Sweet Nemesis

Chapter 4

#OLASweetNemesis

Chapter 4
Girlfriend

Ang sabi ni Kuya Knoa, ganoon lang daw talaga ang personality ni Keno. But I'm still standing by my opinion that it's not enough reason to be rude. Mas lalo lang akong nainis sa kanya nang balikan ko ang nalaman.

He called me maarte, which is partly true. He judged me without getting to know me first. Well, not that I wanted us acquainted.

"Can you please go home na? I can't fully immerse myself in my kwento dahil sa screen lang kita nakakausap!" I pouted my lips as I looked at my best friend.

Faith was working on a project when I called. Itinigil niya 'yon agad para ibigay ang atensyon sa akin at makinig, pero iba pa rin talaga kapag nakakausap ko siya ng personal. It's more comforting.

She sighed and smiled. "I already told you I'm going home soon."

"How soon is that soon? Tomorrow?"

"Probably next month or in two months? May tinatapos lang ako rito."

Pumangalumbaba ako. "That's still a long way to go. Four years ka na nandyan. You're not even coming home to visit. Ako pa ang bumibisita sa 'yo."

Faith chuckled. "You have the money."

"And you have them as well."

"Mas mayaman kayo. You're a Dela Vega."

Hindi ko na siya makokontra. Totoo naman 'yon. I also know she's just making excuses. Ayaw niya lang umuwi dahil baka magkita lang sila ng ex-fiancé niyang 'di masayang ka-bonding. That's why I'm more skeptical about believing she's coming home. Ni bisita nga ay hindi niya magawa, paano pa kaya ang umuwi at mag-stay na rito sa Pinas for good?

"Let's not stray far from our topic, Hari," mahinahon niyang sabi. "Ano na'ng balak mo sa bodyguard mo?"

"Of course, I'm still gonna get him fired."

"Tingin ko hindi mangyayari 'yan."

"I can do that, Faith," I told her. "Hindi nga lang ngayon. Someday, I'll succeed in doing that. But for now, I'll test his patience. Kapag siya mismo ang sumuko, walang magagawa si Kuya Xavi. I don't think he's after the salary, so..." Nagkibit-balikat ako. "It doesn't matter if he loses his job."

Keno looks pretty well off. Kung makapag-attitude siya sa akin ay parang wala talaga siyang pakialam kung ipatanggal ko siya o matanggal siya dahil doon. At kung naging kaklase at kaibigan siya ng dalawang pinsan ko, that was already enough confirmation to say that he doesn't need this job as my bodyguard. Siguro ay baka past-time niya lang.

"What if you just put up with him?" Faith suggested.

"No way!" I exclaimed. "How can I put up with someone like him? Baka masakal ko siya!"

"Kung ganoon, 'wag mo na lang pansinin. Act as if he doesn't exist. Ganoon ka naman sa mga naging bodyguard mo, 'di ba? Don't think about him too much."

Oo nga naman. Hindi naman ako ganito sa dating bodyguards ko. Pwedeng hindi ko na lang din siya pansinin gaya ng ginagawa ko dati.

"You're right!" I sat straight and smiled. "I won't stress myself over him. I'll act as if he doesn't exist."

It was easier said than done, though. While driving to the office, I kept glancing at the side mirror, checking if he was tailing me. Iniisip ko kung saan siya magtatago o maghihintay nang makarating naman ako sa opisina.

Padabog kong ibinaba ang ballpen sa lamesa. I couldn't focus on work. I checked the time and saw that it was almost time for lunch.

Saan kaya siya kakain? Nakakain na kaya siya?