38 Slut-Bitch

Chirping active birds made her opened her eyes. Even if at the back of her mind was saying don't go to work today and sleep again. She wanted to grab it, too lazy to even open again her eyes. But Ken's smug face made her freaking heavy eyelids wide awake and sat up. She needed to attend the fitting session later. She can't be lazy today 'til the weekend.

Habang naliligo ay iniisip niya ang lalaki. Alam niyang may appeal si Ken, pero hindi sumagi sa isip niyang papasukin nito ang karera ng pag-aartista. He is sporty and had a good body. Why not pursue his varsity image instead of a toxic environment? Does he found happiness in the world of showbiz?

She ate two toasted bread and orange juice on her way. She needed to be in hurry. Lately, she is getting lousy, it is a bad habit said, Charlie. She drank vitamins too because her time sometimes was busy to even eat her snacks. She satisfied herself with a simple make-up. Her hair was tied in a messy bun and casual outfit. From the busy entrance of Swizz Building, few of employee greeted her. Ngiwi ang naisagot niya sa mga ito dahil hinabol niya ang papasarang pinto ng elevator.

"That was close," Gatus teased her.

Tumawa siya. Mula sa salamin ay napansin ang kuryosong nakasabay na hindi kilalang kalalakihan at kababaihan. Sinilip niya ang numero kung saan palapag ito pupunta, ganoon nalang ang gulat niya na parehas sa destinasyon niya.

The door moved open. Gumilid siya para paunahin ang mga ito.

"Kilala mo?" bulong niya kay Gatus.

"Sabi ng guard, bisita mula sa Yco Company."

Kumabog ang dibdib niya. Ibig sabihin ay tauhan ni Zedrick ang mga iyon. Nakakahiya! Sumunod siya, halos magtago sa bulto ni Gatus.

"Sir. Miss Majesty arrived."

Just by Nicky's announcement her back straightened, Gatus turned the spot on her as all the guest eyes turned as well with her. Sinalubong siya ni Zedrick. Lalo siyang nainis dahil lahat sila ay formal samantalang siya ay casual. Nagkita pa sila kagabi, hindi manlang siya sinabihan.

"Good morning," he greeted casually, so innocent with his fault of her embarrassment.

"Good morning, Mr. Hetch," bati rin niya rito. Hinila siya upang ipakilala sa tatlong lalaki at nag-iisang babae. Mula sa kanyang balikat ay bumaba sa kanyang balakang ang kamay nito.

"Ladies and gentlemen I'd like you meet my partner, Miss Majesty," Zedrick proudly introduced her.

Inayos niya ang suot na apple green coat na nakapatong sa likuran niya bago ngumiti sa bawat isa.

The one with a devilish grinned on his face extended his arms towards her. "Please to meet you, Miss Majesty. I'm Mr. Andrei Holmes and this gorgeous woman on my side is my partner in animation design, Cleo Leonor."

"Oh, Hi Mr. Holmes." She took his hand for a shook, the same thing with Cleo.

"I'm Mark Pochollo," the youngest from their group took her hand to kiss her knuckles.

Ang nangangawit niyang pisngi sa kakangiti ay nawala nang magawi sa huling lalaki sa apat. Kilala niya ito. Sa huling pagkakatanda niya ay sa Rios De Rima. Hindi niya maalala ang pangalan.

Tinapik nito ang balikat ni Zedrick. "Kaya pala napauwi ka ng Pilipinas, ha!" Tumatawa itong humarap sa kanya. "Uno Guivarra, Miss Suniga. It's nice to meet you again after seven years or six?"

Her face brightened up the mention of her true name. "Seven years," she corrected, extending her hands with him but Zedrick held her hands firmly.

Napansin iyon noong Cleo kaya ngumiti ito. "That confirmed us something. Poor Dorothy."

Hindi iyon pinansin ni Zedrick. His all attention was at her. "All of them are from the designing team. Structural design whether animated or not. They are all good in this field just like you. All their reports will be directed to me before I give it to you."

"Bakit sa'yo pa? Why not direct it with her?" Ms. Leonor spotted. Mr. Holmes on the side smiled wider. Suppressing the same opinion with his partner.

"She is not used to blueprint or engineering language and patterns. Her ideas are all up with the interior," Zedrick explained.

Cleo remained to criticize her, "I believe with your taste, Mr. Hetch. I will look forward to her ideas."

Hindi niya na narinig ang sinabi ni Zedrick sa mga kasama nito, dahil sa tanong ni Magnum.

"I'll explain later. Wait me inside," tugon niya rito bago hinanap si Zedrick. Pero nagulat siya at pasakay na sa elevator ang mga kasama nito. Bago magsara ang pinto ay kumindat sa kanya si Uno. "O, bakit umalis agad?"

"Don't stress too much. Bumisita lang sila rito."

"Kahit na. Nakakahiya. Feeling ko napaka-unprofessional ko sa nangyari kanina."

Mangha siyang tinitigan nito. "Embarrassed? Why?"

"Hindi manlang ako nakapaghanda. Nakakahiyang naka-casual wear ngayon."

"I like you simple, though."

Inismiran niya ito at iniwan. Hinarap niya ang kanyang tatlong team para ipaliwanag ang ilan sa kanilang schedules. Habang ginagawa iyon ay napansin niya ang pagsunod ng mga tauhan niya sa dumaang si Zedrick.

Hindi lang ako ang naaabala niya. The heck!

By late lunch, same time from yesterday all the artist came back. She didn't expect that Ken will come back too but Kelly is out of them.

"Where's Miss Kelly?" tanong niya.

Lahat ng atensyon nila ay tumutok sa walang pakialam na si Ken. Nakuha niya na. Hindi nalang siya kumibo at aalis na sana ngunit hinabol siya ng isa sa babae.

"Miss Majesty, naaksidente si Kelly. Ang totoo po niyan, partner siya ni Ken. Puwede po bang kayo muna ang pumalit pansamantala. Hindi kasi puwedeng kulang."

"I don't get you. Why me?" She shrugged her shoulder.

"Kasi Miss magkahawig kayo ng girlfriend ni Ken. Lalo kapag walang make-up. Parang kayo po talaga si Kelly."

Nagtataka niyang nilingon si Ken. Kasalukuyan na itong nakatingin sa kanya bago umiwas. Kung kailangan nito ng makakapareha, bakit ibang tao pa ang dapat kumausap sa kanya. Naalala nga niyang isang group couples sila. Swizz agency build their group as the newest love team, but the idea of real relationship wasn't detail on the column.

Why is Ken acting cold towards her? Isn't he moved yet?

Malungkot niyang nginitian ang kausap. Lumapit siya kay Ken at inaya ito sa loob ng opisina. This is not her obligation but guilt kept on rubbing her skin. That she is responsible to Kelly's accident.

"I can't replace Kelly. You will stand alone in the Gala tonight," she began. From the side of her eyes, she saw Zedrick on the workstation gawking on them.

"Why? Are you afraid of him?"

She followed Ken's line of vision. He is staring back at Zedrick. She let out a long sighed. "What do you mean by that?"

"Siya ang lalaking sinasabi mong boyfriend mo, hindi ba?"

Humarap ito sa kanya. Matapang na pinapabatid ang sakit ng ginawa niyang pagtataboy dito noon. Hindi niya magawang magalit dito. Awa at kunsensiya ang nararamdaman niya rito. Bakit hinayaan niyang lumalim ang pagtingin nito sa kanya. Bakit niya binigyan ng maling pag-asa ang taong ito?

She had a second idea why, but she doesn't want to tackle it. Ken is in a relationship with Kelly now. She is out with the two. He is just disappointed with her.

"Oo. Siya ang dahilan, ano naman sa'yo?"

Mapaklang ngiti ang lumandas sa labi ng binata. "Hindi ka niya seseryosohin. Titikman ka lang niya gaya ng iba. Dahil sa huli sa kapatid ko pa rin siya babalik."

"Kapatid mo?"

Muli itong tumingin sa ibaba bago sa kanya. "Be my partner later. Prove to my sister that you are not a slot-bitch."

Slot-bitch?