Her Antics

Chapter 2

XERXES' POV

We are here for the formalization of the proposal of a certain project. If everything will go as planned, this will be the company's first big leap. I was back to pissing Aya off but it seems that nothing can change her good mood today. Sinadya ko pang patagalin ang pagpirma sa proposal but she waited patiently. Ending, I was the one who got pissed off.

Nagmamadali akong umalis to take care of my own company but my mind was thinking of some dreadful ideas that concern Aya's mood. Instead of going to my office, bumalik ako sa pinanggalingan ko at nakita kong papasakay na si Aya sa isang sassakyan. Hindi ko kilala ang sasakyan na yun kaya sinundan ko sila. Baka kung mapano pa si Aya. 'Really? Stop fooling yourself Villafuerte. Nagmumukha ka lang tanga.'

Nakita kong bumaba sa sasakyan ang isang lalaki at pinagbuksan nito ng pinto si Aya. 'Gentleman eh?' Pumasok sila sa isang kilalang restaurant. I decided to grab some lunch there. It's like hitting two birds with one stone. Mabubusog na ako, mababantayan ko pa si Aya. With that thought, pumasok ako at naghanap ng pwesto na malapit kina Aya. I don't know who the guy is but it's pretty obvious Aya's enjoying his company. I can hear her sweet laughter, the one that is tinged with innocence. I don't know what happened but I just found myself pulling Aya from her seat and dragging her out of the restaurant.

"Hey! Mr. Villafuerte, stop dragging me. Ano ba? Let me go." Aya is trying to get rid of my grip. I stop in the sidewalk far from the restaurant. I was still holding her hand and both of us panting from the long walk.

"Are you out of your mind? Bakit bigla-bigla mo na lang akong kinaladkad hanggang dito?" anger is evident on her voice but I couldn't care less. I want to know who that guy she's with is.

"Who's that guy?" I spit. I was trying to deep breathe to contain my anger.

"Anong pake mo?" she countered.

"Who's that fucking guy?"I asked with a voice laced with venom pero hindi pa rin natitinag si Aya sa harapan ko.

"Bryan Fabregas."

"What is he to you?" parang laser na sa talim ang tingin sa akin ni Aya pero hindi pa rin nawawala ang galit ko.

"Geez! What are you, some kind of investigator? Sa pagkakaalam ko, may share ka sa company namin but that's just it. Wala na akong obligasyon na sabihin sa iyo kung sino man ang kasama ko at kung ano ko sila." Aya shouted in frustration but I was also as frustrated as she is. I cannot figure out why I'm acting like this.

"You tell me what he is to you!" nanggigigil na saad ko. I held her hand when she tried to walk out on me.

"He's my cousin. Happy now?!" I can see her neck veins bulging. I really made her angry. I was about to apologize but Aya run away and took the first taxi. Napaupo na lang ako sa gilid nang may humawak sa kuwelyo ko and punched me hard I can taste my own blood. I guess I deserved that punch.

"Gago! Nobody hurts Aya and gets away with it." I smirk and extend my arm for a handshake.

"Xerxes Villafuerte. And I love your cousin." I know it's time for me to admit it.

"Bryan Fabregas at hindi ako mangingiming suntukin ka ulit kapag sinaktan mo pa siya." He said while shaking my hand.

"Are you free? Wanna grab some shot lover boy? Bryan teased. I laughed. I guess Bryan and I will be buddies.

AYA'S POV

I can't fight my tears from flowing. I don't know why I'm hurting. Nakakainis yung ginawa ng halimaw na yun pero hindi ko alam kung bakit ako nasasaktan. I wiped my tears and tried to forget what happened. I just have to ignore his presence. Yeah, I need to or else I will lose my mind. Ngayon pa nga lang naguguluhan na ako, ano pa kaya ang mangyayari sa susunod?

I decided to grab some drink para makapagunwind na rin. I choose a classic bar. Hindi masyadong maingay at siguradong makakapagrelax ka. Nakita ko ang may ari na si Jack del Fierro. We were buddies back in high school. Magkaiba kami ng section but because we shared the same passion, naging close kami. We both like art and numbers. Kaya nga tuwing may exam lang kami pumapasok sa mga math subjects namin. Hindi sa pagmamayabang, but we always ace math exams. Sinasamahan din niya ako sa art class ko. Birubiruan nga sa school noon na kapag kami daw ni Jack ang magkatuluyan, nagmumultiply at nagdidivide na daw ang anak namin paglabas na paglabas pa lang. I laugh at those memories.

"Hey, what is the princess doing in some cheap bar?" sabi nito ng makalapit sa akin. We did the friendly hug, secret handshake and then I kissed him on his cheek.

"Unwind." Matipid na saad ko. Tumabi siya sa akin at nagpadagdag pa ng isang bote ng alak.

"Problem?"

"None that I can't handle." Nakangising sagot ko. He just messed my already messed up hair and I pouted like a school girl.

"Geez! Stop pouting or I'll kiss you." saway nito. Inirapan ko lang siya tsaka tumawa.

"Huhulaan ko ang pinoproblema mo ngayon." Biglang saad nito. I just gave him a smirk.

"Lalaki ang pinoproblema mo." nakangising sabi niya na ikinakunot ng noo ko. 'How did he know?'

"Wala ka ng mahanap na kasing gwapo, talino, macho at yaman ko kaya namomroblema ka na kung paano mo ako liligawan. Ikaw naman kasi, hindi mo pa kinuha ang chance na mapapasayo ako noon, tuloy ang laki ng problema mo ngayon." Natatawang dagdag nito. Pinagkukurot ko nga sa inis. Akala ko maysa matino yun pala, isa't kalahating ang-ang rin.

We were half-way done with our second bottle when someone grab my hand and carried me like a sack of rice. Hindi ko na alam ang sumunod na nangyari. I am too drunk and I guessed I literally blacked out.

XERXES' POV

Kanina pa ako pinipigilan ni Bryan na lapitan si Aya. I thought makakapagrelax na ako pero nang makita kong niyakap at hinalikan ni Aya ang lalaking iyon, para akong turo na handang suwagin ang sinumang magtangkang lapitan si Aya.

"You're hopeless bro. Give Aya some time will you? Inaway mo pa yan kanina." Pangongonsensya ni Bryan. Wala akong nagawa kundi umupo at bantayan si Aya. I hate to see kung paano sila magharutan sa harapan ko. Nang makitang babagsak na si Aya sa sobrang lasing, hindi ko na hinintay na pigilan pa ulit ako ni Bryan. Hinawakan ko agad si Aya at kinarga na parang sako. Hindi naman pumalag yung lalaki nang makita si Bryan. Tumawa pa nga ito. Diretso ako sa parking area tsaka idineposito si Aya sa likod para makahiga siya. Iikot na sana ako sa driver's side nang matapilok ako at mamudmod sa lupa. I use my right arm as my shield during the fall. Naramdaman ko ang pagtusok ng isang malaking bubog sa braso ko. Mabuti na lang at may alcohol ako sa compartment. Yun ang pinang hugas ko sa sugat. Kumuha ako ng spare shirt tsaka ginawang bendahi.

I was driving to my house when Aya woke up. Akala ko nahimasmasan na ito pero akala ko lang pala yun.

"I want to sleep in a bed." Bangag na saad nito.

"It's so hot. I need some aircon." Then she laughed. "Gosh, I'm literally hot." And she laughed some more. "I'm scorchin' hot. I'm burnin' hot." Then she takes off her blouse at muntik na kaming bumangga.

"Damn! Don't take that off lady. Shit! You'll bethe death of me." She giggled. I gritted my teeth. Mabuti at nakarating kami sabahay na hindi nadidisgrasya. Agad ko siyang kinarga at ipinasok sa kwarto ko.binuksan ko kaagad ang aircon at hinayaang hubarin niya ang blouse. Pikit-matangitinaas ko ang kumot. 'Hindi mo alam konganong klaseng pagpipigil ang ginagawa ko ngayon Aya!' And I badly neededsome cold shower.