[COMPLETED] LOVE WINS Book 2: If You're Not the One

Chapter Thirty-Eight

MAX'S POV

Nandito na ako ngayon sa TMZ. May orientation lang. So my job is to tour the tourists around Hollywood. Kaya I need to familiarize all the tourist destinations here. After ng orientation, pinasakay na nila ako sa isang bus. Sila muna ang naglibot sa'kin sa mga tourist destinations. In fairness madali lang naman pala ma-familiarize ng mga lugar dito. Pagkatapos ng paglilibot namin, agad na akong nagsimula sa pagto-tourguide ko. Our destination for today is Griffith Park sa Mount Lee kung saan makikita ang historic Hollywood sign. Bumaba kaming lahat.

"So this is Griffith Park where you can see the Hollywood sign. The said sign is very historic. If you will search it in the Wikipedia, it says, the sign was erected in 1923 and originally read "HOLLYWOODLAND". Its purpose was to advertise the name of a new segregated housing development in the hills above the Hollywood district of Los Angeles. H.J. Whitley had already used a sign to advertise his development Whitley Heights, which was between Highland Avenue and Vine Street. He suggested to his friend Harry Chandler, the owner of the Los Angeles Times newspaper, and the lead investor in the syndicate that was developing Hollywoodland to make a similar sign to advertise their land. Chandler liked the suggestion and approved a plan to construct the sign. Real estate developers Woodruff and Shoults called their development "Hollywoodland" and advertised it as a "superb environment without excessive cost on the Hollywood side of the hills." They contracted the Crescent Sign Company to erect thirteen south-facing letters on the hillside. The sign company owner, Thomas Fisk Goff (1890-1984), designed the sign. Each letter was 30 ft (9.1 m) wide and 50 ft (15.2 m) high, and the whole sign was studded with around 4,000 light bulbs. The sign flashed in segments: "HOLLY," "WOOD," and "LAND" lit up individually, and then the whole. Below the Hollywoodland sign was a searchlight to attract more attention. The poles that supported the sign were hauled to the site by mules. The project cost $21,000, equivalent to $320,000 in 2019. The sign was officially dedicated in 1923. It was intended only to last a year and a half, but after the rise of American cinema in Los Angeles during the Golden Age of Hollywood, the sign became an internationally recognized symbol and was left there," Mahabang sabi ko sa mga turista. Oh nabasa ko lang yan kanina. Charot.

Naghiwa-hiwalay naman sila para kumuha ng mga litrato. Ako naman nakatayo lang habang pinapanood sila. Hayy. Hindi din pala madali ang maging tourguide. Maya maya ay sumakay na silang lahat sa bus. Just in time to go back. Bawat araw kasi isang destination lang. And Griffith Park is our destination of the day. Pagbalik namin sa TMZ, nakatanggap ako ng message galing kay Rossleigh. Tawagan ko daw siya. Sabi ko naman ay mamaya nalang pagkauwi ko ng condo ko.

"Good job Mr. Trinidad. Not bad for your first day," Nakangiting puri sa'kin ni Mr. CEO.

"Thank you sir," Nakangiting sabi ko.

"I'm reminding you again Mr. Trinidad, please don't repeat what you did this morning. You can ask for a leave or a vacation," Seryosong sabi ni Mr. CEO.

"Yes sir," Nahihiyang tugon ko. Natigilan naman ako nang may bigla akong naalala. "Sir? Can I ask something?"

"What is it?"

"Sir, I would like to adjust my contract from 5 years to 6 working months," Nakayukong sabi ko.

"What? Why?" Gulat na tanong ni Mr. CEO.

"My mom asked me to take over our company in the Philippines. She even asked me to take over immediately but I told her that I will do it after six months because I wanted to ask for your permission first and I want to experience this work," Nahihiyang paliwanag ko.

Napabuntong hininga naman si Mr. CEO. "Alright Mr. Trinidad, but make sure you have to show me a great performance towards your work," Sabi niya.

"Yes sir. I will," Determinadong sabi ko.

Nagpaalam na ako at umuwi na ng condo ko. Nang makarating ako sa unit ko, agad kong tinawagan si Rossleigh. Ilang segundo lang ang nakalipas ay sinagot niya ito.

"Hello Rossleigh?"

"Max, I have the informations that you want. Naisend ko na sa email mo," Bungad niya sa'kin.

"Okay check ko lang," Sabi ko naman at binuksan ang laptop ko at binasa ang sinend niyang email.

"I'm telling you Max, Elias is a very influential and powerful person in Los Angeles. His family owns the world bank. Tsaka ito pa, my team told me na some of his files are private. Tanging yan lang ang impormasyon ang nakalap namin. About his personal life, we don't have any idea kung paano namin malalaman ang mga iyon. Basta mag-iingat ka diyan Max," Seryosong sabi niya.

"Okay Rossleigh. Thanks for your help," Sabi ko naman.

"Sige. May gagawin pa ako," Sabi naman niya at binaba niya ang tawag.

I kept on reading the email that Rossleigh sent to me. Totoo nga, Elias is really influential and powerful. Almost all the companies around the world, stockholder ang family nila. But I need more information about Elias. Hindi pa ito sapat para magkaroon ako ng alas laban kay Elias. I need to think of ways. Habang binabasa ko ang impormasyon ni Elias, nahagip ng mga mata ko ang isang pangalan. Juancho Ruiz? Ano naman ang koneksyon nito kay Elias? Binasa ko naman ang impormasyon nitong si Juancho at napag-alaman kong siya lang ang kaisa-isang best friend ni Elias. Isa ding ma-impluwensyang tao. And to my surprise, anak ito ng CEO ng TMZ. I'm sure na pinagsabihan na ito ni Elias ang tungkol sa'kin. I need to get ready for that. Alam kong isang araw, mapapaalis din ako sa kompanya nila.

Sumapit ang gabi at napagpasyahan kong kumain nalang muna sa labas. Tinatamad kasi akong magluto. Pumunta ako sa isang resto na malapit lang sa condo ko. Pagpasok ko, nakita ko si Chester. Ano naman ang ginagawa niya dito? Ayy shunga lang Alex? Malamang kakain. Resto nga diba? Hindi ko nalang siya pinansin. Mahirap na baka makita kami ni Elias. Umupo ako ng medyo malayo kay Chester.

"Good evening sir, what's your order?" Tanong sa'kin nung waiter.

"I want a pork tenderloin and lasagna," Sagot ko naman. "And for my drinks, I want red wine."

"Noted sir. Just wait for five minutes," Nakangiting sabi ng waiter.

Tumango naman ako. Napatingin naman ako sa labas ng bintana. Pinapanood lang ang mga dumadaang mga kotse. Maya maya ay may kumalabit sa balikat ko. Nilingon ko naman ito.

"Chester?!" Gulat na sabi ko.

"Mag-usap nga tayo," Seryosong sabi niya.

Tumango naman ako at umupo naman siya sa tapat ko.

"Ano ang pag-uusapan natin?" Nahihiyang tanong ko.

"Iniiwasan mo ako," Seryosong sabi niya. Wait, it's not a question.

"Chester, ano kasi, ayoko ng gulo," Sabi ko naman.

"Anong ayaw mo ng gulo?" Kunot-noong tanong niya.

"Basta Chester. Wag mo nang isipin yun," Sabi ko sa kanya habang tumitingin sa paligid. Mahirap na baka dumating si Elias.

"Tingnan mo ako sa mata. May sinabi sa'yo si Elias? Sinabi ba niyang iwasan mo ako?" Mariing tanong niya.

Sasagot na sana ako nang dumating na ang order ko. Pero nakatingin pa din siya sa'kin.

"Chester, I need to do it. It's for your own sake naman eh," Sabi ko naman at hinawakan ang kamay niya.

Binawi niya naman ang kamay niya. "Tss. Whatever. Huwag ka nang magpapakita sa'kin!" Mariing sabi niya at umalis.

Oh Chester, kung alam mo lang ang totoong dahilan kung bakit ginagawa ko 'to. Sana isang araw maintindihan mo ako.

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