Chapter 7

Namumutla ang mukha ni Sierra nang sampalin siya ng katotohanan ni Chloe. She clenched her fist, and glared fiercely at Chloe. Planado ni Sierra na papuntahin si Chloe para ipahiya, ngunit parang napaso siya sa sarili niyang mantika.

Just then, footsteps came from the outside. Agad na tinakbo ni Sierra ‘yon, habang ibinalik ni Chloe ang mga documents sa loob ng briefcase niya. Hindi naman nakasara ang pinto na parang sinasadya.

“Rigo, you’re off to work na? Gumawa ako ng soup and saved it for you.” 

Narinig ni Chloe ang boses ni Rigo mula sa labas. “No need.”

“It would be a waste if I throw it away. It took me a while to make that soup. Come in,” aya nito na parang wala lang.

Wala ng nagawa si Chloe. Lagi siyang nagtatago, nagbabakasakali na magkikita sila ni Rigo, pero ginagawan talaga ng paraan ni Sierra na magkita sila. 

Tumayo siya para umalis. Napatingin siya sa basura ng food take out sa trash bin. Samantala, hinila naman ni Sierra si Rigo sa loob, at wala na itong nagawa. The moment their eyes meet, they freeze. 

Halos tumahimik ang paligid sa pagkikita nilang dalawa. He was wearing a light blue short-sleeved shirt and black trousers, looking like a lazy fresh but full of vigor. His eyes were dark and deep, which made Chloe uncomfortable at some point.

“Wear this slippers.” Binigyan ni Sierra ng tsinelas si Rigo, kahit hindi nagre-react ito dahil sa talim ng titig kay Chloe.

Pinilit ni Sierra na ngumiti saka nagpaliwanag, “It’s a case of my trademark being infringed. A friend recommended the law firm she works at, pero hindi ko in-expect na siya pala ang ipapadala.”

Kumunot lamang ang noo ni Chloe sa sinabi ni Sierra. Ginawaran rin niya ito ng titig. 

What a nice line. I didn’t expect them to send her.

Lumingon si Rigo kay Sierra, his voice cold and deep. “When did you get to have a company?”

Hindi makasagot si Sierra at ngumiti ito ng pilit. “Uh… uhm.”

“I won’t bother you two. Aalis na ako.” 

Hindi na nais ni Chloe na magtagal pa dahil naninikip na ang dibdib niya. Pero nakatayo si Rigo malapit sa shoe cabinet, nahaharangan ang pintuan.

“Fine, you can go back now,” Sierra arrogantly said. “Hindi din naman ako masa-satisfied sa service and professionalism mo. I don’t trust you to handle the case.”

That’s ridiculous. Kung walang company, how can there be a trademark?

“My professionalism is reflected in my trust for facts and law. Hindi sa isang client na hindi pa man nakakapagtayo ng kumpanya, may case na agad ng infringement. It doesn’t work that way, honey.

“Anyway, since my time is wasted, I will charge you for today;’s conversation. The receipt will be sent to you later.” 

Agad na inayos ni Chloe ang sarili at dumaan mismo sa gitna nina Rigo at Sierra. She bumped Rigo’s elbow with hers. “Excuse me.”

Napahakbang paatras si Rigo dahil doon. Tumaas ang kilay niya saka nalilitong tumitig.

“What kind of attitude is that? You don’t look like a professional,” reklamo ni Sierra. 

Hindi siya pinansin ni Chloe at umalis na sa pintuan. Hindi na niya matiis pa ang galit kay hinarap niyang muli si Sierra.

“Miss Arroyo, your soup is not authentic as you claimed it is. And it’s not stewed for hours or else, para ka ng kumakain ng sipon. And, please. If you wanna lie, just burn the plastic where you bought it from.”

“You—”

Bahagyang pinasingkit ni Rigo ang kanyang mga mata dahil sa tinuran ni Chloe. Bago paman mag-alburuto si Sierra, mabilis na lumabas si Chloe. Nang napansin na natamaan si Sierra kanina, agad gumaan ang pakiramdam niya.

Nang bumaba siya ng elevator, nagsimula ng bumuhos ang malakas na ulan. Kinapa niya ang sarili, at napansing wala pala siyang dalang payong. Humahagibis na rin ang malakas na hangin, dahilan upang mag-ingay ang mga sanga ng puno sa paligid. 

Chloe fished her phone and found a calamity alert in it. Manila is very prone to typhoons and flashfloods. Kung hindi pa siya aalis ngayon, she will get stuck in this building overnight.

Sinubukan niyang sugurin ang malakas na ulan at hangin, pero binalibag lamang siya nito pabalik sa building. She was thin and weak, as her legs gave way. Nababasa na rin siya at nagsimula ng guminaw ang pakiramdam.

Sinubukan niya ulit na takbuhin ang ulan, yakap-yakap ang briefcase niya. Subalit, bigla na lamang siyang hinila ng pares ng kamay at hinila pabalik. A man hugged her waist from behind which made her stumble.

“What the heck?”

Her whole body was pulled up, her back pressed tightly against a warm, firm chest. Rigo put her down in the inner hall of the first floor, her body shivering from the cold. 

“You’re so thin. Have you ever eaten a good meal?” Rigo’s voice had hint of anger.

“None of your business.” Pinagpag niya ang tubig sa briefcase niya saka niyakap ulit ito sa sobrang ginaw. 

Maging si Rigo ay nabasa na rin. He brushed the water droplets from his forehead back, boldly sweeping them away in his short hair. 

He frowned at her stunned expression.

“It's a raging storm outside. What were you running out there?”