Whispers of Avarice (Casa de Castillo 1)

Chapter 9

Scathed Reputation

Hindi ko alam kung ano ang naisip ni Keanu at sumabay ito sa akin sa paglalakad pauwi ng bahay. Dala nito ang sports car niya na nasa harap ng 7/11 ngunit iniwan niya doon at sinamahan ako sa paglalakad. Ang lakas talaga ng tama ng fuck boy na 'to.

Siya ang literal na depinisyon ng "Do not let them know your next move." Bigla na lang kinuha ang mga strawberry milk na hawak ko kanina at binayaran. Ngayon naman sinabayan ako sa paglalakad at iniwan ang sasakyan niya sa 7/11.

"Nagd-drugs ka ba?" tanong ko at huminto sa paglalakad para harapin ito.

Humawak ito siya tiyan niya at humagalpak sa pagtawa. Hindi ko napigilan ang sarili ko at umirap. Nagtatanong ako ng maayos tapos tatawanan ako.

"Seriously? You suspected me for taking drugs."

"Ang lakas kasi ng tama mo." Inirapan ko ulit ito at nagpatuloy na sa paglalakad.

"I'm not a drug addict. I am actually addicted to something else," he said and a smirk appeared on his lips. Alam ko na ang susunod niya na sasabihin. "I am addicted to you babe."

Sinasabi ko na nga ba at sasabihin niya 'yon. Hindi na nakakapagtaka na 'yon ang susunod niya na sasabihin. Dumadaloy na sa dugo ni Keanu ang pagiging malandi. Keanu really exudes a flirtatious vibe, no doubt about it.

"Sabi na e," I said and rolled my eyes again. Kapag talaga si Keanu ang kasama ko, hindi na tumitigil sa pag-ikot ang mga mata ko.

"Wala ka naman sinabi."

Huminga ako ng malalim at pumikit. Ang pasensiya ko ay nauubos na talaga. Kaunti na lang maglalabas na ako ng scalpel at makakasaksak na ako.

He seems to embody all the undesirable characteristics— from being a flirt and womanizer to a classic "fuck boy" and an annoying person. His demeanor reflects a combination of traits that may not be the most appealing. Lahat ng lumalabas sa bibig ni Keanu ay puro kalandian at kabastusan. Higit sa lahat napakapilosopo niya.

"Ang landi mo."

"Sinasabi ko lang ang totoo."

Umirap ako dito. "Pilosopo ka pa."

"Tigilan mo na ang pag-irap, babe. Baka matanggal na ang beautiful eyes mo," he said and winked at me.

"Shut up, fuck boy."

He silenced himself by zipping his mouth with his hand. I rolled my eyes in response and hastened my pace. I couldn't fathom why Keanu chose to bother me. We weren't close, and we had never exchanged words before. Our first interaction occurred when I caught him in the library kissing a woman.

The next few days swept us up in a flurry of activity as we dove headfirst into the campaign. We were immersed in various rooms, passionately presenting our party list and introducing ourselves. It was undeniably exhausting, yet the success of our efforts outweighed the fatigue. Winning was the paramount goal for me, and I was willing to endure any level of exhaustion to achieve it.

In our family, the Fabroas, losing was inconceivable, and mistakes were not an option. These were the non-negotiable rules set by my family, emphasizing the legacy of perfection and achievement that defined our family. The Fabroas were renowned for being a family of successful doctors, embodying wealth and strength. The pressure to live up to this family legacy fueled my determination to succeed in the campaign, as victory was not just a personal triumph but a reflection of the Fabroa name.

Napahinto ako sa paglalakad sa hall way nang magsimula na magbulungan ang mga tao. Ang iba ay nakatingin sa akin habang nagbubulungan. Ngumiti ako sa kanila at nagpatuloy sa paglalakad. Hindi ba bago sa akin ang ganitong scenario.