Sought After (Manila Nights Series #1)

Chapter 14

Niji chuckled. Pati pagtawa nito mahinhin, talagang wala akong mapipintas.

"I thought you were cheating on me, fiancé," Niji said to Levi, still smiling. Levi looked back at her.

"F-Fiance?" sabi ko sa maliit na boses. Wala sa kanilang apat ang nakarinig non.

Dahan-dahan at kusang umatras ang mga paa ko. Nang makita ang paparating na taxi at wala naman iyong sakay. Pinara ko ito. Halos iniharang ko pa nga ang sarili sa kalsada para lang masiguro na titigilan niya talaga ako at makakasakay roon.

"Sa Morelli po sa 5th Avenue." Inabot ko agad sa driver ang five hundred pesos at dali-dali itong pinakiusapan na mag-drive na.

"Something borrowed, something blue, wedding bells ring in the air as rumours of an engagement between the country's sought-after bachelor Levi Yunchengco and the Caktiong's heiress circulates after being spotted on a date this morning." I scrolled pass through the article, pero sana pala ay tuluyan na lang akong nag-log out. Photographs and clips of Levi and Niji Caktiong soon filled my feed, maski sa X ay sila ang trending topic.

I deactivated all of my social media accounts and blocked his number.

I sat up straight and quickly unblocked Levi's number after I thought of something.

"Heto na iyon, Tel. The chance to get back at the Yuchengco, the perfect opportunity to ruin that family's jewel in the crown."

Pigil hiningang dinial ko ang number ni Levi. I know that he's still probably with Niji so I expected that he won't answer or that he'll just call me back when he can. Kaya namang ng marinig ko ang boses ni Levi, nawala na sa isip ang sasabihin ko.

"Tel?" He asked again, in a gentler voice this time, bawas na ang gulat sa bigla kong pagtawag sa kaniya.

"I want to fuck," I said.

"Celeste?" Rinig ko ang gulat sa boses nito, para pa nga siyang nabilaukan.

"Baby... I-I..." Hindi matuloy-tuloy ni Levi ang gusto niyang sabihin.

"Ayaw mo?" I asked and counted up to three in my head. Nang hindi pa rin iyon makasagot ay binaba ko na iyong call at blinock ulit ang number niya.

I have an effect on him; I know that, and I could only hope that whatever effect I could do on him was enough to make him leave Niji and come running to me to sin.

I hope Levi Yuchengco finds me worth every sin. Dahil kung hindi talo ako, talo na naman kami ni Mama.

"Punyeta." Nanggigil kong bulong sa sarili matapos kong matapunan ng cream of chowder ang sarili.

Amassing tissue from the table to clean and fix whatever the tissue can. Nicholas hauled the chair across mine. I heard him click his tongue, staring at the mess that I was in.

"Do you need my help?" Nicholas offered that I shook my head to reject.

"Babasain ko na lang itong shirt sa cr at." Mariin kong pinikit ang mga mata. Wearing a tight smile, I looked up to him.

"Yes. Kailangan ko nga. I'm sitting on a meeting with Soren in ten minutes. Hindi ako puwedeng mag-amoy cream chowder."

"I have an extra shirt here," anito saka binuksan ang bag niya. Dahil nagmamadali na nga. Kinuha ko na iyong itim nitong t-shirt at nagbihis na sa cr saka dumiretso ng meeting room para ihanda ang mangilan-ngilan pang bagay bago sila magsimula.

Elaia cleared her throat. I curiously glanced at her. Nang magtama ang tingin namin ay bigla na lang itong namewang.

"It's my birthday today." Natigil ako sa pagsasara ng zipper ng bag.