H A U N T E D (NGS #11)

37th Haunted

Haunted

Busy

Nagkasalubong ang aking kilay sa tanong ni Roche. It's a personal question!

"Oh..." the judges' reaction didn't expect it too.

"Is that necessary, Sir? That's a personal question," sabi ko at idinaan iyon sa ngiti para hindi magmukhang bastos.

Humilig si Roche sa table at nag-angat ng kilay.

"We need your informations and yes... it's included," ani Roche, parang dinamay pa ang lahat ng judges lalo na't sa mga reaksyon nito, nagtataka rin.

"I mean... she's right, Engineer. It's a personal question," the woman said carefully and chuckled.

"She might stain the brand because of her rumors. And I've seen it on the internet. Everyone's talking about it. Some were claiming she cheated on—"

"So you're using your social media now huh..." the CEO teased and smirked like it was so unusual of him.

"Her other boyfriends..." patuloy ni Roche.

Medyo natawa ang iilang judges sa tanong ng CEO na hindi naman pinagtuunan ng pansin ni Roche.

Boyfriends? Wow! Coming from a playboy who's link to multiple women and has a rumored girlfriend, huh! Atupagin niya kaya ang sarili niyang issue?

"Hmm... baka curious lang si Engineer kaya binibiro si Miss Fortalejo..." ngiti ng babaeng judge sa akin.

"We all are, Mrs. Dizon. This is a worldwide campaign. We need to make sure our models are clean and..." he raised his brow at me.

Clean and? Single? The fuck he's talking about?

"I'm not that curious but with her beauty... I might consider this opportunity to know if I have a chance or something..." biro ng isa sa brand ambassador sabay tawa na hinaluan din ng tawa ng iilan.

Agaran itong inasar ng ilang judges. I saw how Roche smirked but not in a friendly way and glanced from his side.

"You're willing to settle as her second man, Mr. Wilson? You're willing to stoop that low?" Roche chuckled playfully.

Kahit tumatawa naman, pakiramdam ko ay insulto iyon lalo na't iba ang dating noon kumpara sa tawa nila. His chuckle screams... insults and arrogance.

"So you're really engaged, Miss Fortalejo?" ang CEO mismo ang nagtanong ng marahan.

Ibinalik ni Roche ang tingin sa akin at suot pa ang mayabang na ngising galing sa inasar niyang brand ambassador. Muli niyang pinaglaruan ang ballpen at naghihintay sa isasagot ko.

"I'm actually busy at the moment and my priority right now is my work, Sir..." ang tangi kong naisip na palusot na totoo rin naman.

The woman nodded like it's enough.

"When is the Wedding? When you're not busy anymore?" she asked.

"She didn't answer yet if she's engaged or not," singit ni Roche sabay sandal ulit sa kanyang upuan.

Tumawa ang mga judges sa naging reaksyon ni Roche. Ngumisi rin siya at tiningnan ang ballpen na pinipitik niya sa mesa, tila ba gusto na lamang makisabay sa tawanan nila kahit kita ko sa mukha niya ang pagiging seryoso.

"Kung wala lang akong nababalitaan sa love life mo iisipin kong tipo mo, Engineer..." biro ng babae sabay sapak ng kanyang braso.

So it's confirmed that... he's really taken? I swallowed. Umahon ang tingin ni Roche at muling hinuli ang akin.