The Bitchesa's Downfall

Vince

"Hi Mr. Roosevelt." mapang-akit na bati niya sa matandang kaharap.

Hindi niya ugaling makipag-usap sa ibang tao pero dahil naiinip siya sa paghintay sa bestfriend niyang kakauwi lang ng bansa kahapon, why not have some entertainment with this aged man? It won't be that bad to have a little talking with an old businessman inside a restaurant. Kahit papaano ay kilala naman niya si Mr. Roosevelt. Ito ang nagmamay-ari ng building na kasalukuyang kino-construct ng kanyang ama.

"Oh! Good evening, beautiful lady!" May galak sa boses ng matanda nang suklian nito ang bati niya. "You must be Mr. Bernardo's daughter."

She flipped her hair sidewards and winked at the old man. "Yeah, the one and only."

Pinasadahan siya nito ng tingin at dumapo ito sa kanyang cleavage. Tumaas ang isang sulok ng labi ni Chandria nang mapansin ang marahang paggalaw ng adam's apple ng matanda.

"Iha, kumusta ang papa mo?" He asked, eyes still on her cleavage.

"He's okay, I guess. Hindi naman siya masyadong napahiya kagaㅡ"

"Pinahiya mo ang ama mo sa mismong engagement party niya at ni Tita Elena."

Agad siyang tumayo at pumihit paharap sa binatang bigla nalang sumabat sa usapan nila ni Mr. Roosevelt. She wasn't shocked to see Daniel standing few meters away from her with his lips pressed tightly together. His hypnotizing black eyes were throwing daggers at her. He looks really annoyed.

"I didn't know you can be this rude, Dan." Chandria's lips twitched. "Interrupting two person's serious conversation is purely disrespectful."

"I perfectly know that," ani Daniel bago siya tinalikuran.

Umiwas siya ng tingin nang makita ang magandang ngiti sa mukha ni Daniel habang nakikipagkamay ito kay Mr. Roosevelt. Ayaw niyang makita itong ngumiti sa ibang tao. Ayaw niya. She hates the fact that she can never put a smile on his handsome face.

"I'm sorry I'm late, Sir. Sinundo ko pa kasi iyong kapatid ko sa eskwelahan."

Napalingon ulit siya kay Daniel nang banggitin nito ang salitang 'kapatid'. Si Aliyah ang tinutukoy nito. Iyong nakababatang kapatid ni Daniel na 9 years old na.

"It's okay." Marahang tumango si Mr. Roosevelt. "Hindi naman ako nainip. Mr. Bernardo's daughter entertained me."

Kunot-noong lumingon si Daniel sa kanya at sinipat siya nito ng malalim na tingin. Hindi niya iyon pinansin. She just twirled her hair using her forefinger and grinned at him. She acted like she doesn't care. Well, that's one way to test his temper.

Tumikhim si Mr. Roosevelt kaya bumaling ang tingin ni Daniel sa matanda.

"Let's just get this straight, Engineer Ford. The Board of R Malls and Supermaket has decided to..."

She was not able to continue eavesdropping on Mr. Roosevelt and Daniels's serious conversation when someone's palms covered her eyes.

"Get your hands off me, you piece ofㅡ"

"Shit." A masculine voice, which she quickly recognized, cut her words off as he whispered huskily on her side. She can feel that certain warm breath blowing on her left ear.

Kilalang-kilala niya itong taong 'to. He's the one she's expecting today, Vince Singe.

Marahas niyang pinalo ang kamay nitong nakatakip pa rin sa kanyang mukha. Pagkatapos ay tumayo siya paharap kay Vince. Hindi pa man niya naaaninag ang mukha nito ay agad nitong hinila ang braso niya. Kinulong siya nito sa isang mahigpit na yakap.

"Is this how you say hello now?" She could not help but giggle a bit as she wrap her arms around Vince' waist.

"Nah!" Vince retorted. "Miss lang talaga kita."

Hearing those words from her guy bestfriend put up a sweet smile on her face. Vince is still annoyingly sweet. And his Tagalog accent's too cute to hear.

"How are you?" tanong ni Chandria.

She released herself from the hug and they end up face to face with each other. She can now perfectly see Vince who grew a lot taller than the last time she saw him. She has never thought he could be this good-looking. Payat pa ito noon pero ngayon may muscles na ito sa tamang posisyon. He looks so hot but no, she'll never go beyond friendship with him. She has her Dan now.

Sumimangot si Vince at marahang kinamot ang batok nito. "Still tired."

Jetlag, maybe. Hindi pa ata ito nakapagpahinga ng maayos.

"Umupo ka na!" Utos niya dito. "Baka matumba ka pa diyan."

It was supposed to be a joke but she totally sucks at expressing humor so yeah, Vince did not react to it. Sa halip ay umikot lang ito papunta sa silyang malapit kay Daniel. Napahinto ito bigla nang dumako ang tingin nito sa kabilang table, sa mukha ni Daniel mismo. Nagkatitigan ang dalawa. She saw how Daniel clenched his jaw while glaring at her poor bestfriend. But Vince, being the cool guy, just turned his gaze on her, shrugged his shoulders off and confidently sat on the chair parallel to her.

"Keep your eyes off my date, Dan," manghang niyang pagmamando kay Daniel na agad naman nitong ginawa. Para itong natauhan at mabilis na bumalik sa pakikinig sa proposal ni Mr. Roosevelt.

May gumuhit na ngisi sa mukha ni Vince matapos niyang banggitin ang salitang 'Dan'. Nagpalipat-lipat ang tingin nito mula kanya papunta kay Daniel at pabalik ulit sa kanya. Nagtaas-baba din ang kilay nito. She knew what he's doing. He was teasing her like the way he does before.

Of course, Vince would react that way. Her bestfriend knew things about her love interest. Distance was not able to block their closeness, though. Through SNS, they were able to keep in touch and get updated with each other's business and events in life. Daniel's been her favorite topic for almost six months now.