Exequiel Vonn Matteo," rinig ni Blaire na pakilala ng keynote speaker kay Exequiel. Sumabay si Blaire sa palakpakan ng mga tao at nakita niyang nakangiting umakyat ng stage si Exequiel.

            Still the same, isip ni Blaire.

            Nakinig silang lahat sa launching speech nito at namangha naman ang lahat dahil sa device na pinakilala nito sa publiko. Blaire's sure that a lot more people will be asking for Exequiel's company's services after today.

            And because it was Blaire's restaurant who catered to the event, it will be another good and free publicity for her businesss.

            "Hindi ko alam na ganyan pala ka-successful ang ex mo," bulong ni Zandro kay Blaire pagkatapos i-launch officially ni Exequiel ang dapat nitong i-launch.

            "Bakit mo naman kailangang malaman?" tanong ni Blaire.

            Nagkibit-balikat lang si Zandro at bumalik sa pagkakaupo nito nang maayos. Blaire rolled her eyes at Zandro and saw that people are already starting to fall in line for the buffet table. Tumayo si Zandro para lapitan ang buffet table at i-oversee ang ginagawa ng catering staff.

            Blaire remained seated and chose to watch the peoples' reactions when they finally get a taste of her food, and the peoples' reactions did not disappoint her. Kitang-kita ni Blaire ang mga ngiti ng mga ito. Another success, isip ni Blaire.

            "Why aren't you eating anything?" tanong ng lalaking biglang tumabi kay Blaire na ikinagulat ng dalaga.

            Liningon ni Blaire ang lalaking tumabi sa kanya at gusto niyang mapalunok o mas mabuti sigurong magtaas ng kilay nang makita kung sino ang tumabi sa kanya, but she didn't. "You scared me," sabi ni Blaire kay Exequiel.

            Nginitian muna ni Exequiel ang mga kasama ni Blaire sa table bago ibalik ang atensyon niya kay Blaire at tinanong ito muli ng, "Why aren't you eating anything?"

            "I'm full," sagot ni Blaire.

            "You're always full, Devan. Come on, I'll grab you some food and—" sagot ni Exequiel pero hindi na nito natuloy ang sasabihin nito dahil biglang may sumabat dito.

            "No need. I brought her a plate," biglang sabi ng taong nakatayo sa likuran ni Blaire.

            Blaire felt every bit of hair around her body stand up when she heard that voice; that voice sent shivers down her spine. Hindi niya alam kung dahil ba sexually na-arouse siya ng boses na iyon o kinilig siya o dahil ba sa kabang idinudulot sa kanya ng may-ari ng boses na iyon. She's guessing that it's the latter.

            She turned her head and she saw Xavier looking at her with one hand holding a plate while the other's in his pocket. Wala naman siyang mabasang galit o inis sa mga mata nito. Kalmadong lamang ito.

            "Love," tawag pansin ni Xavier kay Blaire.

            Blaire didn't say anything, and her eyes shifted to the guy beside her who immediately stood up and moved to the side to give way to the man who finally has arrived to take the place that is rightfully his.

            "Mister Victorino," tawag ni Exequiel kay Xavier.

             Xavier looked at Exequiel and said calmly, "Mister Matteo, congratulations."

             Xavier took his hand out of his slacks' pocket and offered it to Exequiel. Tinanggap naman iyon ni Exequiel and said, "Thank you. Well, mauuna na ako. I have a lot of people to thank." Pero bago tuluyang umalis ay nilingon muna ni Exequiel si Blaire at sinabing, "I'll see you later, Devan."