I FELL FOR MY UNEXPECTED HUSBAND

Chapter 42: Fate's Art of Non-Conformity

Andrew’s POV

Para akong lumulutang sa cloud 9 ngayon, sa pagbabakasakali kong makakausap ko si Marga over skype eh I got lucky last night, nakausap ko nga siya. And more than that, we were able to talk and calm the raging waters between us. I still perfectly remember those dreamy eyes looking straight to me, and feel how I long to really stare at them. Kaya here I am staring at my phone watching a video of us, it’s a clip of Marga laughing out loud with flour all over her face, we were making pancakes one morning, okay she was making pancakes, and I was making a whole lot of mess since I can’t beat one damn egg. Hindi ako perfect gaya ng iniisip niyo, I have my weaknesses, like superman and the kryptonite, that’s how I am with making pancakes.

Kiling time, I played the video over and over again, Can’t wait! I am counting the seconds, minutes, hours, days that will pass before I can already wake up next to my Marga.

“Time’s up dude, napapagod na si Marga sa kakatawa diyan sa video, nasa conference room na daw ang mga kausap natin. Andun na rin si Tito Lino” Thanks a lot Peter, you just broke my feeling of ecstasy.

Work is what I came to Macau for after all.

“let’s go” at tumayo na ako sa table na pinagkainan naming ng breakfast, buttoned my coat and started walking beside Peter.

“Dude, remind me what this meeting is all about again?” Iba talaga ‘tong Marga effect sa akin, nawawala ako sa tamang ulirat. I know I have a meeting but I dunno what it is for.

“Naks! Nagagawa nga naman ng mga tawa ni Margaret sa’yo. We’re gonna give a heads up to our Chinese counterpart regarding the image of the mural na ipapagawa natin sa lobby nung hotel natin na tinatapos sa center square. The artist is gonna be there. Balita ko outstanding daw yun gumawa, kilala sa ibang bansa ang mga gawa niya. Hindi ko nga lang alam kung sino kasi ang office naman ni Mr. Chen ang contact niya.”

“We’ll find out now” at sabay na kaming pumihit papunta sa direction ng elevator na magdadala samin sa conference room.

Nagkukuwentuhan kami ni Peter on how she remains girlfriend-less habang naglalakad kami papunta sa meeting. Lahat naman kasi sa kanya game, and he hates losing kaya if he feels na nagiging cold na ang babae sa kanya, dispose! Good thing I didn’t adapt to that practice.

Natigil lang kami nang nasa labas na kami ng mahogany doors ng conference room ng hotel na tinutuluyan namin. May attendant na bumati sa amin at pinagbuksan kami ng pinto.

Andun na si Daddy, ang assistant niyang si Max kasama ang mga kasosyo naming Chinese.  

Agad naming in-session ang meeting at napagusapan pa ang mga details na hindi naming natapos nung nakaraang mga araw.

Nang mapadpad na sa topic ng mural ay si Mr. Chen na ang nagtake hold ng meeting.

“We envisioned a mural that would take breaths ayaw the moment they stepped into our hotel, we want to immediately give them the feel of our 7-star hotel experience. One image that will strike a nerve leaving the people in awe and not forgetting us. So we searched the globe for a Picasso-like, MichaelAngelo inspired artist. And we came across this rising fabricator, this will be her first for Asia, she’s known for her works in Europe and the Americas, good thing she acknowledged our invitation.” Sabi ng intro samin ni Mr. Chen.

“Wa-wa-wait, by SHE you mean this artist is a woman?” Peter asked in wonder.

“It looks like that iho, you got a problem with that? I don’t think you’re feminist?” pabirong sabi ni Daddy kay Peter na napasmirk sa curiosity.

“Definitely a woman, but with a great eye for art and an incomparable talent”

“How much is she paying you to uplift her  this way Mr. Chen? You got me intrigued” curious na tanong ni Daddy sa kausap naming.

“She’s actually on her way up, she just had to check-in with the hotel staff before she comes up” paniniguro ni Mr. Chen.

“Can’t wait” sagot ni Peter na umakto pang excited sa pagpalapkpak ng kamay  niya.

Nilalaro ko ang ballpen na hawak ko habang nakasandal sa swivel chair ko and at the same time turning it like a kid. She can’t be serious for letting us wait, we’re the clients here.

Nabitawan ko naman sa gulat ang pen na hawak ko nang biglang bumukas ang mahogany doors ng conference room.

Agad napanganga si Daddy at napatingin sakin si Peter.

“This is gonna be fun…” simpleng sambit ni Peter habang naniningkit ang mata sa pagtutok sa babeng kaharap namin.

“I know right” sagot ni Daddy habang nakatingin sa kakapasok lang na babae.

Si Chantal. Fate’s art of non-conformity. Kapag minamalas ka nga naman.