LET'S GET MARRIED!

C11- His grit

PRESIDENT's

Didn't she even recognize me? Even a little?

That's strange.

She didn't remember me?

I'm sure it was her that I had one night stand with at the hotel 3 years ago, twice.

"Are you okay, President?" Carl asked while he is driving in front, and glancing to my direction at the passenger's seat.

"I'm good. Stop asking me. Give me her calling card," I demanded in deadpan.

He immediately handed to me the calling card she gave, and I saved her number on my phone. And because I'm mad at her, I named her 'Stupid Girl'.

I gritted my teeth just recalling the past between her and me.

How come she forgot about it already? And I still do remember it?

Didn't she even wonder who was the guy she had one night stand with? Or, she have had done it to a lot of men already that's why she didn't recognize me?

If that so, it means she's dirty.

What a shame.

———

Nakaupo at tahimik na gumagawa ng trabaho si Aida nang biglang lumapit sa kaniya si Christian.

"Paano mo nakilala si Mr. Hunk, huh?" mabilis na tanong ni Christian, at siniko ito to get her attention.

"You wouldn't like to know," malamyang sagot ni Aida habang nagta-type sa laptop niya.

"Tell me dali na," pagpupumilit ni Christian na siniko ito ulit just to get the answer from her.

"Fine," sagot ni Aida na tumigil sa trabaho niya, at lumingon dito just to stare at him. "I met him at the elevator nung nasa Malaysia ako after the event. At alam mo ba kung anong sinabi niya? Ang sinabi lang naman niya and I quote, 'I know that you don't know me, but I know you'. Imagine, hindi ko siya kilala tapos sasabihin niya 'yun? Ano sa tingin mo iisipin ko nun? Of course, I would think na isa siyang stalker, a creep. At dahil humarang siya sa dinaranan ko, ang ginawa ko, sinipa ko siya sa gitna and then, tinulak ko siya just so, I could run away from him," kwento niya with full of emotions.

"Hindi mo naisip na baka nakilala ka niya kasi sinabi ni Madame Diva?" taas kilay na tanong ni Christian na kinwestyon ang jugment nito.

"Hindi. Ikaw ba naman sabihan ng ganun, eh, hindi mo ba iisipin na stalker or a creep?" tanong pabalik ni Aida na pinaliwanag dito ang reaksyon niya.

"Hindi ko iisipin na stalker at creepy siya, Aida. Sa gwapong 'yun? Sa tangkad, at gandang katawan nun, sa tingin mo, stalker 'yun?" pabalang na sambit ni Christian, at tinitigan ito sullenly.

"Well, that's what I thought," depensa niya.

"Aida, wake up. Hindi ka naman ganun kagandahan to stalk to, sa totoo lang. Mas maganda pa 'yung kapatid mo kaysa sa'yo, eh. Ay, hindi nga pala kayo blood related. Ampon ka nga pala nila. Diyan ka na nga," insulto na sabi ni Christian, at inirapan ito bago umalis.

Dahil sa sinabi nito ay bigla natulala si Aida, na kaagad na kinwestyon ang sarili.

"Mas maganda siya? Alam ko naman 'yun. At alam ko din na ampon lang ako. Hindi naman ako nagmamaganda, ah. 'Yun lang talaga ang sumagi kaagad sa isip ko," malungkot na wika ni Aida in the back of her mind na tuluyan na nawala sa focus.

Dumating na ang gabi, nasa higaan na si President Li pero gising pa siya at hawak ang phone niya habang nakatitig sa number na kinuha niya, na galing kay Aida.

"Should I send a text to her? Or, call her instead? Wait, what am I gonna say to her once I call her?" mga tanong na bumabagabag sa isip ni President Li.

Hindi siya mapakali dahil sa iniisip niya. He went to his left side, then right side, then face the ceiling that he also rolled over while staring at her number.

"The hell with this!" pagtitimpi niyang aniya, at naupo na sa kama niya.

He, then, pushed the call button, at nilagay kaagad ito sa kaliwang tenga niya.

Sa kabilang banda, tahimik na umiiyak si Aida sa kwarto niya mag-isa nang narinig niya na tumunog ang phone niya. Napatigil siya dahil dito, pero hindi niya maiwasan suminghot dahil sa uhog na lumalabas sa ilong niya. She anyways put the phone on her right ear.

"Who's this?" aniya na garalgal ang boses dahil sa iyak niya.

"Why is your voice like that? Are you crying?" tanong na may pag-aalala ni President dito, na napakulot ang kilay dahil sa naririnig niya mula dito.

"What? No, I'm not crying," mabilis na replied ni Aida, at malakas na suminga to get rid of her horsy voice.

"I can hear you, you know," banggit nito.

"Wait, who's this?" tanong ulit ni Aida.

"Who else? Don't you recognized my voice? You already forgot what happened three years ago, and you still couldn't recognized my voice? What are you, stupid?" asar na sabi ni President Li.

"Three years ago? What do you mean? Wait, is this President Li?"

"The one and only, stupid."

"I'm not stupid, okay? I just... couldn't think straight, Sir. Forgive me for being stupid if that's what you think of me," pabalang na sagot niya rito na hindi na niya napigilan dahil sa inis niya.

"Whatever. I called be-because I want you to give your report regarding the project we are working on. I want the summary tomorrow morning. Got it? And don't be late. That's all. Bye," mabilis na tugon ni President Li na naggalit-galitan para magmukhang masungit dito, at binaba na kaagad ang tawag dito.

"Anong sabi niya? Summary?" tanong ni Aida more to herself after the call.

The next morning came fast, nakaupo na naghihintay lang si President Li sa opisina niya habang si Carl ay nakatayo lang sa gilid niya.

"What time is it now?" tanong ni President Li in a business tone.

"It's eight minutes before 8, Sir," reported ni Carl na tumingin sa relo niya.

President Li couldn't help but clench his jaw while waiting for his special guest na sinabihan pa niya kagabi na 'wag male-late.

"Tell the guard downstairs that do not let Aida Salazar Paris in once the clock strikes to 8. I'm going to report her tardiness to Madame Diva," he commanded, and he exhaled in grit just thinking of her.

"Yes, Sir," tugon ni Carl, at lumabas siya ng opisina nito para tawagan ang guard sa entrance door.

Sa paghihintay ay tumayo na si President Li sa upuan niya, at naglakad patungo sa bintana to look outside. He is admiring the view when suddenly narinig niya na bumukas ulit ang pinto niya.

"President, Ms. Aida is here," balitang hatid ni Carl, at pinapasok si Aida sa opisina nito.

"Leave us," President Li demanded na hindi tumitingin dito.

"Yes, Sir," sagot ni Carl, at sinara na ang pinto para iwan ang dalawa.

"I'm sorry, Sir, and I almost got late. I finished the summary last night just like you told me to that's why I arrived just now," she admitted na naglakad palapit dito, but still, kept a distance between them.

After she talked, she looked down but, he didn't response na naging dahilan kung bakit lalo siya kinabahan.

"Give me the summary," he told na hindi pa rin ito nililingon.

Kaagad na tumayo si Aida sa right side nito, at iniabot ang white folder like a good kitten. With that, lumingon siya rito with a deadly look at nagkasalubong ang kanilang mga mata. His eyes softened nang bigla niya napansin ang mga mata nito na namamaga.

"What happened to you? Why are your eyes like that?" he curiously asked.

"H-Huh? My eyes?" tanong din ni Aida, at kaagad na kinapa ang mata niya. "Oh, it's nothing. I stayed up late that's why it's swollen, Sir," rason niya na lang dito.

"Swollen because you did the summary, or, was it because you cried last night?" he directly pointed out na naging strikto na naman.

"I don't think this is your concern, Sir. Please, let's proceed to the report. Here's the summary that you told me to do," she blurted out bravely, and handed out the white folder again between them.

Dahil sa attitude na pinakita ni Aida dito ay napa-smirk si President Li as no one dares to give him that kind of remark. Therefore, he grabbed her neck that surprised her, and their eyes met again.

"How dare you. You don't tell me what to do. Do you even know who I am to talk to me like that, huh, you filthy woman?" he gritted, looking straight into her eyes.

Kaagad na napahawak si Aida sa wrist nito as she is trying to get away from his tight grip.

Itutuloy...