Chased (BS#4)

E-Expectations

THEY separated peacefully, the next day. The awkward weight of being together doubled after that conversation. Tahimik itong nakitungo sa kanya. Hindi malamig o dumidistansya. He's just quiet. Si Clarine naman ay nagpaalam na rin ditong hindi na sasabay sa sasakyan nito. Akala niya ay ipagpipilitan nitong sumama siya ngunit walang gana itong tumango.

Hindi na rin hinintay ni Clarine ang oras ng check out. Mas nauna siyang umalis kaysa sa binata. Sa huli, hindi pa rin niya naisauli rito ang susi ng bahay nito. Huli na nang mapagtanto niya iyon. She's already half way to Benguet.

She kept her phone alive at all times, thinking he would call for his keys back. Hindi nito ginawa. She wondered then if he's having problems in locking in his house. She figured out, there's no way for him not to buy a new key he can use.

Dumaan pa ang mga araw. Gaya ng inaasahan niya ay inimbita nga ng ama si Wolvin sa isang hapunan ng kanilang pamilya. Her brother brought Keit with him of course. Keit was sitting next to hers while her brother sat next to Wolvin.

Pinigilan ni Clarine ang maya't mayang udyok ng sarili na sulyapan ang binata. But everytime she gave in to her urges to meet his eyes, he never glanced at her direction. It was dumb and confusing. Tila nanlalamig ang sikmura niya't nalulubog siya sa kinauupuan.

Her parents were accommodating of him. Wolvin was quite a pretender to laugh with her parents like that. Kung bakit hindi niya kayang sumabay sa ganoong akto, ay hindi rin niya alam.

"I heard you're also preparing to expand your hotel in Laguna? Kakabukas lang niyon, hindi ba?" Iyon ay ang kanyang ina na hindi maitago ang pagkagiliw katulad ng kanyang Papa.

"Yes, Tita. We haven't started the construction, yet. Kasama talaga iyon sa unang plano but we had to postpone it first to check how the market will react. It'll probably take two years from now as we're still on a detailed review of the project. Marami pang kailangang tingnan at ikonsidera. But it was no doubt the hotel opening was quite a success. Clients welcomed the project very well."

"With your chain of hotels now, may plano ka bang mag venture out to other industry?" tanong ng kanyang ama.

"Like what? He's successful in hotelier," komento ng kanyang ina.

"Belinda, maaari rin niyang subukan sa iba. He might be successful in that industry but he could also expand his grasp on others. The wider the connections, the better business."

Wolvin chuckled. Natigil si Clarine sa pagdutdot ng gulay sa kanyang plato. Saglit niya itong sinulyapan. Nahuli niya ang mabilis na pag-iwas nito ng tingin.

"I'm not that successful yet, Tita. Marami pa akong kailangang ayusin sa kompanya. We might be continuously expanding but we still have to raise our game. Marami rin kaming magagaling na kakompetensya."

"I believe you'll be on the top of the game, Hijo. Your employees are very much loyal to you."

"I see that, Tito. We're actually thinking of having more people hired. Ililipat namin ang magagaling sa mas nararapat na pwesto."

"I heard you're also bidding to that casino hotel investment? Isn't that right?" Si Trex iyon na ngayon lamang nakisali sa usapan. Nagkatinginan ang kanilang ama at ina.

"Are you eyeing that too, Trex?"

"Matagal na naming tinitingnan iyon, Pa."

Napasinghap ang kanilang ina.

"As expected of my son. Hindi nagpapahuli sa mga malalaki ang potential na negosyo." Tumawa ang kanilang ama. Ngumiti lamang si Wolvin roon.

"I received proposals for it, Trex. But yes, we might see each other then in the conference."