LET'S GET MARRIED!

C10- You again?

"Everyone, I would like you all to meet our new hired. Please introduce yourself," anunsyo ni Christian, at tumingin siya sa tabi niya kung nasaan ang bago nilang empleyado.

"Good morning to all of you. My name is Lian Paris, and I am happy to be here. I hope I can learn a lot from all of you," magandang bati ni Lian sa lahat with an elegant dress, necklace, watch, earrings, and bag to flaunt to everyone.

Ang lahat naman ay napangiti, at namangha sa itsura nito, nang biglang dumating si Aida from the back at nakita niya ang pangyayari.

"Lian?" tawag ni Aida sa kapatid from the back, at mabilis niya nilapitan ito.

"Ate?" sambit ni Lian na may gulat sa mukha niya dahil nakita niya ito.

"Ate???" everyone mentioned, pati si Christian.

Dahil sa tanong ng mga ito ay napalingon pareho ang magkapatid sa mga ito.

"Magkapatid kayo, Aida?" tanong ulit ni Christian na hindi makapaniwala.

"Well, not blood related. Pero, yes, we're siblings," sagot ni Aida with an awkward smile to them.

"What do you mean?" sunod na tanong ni Christian.

"She's adopted by my parents. She was 7 years old when they adopted her from the orphanage, but then after 2 years, miraculously, I came," maikling kwento ni Lian, at tumawa siya just talking about it.

"I see. Because I honestly, couldn't see any resemblance between you," banggit ni Christian without filter. "Anyways, let me show you your desk so, you could start ASAP," dagdag niya, at nagsimula na siya naglakad.

However, si Aida ay napakagat sa lower lip niya nang nakaramdam siya ng hiya dahil for the first time ay nagkwento ang kapatid niya tungkol sa kung ano ba talaga ang relasyon nila ni Lian sa isa't-isa na never niya kinwento sa iba.

Sa kabilang banda, bumukas ang pinto ng elevator at lumabas si President Li at Carl. Nagpatuloy sila sa paglalakad nang salubungin sila ni Christian sa pinto.

"Good morning, President Li. Please come in, Madame Diva is waiting for you. This way please," formal na bati ni Christian, and he lead the way.

Samantala, kakatapos lang magtimpla ng kape ni Aida sa pantry nila dahil naii-stress siya sa project na pinagagawa sa kaniya. Unbeknownst to her, habang siya ay naglalakad at iniinom ang kape niya ay bigla siya bumangga sa isang tao.

"Oh, shEt. Sorry, sorry. I'm really so---" mabilis na sambit ni Aida sa tinapunan niya na mabilis niya pinunasan ang polo nitong puti, pero biglang natahimik siya nang iniangat niya ang ulo niya at nakakita siya ng isang matangkad at gwapong lalaki sa harap niya.

"What's wrong with you, Aida?! Look what you did to our dear investor!" sigaw ni Christian na may galit sa tono ng boses niya.

Nagtitigan for a moment si President Li at Aida dahil sa nangyari, habang ang lahat ay napatingin din sa kanila dahil sa malakas na sigaw ni Christian na nakaagaw atensyon sa mga ito.

———

AIDA's

Teka...hindi ba siya 'yung lalaki sa elevator sa Malaysia? 'Yung stalker at creepy guy na sinusundan ako?

Kay gwapo-gwapo, eh, manyakis.

Anong ginagawa niya dito? At bakit siya nandito?

Sinusundan niya ba ako?

Aba, siraulo 'to, ah.

———

"President, are you okay?" tanong ni Carl sa gilid na ginising ang boss niya.

"You again," banggit na sabi ni President Li na hindi inaalis ang tingin kay Aida.

Nagulat naman ang mga tao sa paligid nang mapagtanto nila na magkakilala ang dalawa, kasama na din si Christian na hindi makapaniwala.

"W-What are you doing here?" kabado na tanong ni Aida na kaagad humakbang palayo dito para lang makaiwas.

"I'm not here for you. So, if you excuse me," mataray na tugon ni President Li, at nagpatuloy na sa paglalakad, not minding her.

Sumunod naman kaagad si Carl sa boss niya.

"Let's talk later, Aida," bulong ni Christian kay Aida, at sinundan na ang investor nila.

Thereafter, magkaharap na nakaupo si Madame Diva at President Li, habang si Carl ay nakatayo lang sa gilid nila.

"Here," maikling at malumanay na sambit ni Madame Diva, at inabutan ito ng white folder.

Tinanggap naman ni President Li ang folder, at binuksan ito para malaman kung ano ang nilalaman nito. Ilang minuto din ito tahimik habang binabasa ang nakapaloob dito.

"50 percent share? Are you for real, Auntie?" laking gulat na tanong ni President Li matapos makita nito ang nakasaad sa kontrata.

"Yes, Kevin, I am sure of it. You know how much I love and trust you. You are the only heir I could think of after my daughter had been kidnapped. It's been what, 22 years since she disappeared. I've been looking for her everywhere, but I couldn't find a clue where the kidnappers took her. I am actually grateful that my best friend had a son. But it was tragic when she died," rason ni Madame Diva na nagbalik tanaw sa nangyari sa kaniya noon.

"I didn't know that you had a daughter, Auntie. Thus, I am trully grateful, Auntie, that you reached for me after my Mom died and my Dad abandoned me. Or, I don't know how am I gonna get up after that incident. But, Auntie, I'm gonna decline your offer. If you want, I will help you to look for your daughter. So, I could return everything that you've done to protect me," pangakong binitawan ni President to give back the gratitude sa tinuring niyang Tita simula ng mawala pareho ang mga magulang niya.

"I am happy to hear that, son. Well, if you happen to found her and you are still single, I would like you two to date then marry each other," nakangiting sambit ni Madame Diva.

"Marry, Auntie?" nagulat na wika ni President Li.

Natawa naman sa gilid si Carl na naging dahilan kung bakit napalingon pareho si Madame Diva at President Li sa kaniya. Isang masamang tingin lang ng boss niya ay tumigil siya kaagad.

"Auntie, I don't think I would marry someone. I am happy where I am right now. Relationship is not on my vocabulary, to be honest," he seriously commented.

"Son, you will not be trully happy and contented without someone in your life. At one point, you will look for someone that you want to cuddle with, kiss to and that is always be at your side. And I'm sure of it," matalinhagang sabi ni Madame Diva, at ngumiti ulit dito.

Maya-maya pa ay lumabas na si Madame Diva kasama si President Li at Carl. Sa paglabas nila ay napatigil sila sa harap ng table ni Aida. Kaagad naman tumayo si Aida kahit na may ginagawa siya.

"Yes, Madame. What can I do for you?" bati ni Aida with a smile since she is talking to her boss.

"Aida, I want you to meet President Li, and his assistant, Carl. President Li, Carl, this is my assistant, Aida," introduced ni Madame Diva with a grin.

"Good morning, Sir. It's nice to meet you," pilit na bati at ngiti ni Aida lalo na kay President Li.

"Aida, from now on, you will be coordinating with them about the project. Please, follow everything that they need you to do. Okay?" mabait na sambit ni Madame Diva to Aida.

"Yes, Madame Diva, I will," sagot kaagad ni Aida, at ngumiti ulit.

"Here's our calling card, Ms. Aida. Can I have yours too so, we can contact you too?" wika ni Carl na inabutan ito ng calling card.

Tinanggap naman ni Aida ang calling card nito, at inabot din ang sa kaniya with a smile.

"I'll leave you now, and I have something to do. Be on your way, President Li. Call me anytime," banggit ni Madame Diva, at tinapik sa balikat si President Li bago naglakad pabalik sa opisina niya at iwan ang mga ito.

Nang tatlo na lang sila sa labas ay biglang tumahimik, habang si President Li at Carl ay nagkatinginan. And with that one signal ay umexit kaagad si Carl para iwan ang dalawa.

"You," tawag ni President Li kay Aida in a bossy manner.

Tumingala kaagad si Aida dito, at nagkasalubong sila ng mga mata.

"Y-Yes?" aniya na nautal dahil sa nerbyos.

"Report to me tomorrow morning in my office at exactly 8. If you get late even just 1 minute or second, I will tell Madame Diva how idle and incompetent you are. Got it?" he sullenly demanded.

"Yes, Sir," seryosong replied ni Aida, at matapang na tinitigan ito like she is ready to struggle him on his neck.

At naglakad na paalis si President Li with his head held high.

Hindi naman mapigilan ni Aida na mag-pout at tignan ng masama ang likod ni President Li dahil sa utos nito sa kaniya.

"Akala mo kung sino. Manyakis naman," bulong ni Aida sa sarili na sinusundan pa rin ito ng tingin.

Itutuloy...