SIN: Valeria Caruso

10: A Business Card

"Aalis ka na, ate?"

Tumayo mula sa kinauupuan si Valeria at kinuha ang car coat niya na nakasampay sa upuan. "Yes." she responded to Liv. "Arden just texted me, and... I-I have a meeting." ilang beses niyang pinigilan ang ulo na bumaling sa direksyon ng fiancé ng kapatid niya pero hindi pa rin siya nagtagumpay. His unusual gaze was focused on her. Minsan ay naiisip na ni Valeria kung bakit ganoon siya nito tingnan, para kasing... kakaiba talaga. As if he had thoughts or sentiments to share. 'O baka delusional lang talaga siya.

Lumungkot ang itsura ni Liv. "Ganoon ba... sayang naman."

Nawala ang atensyon niya nang maramdaman niyang nag-vibrate ang phone niya. She knew it was another message-obviously from Arden. Alam niyang tungkol na naman kay Johann iyon. Damn it, his behavior is getting under my skin.

Hinarap muli niya si Liv. Valeria was careful to keep her attention solely on her sister, deliberately avoiding the person next to her. "So... paano?" wala ba'ng balak umuwi 'iyang fiancé mo, Liv? "I need to leave." kung aalis ako, dapat umalis na 'rin 'iyang fiancé mo.

"Sige, ate." Getting up from her seat, Liv walked over to her. "Baka kailangan ka na nila Arden doon. Nakakahiya naman kung ma-l-late ka pa. Ikaw pa naman 'yung boss nila." anito sabay natawa.

Pagkuwan ay sinabayan niya ang tawa ni Liv kasabay ng paghawak niya sa siko nito. "Aalis ka na rin naman mamaya, di 'ba?"

"Yes ate."

"Then... what about him?" Valeria whispered. Alam niya namang maririnig pa rin naman ito ng lalaki dahil magkalapit lang ang agwat nila. But still. "Hindi pa ba siya aalis?"

Natigilan si Liv pero hindi nawala ang ngiti sa labi. "Sabay na kaming aalis, ate. Don't worry, i-l-lock naman namin 'yung pintuan kapag nakaalis na kami."

Sandaling kinagat ni Valeria ang pang-ibabang-labi. Why are you becoming so slow, Liv? Hindi naman kasi iyon ang tinutukoy niya! "What I mean is---"

Just as she was about to proceed with her words, her phone rang out of nowhere. Sighing, tumingin siya sa screen at hindi na siya nagulat kung sino ang caller. Ignoring the call, she decided not to respond. She was leaving anyway, so there's no need. Inilagay niya na lang ang phone sa bag at, "Alright, I'm leaving." Last na talaga 'to. Nagsalita pa ng 'ingat' si Liv sa kaniya bago niya nilisan ang dining room.

Nasa labas na si Valeria at bubuksan na niya sana ang pintuan ng mamahaling kotse nang,

"Wait up--!!!" a rough voice from behind uttered.

She paused. Sa halip na humarap kaagad ay tumingin muna siya sa repleksyon ng kotse niya para makita ang imahe ni Zevran na nasa likuran niya. The image was blurry, but it was enough to confirm that she wasn't deaf; he did call her. But why? Sa anong rason?

Hindi mo naman malalaman kung hindi mo siya haharapin, gaga! saad ng isipan niyang may amats. She winced, took a deep breath, sighed, and then turned to face Zevran.

This guy is really handsome. Nakakamangha na kahit ilang beses niya na itong nakikita ay hindi pa rin siya nagsasawang magulat. Ang lakas-lakas ng sex appeal nito. It's difficult to fathom that this man is already in his thirties. Hay. Nakakabilib.