Elite Wars

Chapter 5

GUSTAVE

Isang linggo na akong hindi kinikibo ni Sandrine. Nag-uumpisa na akong mainis dahil napaka liit naman kasi ng ikinagagalit niya. Who the hell does she think she is? Ngayon nga ay sinadya ko talagang magpa late  para lang maabutan ko siya. This setup is annoying the hell out of me. Saan ka ba naman nakakita ng asawang mas matigas pa sa bato?

Pera lang naman ang pinoproblema niya, pwede naman niya namang gawin ang ipinagmamalaki niyang proyekto sa isang taon. Why can't she accept that? Hindi ba talaga niya kayang mag-patalo kahit isang beses lang?

"Gustave? Are you listening?"

"Huh?" Lingon ko.

My cousin, Enrique and I have been talking about the expansion of our electric plant in Bulacan. I still need to pitch this project to the board and I still have to convince them that it's worth the money. Ito ang pinag-awayan namin ni Sandrine kaya hindi ako papayag na hindi nila ito ma-approve.

"You're phasing out again. Is it still your problem about your wife?" Diretsang tanong niya.

Pasimple akong nag-iwas ng tingin. I scratched the side of my brow as I think of another reason as to why I wasn't listenting to him. Hangga't maaari kasi ay ayaw kong pag-usapan namin si Sandrine. I'd like to keep my thoughts to myself.

"No. It's about a deal that I made with an investor. I'm sorry, could you repeat that again?" I said.

Enrique sighed and leaned comfortably on the extravagant sofa inside my office. I have a feeling that he doesn't buy my reason. Nanahimik siya na para bang hinihintay na dugtungan ko ang sinabi ko. Suminghap ako at sumandal din. Sabi ko na nga ba, hindi ako pwedeng mag-tago sa pinsan ko.

Enrique is my cousin but he's more like a brother to me. Mas matanda siya sa akin ng dalawang taon at sabay kaming lumaki. Nasa katauhan niya ang tatlong papel ng isang tao sa buhay ko. A bestfriend, a cousin and a brother. He is the chief engineer consultant of the company. He also owns a little percentage of the company's stock.

"You really think you can lie to me? Wala ka namang ibang po-problemahin kundi ang asawa mo lang eh." Hindi kumbinsidong sagot niya.

Hindi ko ba talaga maitatago ang katotohanan sa kanya? Ayaw kong malaman ng tao na nagkaka problema kami ni Sandrine dahil lang sa pera. I could give the world to her but I wouldn't do that. We don't want her to be a spoiled brat now, do we?

"It's nothing, really." Tipid kong sagot na nag babaka sakaling matapos na ang usapan.

"How many times did I tell you? Hindi mo na dapat pinoproblema si Sandrine. Babae lang siya. You are the CEO of the company. Ano namang magagawa niya?" Aniya.

"Let's not talk about her, Enrique. Continue." Tukoy ko sa idi-ni-discuss niya kanina.

Umiling si Dean at diskumpyadong itinuloy ang sinasabi niya. I pretended to listen even though I couldn't think about anything besides my wife. Dean finally left my office after that. Sakto namang pumasok ang secretary ko.

"Sir? Mr. Salcedo moved your meeting on Thursday at 3pm. Shall I tell him that you're not available?" Tanong niya.

"Why?"

"You have the Forbes shoot with your wife that day, Sir."

"I'm free this afternoon, right? Call them and tell them that we'll do the shoot today." Sabi ko at itinuloy ang pagbabasa ng ilang papeles sa aking opisina.