I Love You Virus

Chapter 29

Wataro

“Sign this part too,” ani Attorney Warren sa kanya. Tinuro nito ang huling page ng documents at pati na ng mga stipulation nito na kanina niya pa pinipirmahan. Wataro nodded innocently. His vision’s a bit blurred kaya may suot-suot siya ngayong eyeglasses. He gazed at the last page at nang matagpuan niya ang parte kung saan niya kailangangang pumirma ay dinala niya na ang kanang kamay roon. Using a brand-new pen, he printed his signature there over his full name.

“Done,” aniya. Attorney Warren smiled at him. Kinuha nito ang papeles na pinirmahan niya at inilagay sa eleganteng itim na leather folder kung saan nang matapos ay ibinalik naman agad sa kanya.

Dudang, Kaito, Sora and Attorney Warren’s brother Ram are done signing too. Tumayo na silang lahat at sabay-sabay nang ipinakita sa press ang tangan-tangan nilang mga folder.

Hundreds of cameras flashes in front of their faces. Hindi pa sanay si Wataro sa ganitong klaseng set-up kaya maya’t maya pa siyang napapikit sa mga pagkakataong nasisilaw siya sa mga ilaw. Siniko siya ni Dudang. He was forced to smile as he proudly showed to everybody the folder he’s holding.

Focus on Wataro’s folder. A close-up shot. On it, we see some gold carvings: I LOVE YOU INCORPORATED.

Zoom out. A panorama shot for the founders of I Love You Incorporated namely; Kaito Angara, Sora Dilhang, Attorney Warren de Castro, Ram de Castro, Dorothy Go and the main founder, Wataro Go.

Pagkatapos ng contract signing at picture taking, nagkaroon naman agad ng press conference. For all the technical questions about the Project I Love, si Kaito at Wataro ang sumasagot habang pagdating naman sa legal matters pati na rin sa shares ay ang magkapatid na de Castro ang nagpapaliwanag. Sora and Dudang remained silent there. Sora kept giggling sa mga pagkakataong napupunta sa kanya ang camera habang panay lang ng rolyo ng mga mata si Dudang habang ngumunguya ng bubble gum sa mga pagkakataong may nagtatanong sa kanila ng mga walang kakuwenta-kuwentang tanong.

And by the way, they’re having their first conference now in their first ever 23 story building. The incorporation already took place last week at ang kontratang pinirmahan na lang nila sa araw na ito ay ang pagtake-over sa kanila ng ng building at lot na ito.

“This will be the very first time that a corporation will launch a multi-platform website in Asia, and what’s unique about it is that, the founders are really young. Tanong ko lang po, and any of the founder can answer this question, how will you handle this very complex system at hindi po ba kayo natatakot na may magdalawang-isip sa inyo dahil sobrang babata niyo pa?” tanong ng isang reporter sa kanila.

Nagkatinginan silang anim sa table. Dudang voluntarily raise her hand. Wataro just gaze at his girlfriend giving her a “Sigurado ka ba” look?” Not that he didn’t trust Dudang. It’s just that Wataro knows how straight forward she is at natatakot lang siyang baka hindi matanggap ng karamihan ang magiging sagot nito. Dudang’s always thinking and expressing herself outside the box. And those who find comfort in living inside the box might just get offended and disturbed by her words, her actions, and even her ideas. Yet, it’s too late already. Bago pa may masabi si Wataro ay may sinagot na ni Dudang ang tanong ng reporter.

“I guess it’ll be unfair that somebody will doubt us just because we are young. Wait for us to show some results and then by that, you can already judge us. Pero ngayong nagsisimula pa lang kami, just give us first the benefit of the doubt. Hayaan niyo muna kaming patunayan ang mga sarili namin. Pero kung ayaw niyo, e ‘di ‘wag, we will still work hard and will show better results anyway,” anito.

Natawa lang ang buong press. Even Wataro smiled because of her answer.

“At oo nga pala,” bigla nitong binalik ang mic sa sarili, “Becoming an adult doesn’t guarantee that someone can already be great. Weather you admit it or not, there are just too many stupid adults out there who are full of shit, kaya maling-mali talaga na gini-generalize kaming mga nakakabata sa inyo na mas mahina at mas walang alam, kasi minsan, kabaliktaran talaga ang nangyayari.”

Dudang receives a round of applause. And Wataro can’t help his own self but get proud. Niyakap niya si Dudang pagkatapos.

They toured the building by one in the afternoon at nang matapos naman sila by three, nag-umpisa na silang tumanggap ng mga bagong hire habang pinapasok sa loob ng building ang mga in-order nilang equipments. Half of the building will be allocated for the IT habang iyon natitirang labing dalawang floors naman sa baba ay magiging allocated for administrative tasks and works.

“For our day one!” Bandang alas otso na sila ng gabi natapos at para maibsan ang pagod na pinagdaanan nila sa araw na ito, they immediately went to Soo Jang Min Restaurant for their dinner, kung saan hindi lang dinner ang naganap dahil nagkaroon din ng kaonting inuman.

“For our day one!” They cheered one last time bago sila nagsuiwan.

“Dudang?” Wataro called Dudang nang sila na lang ang maiwan sa labas ng restaurant. They’re just waiting for a taxi. Nauna na ang kambal na umuwi, ganoon din si Sora at Kaito na lasing na lasing na nang makalabas sila kanina.

“Hmm?” anito. She’s totally drunk. Nakakapit na ito sa kanya habang umaagik-ik ng walang dahilan, trying to balance herself through him.

“Will you marry me?” tanong ni Wataro rito.

Biglang natigilan si Dudang sa tanong niya. “Gago ka ba? 17 pa lang ako. At magka-apelyido pa tayo. Aish! Nawala ang kalasingan ko sa tanong mo.”

“I mean, balang araw.” Umiwas ng tingin si Wataro. He can’t look at her directly. “Will you marry me?”

“Ano’ng klaseng tanong ‘yan? Oo naman.”

Nagpigil ng ngiti si Wataro. Ganoon din si Dudang.

“Pero paano kung hindi na ako CEO balang araw? Paano kung mahirap na lang ako? Papakasalan mo pa rin baa ko?” tanong niya.

Dudang just observed his very wholesome and innocent face. Maya-maya pa, kinurap nito ng marahan ang mga mata nito. Dudang reached for his hands. “The moment na na-realize kong gusto kita Kuya Wataro, I already promise to myself that someday, I’m going to turn you into a billionaire. Not because I can, but because I know you can. Sa totoo lang, kayong dalawa lang naman talaga ni Kaito ang may talent dito e. Sora, the de Castro brothers and I are just here to support the two of you along the way. At gagawin namin ang lahat para mapuntahan niyo ang gusto niyong mapuntahan. Because by supporting your dreams, we are all supporting ours too. Kaya ‘yang sinasabi mong magiging mahirap ka balang araw, sobrang imposibleng mangyari ang bagay na ‘yan. Kasi una, hindi namin iyon hahayaan, hindi ko ‘yon hahayaan at alam na alam naming hindi niyo rin iyong hahayaang mangyari. Another thing too, marrying someone doesn’t post requisite anything. Marrying someone will not take anything away from you. Unless if that someone is a wrong person. You are not a wrong person, so am I, kaya hinding-hindi ka maghihirap kapag ginusto mo na akong pakasalan o kapag gusto ko nang magpakasal sa ‘yo.”

Wataro got lost her words. Hearing that from Dudang makes him shut his mouth in a total silence. What she had said was just too wonderful. Too soul and too heart striking. And again, wala na siyang ibang nagawa kundi ang mas lapitan pa ito, at siilin ng walang kasing tamis na halik ang walang kasing tamis nitong mga labi.

Hindi niya alam kung ano ang ginawa niya sa past life niya para maangkin niya ng buong-buong sa kasalukuyan ang walang kasing talino at walang kasing tapang na si Dudang. For him, his sister is already close to perfection despite of its imperfections. That’s why when he kissed her, he really promised to his own self that he will never disappoint her. Ever.

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