Stonehearts 2: Amethyst

Four

"So what do you think of her?" Chancellor asked when we meet up the following day. I glared at him. Why is he talking to me as if nothing happened? "What do you think you're doing?"

He looked puzzled. Sus! Playing the victim! "What? I am eating lunch with you. What do you think I am doing?" He asked, sarcasm evident in his voice. If it weren't for that damn pretty face and that damn blackmailing he's good at, matagal ko ng ibinato sa kanya itong baso ng shake na hawak ko.

"Anong bang balak mo kay Cynthia? Please Chancellor, she's a child. If you're fucking someone while you blackmail me into hitching you up with her please lang, mas gugustuhin ko na lang na ipasara ang kompanya ko, this is not the job I want to end up with." Okay, maybe I didn't mean all the things I said. Pero sabi nga nila, may mga taong hindi nakukuha sa magandang usapan. Kaya, I persuade him this way.

He stopped his fork mid-air and just stared at me. Malalim ang iniisip niya. I just looked at him equally, ngayon ko lang napansin na nag-aagaw brown at black ang mata niya. He has those perfect, big, round eyes.

"You wouldn't understand my reasons Amorr, trust me." He said, his voice quiet. There's no hint of arrogance anywhere.

"Why don't you try me? I am a doctor after all." Sambit ko. After that, I saw his devilish grin creeping in his beautiful face. "Well, I have slept with doctors before but trying you would be nice." Sagot niya nang nakakaloko.

Ibinato ko sa kanya 'yong table napkin na hawak ko, "Ang baboy naman talaga ng pag-iisip mong tao ka! You're 29 for heaven's sake but your hormones are like of a raging teenager!" I hissed under my breath.

He chuckled at my reaction. "C'mon Amorr, don't tell me you're not attracted to me even just a little."

"Excuse you, but I have standards so to speak and it doesn't include narcissistic, self-absorbed, manyaks like you." I answered while raising my brow at him. He really thinks I am attracted to him? Yeah, he may have everything a girl could wish for but trust me, I've learned so much from my past and my daddy's past.

"Oh, standards you say? Please enlighten me. Love, being born in the month of love, fixing love for other people. I must say, you're the most intriguing person ever. Inaayos mo ang buhay pag-ibig ng ibang tao pero ikaw mismo wala noon."

At paano naman niya nalaman na pinanganak ako ng February? "You know I was born in February? You did some research about me. That's cute." I answered, completely dodging his unwelcomed interrogation. He went mute. And I swear to God, nakita kong namula ang pisngi niya bago siya napainom ng tubig, "Please, you're name pretty much shouts your birthday." He said after.

Oh really? Simula ng nakilala ko ang taong ito wala na siyang ibang ginawa kundi mag-deny, magyabang, o inisin ako. To prove him wrong I called one of the waiters. He looked confused when I did it. "Yes Ma'am?" Tanong sa akin nito nang nakalapit na siya sa akin

"Hi Jay." Basa ko sa nameplate niya, "This is Chancellor, I'm Amorr. I have a very random question for you. From my name can you guess which month I am born?"

Napatitig sa akin 'yong waiter bago nakasagot, "Um, May?" Sagot niya. I smiled at him before I murmured thanks.

"Why are you denying again?" Tanong ko kay Chancellor nang umalis na ang waiter. He snorted looking away, "Please, hindi siguro alam ng waiter na 'yon ang ibig sabihin ng pangalan mo. Besides, he was so busy flirting with you rather than listening to your question."

"Flirting with me? May idudumi pa ba ang utak mo?"

"Trust me Amorr, I'm a guy and I know those looks." He said matter-o-factly. I raised my brow at him again, feeling ko magkaka-muscles na ang kilay ko dahil na-e-exercise iyon dahil sa lalaking ito. "And we are discussing this because?" Tanong ko sa kanya.

Natahimik siya, he wiped his mouth with his napkin. "May lakad kayo ni Cynthia mamaya 'diba? At 2 'o clock? Bilisan mo na at ihahatid kita sa opisina niya." He said completely changing the topic.

"'Wag na, may sarili akong sasakyan at kaya kong ipagmaneho ang sarili ko. Besides, masyado ng mahaba ang oras na ginugol ko ngayong araw para pagtiyagaan ang mukha mo. Pagpahingahin mo naman ako." Sarkastikong sambit ko.

"Right. I guess kaya ka walang boyfriend or hindi ka natagalan ng boyfriend mo dahil sa ganyang ugali mo." Napatigil ako sa pag-aayos ng bag ko. He has no right to comment about my personal life. Hindi ako kumibo. Basta tumayo na lang ako at natungo palabas ng restaurant. He'll get the tab, sinabi niya naman kanina bago pa kami magsimula kumain.

Hinabol naman niya ako, "H-hey wait up!" This person doesn't know how to shut up. I swung around to face him, "Wala kang karapatan magkumento sa mga bagay na wala ka namang alam." I simpered bago ko siya iniwan. Hindi na siya nakasagot, I got to my car and quietly drove to where Cynthia was. Hindi ko gaanong na-enjoy ang meeting namin ni Cynthia dahil sa kabadtrip-an ko kay Chance. Sana lamunin na lang ng lupa ang lalakeng 'yon nang mabawasan na ang mga bwisit sa mundo.

The next day, may tatlong basket ng violet na roses sa opisina ko. I bellowed on Jess. "Jess saan nanggaling ito?" Tanong ko sa kanya, hindi tinatanggal ang mata ko sa mga bulaklak habang nagbababa ng bag.

"Wala naman po sinabi 'yong postman Ma'am. Pero po may note naman po na nakalagay." She said before she disappeared.

Kinuha ko 'yong laman ng munting envelope na kasama ng mga bulaklak. "I was a little harsh on you yesterday. Take this as a peace offering – Chance."

Violet roses. Saan siya nakakuha ng ganitong kulay na bulaklak? Kahit na bwisit siya most of the time, it wouldn't hurt to say thanks right? So I called him. "Hey, I got the flowers. Though you didn't specifically say that you're sorry. I let you off the hook."

I heard him let out a short, genuine laugh. "Well, you shot me daggers from the way you look at me yesterday. Akala ko nga hindi mo na ako tutulungan kay Cynthia."

"As if I can do that. You blackmailed me into doing this Chance and you know it." I meant it as a joke pero matagal na walang sumagot. Napatingin pa ako sa cellphone ko dahil akala ko binabaan niya ako ng linya.

"Well, yeah. I did that." He said briefly.

"Where'd you get these beautiful flowers anyway? I didn't know violet roses exist." Tanong ko habang inaayos ang mga iyon sa vases ng opisina ko. I'm bringing home some to daddy too.

"Amorr, I'm Cube Calderazzo at walang imposible sa akin." Mayabang na sagot niya. Napairap ako kahit alam kong totoo ang sinabi niya. Yeah right, wala naman talagang imposible sa kanya. Kaya nga kahit na alam kong lolokohin niya lang si Cynthia, wala pa rin akong magawa kundi tulungan siya. Because he makes all things possible for him. Para sa ikasasaya niya at wala siyang pakialam kahit nakakasagasa na siya.