The Bitchesa's Downfall

David Ford

Few days after their serious talk on Daniel's house that night, his treatment towards Chandria had grown colder than before. He would only notice her presence if they have something to discuss, but other than that, he would always avoid being close to her. If it wasn't for the project, he would probably erase her out of his view.

Ilang ulit na napairap si Chandria habang inaalala ang pakikitungo ni Daniel sa kanya sa mga nakaraang araw. Hindi niya mapigilang mainis kay Daniel dahil hindi naman talaga nito sinabi sa kanya ng harapan kung ano ang rason ng pag-iwas nito sa kanya. Malaki ang pinagbago ng binata. Kasi noon, nambubulyaw pa ito sa kanya at pinapagalitan siya. Pero ngayon, hindi na nito pinupuna ang bawat galaw niya. Wala na itong pakialam sa kanya.

Nanggigigil na tinapakan ni Chandria ang accelerator ng kanyang kotse kaya mas lalong bumilis ang takbo nito. Napapangisi na lamang siya habang pinakikinggan ang bawat busina ng mga kotseng nalalampasan niya.

Nang makarating si Chandria sa kanyang destinasyon, agad din siyang lumabas ng kotse at mabilis na pumasok sa Blue Heart Cafe. Tinext siya ni Daniel kagabi at sinabi nitong magkikita sila dito ngayon upang pag-usapan ang iilang bagay tungkol sa construction ng hotel building. Simula noong biglang nagalit si Black, hindi na ulit siya nakapunta sa bahay nito. Tanging sa coffee shops na lamang sila nagkikita.

"Good morning!" masayang bati niya kay Daniel nang makalapit siya sa pwesto nito.

Tahimik lamang itong nakaupo sa pandalawahang table at nakaharap sa laptop na nasa harap nito. Dumukwang siya nang bahagya at akmang hahalikan pisngi ni Daniel ngunit agad na umiwas ang binata. Napasimangot na lamang siya at agad na hinila ang bakanteng upuang sa tabi ni Daniel. Ipinatong ni Chandria ang kanyang kanang hita sa kaliwa habang inaayos niya ang posisyon ng suot niyang mini-skirt.

Awtomatiko siyang napalingon kay Daniel nang tumikhim ito. Umangat ang ibabang labi ni Chandria nang mahuli ang pagsulyap ni Daniel sa kanyang hita. Ngunit agad din naman itong umiwas ng tingin at uminom ng kape.

Marahan nitong inilapag pabalik sa ibabaw ng round table ang cup nito at pinakatitigan si Chandria. "I've invited you over to discuss few things about the project."

"I know," she mumbled before hissing in sarcasm. "You've said it through text."

She saw how Daniel shook his head in disbelief. "We have finished the framework and structural design for the building, except for its view. We've planned to make it up to 25 floors. But do you have any idea about the view of the hotel? You could do it on your own if you want to." he uttered it with a very authoritative voice it came out more like an orderㅡnot a suggestion. "Besides, you would later own this building, why not have your idea for the design?"

Chandria nodded as a small smirk formed on her lips. "I agree. We could have four walls painted with black."

"Tsk!" His eyebrows were already meeting halfway. "This is a serious matter, Chandria. I am not here to just listen to your jokes."

Napataas ang kanang kilay ni Chandria at marahas siyang napasandal sa kanyang kinauupuan. "I'm not joking about my idea. I want the walls black, is there any problem with that?"

"Can you just think of a much better idea?" he answered with thick sarcasm on his voice. "Because I think it's the worst I have heard."

Inirapan lamang niya si Daniel at pasimpleng hinila ang cup nito. Hindi na nagawang umangal ng binata nang  mabilis siyang sumimsim ng kape mula doon. Nilasap niya ang init ng cafe americano. At sa halip na magpasindak sa nanlilisik na mga mata ni Daniel na matamang nakatitig sa kanya, kumindat lamang siya at tumawa nang mahina.

"Where's your manner, Ms. Bernardo?" His eyes grew darker as his voice sounded deeper. "You can't just drink on someone's cup."

Imbes na mainis sa pambabara ni Daniel, naramdaman na lamang ni Chandria ang biglaang paglukso ng puso niya dahil sa narinig.

"Oh, so you're back to being my critic, huh?" nanunuksong tanong ni Chandria habang pinapatong ang kanyang baba sa kamay na kasalukuyan ding nakatukod sa ibabaw ng table. "Welcome back, Daniel Markus. I missed you."

Napatiim-bagang ang binata at humalukipkip. "Please stop flirting." matigas nitong wika.

Bahagyang umawang ang labi ni Chandria kasabay ng muling pagtaas ng kanang kilay niya. Did he actually think he was flirting with him? For goodness' sake! She just wanted to annoy him. She was just wanting too see how his forehead crumple in frustration. But then, no matter how much she wanted to defend herself, she ended up teasing him more.

She smirked as she darted her gaze straight into the darkness of his eyes. "Then, please stop talking 'bout the project, too."

"If it's not about business and work." Daniel paused a bit. He took a little chance to mmediately pin his laptop close and put it in the black laptop case. "Then I say I should just leave. I'll text you if something would come up."

Pagkatapos iyong sabihin, mabilis na tumayo si Daniel bitbit ang laptop case nito at tumalikod na sa gawi niya. Akmang hahakbang na ito palayo nang magsalita si Chandria.

"Dan, wait!"

Natigilan si Daniel ngunit hindi ito humarap sa kanya. Mukhang napalakas ang pagtawag ni Chandria sa pangalan ng binata kaya may iilang taong napapalingon sa gawi niya. Gayunpaman, hindi niya pinansin ang mga matang nakatutok ngayon sa kanya. Kay Daniel lamang nakatuon ang buong atensiyon niya ngayon.

Her heart was pounding fast when her mind finally formulated an interesting question, for Black and her. "What if it's about the past... our past that you've mentioned, can we not talk about it now?"

Narinig ni Chandria ang malalim na buntong-hininga ni Daniel bago ito tuluyang humarap. Nang dumapo ang tingin ni Daniel sa kanyang mukha, pinakatitigan siya nito ng ilang segundo ngunit agad din itong umiwas ng tingin.

He heaved a deep sigh again before speaking, "I'll tell you everything about it..." His voice held seriousness on its depth. "If you say you remember David Ford."

Chandria's eyebrows suddenly met halfway as her brain suddenly buffered. David Ford. That name seemed to ring a bell. But, who is that guy and what does he have to do with her past?