Series 1: Beg Me, Professor (COMPLETED)

CHAP 25

Zachary seemed like a mystery to me throughout the following weeks. He's more attentive and careful around me. He looked like he was under a curse, and I was the one who cast it. He did all I asked and looked for without complaining. Well, he used to do that, but this time he doesn't seem to care, even if I torture him. One time, I found him secretly ransacking our room; he seemed to be looking for something that I couldn't guess. In short, he's acting quite oddly.

"We're going to the farm today. Do you like to come?" Zachary asked while carrying a tray of food in his hand.

Napaangat naman ako ng tingin sa kaniya dahil nakaupo ako sa sahig habang nilalaro si Angel. Alas-sais pa lamang ng umaga pero nakaligo na siya. Hanggang ngayon ay naninibago pa rin ako kapag nakikita siyang naka-jacket, 'yong tipong hindi branded o mukhang bago. Inilagay niya ang kaniyang dala sa bed side table bago naupo sa gilid ng kama. Sinubukan niyang tawagin si Angel pero mabilis kong nabuhat ang kuting at sinamaan siya ng tingin.

"Don't touch her. 'Kala mo hindi ko napapansin ang pang-aagaw mo sa loob niya?" singhal ko.

His jaw automatically dropped. "W-What?" hindi makapaniwala niyang usal.

Inirapan ko naman siya bago tumayo. "Ano naman ang gagawin ko sa farm?" pagbabalik ko sa usapin.

"To unwind? Baka nabo-bored ka na rito sa bahay," kabit-balikat na sagot niya.

Sandali akong napaisip. Hindi naman ako nawawalan ng gana rito, pero magandang ideya rin na puntahan ko ang mga lugar na 'di ko pa nakikita o nae-experience tutal nandito na rin lang naman ako. Hindi ko siya sinagot, imbes ay kinuha ko ang pagkaing dala niya bago naupo sa kabilang gilid ng kama. Ramdam ko ang pagsunod niya ng tingin sa akin, pero binalewala ko iyon.

I don't typically eat in the room, but since I'm making him suffer by eating what I want, I've decided to hide so Nanay Victoria won't see us. She might think that I am abusing his fictitious child, which is somewhat true. I started eating and put Angel on my lap. My typical breakfast consists of eggs and bacon. If it had been a regular day, I would have requested something different once more, but since we were going somewhere today and I didn't want to bother anyone, I settled for eating what he had cooked.

"Anong oras tayo uuwi?" tanong ko habang hindi siya tinatapunan ng tingin.

"Maybe around four or five o'clock in the afternoon," he answered. "Wear a comfortable clothes. You might have a hard time there," he added.

My brows furrowed and I glanced at him. "Bakit? Pagtatrabahuhin mo ako?"

"Of course not. It's hot, you might sweat a lot," he said.

Hindi ko naman maiwasang umirap. "Ikaw nga naka-jacket, eh."

Tumawa naman siya bago tumayo. Naglakad siya palapit sa akin at walang-pasabi na kinuha si Angel mula sa hita ko. Mabilis ko siyang tinaliman ng tingin, nagbabantang ibalik ang kuting sa akin, pero hindi siya natinag sa p'westo niya. Hinaplos niya ang balahibo ni Angel at ang traydor kong kuting, gustong-gusto naman ang panlalandi sa kaniya ni Zachary.

"Finish your meal first; you're having a hard time because of her. Don't worry, your cat is all yours," he assured, a ghostly smile curving on his lips.

"Don't play with me, Zachary. I know you're trying to take her away from me," I spat.

His lips twisted in amazement. "How can I? You're her mom," he said sweetly, as if he was trying to put me at ease.

I scoffed and put my plate on the bed. "You talk like you've never done it before," I said in a mocking tone—making his brows furrowed—and got my kitty on his hand. "I'm done. Now leave. Wait for me in the living room, and don't bother my cat anymore."