Vintage Love (Stand-alone Sequel)

Chapter 23.2

"Hello... gorgeous."

Natigil ako sa pagsimsim ng wine at napalingon sa aking kanan.

Napagtanto kong ako talaga ang kinakausap nito.

He's Mr. Sortilegio. One of the business tycoons.

Isa sa mga kailangan kong kabisaduhin ay ang mga potential business partners o target clients ng aming kompanya.

Ngumiti ako rito ng matamis.

"Good evening, Mr. Sortilegio."

"Good evening. How are you doing?"

"Never been better, sir."Itinaas ko ang hawak na wine glass.

"You're Mr. Zeleris secretary, right?"Tumango si Gillian sa pangalawang tanong ng matanda,"I've heard so many things about you. That old man right there talks a lot about you just awhile ago."Anito sabay turo kay Mr. Saltzman na abala rin sa pakikipag-usap sa ibang bisita.

Nagulat ako sa narinig. Talaga? Pero napangiwi ako nang maalala ang "elevator scene" kung saan nandoon ang huli.

"Oh, that's very overwhelming to hear. Well, I do hope not the bad things about me, sir."

Natawa ito sa aking naging tugon.

"Well, good thing businessmen don't talk bad things."

Di ko mapigilang di tumaas ang kilay. Weh?

Tumawa na naman ito.

"We must always say good things to impress our investors, don't you think?"

"Oh! Yes, yes of course. That's right."Akala ko sa mga chismosang employees eh.

"By the way, you're dazzling tonight. I must say, among the women here... You stand out the most."

"Thank you, Sir! That's very kind of you."

"No kidding. You look absolutely gorgeous. Just look around. They're looking at you, Miss Headturner of the night."

Tumawa kaming dalawa. Oh, God. I love this old man already!

"And oh, sorry hija. I don't think I have to introduce myself. Looks like you know me too well."

"Part of the job, Sir. Mmm."Nakangiting sagot ko.

Nakangiting tumango naman ito.

"What's your name, hija? Forgive me for being rude by asking your name too late."

Iwinasiwas ko ang kamay.

"Naku! Hindi po. Normal lang po yan. Yung iba nga natapos ang gabi sa pakikipag-usap sa isa't-isa tapos di man lang alam ang kani-kanilang pangalan. Anyway, Gillian po!"I held out my hand.

Ay shet. Bakit ko ba ginawa? Ginawa kong tropa-tropa ang mga senior executives eh.

"Nice to meet you, Gillian...?"Nakahinga ako ng maluwag nang tanggapin nito ang aking pakikipagkamay.

"Mendrez. Gillian Mendrez po."

Nangunot ang noo nito.

"Mendrez? Are you somehow related to the late CEO Mendrez?"

"Ah, yes sir. He's my deceased father..."

"Whoa. No one can tell."

Hindi ko masyado nakuha ang gusto nitong sabihin kaya tumahimik nalang ako. Nalungkot din kasi ako bigla nang maalala ang yumaong ama.

"So, are you here to take revenge?"

Kunot-noong tumingin ulit ako sa matanda.

Revenge? May alam ba ito sa highschool hateful days namin ni Sir Mikael? Imposible...

Tsaka ang OA masyado pakinggan nung salitang revenge. Eh, away bata lang yun dati samin eh!

"Po? Ah no. I simply just want to work for him."

"Wow, how ironic..."Anito na tila napaisip.

Kumunot na naman ang noo ko sa sinabi nito.

Pero hindi na ako nakapagtanong dahil may biglang tumawag rito. Lumapit samin ang babaeng nasa mid sixties ang edad.

"Abraham! Good to see you! It's been so long!"

"Heyyyy. You too, Lisbeth. How are you?"

"I'm doing great being a grandma, actually.'

"That's good."

"Uhuh. Anyway, is this your daughter?"

"No! No. She's-"

"Your niece perhaps?"

"That's a no also. She's the secretary of Mikael Zeleris."

"Oh. That kid..."Anito sabay libot ng tingin sa paligid tapos balik sa akin,"So...what's your name by the way?"

"Gillian Mendrez, maam..."

Mukhang nagulat din ito nang marinig ang sinabi ko.

"Oh. A Mendrez? What a shame. I really thought you're a Sortilegio. Your resemblance with Abraham is no joke!"

"What? Lisbeth, stop messing around."

"Goodness. I'm so done messing around with you forty-five years ago, Abraham. But really, your eyes are exactly the same. Your noses. God... No one can tell. It's a shame."

Ano bang meron sa mga 'to at kanina ko pa naririnig ang mga katagang "No one can tell?"

At ano, "What a shame?"

Hindi na ako nakapagtimpi.

"With all due respect, maam. I'm very proud of my bloodline. And also, the world is so big. Billions of people in it. So genetically speaking, there's a big possibility for us to look alike. In fact, it is safe to assume that we all are related. We all belong to the same gene pool. Everybody on earth is atleast the 50th cousin with everybody else on earth. Biologically, it is not so difficult to be identical."

"Mmm. Right. Witty and very informative. Your personality is not far from the Sortilegio's too,"ngumiti ito ng hilaw at nagpaalam.

"Proud my foot. What's so good of being a Mendrez..."Narinig kong bulong nito.

"Aish."I gritted my teeth. Nakakagigil.

May naramdaman akong humawak saking balikat.

"Hayaan mo na yun, hija. Nagme-menopause siguro. Tsaka matagal na akong crush nun. 'lam mo na. Marupok talaga mga freshies pagdating sa mga poging seniors. Baka di pa tapos sa pagpapapansin."He joked.

Nginitian ko ang matanda.

Nagme-menopause? Eh baka matagal ng menopause yun kaya ganun! Sabi ko nalang sa isip.