Chapter 4: The Project Begins

<p>"It's settled then, Mr. Villaluz. Since our team has the most donation, we get to choose the biggest charity to donate into," turan ni Matt. <br/><br/>"The least we could do, Mr. Aragon, is that. But I hope, you could also look into our recommended charities. I mean, this is not about having business but to help," ani Mr. Philip. <br/><br/>"We understand that, Mr. Villaluz. But then, that is our only request."<br/><br/>"Okay," <br/><br/>Via, who is sitting on the far end chair ng conference room, didn't bother to budge. But she was listening. More or less, hindi okay sa kaniya the way Mr. Aragon, was making his case. She find it arrogant. The way he insists on his demands, is like as if magiging utang na loob ng mga patutunguhan ng charity na iyon ang itutulong ng mga ito. And his friends seemed find it the same with her. They don't talk much, in fact. Parang si Mr. Aragon lang ang nakakaalam ng mga demands, then. <br/><br/>"How about you, Vi? Any inserts?" baling sa kaniya ni Mr. Aragon. Nilingon din siya ng limang lalaki sa kabilang side ng table. Sinalubong niya ang tingin ni Mr. Aragon. <br/><br/>Pagkuwa'y, umayos siya ng upo. Bumuntong hininga and said, "Well, I just want to personally say thank you for the very generous donation and for taking your time to be part of this project. Just be assured that your donations will be thoroughly given to your specifics highlighting your name and ---"<br/><br/>"Oh no, no, no!" putol ni Matt sa sinasabi ng dalaga. "The donations will be named to different people."<br/><br/>Tumaas ang isang kilay ni Via. Napansin din niya ang pagkunot ng noo ng iba pang kaibigan ng kausap. <br/><br/>"Please highlight the donation to the names of my friend's wives and to one of your stars, Samantha--"<br/><br/>"Oh comm'on!" Thor exclaimed. "We told so!" All of a sudden everyone burst out contradicting Matt's intentions. Tila umapila din ang iba pang kaibigan nito. Matt just smiled deceivingly. Hindi nito pinansin ang reklamo ng mga kaibigan. Via smiled in amazement. Hindi niya expected ang burst of reactions ng banggitin ni Matt ang pangalan ng isa sa mga artistang gaganap sa play. And she wondered what's the story behind this funny scenario. <br/><br/>"Gentlemen, I'm sorry to interrupt," awat ni PRV sa usapan ng magkakaibigan. "Via and I are kind of not getting the picture. Do you mind filling us in?"<br/><br/>"You see, Mr. Villaluz, this scammer here is blackmailing us to donate in this project, para lang magpa-cute na naman sa starlet na inuuto na naman siya!" diretsang turan ni Red.<br/><br/>Matt, was laughing. "I am not scamming you. I'll just name my donations under her," simpleng paliwanag nito.<br/><br/>"No, you won't! That's not what you've confirmed!" ani Buboy.<br/><br/>"I didn't confirmed anything," ani Matt still laughing. <br/><br/>He's friends might be furious but Matt seemed enjoying it. <br/><br/>"Do you think Terrenz would agree?" ani JV. <br/><br/>"She won't. But I believe no one will be telling anyone," maangas na turan ni Matt. Tila alam niyang hindi ito sasabihin ng sinuman sa mga kaibigan nito. <br/><br/>"Are we referring to the Samantha Mistia, the actress?" singit ni Via. No one replied. "If I may ask, Mr. Aragon. Do you like her?"<br/><br/>"No! She was her fling!" direktang turan ni JV.<br/><br/>"Our story was private," ani Matt na kay Via nakatingin. Via's lips twitch. She was amazed even more. <br/><br/>"Well, she's my cousin. I mean a cousin of my cousin's cousin's cousin," turan ni Via. <br/><br/>That's true. Malayong kamag-anak niya ang tinutukoy na artista ng mga ito. Her mom ay 3rd cousin ng Mama ni Samantha. Eto na ata ang natatanging kamag-anak na kakilala niya. But they were not close. In fact, nung time na namatay ang mom at dad niya, hindi niya ito nakita. She only met them nung medyo may pangalan na siya sa industry and Samantha was just starting her career. Trying to pitch her name to stardom. Somehow, ginamit ng mga ito ang idea na magkamag-anak sila. <br/><br/>"Her mom called me to cast her out bilang lead cast to divert some issue that ruins her image. Since this is just charity and it was clear naman to them that this is purely no profit, I cast her in."<br/><br/>"See! That's not even legit to accept. Paving your way para maka-divert ng issue. So unprofessional." turan ni Thor. <br/><br/>"I'm sorry. But I am not speaking ill about her. But just want to be clear how Sam got in. And if you're telling me that you will use her name para sa charity, I can't accept that. I mean, I understand that you are a businessman, Mr. Aragon. But, you see, this project is close to my heart. This is the best thing that will happen in my entire career. I'm doing this with pure love. I just don't want other benefitting unwillingly into this." <br/><br/>Hindi nakasagot ang lahat ng lalaki sa harap niya. Matt looked at her like he have never seen any girl like her before. A mischievous grin planted on his lips and his stares are deep.<br/><br/>"I am with Ms. Via here!" mabilis na sabi ni Thor even raising his hands. <br/><br/>Nanatiling nakatitig sa kaniya si Matt. It took awhile bago ito muling nagsalita. <br/><br/>"Fine! But make my name anonymous."<br/><br/>"Deal!" sabay-sabay na sagot ng lahat. Nagulat bahagya si Via. They laugh at it.<br/><br/>"Sorry. Everything is settled then," ani PRV. Tumayo na ito at akmang magpapaalam na sa mga kausap. "Well, Vi. I still have a meeting to attend to. I think you have to show them around. Meet with your cast." Humarap ito sa lima at tumango. "Gentlemen, see you around."<br/><br/>The five didn't even bother standing up. Their auras have shift from formal to relax which surprises Vi. It's as if these five gentlemen are formal and professional on the outside but young and playful on the inside. <br/><br/>JV took off his coat. Thor and Red loosen up his tie. And Buboy lie his head on the table. Si Matt lang ang nanatiling pormal with his arm clasp in each other while his elbows are on the armrest of the chair. <br/><br/>"Do you mind Ms. Vi? I mean, we're kind of tired in being formal," ani Red. <br/><br/>"Ito lang kasi 'tong ugok na 'to ang nagpilit samin na sumama dito," ani Thor na tinutok pa sa ulo si Aguimatt. <br/><br/>"I did not ask you to come. Your wives made you do this," ani Matt. <br/><br/>"You fooled our wives. Paniwalang-paniwala sila sa sincerity mo kuno," sabi ni JV. <br/><br/>"Are you all married, I mean except for Mr. Aragon?" singit ni Via. <br/><br/>"Call me Matt. Too formal for Mr. Aragon. Just Buboy and Red. Thor and JV are soon to be," sagot ni Matt. <br/><br/>"So we'll be in first name basis. Alright then, the name's Via. Not Ms. Vi."<br/><br/>"I didn't know you are in the country. I thought you'd settled abroad," turan ni Thor. Ito nga pala ang medyo nakakabasa sa kaniya sa magazines. <br/><br/>"Are you a fan?" natatawang turan ni Via. She just did not expect that a guy like this five would bother looking at a celebrity magazine. <br/><br/>"I told you, I saw you on the Men's Magazine lists of 100 Most Desirable Women. You're top 3. But if I get to vote, I'd say you're topnotch."<br/><br/>Sa iba, Via might find it disrespectful. But for Thor, she find it amusing. <br/><br/>"Elai reads the mag. She wants to understand men like us," dugtong pa ni Thor. Elai seemed to be Thor's fiancee. <br/><br/>"I didn't even know I was in that mag. I mean, it was ages ago. Nasa abroad pa ata ako nung nirelease yun," ani Via. <br/><br/>"So, you just really came back for this project?" tanong ni Buboy.<br/><br/>"Yeah. Well, like I said, this is really something close to me. One of the charities na magbebenefit is the charity that I grew up with. The Sta. Clarita Homes."<br/><br/>"Sta. Clarita? The Orphanage?" ani Red<br/><br/>"Yes. I grew up there."<br/><br/>"You're an orphan?" Thor's eyes widen in amusement. <br/><br/>"No. But I grew up in an orphanage. My mom used to work there until she died nung 16 ako. And everything was history," maikling kwento ni Via. <br/><br/>"That's a good backstory. How come hindi yan nakukwento?" ani JV.<br/><br/>"Well, I don't hide it. But people tends to not believe it. Kasi wala naman daw sa mukha ko. Probably, I just got lucky enough to survive each day."<br/><br/>"Anyway, we're just proud that isang kakababayan is doing best in her craft. It is a pleasure meeting you, Via," turan ni Red. <br/><br/>"It so amusing to know all of you. I'm wondering how you're wives looks like. I mean, I can feel how close you five. You argue like brothers. You act so close." <br/><br/>"Believe me, I'm stuck with this nutheads for 20years," ani Matt. <br/><br/>"And you're the remaining bachelor? Why?" naningkit ang mata ni Via sa curiosity. "Are you inlove with Samantha Mistia?"<br/><br/>"No way!" apila bigla ng apat.<br/><br/>"Hindi kami nakikialam sa lovelife ng isa't-isa but hell, there's no way, Samantha Mistia will be the girl for you, Aguimatt!" turan ni Red na tila tumatayong pinakakuya. <br/><br/>Iiling-iling lang ang naging reaction ni Matt. Tila nasanay na rin ito sa kanina pang verbal reject ng mga kaibigan sa actress na binabanggit.<br/><br/>"So you see, Vi. Never mention the girl's name in front of this bunch. They freak out," sabi ni Matt na may patuyang ngiti<br/><br/>"Aguimatt? That's you're real name?" patuloy na amusement ni Via. "I like it. It's different."<br/><br/>"It's funny how you react to our system. Namemezmerize ka ba?" mapanuksong turan ni Matt.<br/><br/>Namula si Via. Tila nailang. Yet, she play along. She shrug her shoulder. Umiwas ng tingin and stood up.<br/><br/>"I like you all. I find it amusing to know you. But, I think we must move forward. Madami pa tayo gagawin," tumayo na si Via and nudge to go out.</p>