31

"What's the matter? The meeting didn't go well?" pukaw ko sa tahimik na si Cholo.

He was standing at the terrace, shirtless, and sipping with his wine. His face is hard and so is his grip on the body of the glass.

He didn't move until the last of his drink was dried out.

"Nothing that cannot be resolved."

Bumuntung-hininga na lumapit ako rito at kinuha ang wala ng laman na baso sa kamay nito at ibinaba sa kalapit na mesa. The day I thought to be a bomb turned out to be an uneventful one.

Matapos ang brief na pagpapakilala sa akin ni Cholo kay Maverick ay diretso na sa business ang pinag-usapan ng lahat. Mukhang hindi naman nagduda si Cholo sa ugnayan namin ng kaugnayan. Akala ko nga ay babalewalain na naman ng asawa ang presensiya ko but I was wrong.

He never let go of my hand even when we were inside the conference hall owned by the secretary. I would have been beaming in happiness if it were not for Maverick's presence. I was on my toes for the rest of the time that he's with us