Tulala ako pagkaalis ni Mr. Gonzales. Sinabi ko rin sa sekretarya na huwag munang magpapasok ng kahit sino kung mayroon mang dadating at huwag rin munang ipasa sa akin ang mga tawag. I-set na lang ang meeting o kunin ang mensaheng para sa akin. Parang hindi ko kayang humarap sa kahit kanino pagkatapos ng nangyari.
Nakahilig ako sa aking upuan, rinig ko ang kanina pang pagtunog ng telepono ko. nakailang ulit iyon at nang minsang tingnan ko kung sino ay pangalan ni Zeo ang nakita ko. Mas lalo akong nawalan ng ganang sagutin ‘yon dahil wala akong maisip na dahilan kung bakit pa nya ako kokontakin. The last time we talked, we made it clear to go on and live our lives as if I never kissed him drunkenly. The score was even. Pumayag ako sa pagiging partner nya sa isang shoot last time dahil ang sabi nya kapag nagawa ko iyon, babalewalain yan ang gulong ginawa ko. I did my end of the bargain.
Tumunog muli iyon at hindi ko pinansin dahil busy ako sa pag-iisip ng problema. Ipinikit ko ang mga mata ko.
“Why are you not answering your phone?”, isang dagundong ng boses ang umistorbo sa akin. Hindi ko napansin na nakaidlip ako. Pupungas-pungas ako nang muling magmulat ng mata at makita ng maayos kung sino man ang pumasok sa opisina ko.
“What are you doing here?”, I groggily asked. Medyo hindi pa nakakabawi sa pagkakagising. Zeo was standing in the middle of my office, my secretary was almost shaking in fear and I remembered my order about visitors. Napahilot ako ng sentido dahil sa ganap. Nangangalahati pa lang ang araw pero parang pagod na pagod na agad ako at gusto ko nang umuwi para makatulog. Dumagdag pa na nasa likudan lang din nila ang ‘bodyguard’ kong si Gino. I saw his eyes sharply looking at me. Itinaas ko ang kilay ko sa kanya.
What’s his problem now? At bakit sya pumasok sa opisina ko nang hindi ko sinasabi?
“You two can go out”, utos ko nang malinaw sa sekretarya ko at kay Gino.
“I’m sorry, Ma’am. I tried to tell Mr. Zeo that you ae unavailable but he—“
“It’s okay, Trina. Just go back to your work”, ikinumpas ko ang kamay para imuwestra ang pinto at tumalima naman sya kahi may kaunting pag-aalinlangan. Marahil ay guilty sa hindi pagsunod sa utos ko. alam nya kung paano ako mainis kapag nangyayari ‘yon pero wala akong ganang sermonan sya ngayon dahil may mas importatnte akong iniisip.
My eyes drifted again at the man who was standing still near the door and hadn’t shown any sign that he was leaving.
“Gino,” I internally praised myself from calling his name without stuttering. Maybe I was really preoccupied with something that I did not have time to wallow with old feelings. His eyes were intense, well, they always were but I guess they turned darker now.
“I’m sorry, Ma’am. You father’s order,” malamig nyang sambit at nangunot ang noo ko sa sinabi nya. There was that line again. Siguro’y nagsumbong sya na nandito kanina si Mr. Gonzales sa opisina ko.
“Hindi nya malalaman na sumuway ka ng ilang minuto so please, go and give me my privacy”
“I was not trained to neglect duties and orders, Ma’am. Isipin nyo na lang po na wala ako dito pero hindi ako lalabas,” nanghahamon ang titig na ibinato nya sa akin. Nagulat ako at nagising ang diwa nang tuluyan dahil sa mga salita nya. Nakipagsukatan ako ng tingin sa kanya pero mukhang pinaninindigan nya ang pagsunod sa utos.
Someone cleared a throat at doon ko lang naalala na kasama nga pala naming si Zeo. Napasinghap ako nang marahan at naputol ang titig kay Gino para ibaling ang atensyon sa bisita. May pagdududa ang mga tinging pabalik-balik sa aming dalawa ng bodyguard ko. kinabahan ako dahil ayokong may ibang makahalata ng kung ano mang namamagitan sa amin. Kahit wala naman talagang namamagitan sa amin.
“Sorry. What a rude host I am, please take a seat. Do you want some drinks?”, I ask to divert the attention. Tumayo ako mula sa swivel chair ko at lumapit sa sofa kung saan ko sya pinaupo rin noong una nyang bisita. Sumunod naman sya at naupo rin gaya ko. Rigidly, Gino remained standing where he was like a well-trained solider he was but his was watching us like hawks. Sinusundan nya ang bawat galaw namin na para bang nag-aantay ng mangyayaring pagkakamali para may dahilan syang umaksyon.
“I’ve been calling you the whole day you are not answering”, simula ni Zeo. His rockstar aura radiated like before.
“I thought we will go back to our old lives like before? We had a deal, Mr. Rockstar”
“Some magazines and newspaper got to print and published our faces anyway. Hindi na naming na-trace kung saan nanggaling ang picture na inilagay nila doon. Akala ko nagawan na namin ng paraan but it seems paparazzi nowadays got more clever”
“And you’re not bothered of the issue?” nabasa ko rin ang isa sa mga articles na iyon, isa iyon sa mga napag-usapan namin ni Andra kanina sa breakfast. I was actually expecting Zeo to come to talk to me about it. To make another deal, I guess para makapagrelease ako ng statement and to clear his name.
“Nope. For my entire career, I’ve been avoiding and dodging issues because they are messy and I don’t like messy but this one”, his lips displayed a smirk. “I like this one. Mas lalong umingay ang pangalan ko dahil sa’yo”
Sa pangalawang pagkakataon ngayong araw, tumaas ag kilay ko.
“Akala ko ba you want people to notice you for your music not for anything else?”
“People loved the music video teaser we released last time. Iyon ‘yung may participation ka sa photoshoot. Fans started to ask about the girl on the video”
“Akala k aba picture lang ang ilalabas?”
“Well, my manager said you’re pretty so he sneakily caught you on some videos without us knowing. You can sue him if you want”
I rolled my eyes.
“It’s not as if I’ve never been into the spotlight. I will not sue him”
“Great! Now,” may inabot sya sa akin na envelope. I took it and read.
“What’s this? An invitation?”
“Obviously”
“You are giving this to me ‘cause I will be your date there, right?”, hindi ko sinasadya na paliparin ang mata kay Gino na kahit hindi nakatingin sa amin sa pagkakataong iyon ay nakikinig naman sa usapan. He was clenching his jaw like a lion ready to pounce. O sadya lang syang laging mukhang galit?
“I really like that you are not dumb like any other girls I know and of course you’ll be my date”, he chuckled. Naninibago ako kay Zeo. He seemed light and happy compared to our first personal meeting last time.
And maybe going to this party would help me wind up a little.
