Via was rushing. She is already late. Hindi nakatulong sa kaniya ang 3inch heels na suot niya. Yet, hindi naman niya naisip na magmamadali siya. She have reasons. Bukod sa traffic, na-enjoy niya ang commercial ad na project ng isang kaibigan niyang direktor. Dadaan lang sana siya to greet some of her old colleagues pero kasalukuyang may ginagawa itong editing para sa commercial project. Bilang expert, hiningi nito ang opinion from the expertise niya. And she gladly oblige. Sa sobrang tuwa niya, she forgot about the time.
The call time is 11am. 10:30 pa lang naman but for her late na yun. Professionally, importante sa kaniya ng oras. Especially when she's dealing with stars. Ayaw niyang may naabala kahit pa janitor lang yun or driver.
Halos sunod-sunod na pinipindot niya ang elevator button mula sa parking bumukas lang iyon. Pero tila, galing pa iyon sa top floor.
"Ms. Vi!" tawag mula sa likod niya. Napalingon siya. "Dito na po kayo sumakay?" turan ng guard ng parking. Tinutukoy nito ang service elevator ng building.
Nakita ni Via ang pila ng mga empleyadong tila gusto ding sumakay ng elevator. Yet, pinigil ito ng guard para lang mauna siya. Tila alam nitong nagmamadali siya. Lumapit siya dito. Malapad ang mga ngiti ng mga nag-aabang sa elevator at napangiti din siya.
"Sorry ha? Makikisabay lang. Nagmamadali ako eh," aniya papasok ng elevator. Akma ng isasara ng guard and elevator nang pigilan ito ni Via. "Isabay mo na sila, kuya! Anlaki ng elevator," mabilis na inasiste ni Vi ang isang trabahanteng may tulak na push cart. "Pakibilis lang po at tumatakbo ang metro," pabiro pa ng dalaga. Nagtawanan naman ang mga trabahante.
"Napakaganda niyo, Ms. Via," ani ng isang unipormadong janitress. "Hindi ko po dala ang cellphone ko, sayang."
"Naku, madalas pa ko dito. Nagmamadali lang ako ngayon, pero hanapin mo lang ako diyan minsan. Ako pa magpipicture sayo," ani Via.
Kahit anong pigil ni Vi, pinauna pa rin siyang pababain ng guard sa floor niya para hindi na huminto-hinto muna ang elevator. Kumaway pa ang dalaga sa mga nakasabay sa elevator saka mabilis na tumungo sa pakay na opisina. Mabibilis ang hakbang niya. Kailangan niyang makarating ng conference room para sa staff orientation ng team niya. Dahil hindi niya masyadong kabisado ang building, hinagilap niya sa bag ang telepono upang tawagan si Monique. Kasalukuyan niyang hinahalughog ang bag habang mabibilis ang mga hakbang.
*******
"DO WE REALLY HAVE TO BE HERE?" reklamo pa rin ni Thor kahit pa nasa elevator na sila paakyat sa opisina ni Mr. Villaluz ang Producer ng project na susuportahan nila.
Hindi na nagsalita si Matt, bagkus kinuha na lang sa bulsa ang cellphone at akmang tila may tinatawagan. "Hello Elai! Yes, were here already. Thor is fine. Nakasimangot but he's fine."
Mabilis na inagaw ni Thor ang cellphone sa kaibigan. "I'll talk to you later, Babe! May pipilayan lang ako," ani Thor na masama ang tingin kay Matt.
Natawa naman ang tatlo pa nilang kasama sa elevator.
"You're enjoying this," ani pa rin ni Thor na inabot na sa kaniya ang telepono.
"Why do you hate it so much? You're wives agrees with me."
"We just feel like naiiscam kami dito. I mean, this is all about good deed. But with that starlet involve, there's nothing good or deed about it," ani Buboy na nakasandal sa pader ng elevator.
"Like I told you, this is not about her. She's just one thing. Besides, hindi naman siya ang may pakulo rito. I just want to do this and since mga kaibigan ko kayo, I want us all to be part of it," Matt have explained this ilang ulit na. But they could sense his true agenda.
Aminado si Matt na Samantha was his reason bakit siya involve sa charity na iyon. Samantha was one of the talent in his mom's agency na somehow siya na rin ang nagmamanage. Isa itong actress na may struggling career. But he have been taking care of her somehow. He had been producing her shows and sponsoring a few. But he was always been a hidden sponsor. Ayaw niya rin namang madawit ang pangalan niya sa mga scandal nito. His friends knows that Samantha is just using his money and his resources. But he doesn't mind, he had plenty of those. For him, he's just doing favor to his mom.
Eventhough that's the truth, ayaw niyang malaman iyon ng mga kaibigan niya. His friends are married or engaged. Seryoso na ang mga ito sa lovelife. And the wives of her friends are reputable ladies. He respects them. And his friends believe that Samantha is his fling. When in reality, hindi pa naman niya talaga ito nakakaharap anywhere.
"Paulit-ulit mo ng sinabi yan, hindi talaga namin maabsorb," ani JV.
"Because you reject. Gusto mo ba si Alli pa ulit mag-explain?" ani Matt na pinananggalang ang fiancee nito.
"Stop bullying us with our wives," ani Red. Matt laughed. "Malaman ko lang talaga na totoo yung feeling namin, kay Terrenz mismo kita papagulpi."
When they reach the top floor, naunang humakbang palabas ng elevator si Matt. He's trying to avoid his friends kaya't tila nagmamadali ang hakbang niya. When he step out of the elevator, sakto namang may padaang babae sa tapat niyon. He bumped into her. Hindi din siya nito nakita because she was busy fiddling her bag. The girl got off balance sa pagkakabangga niya. But before the girl slumped into the floor, nahawakan niya ang braso nito ang pulled her close towards him wrapping his arms around her waist. Napaharap sa kaniya ang babae and he was able to look at her face to face. It caught him off guard. Tila nagulat din ang babae. Her lips twitch in amazement. His eyes were so round sa pagkabigla. Her body was touching his and he was able to measure his waist by just the wrap of his arms.
"I'm s-sorry..." she stammered as she speak and Matt can smell her breath.
Matt got paralyzed. Ni hindi ito nakakilos. He just remained staring at the wonderful sight with his arms hugging the girl. He seemed looking at a real life barbie. Its as if the world stops. Ni hindi niya namalayan that it was almost a minute na nakayapos siya sa babae.
"Uhmm.. Aguimatt, the Miss seemed ok now. You can let go," turan ni JV. Matt, loosen his grip pero hindi umalis ang tingin sa mukha ng nabanggang dalaga. Tila he seemed lost for words.
"S-sorry. I'm looking for my phone," turan pa rin ng dalaga. "I didn't see you coming out of the elevator."
"No harm done, Miss. Our friend here was just in his scattered brain lately," salo ni Red sa hindi pa ring nakahumang si Aguimatt.
"You're Via Alguerra! I saw you on lasts months edition of Men's Physique. The top 3 beauty bachelorette!" Thor exclaimed. Siniko naman ito ni Buboy na tila inaawat sa pagiging matabil. "What? She's that!" Minatahan lang ito ni Buboy.
Tila na-amaze naman si Via sa mga kaharap. Five good looking men are in front of her. Sa ibang pagkakataon it was a pretty picture. But to her, normal ng nakakaharap siya ng mga good looking men. She have met all kinds in any places.
"It's a pleasure meeting you, Ms. Via. My name is Thor by the way," ani Thor na nag-abot ng palad for a handshake.
Vi, held her hand for a handshake with a smile.
"These are my friends. Red, JV, Bobby and this troubled one here is, Aguimatt," pakilala ni Thor na isa-isang tinuro ang mga kaibigan saka huling inakbayan si Matt.
"Nice meeting you as well. Sorry for the trouble, I didn't mean to bother you. Do you have any business here that I can assist you with?" tanong ni Via. Getting her confident self back.
Red nudge Matt to reality. Ito ang nakakaalam ng agenda nila doon.
"Oh, sorry! I was just..." Matt stammered. He took a deep breath. "Do you happen to know where Mr. Philip Villaluz' office is? We have meeting with him today," ani Matt in his formal self.
"PRV? Actually I need to meet him din today. But I'm actually lost din in this building. Wait, I'll call a friend," she was about to get her phone again sa dalang bag nang sumulpot si Monique.
"There you are! The guard said he saw you coming in. We've been looking all over for you," anito na hindi pinansin ang limang kasama niya.
"We're lost. Hindi namin alam san ang office ni PRV."
"We?" tanong ni Monique. Then, saka lang nito napansin ang limang lalaki na kasama niya. Obvious ang pagka-caught off guard ni Monique. She even had the silly grin on her face.
"Monique!" pabulong na sita ni Via sa pagka-starstruck nito.
"Oh! PRV's office!" tila sinindihan naman ang puwitan ni Monique na tila ito nataranta. "Tara! Ihahatid ko na lang kayo, mahirap ieexplain," naunang humakbang na si Monique paiwas sa tila pagkapahiya. Numwestra naman si Via na sumunod sa kaibigan. Kakamot-kamot at iiling-iling namang sumunod ang lima.