That One Match

Chapter 02

"Babae! Totoo ba ang bali-balita?"

I was eating peacefully in front of my widescreen television when Heptane came down from her room. Isang linggo na syang nakikitira sa bahay ko simula nang makabalik sya ng Pinas galing NY.

"Anong balita? Netflix ako buong magdamag, nanonood ng Heist."

She sat next to me on the couch and showed me her iPad.

"May umiikot na rumors sa business world ngayon. I think it's about Mr. Ruben Alfonzo's affair."

Agad kong nilapag ang bowl of chips na hawak ko at inagaw kay Heptane ang iPad nya. I scrolled the news and even looked for other related articles.

Marami ngang sites ang nagsilabasan na ng opinyon. No naming of companies nor name of persons involved ang lahat na balita.

Patunay na malakas talaga ang Alfonzo para pagtakpan ang mga ganitong bagay.

Ibinalik ko sa kanya ang iPad nya at nagpatuloy ako sa aking panonood.

Heptane knew I don't like to discuss things related to that 'issue' anymore. Ayaw ko nang makisawsaw pa. I had done mg part and I — I regret it.

"SERYOSO? Ginawa nya iyon lahat?"

Kahit si Heptane ay hindi makapaniwala sa nangyayari sa business ko. I just shared to her the conversation I had with Blank earlier.

"What the hell is wrong with that guy? Hindi pa rin ba sya convinced that you're not his father's mistress?"

Nandito ako ngayon sa kwarto ko sa bahay. Mag-isa lang at nakaupo sa tapat ng laptop. Heptane is in another town for a local business meeting kaya video calling muna kaming dalawa.

"I don't understand him either! Ewan ko ba sa lalaking iyan at bakit napakainit ng dugo niya sa akin."

I took a sip from my hot choco.

"What are you gonna do about it? Tatanggapin mo na lang iyong birthday ng anak nya?"

I shook my head.

"Of course not. Hindi nya mababago ang desisyon ko. He can pull out every client I have pero hinding-hindi ako papayag na ako ang maging event organizer ng birthday ng anak nya."

I sighed and somewhat felt bad.

"That poor kid has no idea what his dad was doing behind him and his mother. Napakalaking gago lang. Nagbubble pa eh kasado naman pala."

I rolled my eyes.

"That kind of guy actually exists in any dating app, Pent. But still, what he did behind his family is not right in any direction. Very unexpected sa kanya bilang isa syang Alfonzo."

Napailing na lamang ako.

"We still have three upcoming events. One is due next week. The remaining two is for the next two weeks. Hindi naman nya basta-basta mapapa-pull out pa ang tatlong natitira."

"Anong event nga iyang tatlo?"

"Next week is the wedding of the governor's son, sa Cebu iyon e. I'm gonna fly there. Tapos iyong sa next, next week naman, isang araw lang ang pagitan, we have a debut and isang golden anniversary event. Dito na iyong huling dalawa."

"I'm sure nakasign na lahat na clients sa deal?"

"That I made sure."

Ngumiti ako at muling uminom ng tsokolate.

Heptane and I talked further about other things hanggang sa dinalaw na kami ng antok. We bid our goodnight and turned off our devices.

I did my night routine before going to bed. Nakahiga na ako sa kama ko at nagf-final scroll sa mga private social media accounts ko nang biglang nagnotify ang Bubble app sa phone ko.