TAMING A CASANOVA (Published Under Pop Fiction & Self-Published)

Chapter 19

"You're hilarious, dude." Si Terrence ulit. "But honestly, I'm proud of you man."

"Tsss... another dimwit!" Nakaismid pang sabat ni Vaughn.

"I can't wait to see you pvssy whipped, Vaughn." Si Chance. "We'll definitely have a good laugh and I can't wait to see that happen."

"I am not pathetic like Ton." Nakanguso pang sagot niya at umiling-iling pa. "Sooner he'll realized that he's just going nuts."

Bahagya lang akong umiling sa kanyang sinabi at hindi na lang nag-react. Hindi naman ako mananalo sa gagong 'to. Sa halip na patulan ang pang-aalaska niya ay kinuha ko na lang ang aking cellphone sa bulsa at dinial ang number ni Janella. Damn, I missed my pumpkin so much! Wala din akong magawa dahil ang daming trabaho sa office at nakabantay pa si papa. Mas lalong hindi kami makasimple sa bahay dahil ginagabi na rin kami. Why isn't she answering? Busy pa kaya siya? Instead of dialing her number again, ay nag-construct na lang ako ng text for her.

To: Janella

Pumpkin, I missed you. Busy? I've been trying to call you, I just want to hear your voice. Please call me? I'll wait.

Agad ko na ring itinago ang cellphone ko at inubos nang tuluyan ang alak sa baso ko. Iba na rin ang itinakbo ng topic nang usapan kaya't bahagya na rin akong nakahinga. I really don't like to talk about my sex life! Jeez... two years? They'll definitely die laughing their ass off if they find out that I am celibate for that long period of time! At least I am not breaking Tyrone's record, eh?

After naming mag-usap ay napilitan na rin akong bumalik kaagad sa opisina dahil tinawagan na naman ako ni papa. Huwag sana niya maamoy na bahagya akong nakainom kung hindi ay sabon na naman ang aabutin ko kapag nagkataon.

Saglit kong sinilip ang cellphone ko but surprisingly wala pa ring reply si Janella. Hmmm... Siguro nga busy lang. Nakakapanibago lang kasi na nagre-reply naman siya kaagad. Oh well. Itinuloy ko na lang ang ginagawa ko at tambak pa rin ang trabahong ibinigay ni papa. He's definitely killing me!

~~

Right after work, I decided to call her again. Damn! I wanted to see her so bad! Ilang days na nga ba kami nagkikita? It almost felt like forever! Lately kasi ay sobrang late na rin ang nagiging uwi namin ni papa. Mingling with people in the business is really a pain in the ass. Nahihirapan talaga akong tandaan ang names nila! I'm screwed!

I dialed her number again but she's still not answering huh? Tulog na kaya siya? Pero maaga-aga pa naman a? I decided to construct a text instead.

To: Janella

Hi there Pumpkin! I'll be home a little early. Maybe we can see each other at the tree house? I missed you so much! I'd love to see you there. Why aren't you answering my call? Anyway, I'll see you in a while. I love you.

And that's when I hit send before I decided to drive my way home.

Nang makarating ako sa bahay ay agad na rin akong nagpalit ng damit at nagdiretso sa may kusina hoping to see my pumpkin there, but instead, si Yaya Paning ang nand'un at parang gumagawa ng salad.

"Hi yaya!" Bungad ko pa sa kanya at agad naman din siyang nag-angat nang tingin at ngumiti.

"Dalton, hijo. Kumain ka na dinner?"

"Yup. Sa office po kasabay ni papa. Um..." Damn, paano ko ba isisimpleng hanapin si Janella? "What are you making, Yaya?"

"Salad. Naubos na kasi 'yung ginawa ko n'ung nakaraan." Sabi pa niya habang abala sa paghahalo sa bowl. "Alam mo naman ang mama mo, ayaw na nauubusan nito."

"Y-yeah... I know..." Shit! "Um, nag-iisa ka yata. Where's Janella?"

"Nasa kwarto at baka matutulog na. May kailangan ka ba?" Bahagya pa siyang kumunot at hindi ko maiwasang mataranta. She knew me too well... jeez.

"Nah. Naitanong ko lang. Good night, yaya."

"Good night, sir Dalton." Tipid naman siyang ngumiti at noon na ako tumalikod. Hinapyawan ko 'yung dami ng gagawin niya bago ako nag-decide na dumaan sa main door para umikot patungo sa kwarto nila. She can't be asleep this early so I decided to knock. I wonder how much she missed me! Damn it, Ace! You're acting like a love sick puppy! Jeez!

"Janella, pumpkin..." Mahinang tawag ko pa at ngayon pa lang ay nae-excite na ako.

Pero nakakarami na ako nang tawag at katok ay walang sagot. Akala ko ba ay nasa kwarto lang siya? Oh shit! Di kaya nasa tree house na? Fuck!

Kulang na lang ay takbuhin ko ang daan sa tree house hoping she's really there. But sadly, our secret haven is empty. Where the fuck is she?! Kinuha ko ulit ang cellphone sa bulsa at may isang message na galing sa kanya.

Fr: Janella

We're over, Dalton.

What the fck is happening?!!!

I tried to call her but fck, she isn't answering! Gaddamnit! What the hell is happening?!