Perilous Kismet

i

Asia CEO Awards is the largest business awards event in Philippines and Southeast Asia happening at the Marriott Grand Ballroom.

The star-studded Board of Judges of Asia CEO Awards presents many of the most accomplished leadership teams and individuals for a wide range of highly competitive awards.  The awards recognize extraordinary leaders who have demonstrated outstanding achievement for their organizations and contributions to others. 

"Ladies and Gentlemen! It is a great honor for me to stand here today. I am sincerely grateful for this nomination and I am pleased to accept the CEO of the Year Award. I want to thank all who worked with me to make this event happen. I clearly realize the scale of this project and this makes me even more proud of this achievement. I want to pay a tribute to those more than two hundred CEOs from other companies who were nominated for this award. Particular tribute is to my potential competitors, eight other finalists. They all are devoted professionals who deserve this award just as I do. So, I want to thank them, because I am really proud to be put to the same row as men are in. You know, whatever women do, they must do twice as well as men to be thought half as good. Luckily, this is not difficult. Thank you!"

"What an empowering speech from our Youngest Awardee, CEO of the Year, Ms. Isabelle Sophia Aguirre!"

 "Congratulations, hija." her father, being the new CEO of their company, she felt proud for what she have achieved now.

"Thank you, Papa." she said as her father gave her a warm hug.

Her dad wasn't a cruel man, in fact, he showered her love and he never forced her to do things na ayaw nya and that made her want to follow his path.

"Congratulations, Belle." isang taong lagi na lang siyang iniinis. Kung hindi lang ito boyfriend ng bestfriend nya, nuncang tignan man lang nya ito... pero magagalit kasi sa kanya ni Thea.

"Salamat. Sorry ha, natalo na naman kita— ay hindi ka pa nga pala kasali, di ka naman CEO." Malditang turan niya.

"Belle, hija..." warning ng Papa niya pero tumatawa din naman.

"It's alright, sir. Sanay na po ako sa katabilan ng dila ng anak niya." sabi ni Joaquin na nakapagpairap sa kanya.

Magsasalita pa sana sya kaso tumunog ang cellphone ni Joaquin so he excused himself.

"Hi, hon... ah... oo, tapos na sya. Sige sasabihin ko na lang. Love you too." narinig niyang sabi ni Joaquin sa kausap.

"Aguirre, Maryse called. May lakad kayo di ba?"

"Oh, shooot!" and with that she remembered. She motioned her secretarty to give her phone to her and sakto, tumatawag si Gette.

"Baklaaaaa, ano na?! Hindi ka iintayin ni Adele 'dai!" inis na bungad sa kanya ng kaibigan.

"E'to na... punta na ako— Pa, I have to go na ha...." paalam nya sa Papa nya.

"Pakibilis po. Andito na kami sa labas... pick-upin ka na namin girl... hala call girl hahahaha..." natatawa siya sa bunganga talaga ng kaibigan niya eh.

"Belle, may baon kang pamalit? Dito ka na maghubad sa sasakyan, patikin kung may bra ka." nakijoin naman si Thea sa kabaliwan nung isa.

"Shunga, pano yan magbabra wala ng magkasya sa kanya. Meron oorder pa, cup z ganern..."

Siraulo talaga tong si Gette.

Nakikita siguro sya ng mga kaibigan habang inaabot sa kanya ng secretary nya ang bag na may lamang pamalit niya. Aba syempre, alangan namang pumunta sya sa concert ng naka dress... pde din naman. Pero buti nga di sya nag suit, edi tinanggalan na nya ng ganap sa buhay ang mga lalaki. Mas big dyke kaya ang energy nya no.

Sa pagmamadali niya, may nakabunggo siyang mama... in fairness, mabango ang lolo mo. Kaso mukhang tanga eh, nakanganga lang sa kanya... or so she thought, kasi ng matauhan ang gago, tarayan daw ba sya.

"Tumingin ka naman sa nilalakaran mo Miss." sabi nito in an american accent, gusto niyang tumawa sa pagkapilipit ng dila nito sa pagtatagalog...

Pero umusok ang ilong nya sa inis, type nya sana kaso mukhang walang effect ang ganda nya sa lalaki since tinarayan sya.

"Sorry ha. Sana ikaw din, nakita mo nang di ako nakatingin, sana umiwas ka. Baka kasi di ka din nakatingin, 'tsura nito. Antipatiko." Ok, Belle, enough... may kasalanan ka.

"Ganda ka 'te?" bungad sa kanya ni Gette. Inirapan niya ito at sumakay sa passenger seat. Nasa likod si Thea.

"Wala na ba talagang matinong lalaki ngayon?" She ranted.

"Meron, si Wax ko." si Thea na mukhang nagdedaydream pa.

"Utang na loob, Althea Maryse... gwapo oo pero matino? Hintay ka pa mga 100 yirs 'te." sabi niya.

"Uy, grabe syaa.... mesherep nemen she Pepe Wex eh..." napipilipit ang dila na kontra sa kanya ni Gette. "Di ba Thea, esherep?"

Naiinis siya na natatawa kay Gette. Pokpok eh. "Ewan ko sayo."

Maganda sana kaso grabe ang bibig. Nakita nya 'to kanina eh. He was actually mesmerized at her nung nag-speech... kaso ito ba talaga yung nakita nya kanina sa loob?

"Weird... but still beautiful." tumatawang napailing sya.

Pero totoo naman ang sinabi nito. Nakikita naman nya na bubunggo ito sa kanya pero hindi sya umiwas, malaki naman ang space.

Hindi din nya alam, there's something about her na parang hinihigop sya... wow... higop agad, Enzo? Tigang?

Napangiti na lang sya. Narinig din niya ang sinabi nito sa pinsan nyang si Joaquin and it was actually what's bothering him.

He just got home from living his whole life in the states... His dad asked him to go home in the Philippines just for a vacation.

But earlier, sa office... he was not expecting what his dad did.... He introduced him to their company's board as the new CEO.

All his life, he was living it the way he wanted... it has never once crossed his mind na sya ang papalit sa Daddy nya since his father gave him his freedom and he was training his cousin.

He was closed with Joaquin... he was like his brother but since his father announced his decision, Joaquin has been avoiding him.

At ngayon nga ay sinundan nya ito pero hindi niya inabutan... gusto nya itong kausapin at sabihing hindi niya naman alam ang gagawin ng Daddy nya. He wasn't expecting it also and he is not interested.

He was busy with his thoughts, waiting for his driver bilang sa states nga sya lumaki, wala syang alam sa paligid....

An unfamiliar van parked in front of him sa labas ng venue. Thinking it wasn't for him dahil may event naman sa loob, he didn't move.

But he was taken aback as few men emerged from the car. Their head were covered with black cloth... he didn't know them but one thing is for sure... they are after him.