Thyrone's POV
As we were riding my car, I can see that she's thinking of something at nakatulala lang sa bintana.
“Ms. Raven? Ms. Raven?”
“Y-Yes?”
“We're here.”
“Oh—”
Lumina's POV
Sa lalim ng iniisip ko lumutang na kaluluwa ko't hindi napansin na andito na kami, lalabas na sana ako ng biglang napabalik ako paupo, nakasuot pa pala sa'kin ang seat belt. Nakita ko siyang nakatingin lang sa'kin, haist kahiya. Tatanggalin ko na sana pero bigla niya itong tinanggal para sa'kin.
“I think you're thinking so deeply that you forgot to unbelt it? Sino naman iniisip mo?”
“W-What do you mean by that sir?”
“Iniisip mo ba si..”
“Si..?”
“Don't tell me you are thinking about my cousin?”
Thyrone's POV
Bigla siyang namula at nagulat.
“N-No I'm not sir.”
Tsk palusot pa, halatang iniisip niya si Clyde. Ang lakas ng gayuma ng pinsan ko pati secretary ko nafall.
“Tsk, let's go.”
“O-Okay.”
Lumina's POV
Pagpasok namin ng Japanese Restaurant, binati agad namin ang client na japanese.
“Hello, Good afternoon.”
“Konnichiwa.” bigla kaming napatingin sa isa't isa na gulat.
“K-Konnichiwa.” we both said while laughing awkwardly at umupo nang bigla siyang bumulong sa'kin.
“Ano yung Konnichiwa?”
“Hindi ko alam sir basta ginaya ko na lang.”
“Akala ko ba graduated ka ng Harvard ba't hindi ka marunong mag japanese?”
“Hindi naman porket galing do'n kaya na magsalita ng ibang language, e ikaw sir CEO ka dapat marami kang alam na language ba't di mo kaya mag japanese?”
“English lang alam ko at Filipino.”
“Nandesuka?”
“W-What??” parehas kaming kinabahan dahil hindi namin alam ang sasabihin, lagot na.
“She said what did you say.” napatingin kami sa likod at nakita namin si Clyde.
“C-Clyde, what are you—”
“I guess we're meeting oftenly Ms. Raven.”
Thyrone's POV
Biglang umupo sa tabi ni Ms. Raven si Clyde na ikinainis ko naman, pwede naman dito siya umupo sa tabi ko ba't ba sa tabi ni Ms. Raven?
“Konnichiwa, watashi namae wa Clyde Fierre desu.”
“Ah hai, watashi wa Anna Kirigaru desu.”
Lumina's POV
Bigla ulit lumapit si Thyrone sa'kin at bumulong.
“Ano daw?”
“Hindi ko alam.”
“I introduced myself.”
“Ahh.”
Buti na lang biglang dumating si Clyde kung hindi parehas kaming dudugo ang ilong ni Thyrone, ako pa nga sinisi ng loko na dapat daw marunong ako ng iba't ibang language para maassist ko siya sa gantong sitwasyon. E siya nga dapat marunong no'n kasi siya makikipag meeting hindi ako. So halos si Clyde ang nakipag usap sa client namin, siya naging Translator namin ni Thyrone. Buti pa siya marunong.
“Oh, I have to go to somewhere. Clyde can you drive Ms. Raven back to our company?” bigla akong hinatak ni Clyde.
“Sure, My pleasure.” biglang sumama ang tingin niya sa'min.
“Tsk, makaalis na nga.”
Clyde's POV
Agad na umalis si Thyrone. Habang naglalakad kami papunta sa kotse ko, bigla siyang tumakbo sa kung saan.
“Hey Ms. Raven, where are you going?” nilapitan ko siya na mukhang may tinitignan sa damuhan.
“What are you—”
“Shhh.” sumilip ako sa tinitignan niya, I saw a cat giving birth. Dahan-dahan niyang hinimas ito para hindi siya saktan nito.
“I guess you like cats Ms. Raven?”
“Yeah, I really love them. They're so cute.” ngumiti siya habang hinihimas himas ito, kinuha niya ang tubig sa bag niya. Nakakita siya ng lata sa tabi at kinuha niya yon, she poured some and gave it to the cat.
“I'm sure pagod siya because she was giving birth. I hope I have some left over food right now pero wala. Sayang.”
Napapatingin lang ako sa kaniya habang hinihimas niya ang pusa, she's smiling so brightly. Nakakatuwang tignan, I can feel that she cares for it. For that split second, my heart was beating so fast. She's so kind, and I love it. It makes me feel the warmth of her heart.
“Let's go?”
“Oh, okay.” sumakay siya sa kotse ko and I drove slowly, because I want to be with her kahit saglit lang. I can hear her humming, and I can tell that her voice is beautiful.
“That song? I know it.”
“Oh, it's a song that my mother used to sing for me.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, Back then, I really love her voice. I will lie on her lap as she taps my back gently. I can feel the warmth of her body and I love her smell. It became my favorite song.” she continued to sing it.
I love her voice, it's lovely.
Thyrone's POV
Nandito na 'ko sa office pero wala pa si Ms. Raven, dapat andito na siya pero ako pa mas nauna. Hindi kaya nag date pa sila? Wow, talagang sinulit nila pagkakataon ah?
I heard the door opens. But instead of Ms. Raven, I saw Kierra.
“Hey, want to drink again?”
“No. I'm waiting for someone.”
“Someone who?”
“My secretary.” sakto nito ang pagpasok ni Ms. Raven.
“Sir, I'm back— oh, sorry sir I didn't know you have a visitor.”
“Introduce yourself, She's Kierra, my childhood bestfriend.”
“Good afternoon ma'am, I'm Lumina Raven. Mr. Fierre's secretary.”
Kierra's POV
Lumina? I heard that name before. As I remember..
“She's that girl whom you played back then?!” Thyrone suddenly laughed.
“No, she's not. She's a different person.”
“Oh, I thought she is— by the way, let's hang out.”
“No, uminom na tayo nung nakaraan. Besides, I have to go to another meeting with Ms. Raven.” biglang sumali sa usapan ang secretary niya.
“Sir, you will be late to your next meeting if hindi pa tayo umalis.”
“Okay, Kierra just go to your work or sleep instead of drinking alcohol. Hindi robot yung atay mo magkakasakit ka pag uminom ka. Let's go Ms. Raven.”
Iniwan nila ako parehas. Napatingin ako sa secretary niya habang nakatalikod ito. Look how she walks with him, dapat one step away ang secretary kung maglakad at hindi sinasabayan ang CEO. She's also talking to him too comfortable. To think of it, it's the first time that Thyrone said no to my invitation. It ticks me off. Naiinis ako na may iba ng nakakakuha ang attention niya.
“That secretary, I hate her.”
Lumina's POV
When we arrived at the restaurant, wala pa ang client.
“Maybe we are early?”
“No, actually late na po tayo Sir.”
“Baka umalis na sila because we are too late?”
“Sa'n ka po ba kasi pumunta kanina? If hindi ka umalis edi sana maaga tayong nakapunta dito.”
“Are you blaming me?”
“Don't tell me sir na may pinuntahan ka pang babae?”
“Are you crazy? I didn't. And ano naman sayo kung may pupuntahan akong babae or what?”
“Just checking, I want my boss to avoid creating more issues.”
“Hindi naman ikaw masisira, ako naman and the company.”
“But pag nasira ang company mawawalan ako ng trabaho.”
“Oh, you have a great point.”
“By the way sir, let's wait for a bit. Baka nalate lang din sila, besides if they will cancel the meeting they will inform us about it pero wala naman nagsabi.”
“Yeah you're right.”
—AFTER 4 HOURS—
“You said baka nalate lang sila, kakaibang late naman ang ginawa nila.”
“Sir, let's—”
“WE ARE HERE FOR MORE THAN 4 HOURS PERO WALA PA SILA!” agad na akong nagtanong sa babae na nasa counter.
“Hey Ms. Dumating na ba kanina si Mrs. Lauriet?”
“Mrs. Lauriet? Yung babae po ba na nasa 50's at may ari ng isang company?”
“Yes yes.”
“Oh, she left na kanina pang 2:00 PM. She was angry because yung kameeting niya late daw.”
“Oh, thanks.”
“Sir, umalis na daw pala si Mrs. Lauriet kanina pang 2:00 PM, she was angry because ilang minutes na siya naghihintay pero ala pa tayo.”
“What the hell?! 2:30 tayo dumating tayo so 30 minutes lang tayo late. Why would she leave like that?”
“There are rumors that I heard, na she's so picky about time. Gusto niya on time dumadating agad.”
“We waited for 5 hours and just because we're late by 30 mins she left. Nakakairita.”
“Buti na lang sir last meeting mo na siya.”
“Buti na lang?! Kanina pa ko nakaupo dito. My butt was almost glued in this seat!” bigla akong natawa ng konti sa sinabi niya pero tinigilan ko agad.
“You laugh? Did you just laughed at your boss?”
“I'm sorry sir.”
“Haist, let's go back to the company.” sinundan ko na lang siya sa paglabas, papasok pa lang sana kami ng kotse pero may sinabi ang driver.
“Sir, sira po ata yung kotse. The engine won't start.”
“What?” I asked.
“What do you mean by that?!” he suddenly yelled.
“Kanina ko pa po tinatry istart, but ayaw.”
“Edi sana habang nasa loob kami dinala mo na sa pagawaan!”
“Sorry sir.”
Napatahimik na lang ako habang siya napapapikit sa stress, inabutan niya ng pera ang driver niya.
“Dalhin mo sa pagawaan, we will wait here inside the hotel. Make sure na bilisan mo.”
“Yes sir.” bumaba agad ito at tinulak ang kotse. Nakakaawa naman ginawa niya sa driver niya.
“Let's go inside.”
Pumasok ulit kami sa restaurant at umupo sa lobby, we ordered some foods first para matanggal ang stress niya. But 20 minutes later, someone suddenly texted me and it's the driver.
“Sir, our driver texted me.”
“Ano sabi? Nasa'n na siya?”
“Ms. Raven, sarado po yung pagawaan dito. I think dadalhin ko po siya sa malayong gawaan. Napuntahan ko na din po yung ibang gawaan dito sa lugar pero sarado din.” pagkakabasa ko sa kaniya.
“F**k that.”
“Sir, paano po ang gagawin natin?”
“Let's take a cab.”
“Okay sir."
— 1 hr later—
“Hanggang taxi ba naman walang dadaan?!”
“Sir, let's walk po baka may makita tayong taxi.” naglakad kami ng naglakad, pero instead na makahanap kami ng taxi..
“Ms. Raven, nasa'n na tayo?”
“Wait sir.” tinignan ko ang GPS ng phone ko when suddenly, it shutted down.
“Hala, namatay.”
“Here, use my phone.” agad kong kinuha ang phone niya, pero nakapatay din ito.
“Sir, it's also..”
“What? No way..” parehas low battery ang phone namin.
“Lagot na, nasa'n na tayo?”
“I also don't know sir. Let's go walk na lang baka may makita tayong pwedeng matuluyan.” papalakad pa lang kami but suddenly a man walking collapsed infront of us.
“Hey, are you okay?!” agad naming nilapitan ito.
“Hey!” namumutla ito, pero agad itong tumayo.
“Y-Yes, okay lang a-ako.” at naglakad na parang walang nangyari.
Sa paglalakad namin, nakakita kami ng maliit na pwedeng rentahan ng kwarto. Agad kaming pumasok dito.
“ 2 rooms please.” sabi ko, nakita ko si Thyrone na kumakapkap sa bulsa niya.
“What's wrong sir?”
“My wallet, it's.. not here.”
“Ano?”
“Baka.. Kanina, that man..”
“He robbed it sir?!”
“500 per room po.” Kumapkap ako sa bulsa ko at buti na lang may natitira pa akong 500.
“Lagot, 500 na lang.”
—
“I didn't know that it will come to this point.” sabi ko habang nakatingin sa iisang kama na maliit.
“Me too.”
Magsasama kami sa maliit na kwartong 'to?!