The Illiterate Wife ✔

TIW 27

Kristin

Una, hindi pa maaring simulan ang meeting dahil wala pa ang boss. Kaya naman nag hintay muna kami ng mahigit limang minuto bago bumalik si Rod at Karell.

Siya nga talaga ang sekretarya ni Rod. Nakadiretso ang tingin nilang dalawa at hindi man lang ako tinapunan ng tingin nang makapwesto sa kanilang sariling upuan.

Ang sarap lang talagang ingudngod ng pag mumukha nilang dalawa.

"Good morning to all, is everyone present for this meeting?" Prenteng tanong ni Rod habang isa isang tinitignan ang mga nasa loob ng silid.

"Yes sir." Agad namang sagot ni Mr. Cua.

Pumunta na ako harapan at sinimulan ang diskusyon.

"Mr. Bezos, chairman of the board." I started being professional.

"You may begin." Sagot naman nito ng seryosong tinig.

"Thank you. I will present the market sales of Klark Steak and Grill. Both branches in Baguio and Quezon City. The fine dining restaurant is on trend due to the dishes featuring Filipino, American, and French cuisine."

Agad kong tinignan si Karell at nginitian pagkatapos sabihin ang 'French.' I hope she remembers the wood.

"In front of you is the list that shows different restaurants which serves as a business rival of Klark Steak and Grill. Our business has a competitive advantage and strategy in terms of making sure that we are on top."

Before investing in his company, I need to make sure that they will be impressed with the achievements of Klark.

The meeting was going smoothly until Karell raised her hand having that bitchy smile on again.

"Yes Ms. Karell?" I professionally asked. Alam ko kung saan ilulugar ang ugali ko at kahit papano ay may katiting pa akong respeto sa mga tao dito.

"Let me change that for you, it's actually Mrs. Bezos." She said as a matter of fact. I nearly raised my eyebrow and rolled my eyes.

Sino namang may pake?

"Well, Mrs. Bezos?" I smiled sweetly at her para ipakitang matagal ng walang epekto sa akin si Rod.

"Who is your co-owner in the restaurant? I heard that you are one of the owners." Karell asked raising her eyebrows. For all I know naghahanap lang siya ng paraan para mapahiya ako.

"He is Mr. Aaron Villamor known for being an executive chef with two michelin stars in United States, San Francisco."

"Wow, I'm impressed and he is your what? boyfriend?" She mockingly said that while looking at me from head to toe.

"I believe that the question is already invading my personal privacy and is not connected to the presentation, Mrs. Bezos." Kailangan kong maging maayos para matapos na ang oras ko dito. Her opinion doesn't matter anyways, why bother to argue?

"Why? Are you afraid that they'll know na mang gagamit ka lang?"

"Karell, enough." Rod said in a very serious tone while looking at me. Karell did stop but she still had that bitchy smile as if saying she won but I won't give her the satisfaction.

"I expected a lot from you Mrs. Bezos turns out you easily judge without any basis or even evidence. Shall I present the rules of the court?" Tinignan ko ng diretso sa mata si Rod. Walang wala silang pinagkaiba ni Karell. Bago pa man may sumagot muli ay nag patuloy na ako.

I finished the presentation and we sealed it with a deal. What a success. Rod didn't say much as well as Karell. Well good for them.

Umalis na ako pag katapos ng meeting, wala akong balak makipagplastikan sa mga mamamatay tao.

Since, first day palang ng mga estudyante ay half day lamang sila dahil para lang sa orientation ang oras.

I met Aaron in a culinary school sa Baguio, nagkataon na siya ang instructor namin for a month. Until one rainy afternoon, we had the chance to have a conversation habang nag hihintay na tumila ang ulan.

That conversation led to countless talks. Eventually, we became friends and we surprisingly clicked maybe because of one fact...

We felt the same.

Agad akong nakarating sa paaralan, pagkatapos maghanap ng parking space at dumiretso na ako sa loob.

I immediately saw Aaron with the kids.

"Mama/Mommy!" They all waved at me with smiles in their faces.

"Hello sweethearts, how's school?" I approached them with a big smile plastered on my face.

"Fine po mommy." Clark simply answered while Sofia is bubbly as her normal self.

"I made new friends mama, I was telling daddy and kuya about it awhile ago then you came."

"I see 'nak, tell us about it later okay? Shall we go somewhere else?" Nag tanong muli ako dahil baka gusto nilang pumasyal muna bago umuwi.

"Let's go to kuya Clark's room mama!" Our baby jumped up and down.

Everyone agreed with staying at the condo, so after ordering foods from a drive thru we went to our destination.

Traffic ang biyahe pabalik sa condo, si Aaron na ang nag drive katabi ako habang nasa likod ang dalawang bata na nagsisimula ng antukin.

"Maria? How is everything?" Aaron started up a small talk.

"It's all good." I replied and smiled facing him.

Aaron's been a great guy for the past 4 years and up until this point.

"That's great. Well, how are they?" Nothing to hide with Aaron. We've been each others' diary since then.

"Wala pa rin pinagbago Aaron, gano'n pa rin sila katulad ng dati. Ang sama ng loob ko na mukhang wala silang pakialam na nakapatay sila dati." The thought of it makes me want to cry all day.

"I'm here Maria. I always will catch you from sadness." He said those words softly with care evidence in his voice.

"Thank you Aaron. Salamat sa lahat." Hindi ko alam kung paano ko ibabalik lahat ng tulong niya sa akin, sa buong buhay ko noong nakaraan na mga taon si Aaron lang ang nagsilbing sandalan ko sa lahat ng bagay.

"Well, how about her? Kamusta na siya Aaron?" Of course, I had to ask him too and make sure everything's alright.

"It's been years Maria, I don't know." He said with a flat tone, almost emotionless.

This is the reason we clicked in the first place. Parehas kaming iniwan. Ang kaibahan, ipinaalam sa akin ang pang-iiwan habang ang sakaniya, umalis lamang ng walang paalam.

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