Dinner with the Enemy

Malalim ang naging buntong hininga ni Yumie. She was staring at herself sa bathroom mirror in an almost half an hour. She felt so much pressured. Hindi niya alam kung kaya niyang makisalo ng dinner sa dalawang nilalang na itinuturing niyang lihim ng kaaway.

She wears a formal mini dress na binili ni Zeek kanina. Ismael Callejos had personally asked for her presence sa dinner na iyon. She tried reasoning out with Zeek. But as always, Zeek stubbornly insisted. Ito pa nga ang bumili ng susuotin niya.

She tries to think of ways to make this dinner to her advantage. She could probably ask question na maaring maging intel niya sa balak na paghihiganti in the future. But wala siyang maisip na magandang itanong. Bagkus kinakabahan siya at baka si Ismael pa ang magtanong ng bagay na siguradong hindi niya masasagot ng harapan.

'Get a grip, Mayumia! This is no time na panghinaan ka ng loob,' kastigo niya sa sarili.

Mahinang katok sa pinto ang nagpapitlag sa kaniya.

"We'll gonna be late, Mayumia," ani Zeek from the other side of the door.

"C-coming!" mabilis niyang sagot. She took out her lipstick and put some more in her lips. She took a last look at herself on the mirror, took another deep breath and opened the door.

Zeek was standing at the center of the room. Looking dashing in his Navy Blue Suit. It fits him well. He was just like a prince come to life. Bumagay ang domineering character nito sa pormahan nito ngayon. And Yumie can't deny that Zeek is truly attractive. She's used to seeing men in suit and tie since she work in a corporate office, but Zeek's look made her heart skip a beat.

Zeek looked at her with admiration. He wasn't so sure that that dress would fit Yumie. But when he saw it earlier, he knew it will definitely perfect for her. It was a light blue A-cut cocktail dress na just above the knee ang haba. May short sleeves and the rounded neckline that emphasizes her long thin neck. Yumie even tied her hair in a lousy bun with few strands on loose na lalong nagpalitaw ng mahabang leeg nito. Zeek couldn't help it but he had somewhat imagine lowering down his head to have a taste of Yumie's neck just like how vampires do to suck the blood of their victims. She's very beautiful indeed.

"Do I really have to come with you? Hindi na ata yun part ng trabaho ko," maktol ni Yumie.

"The CEO have asked for your presence. We must oblige."

"Hindi ka ba natatakot? Baka anong isipin ng mga kakilala niyo. I am just your employee. Eating dinner with both the Emperor and the Prince is like I have some kind of a relationship with any if you. Gusto mo bang isipin nilang girlfriend mo ko and I am meeting your Dad?" She tried to say it as platonic as it is. Ayaw niyang magbigay ng kahit anong malisya.

Zeek smiles widely. "That's acceptable to me. The way you look tonight, I could flaunt you as my girlfriend."

Tumaas ang kilay niya. Zeek have told her a couple of times how beautiful she is. But it always sounded a joke on her. Iniinis lang siya nito.

"Well, I don't want that. I want our relationship as professional as it can only be."

"Then don't think it that way. Your boss have asked you to join us for dinner. Consider it as part of your task," ani Zeek.

Hindi nakahuma si Yumie. Siguro nga siya lang ang naglalagay ng malisya.

"Stop rejecting, Mayumia. Dad is waiting for us. We are already late," sabi ni Zeek as he started walking out.

Mayumia just rolled her eyes saka sumunod kay Zeek.

They headed to a luxurious hotel na malapit lang sa pinangalingan nila. Napagtanto ni Yumie that the place was so exclusive. It was not a typical resto. But tila VIPs lang ang pwede pumasok doon. Sa pinto pa lang, nakilala na agad ng staff si Zeek. Mabilis silang inassiste nito papunta sa mesa naka-reserve sa kanila. Ismael Callejos wasn't there yet.

As when Yumie was about to sit, natigilan siya when Zeek pulled out the chair for her. Napatingin siya rito. Zeek was smiling as if he's planning something naughty.

"You look too stunned. I can be a gentleman if I really want to. And today, let me treat you like our special guest," turan nito.

She was surprised with this character Zeek now is playing but she doesn't want to create more drama kaya't hinayaan niya na ito. She sat down, and Zeek sat on her left side. They have a circular table. The servers handed them out a menu. It was all in chinese, so she didn't bother to look at it. Hinayaan niya na si Zeek na mag-order.

Yumie was just looking at Zeek's habang nakikipag-usap ito in chinese sa waiter. She tries to brush off the feeling that Zeek was truly attractive. Lalo pa't sanay na sanay ito sa lingwaheng banyaga sa kaniya. It was probably his mother tounge. But she wondered how did he became so fluent in Filipino and English if he had only known the Callejos 9 years ago.

Hindi niya namalayang tapos na pala makipag-usap si Zeek sa waiter. She was looking at him like a star struck fan.

"What?" ani Zeek in a one eye brow raised.

"I was just wondering, how did you learn Filipino Language?"

Zeek shrugged. "It was some kind of torture for me when I was 7. I didn't know then the reason why, but my mom made me read all Filipino-English-Chinese dictionary then. Everyday I have to memorize atleast 100 Filipino words and what it meant. Halos nakabisado ko ang dictionary noon. And she made me watched all Filipino Dramas. I remembered crying blood, sweat, and tears. But when I was 13, it became my strength. You see, sikat ka sa school if you can speak more than just chinese. I was so fluent in English and Filipino then eventhough I never had formal education."

"She made you do it?" It's almost as cruel as it can be para sa isang 7 years old. But kung tutuusin Zeek's mom have done it for him. Para makilala niyo ang tunay na ama.

"That's why it was easy for me to understand everything when I met my Dad. It was all drama and hatred and... fear," turan nito as he almost whispered the last word. But then, Zeek just shrugged it all off.

Napayuko si Yumie. She knows the feeling. She too experienced all kinds of fear with what happened to them 12 years ago. She was 13 then but she had to grow up fast. It was all because of a one man. Ismael may have been Zeek's father but Yumie can't just believe na ultimo mismong sariling anak nito ang danasin ang sakit at takot na naramdaman niya noon. Ismael was so evil to cause all this pain for both of them. Hindi niya namalayang she was clenching her fist hard sa galit.

"Are you ok, Mayumia?" tanong ni Zeek na napansin ang nanggagalit niyang reaksiyon.

"Huh?" Yumie softened her gaze and pinakalma ang sarili. She forced a fake smile. "M-medyo malamig lang dito," she said and acted as if being cold. She shook her hands to calm herself up.

Biglang tumayo si Zeek and walk towards her habang hinuhubad ang suot na coat. To her surprise, ibinalot nito sa kaniya ang hinubad na coat. Saka bumalik ito sa kinauupuan.

Nagugulumihanang napasunod lang ang tingin niya rito. Wala naman itong sinabi bagkus sinalubong pa ang tingin niya saka siya kinindatan. Tumaas ang isang kilay ni Yumie at napabagsak ang panga niya in disbelief. Zeek is making an impression towards her. Nagpapa-cute ito na tila may gustong ipahiwatig.

"Let's just say, masyado kang nagagandahan sakin ngayon that is why your acting so gentleman and cutesy today. But I want my boss Zeek be back tomorrow," she said.

Natawa si Zeek. "Can't you just accept the fact that I am not that narcissistic as you think I am? I have respect for women who deserves it."

Pinigil niyang mamula. Zeek was definitely showing all kinds of impression na akala niya hindi niya makikita rito. And she had to admit she's liking it.

They were almost engage in a serious conversation nang dumating si Ismael. Kahit hindi close ang dalawang, Yumie can see Zeek's respect towards his father. Tila ito maamong tupa na nagbibigay galang sa pastor niya. Ismael was strying his best to lighten the scene. But since this is the first time she saw the father and son had dinner, hindi makakaila ang awkwardness ng isa't-isa. Thus, the attention was directed towards her all the time.

"You're 25, right?" ani Ismael sa kaniya. Tumango lang siya. "My Zeek is older than you then by a year. May boyfriend ka ba?" turan ni Ismael.

"Dad, that's TMI," awat ni Zeek sa ama.

"What? The last time you had an assistant na may boyfriend, she dumped his guy to seduce you. The boy made a scene sa building and the girl was sacked the same day."

Napailing-iling si Zeek na tila nahihiya sa kinukwento ng ama. He hid his face in embarassment.

"Don't worry Mr. Callejos, I don't have a relationship of any sort to anyone. I have major priorities at this time that personal relationship was at the back of my mind for now," turan ni Yumie.

"But don't take it too seriously. You're still at the age na pwede ng mag-asawa," sabi pa ni Ismael as if teasing.

Natawa si Yumie. "I beg to disagree, sir. Age is not the right classification kung pwede na mag-asawa ang babae. It may be 1% factor to consider but it doesn't really matter. Besides, you, yourself isn't getting any younger either."

Ismael Callejos laughed harder. "You're right! At my age, I have never been married. I had my fair share of women on my younger years. But I never found the love of my life. I guess you know now the story of me and Zeek's mom."

"But what about Tita Mina? You don't want to marry her?" tanong ni Zeek.

"I told you, Mina was just a friend. I never intended to marry her. She's like a sister to me," turan naman ni Ismael.

It was the first time Yumie heard about some girl named Mina from Zeek. It got her curious but she was afraid to ask. Beside, Mina seemed to be nothing special for Ismael.

"Mina just needs us to protect her. And someday you'll understand why," sabi nito na tila para kay Zeek ngunit sa kaniya nakatingin. Nagsalubong ang kilay niya sa pagtataka. Ismael was looking at her as if sa kaniya nito sinasabi ang huling kataga. Pagkuwa'y bumaling ulit ito kay Zeek. "Anyway, when are you going back to Manila?"

"I have more things to do here so probably next week," sagot ni Zeek.

"When you get back, visit the ranch. Mina is asking so much about you. I have no more excuse to tell," anito. Muli itong lumingon kay Yumie. "And while your here, take her to beautiful places here in Beijing. You'll gonna love it," sabi nito sa kaniya na nakangiti. He ate the last food on his plate saka nagpaalam sa kanila na mauuna na.

"Why does my father seemed to have this fondness to you?" tanong ni Zeek nang makaalis na si Ismael.

She just shrugged. "Probably because I am beautiful, young and single," aniya in a joke.

Naningkit ang mata ni Zeek. "You know, I have this feeling that you are not actually affected with my charm. And you show that you don't like me in a subtle way. In fact, I'm beginning to doubt my charm. And now you're telling me that you like my Dad?"

Nasamid si Yumie sa sinabi ni Zeek. "Don't even joke about it! Kahit sinabi kong age isn't a determination of marrying cause, it doesn't mean na may gusto ako sa tatay mo. Please don't even think about it!" Kinikilabutan si Yumie sa tinuran ni Zeek.

Zeek laughed harder. Somehow, he thought of it that way. But he felt relieved seeing Yumie's reaction. She really is one of a kind.

"I'm sorry. It's just for surety. Anyway, we will stay here for 5 more days. I know that you want your boss to come back tomorrow, but I wanna go places and I don't want to go alone. Ayoko ding gumala with security and an assistant. Can you come with me as a friend?"

Tumingin si Yumie. Tila nililimi kung how sincere Zeek is. She then brush off the malicious thoughts. Mas nanaig sa kaniya ang idea that she was able to go on tour for the first time in her life.

"Indeed, as a friend," sagot niya.

Zeek widely smiled.