Unknown

"Does she have a judgement problem

Or maybe lose some kind of bet

Contract some strange affliction

Doctors haven't conquered yet"

- Mystery to Me song by John Gorka

KYLE

Bigla akong nakareceived ng isang email galing sa acronym na 'E.L.V'. Binuksan ko ang email dahil curious din ako kung ano ang laman nito.

To: Villafuente's Company

For a company who has been one of the richest company in the Philippines, I know it's very hard to cope with the fact that the company is in rock already.

That's why, I have a proposal for you. I am interested to invest ¾ of my shares in your company. You might be wondering why a strange investor is interested in your company, isn't?

For further information, my secretary will call and appoint a meeting with you to discuss my proposals for your company.

That's all!

I'll see you around, Mr. Kyle Villafuente..

From: E.L.V.

Binasa ko lahat at yan ang laman ng email. Hindi ko alam kung maniniwala ba ako sa laman ng email na to o hindi.

"I can't lose my company.. Hindi pwedeng mangyari yun. It's from my parents at alam ko yung mga sakripisyong binuhos nila para mapalago ang company namin.." Bigla akong napatingin kay Ally na kasalukuyan paring umiiyak.

"What am I going to do now, Kyle? Anong gagawin natin?" Tanong niya saakin. Bumuntong hininga ako dahil kahit ako ay hindi ko alam kung anong gagawin.

Ang daming problema, hindi matapos-tapos. How did these things happen? Why are these things happening now? Karma ko na ba to?

"I should meet Dad first." Simpleng sabi ko sa kanya at naglakad na palabas. "Sasama ako sayo. Kuku--" I cut her off..

"No. You stay here. Ako nang bahala." Cold kong sabi at saka pumasok sa kotse ko at nagdrive..

Sari-saring kaisipan ang bumabagabag sa isip ko ngayon ngunit namumukad-tangi saakin ang kaisipan na bumabagsak na ang kumpanya namin..

After an hour, nakarating na ako sa company namin. Tumingin muna ako sa labas ng bintana at medyo kakaiba yung nararamdaman ko..

Nagpakawala muna ako nang isang malalim na pagbuntong-hininga bago ako lumabas ng kotse ko.

I wore my sungglasses to hide my eyebags of course. At naglakad na papasok ng company..

I was about to hit the slide door nang biglang may bumangga saakin.

"Gosh miss! Look at where you are going!" Sabi ko sa kanya habang inaayos ang coat ko.

"I'm sorry po, Mister.." Malambing niyang sabi.

"Sa susunod kasi --" Natigilan ako sa aking sasabihin sana. "Elisa?" Tawag ko sa kanya.

"Kyle?!" Sabi niya nung itinaas niya na ang mukha niya upang tignan ako. Nakayuko kasi siya kanina habang may parang hinahanap siya sa kanyang bag.

"What a coincidence! What are you doing here?" Tanong ko sa kanya.

"May aattendan lang akong meeting dito, ikaw ba?" Nagtaka naman ako sa sinabi niya.

"Ahh, company kasi to ng parents ko kaya I need to attend a meeting same with you." Sabi ko..Napatango naman siya sa sinabi ko at naglakad na papasok ng company. Like the usual, binabati ako ng mga empleyado namin dito.

"Restroom muna ako, Kyle. Nice to see you again." Nakangiti niyang sabi saakin.

"Yeah sure. Pleasure is mine.. Mauna na ako?" Tumango naman siya dahilan para gantihan ko siya ng isang ngiti.

I admit na maganda si Elisa.. She's so sweet, caring and loving base sa nakikita ko sa kanya. She reminds me of Elle...

Lumabas na ako ng elevator nang tumunog ito sa 17th Floor ng company namin.

Nasa harap na ako ng pinto kung saan gaganapin ang meeting. Hindi alam nila Dad na bibisita ako.. Hindi ko pinaalam..

Nasa labas palang ako ay may naririnig na ako na para bang nagtatalo. I grabbed the door knob and entered the room without knocking it. Who else's care about knocking this stuff?

"Kyle? What are you doing here?!" Dad asked.

"I missed you too, Dad.. Why? Am I not welcome here anymore?" I asked him innocently..

"No, it's just that sana nagpasabi ka man lang na dadating ka.." He said.

"No need na Dad. Hindi niyo naman sinabi saakin na nagkakaproblema na ang company natin hindi ba?" I sarcastically said.

"I know you've been through a lot lately and I don't want to add more burden in your part kaya nilihim ko na lang ito sayo, but then alam kong sooner or later ay malalaman mo rin ang tungkol dito. " Mahabang sabi niya.

Kinuha ko ang folder na nasa table niya at tinignan ito.

"From 88% to 65%?" Sabi ko nung nabasa ko ang first graph.. Hindi na nagsalita si Dad..

"Then 65% to 35%?! Seriously?!" Tanong ko sa kanilang lahat.. "What happened?! Akala ko ba stable ang sales ng company?! And what about our big time investors?!" Tanong ko sa kanila..

"Bigla po kasing may sumulpot na ibang company.. And that company has a lot to offer than our company could do so.. Kaya ---"

"Kaya naglaho sila ganoon?! At kaya rin bumabagsak na ang company dahil doon?!" I laughed bitterly..

"Seriously?! Sana naghanap kayo ng paraan para maiwasang mangyari to! Stop giving me that excuses, ang sabihin niyo hindi kayo ganoon ka-competitive!" I exclaimed. It feels like all my frustrations are boiling me up, dinagdagan pa nito!

"What are you going to do now?!" Tanong ko sa kanila. But they didn't answer. "Dad?! What are we going to do now?! How can we save the company?!" I asked Dad.

"About that, may nag-alok na magiinvest siya sa company natin. At first nagulat pa ako but she seemed serious about investing in our company kaya pumayag ako. Actually she's coming here." Naguguluhan ako sa sinabi ni Dad. I was about to ask him some question nang biglang bumukas ang pinto at iniluwa nito ang isang babae.

I froze..

This can't be...

"Son, meet our new investor.. Ms. Elisa Lyre Valderama.."

--

To be continued..