Le Penchant

14| careful

"Agno river must be diverted through a tunnel so that the water would smoothly run around the intended construction zone, the river is in between Asingan and Sta. Maria, the water would flow perfectly to the Dam, that's why this area is more than perfection Mr. Pangilinan," I tried to convince the old man who stood in front of me, I looked at him desperately.

Napa-iling siya, sinabayan pa niya ito ng pagbuntong hininga. "But I wanted the Quali-Dam to be placed in Pampanga!" He angrily said, binitawan niya ang paghawak sa blueprint na nasa kamay niya, mabuti nalang at agad ko 'tong nasalo.

I was tempted to punch his face, but I calmed myself instead. "Sir, all of the contracts are being processed and they are legally filed, we can't change-" napahinto ako nang mag-walkout si Mr. Pangilinan sa'kin.

My lips turned to a thin line, hindi ako puwedeng tumigil! Hindi puwedeng mawala ang deal na 'to, napakalaki ng deal na 'to!

Binilisan ko ang paglakad ko, I needed to catch up with this old man's pace, nagpalinga-linga ako, I saw how Chase and Lucas were contacting some of the people who were in charge of the legal papers ng deal na ito. Lahat kami ay nagugulo! Pupuwedeng makulong si Mr. Pangilinan kapag hindi namin sinunod ang nasa kontrata, pero damay rin si Engineer Greg, dahil partnership deal 'to ng firm!

I almost fell when I suddenly bumped on someone's back, Calixto steadied me by holding my waist. Ang sakit ng pagtama ko sa likod niya, parang pader yung binunggo ko! He looked at me dissapointedly, I squirmed when I realized he was holding me, pero hindi na niya pinatagal ang paghawak sa'kin at binalingan muli si Mr. Pangilinan.

"As I was saying, the city mayor in Pangasinan had already gave his blessing to construct the Quali-Dam during his term, that would lift a lot of unwanted expenses since the mayor would shoulder all of it," Calixto's voice sounded so serious, everything about him meant business.

Napalunok naman ako at tahimik na tumabi sa kaniya, I watched how Mr. Pangilinan scratched his chin na para bang nagiisip pa. Pinigilan ko ang sarili kong bunutin isa-isa ang iilang buhok niyang natitira bago siya tuluyang makalbo, I was controlling my temper for the past two hours!

Ang ganda-ganda na nang usapan namin habang kino-close ang deal, tapos ngayon dinadahilan niya na wala raw siyang pera para sa ganitong kalaking lupa! Kaya gusto niya sa Pampanga, na mas maliit ang sakop na lupa, para mas maliit ang bayad niya. Talaga nga naman!

Nakita ko ang pag-igting ng panga ni Calixto sa tabi ko, halatang nagagalit na rin siya kung pagmamasdam mo ito ng maigi, but he masked his emotions pretty well. Mukhang sanay na sanay na siya sa ganitong klaseng kliyente.

"Wait," maikling pagsagot ni Mr. Pangilinan, naningkit ang mga mata ko sa inis.

Pinag-iisipan pa talaga niya? Hindi ba pumasok sa kokote niya na kompanya niya at firm namin ang madadamay 'pag nagkagulo rito at hindi sumunod sa usapan? This was legalized by Benguet's and Pangasinan's government, for goodness sake!

"So that means, I would be saving a lot of money?" Pagkaklaro ng matanda. "Yes, your shares would be further discussed by Engineer Delos Reyes, the official head of our Civil Department," sagot naman ni Calixto, he remained stoic.

Paanong hindi siya nagagalit? 'E halos pagbantaan na nitong si Mr. Pangilinan ang tatay niya kanina! How could he handle the situation so well?

"Good."

Dalawang tao ang bumuntong hininga sa likuran namin ni Calixto, nilingon ko ito, nakita ko ang dalawang architect namin. Si Lucas pulang-pula na ang mukha, siguro sa sobrang inis na rin, pa'no ba naman hindi magiging ganito ang mga timpla namin? 'E kung pagbaba palang namin sa sasakyan, nagsisisigaw na 'tong Mr. Pangilinan na 'to na 'di na raw tuloy ang deal.