One Summer with the Sinner (Monteverde Series 5)

9

Chapter Nine

Life has given me lemons. Back then, the obvious thing to do was make lemonades. When I'm fresh out of lemons, someone suggested that I make a lemon meringue pie instead.

Asheng is the lemon meringue pie.

Before I went to Bicol, I was hell-bent on throwing away my chance at happiness for the one thing I have always dreamt of — to be the CEO of Clohessy Inc. I had been willing to give up my bachelorhood, because I thought that it was a small price to pay for success, for a sense of worth. I didn't want people to think that apart from being an actor — apart from looking good on stage and on screen — there's nothing more to Vane Jason Clohessy.

Now that I'm here, I'm starting to re-think my choices... all because Asheng texted me first.

Thank you for all the help today, Zac Epson.

I stared at the text for a few minutes, thinking how to respond, thinking if I should even be responding. An internal battle and two resigned sighs later, I started typing back. Daks Epson would sound better, don't you think?

I opened the small fridge I had in my room and popped open a can of beer. I then wrapped my nakedness in my favorite dark blue wool robe before I stepped out into my thinking space — the balcony. Sitting down on the chair, I took a quick swig of beer as I waited for her reply.

My phone lit up. I swiped up to open the message and a single hahaha stared back at me. Earlier, I finally gained the balls to personally ask for her number. It turns out that Manang Soling mistakenly switched the last two digits of her mobile number when she gave it to me yesterday.

Asheng surprised me by asking if she could have my number, too. She surprised me even more when she texted me first tonight. I wonder how many surprises Asheng has in store for me if I gather enough courage to follow where my attraction for her will lead me.

I feel like a lot of women would rather have the guy make the first move. I guess not her.

I continued to stare at the hahaha she replied with and tried to come up with a smooth response. If this is another lady I am talking with, I probably would not be this tense. Deciding I needed more help, I scrambled back inside to slip into a shirt and boxer shorts before I went to look for Marcia.

As expected, I found her sitting on a chair in the receiving area, playing a game on her phone. She told me before that our Wi-Fi is faster here than inside the staff's quarters.

"Marcia!"

"Senyorito!" Tili niya. Hawak niya ang dibdib na tila nakakita ng multo habang nanlalaki ang mga matang nakatingin sa akin. "Ano ka ba naman, Senyorito Vane! Mahihimatay ho ako n'yan sa gulat."

"Sorry na," pag-amo ko sa kanya. "Kailangan ko ng tulong mo, Marcia."

"Marcie nga ho." Nagkamot siya ng ulo. "Ano ho bang maitutulong ko?"

"Ano'ng irereply ko sa hahaha?"

Tinignan niya ako ng mataman na para bang hindi siya naniniwala na 'yon ang tulong na hinihingi ko sa kanya. Nakita kong itinigil niya muna ang nilalaro para maibagay sa akin ang buong atensyon. Tinanong niya kung nireplyan daw ba ako ng gano'n ng katext ko at nang sinabi kong oo ay sunod-sunod na iling ang ibinigay niya sa akin. "Kawawa ka naman, Senyorito."

"Bakit naman?" nagtatakang tanong ko.

"'Wag ka na magreply r'yan, Senyorito. Sinasayang mo lang ang oras mo. Kapag sinahot ka ng hahaha ay ibig sabihin hindi ka niya gusto. Nagsasayang lang ho kayo ng oras d'yan."