Kabanata 03 - Jealousy

Hindi alam ni Mikolaj na si Asher pala ang C.E.O ng Digital Creation Production. Sa pagkaka-alam niya, D.C was founded eight years ago and within that eight years, D.C became one of the most well-known Production companies that became associated with international producers and bigwigs.

And the C.E.O of that company was none other than the person na sinabihan niya kahapon na ayaw na niyang makita. Mikolaj felt tired all of the sudden. Paano niyang hindi na muling makita ang lalaki kung magiging client niya ito?

Was it too late to back out? Pero sayang rin naman kung tatanggihan niya ito lalo na’t it would be an opportunity for her.

Siguro naman hindi siya nito guguluhin ‘di ba? After all, Asher was a professional. He would likely separate personal and business matters. Mikolaj will also not hinder herself with unnecessary worries and will do her job satisfactorily.

Thinking that, kumalma na si Mikolaj but still hindi pa rin siya makapaniwala as she looked at Asher sitting across her with his legs crossed.

There was a hint of smugness on his face na ‘di alam ni Mikolaj kung bakit nagmamayabang ito.

There was something different with Asher today. He was more expressive and somewhat cunning.

Hindi nalang ito pinansin ni Mikolaj at tahimik lang na sumimsim ng kape. Natigilan siya nang malasahan niya ang mapait na lasa nito at malamig nitong temperatura. Simangot niya itong ibinaba at napansin naman iyon ni Asher.

“Was it cold?” Asher’s face darkened a little and pushed his own cup towards her then urged her. “Here, have mine.”

“No, it’s okay.” Pagtanggi niya at iinom na sana ulit nang bigla nitong agawin ang kan’yang tasa. Mikolaj was stupefied and watched a certain man took a sip on her coffee, particularly to the side kung saan lumapat ang kan'yang labi without any changes on his face.

Mikolaj's face flushed red seeing him enjoying her coffee at maya-maya pa ay dumilim ang kan'yang mukha.

But unfortunately hindi siya nakapagreklamo.

"That—" Mikolaj's retort was cut off. Bumukas ang pinto ng office.

A bunch of people suddenly went inside, sa harap nila ay isang maganda at may maiksing buhok na babae. May pose at elegante itong tignan. One look and you could say that the woman was well-educated and had great capabilities.

The woman was Georgette, Asher's secretary.

Unang ginawa ni Georgette ay tignan sila Mikolaj at Asher. Nang makita niyang nasa harap ni Mikolaj ang cup na binigay niya sa kan'yang boss, as well as Asher drinking the coffee she gave to Mikolaj, her face smile went crooked at natigilan siya.

Mikolaj caught Georgette's expression but she couldn't care less dahil nakita niya si Hellery sa mga taong kasama nito.

Hellery also showed a surprised expression nang makita si Mikolaj pero napalitan iyon ng ngiti.

Hellery Wydell was one of Mikolaj's childhood friends, Liam was the other one with who she still had connections until now despite sa bankrupt issue na nangyari noon. She also came from a respective and well-off family and owned multiple small businesses around the area kaya Mikolaj was deeply touched nang pinili pa rin nitong hindi siya iwan and stayed as her friend despite sa nangyari.

Mikolaj wanted cut all her ties to the people who was in her past but Liam and Hellery were an exception. Until now, minsan ay nagkikita pa rin sila at nagkukumustahang tatlo.

Hindi pinansin ni Terron ang nakatulalang si Georgette at lumapit ito kay Asher. "The board meeting will start in five minutes."

Although Georgette was Asher's secretary, the one Asher trust more was Terron, his executive assistant. Georgette's work was only limited to D. C's scope of area habang si Terron naman ay hawak lahat ng kaniyang pinapagawa within any companies and outside matters. Terron can be even considered as his personal assistant.

Kalmang uminom lang ng kape si Asher at hindi na nagsalita. Bumalik na naman ito sa dati nitong attitude, indifferent and cold. Mikolaj squinted her eyes and silently snorted.

Hindi talaga maintindihan ni Mikolaj ang isang Asher Del Cuangco. Sometimes he's indifferent, minsan naman masiyadong cold at pa-mysterious, at minsan ngumingiti nang walang dahilan. May sayad ata ito sa utak.

Tumayo si Asher. "Then, I'll be expecting your outputs within this week. After that, we will have the first selections and adjustments."

Inayos ni Asher ang kan'yang necktie pagkatapos ay walang sabing umalis, sumunod sa kan'ya sila Terron at Georgette. Nagulat si Mikolaj and unconsciously watched their retreating backs. Nagkatinginan sila ni Hellery at wala rin silang nagawa at umalis na rin sa office.

Hindi maipinta ang mukha ni Hellery nang mapagtantong agad itong umalis na kakapasok lang niya sa office. Somewhat, she found it rude but she can't really complain. At saka, she was shocked to see how attractive Asher was in person, enough na hindi niya magawang magalit dito.

"Miko, long time no see," sabi ni Hellery at bumaling kay Mikolaj. "Are you free right now? How about we go to a café nearby? Oh, let me also call Liam para makapag-bonding naman tayo."

Bago pa man makasagot si Mikolaj ay kinaladkad na siya ni Hellery papalabas habang tinatawagan si Liam.

Hindi rin naman sila naglakad ng matagal dahil malapit lang ang café na tinutukoy ni Hellery at agad rin silang nakaupo.

Walang masiyadong tao sa naturang café, dahil na rin siguro ay maaga pa para dagsain ito ng mga tao kaya hindi masiyadong masikip tignan.

A smell of bread and pastries mixed with coffee wafted through the air, as well as some old rock songs playing in the background, Mikolaj loved the ambiance of the café kaya tinandaan niya ang pangalan ng café para bumalik kung sakali.

"I miss you, Miko. Matagal na rin na hindi tayo nagkita. I am so sorry I haven't keeping in touch with you for months. Busy kasi ako sa studio and coupled with pending projects kaya wala talaga akong time." Hinawakan ni Hellery ang kamay ni Mikolaj.

Ngumiti si Mikolaj at bahagyang umiling. "I know. Hindi mo na kailangan pa na ipaumanhin 'yan, Hellery. After all, enough na 'yung nanatili ka pa ring kaibigan ko, kayo ni Liam."

"I am such a good friend right?" Ngisi ni Hellery. "Hindi katulad ng iba diyan na palaging tinatanggihan offer ko. Hindi talaga ako titigil sa pagkukunsensya sa'yo dahil ayaw mong magtrabaho sa studio ko. Pakiramdam ko tuloy 'di mo ako gustong makatrabaho because you always reject my proposal to became the chief designer of my studio," pagmamaktol nito kay Mikolaj.

Napakamot sa ulo si Mikolaj. She really thought it was a good opportunity but as much as possible, she wanted to have a job she can be proud of. Iyong tipong nakuha niya dahil pinaghirapan niya and not because of connections and personal relationships.

"Tignan mo ngayon, naging opposite teams tuloy tayo para sa isang kontrata. How I wish we could be at the same side, working together like we always wished as kids. Remember noong bata pa tayo, we always tell each other to be of best partners in business..." Hindi na tinuloy pa ni Hellery ang kan'yang sasabihin at tinignan ang mukha ni Mikolaj. Kahit wala siyang nakitang pag-iiba sa ekspresyon nito ay tinikom nalang niya ang kan'yang bibig.

Ngumiti si Mikolaj at hindi isinasapuso ang mga pinagsasabi nito, sa halip ay binago niya ang topic para hindi maging awkward.

Mikolaj remembered. Hellery's family was once her family's business partners. Akala rin niya dati na magiging ganoon rin sila ni Hellery but things changed. It was inevitable kaya ayaw na ni Mikolaj na isipin pa ang mga bagay na matagal nang nangyari.

Dumating rin si Liam kalaunan. The three of them exited the café laughing and sometimes teasing each other like they always do when they were teenagers. Dahil matagal rin silang tatlong hindi nakapag-bonding ay sinulit na nila na gumala.

The day went fast at hindi na nila namalayan na hapon na pala.

"Miko, hatid na kita," sabi ni Liam.

Nawala nang konti ang ngiti sa labi ni Hellery at napataas ang kan'yang kilay. "You are having favoritism, Liam. Bakit parating si Mikolaj ang hinahatid mo? Ihatid mo rin ako, hello?" Pabirong sabi ni Hellery.

"You have your own driver, Hellery. Siyempre mas kailangan ni Miko ang service ko. Isa pa, It's been a long time na nakabisita ako sa kanila. I bet Madison missed me," ngiting pahayag ni Liam habang nakatingin kay Mikolaj.

Umiwas ng tingin si Mikolaj nang makita ang malagkit nitong titig sa kan'ya at tumingin kay Hellery na nakatingin rin kay Liam.

Tumikhim si Mikolaj at pilit na tumawa. "Hmmm, Madison missed you both. Matagal na rin na hindi kayo nakakadalaw kaya sabi niya na-miss na daw si Tita Hellery niya at Tito Liam."

Sometimes, Mikolaj found it odd the way Liam and Hellery interact with each other. Sana naman ay hindi masama ang relasyon ng dalawa, hopefully kung may tampuhan man ang mga ito ay sana agad itong magkabati.

Mikolaj didn't want to see her chilhood friends on bad terms after all. 

Nagpaalam si Hellery kay Liam and Mikolaj. After that ay masayang nagkukuwentuhan sila Liam at Mikolaj habang naglalakad papunta sa kotse nito. Hindi nila alam na habang nagtatawanan ang dalawa ay may pares ng mga mata ang nakatingin sa kanila direksyon.

Asher's grip on his steering wheel tightened as he watched Mikolaj and Liam being too close to each other. He was watching them inside in his car through the window at hindi niya mapigilan na mapatiim-bagang.

Asher pressed down the heavy feeling in his heart ngunit kahit anong kalma niya sa sarili he can't help but feel mad and annoyed.

He lightened a cigarette, roughly puffed out a smoke, and continued watching Mikolaj and Liam talking intimately.