Dealing With The Billionaire

Chapter 26

Admirer

"Kanino po galing 'to?" Tanong ko sa guard na nag-abot sa akin ng pagkain at may kasamang note. "Wala po bang sinabi na name, kuya?"

"Wala po Ma'am eh, sabi niya po ihatid ko lang sa secretary ni Boss Jared, bukod po doon wala na. May note naman po, paki-basa nalang daw po." Pasimple pa niyang itinuro ang sticky note na nakadikit sa tupperware. Tumango lang ako at hinintay siyang umalis.

'Eat your lunch, hope you like it!'

–Z

My forehead creased, who the hell is Z? Binuksan ko ang tupperware, may laman itong menudo. Pinaluto lang yata ito. Nagkibit-balikat nalang ako at kinain ito. Hindi naman masama, ang sarap. I wonder who gave this. Hindi naman si Doreen. After I ate lunch, I continued what i'm doing.

pangatlong linggo nang tuloy-tuloy ang pagpapadala ng pagkain, para tuloy akong prison na hinahatiran ng food. Hanggang ngayon rin ay hindi ko parin alam kung sino ang nagpapadala at kada dating ng pagkain ay tinatanong ko ang guard o kung sino man ang nagpapadala pero they kept quiet as always. I kept all the sticky notes that were always with the tupperware.

I was with Doreen. Napagdesisyunan naming lumabas-labas naman dahil nakakasawa rin pala sa rooftop. We're heading to their restaurant, he said he's going to treat me. Sabado ngayon kaya pwede akong maghalf-day ngayon. Thanks god at walang nagpadala ng lunch but this time I received a message. It was from an unknown number, I can't remember if I gave my number to someone.

From: 09********8

Don't hang-out with another man. I'm jealous.

I read silently. Inilibot ko ang paningin ko sa loob ng restaurant. Wala akong makitang pamilyar na mukha. Nagtipa ako ng reply dito.

To: 09********8

Who are you? How did you get my number?

Matagal ang naging reply nito kaya hindi na ako naghintay. Doreen was looking at me so I smiled at her before he called the waiter. Siya na rin ang pumili ng pagkain dahil mas alam niya ang mga pagkain dito dahil sa kanila naman ito.

"It's good, I like it." masaya at pabulong kong sabi nang matikman ang Beef Enchiladas. Sobrang sarap, ito na yata ang magiging paborito ko. "Favorite ko na 'to!" He just laughed at what I said.

"You like it that much huh?" I nodded. "Padalhan kita lagi." My eyes twinkled.

After we ate, he drove me home. Sabay kaming umakyat, dumiretso ako sa room ko habang siya ay tuloy-tuloy na naglakad. I slumped down on the couch and gasped for breath from eating too much. Hindi pa man nag-iinit ang aking katawan sa couch ay may kumatok na naman. Walang buhay akong tumayo at sinilip ang nasa labas, muntik pa akong mapabalikwas nang kumatok ulit ang tao. Naging malakas ang pintig ng puso ko dahil sa kaba.

"S-Sino 'yan?" Kabadong tanong ko, hindi pa rin ito sumasagot bagay na ikinabahala ko. Sinikap kong hindi mautal sa pangalawang tanong ko. Nang tumigil ang pagkatok ay akala ko umalis na pero pagkabukas ko ay isang delivery man na may hawak na donuts at bouquet.

"Delivery po Ma'am, kinakagat na po ako ng lamok dito. Kanina pa po ako."

Inabot niya sa akin ang dala, may itatanong pa sana ako pero bigla siyang nawala. Bahagya pa akong lumabas para tawagin siya pero para siyang bula na nawala. Nagkibit-balikat nalang ako bago pumasok muli. Nilapag ko ang donuts at bouquet tsaka nakahalumbabang tiningnan. I put down the donuts and bouquet and looked down. I looked at the bouquet to see where it came from but I didn't see even a tiny piece of paper. Ang sunod naman ay ang box ng donuts, walang sulat na nakadikit dito dahil nasa loob ito.

'Don't stay up late, you have work tommorow!"

-Z

Napairap ako sa hangin, sino ba naman kasi ang nagsabi na magpupuyat ako? Ang old school naman ng nagpapabigay nito. Tinago ko ang sulat kung saan nandoon din ang iba pang kasama nito. Nilagay ko sa flower vase ang bouquet at kinain ang dalawang donut bago ako matulog.

Kinabukasan ay maaga rin akong nagising, nag-ayos muna ng sarili ako bago mag-almusal at tuluyang umalis. Kanina ay napatawag si Cheryl sa akin at binalita ang magandang balita, nagpropposed daw sa kanya ang boyfriend niya kaya magce-celebrate kami. Tumawag ako ng taxi papunta sa LC. Kahit na maaga akong nagising ay hindi ko pa rin naiwasan ang mabigat na traffic kaya halos malate ako.

Patakbo akong pumasok sa building at dali-daling umakyat kaya hapong-hapo ako pagkadating sa taas. Pumunta agad ako sa working place ko 'saka tinignan ang schedule ni Jared. May mga documents rin doon at paniguradong si Jared ang naglagay. Masinsinan ko itong binasa bago pirmahan ang kailangan kong pirmahan. Nang matapos ay tumayo ako saka napahikab. Pumunta ako sa cafeteria para bumili ng dalawang coffee at isang meal.

"Good morning, your coffee, Sir." Sabi ko nang maka-akyat ako.

"You're almost late." He said in his serious tone, I wonder what happened to him. He looks stressed. "You can go out now. I'm just going to call you if I need something, thanks for the coffee." I bobbed my head before leaving. He's not in his mood today.

Time flies so fast, it's already 5:00 pm. I picked up all my things before bidding a goodbye to them. After I got home, I immediately cleaned myself. I promised to Cheryl that we'll be celebrating her engagement. She said that she'll pick me up but I refused. I know I'm going to make her wait so long. I don't know what's happening to me, I missed someone's presence. I deeply sighed.

"Why are you taking so long? I thought you're not going." Cheryl hugged me when I entered the club. This isn't my first time here, I think I've been here thrice. "Marami ka bang ginawa?"

"Not really, I'm not feeling well–but I'm okay! We can still celebrate. Congratulations! We're so happy for you, especially your mom. Hindi ka na raw magdadala ng iba't-ibang lalaki na hindi naman talaga seryoso sayo at the first place."

"Foul 'yan ha! 'Yung iba doon kalandian ko, 'yung iba naman wala lang." Sinalinan niya ako ng vodka, nakahanda naman ang lemon sa lamesa. I drank it like it was nothing. I know I'm a heavy drinker but I know my limits.

"So where's your man?" I asked in a curiosity, I only saw that man once. He's good, he had this heavy aura but he's kind. I can't deny the fact that they are good together. "Is he busy?" She nodded.

Kwinento niya ang nangyari mula sa surprise hanggang sa pagluhod nito at paglabas ng singsing. She showed me her diamond engagement ring. Her eyes were glistening and she seemed to be happy. I hugged her, she deserves this kind of love. I don't envy her, I just wished I could feel the same.

"I'm one hundred one percent sure that you'll find the man of your life, you don't need to rush everything. Just wait, nandiyan lang siya...naghihintay rin sayo. And if that time comes, I'd be the happiest because finally you found him. Don't lose hope." Sabi niya na parang alam ang mangyayari sa hinaharap.

Yeah, I don't need to rush things. I need to sit back and wait for the right time. I would be grateful if it's worth the wait. Tumango lang ako at kinuha ang baso ko.

"Cheers!" We said in a chorus.

If true love can wait then I'm willing to wait until that love comes.