The Devil's One and Only Love ★

ThirtyEight-Sunset

"hmm. i guess i am." i whispered and smiled. "sorry for intruding in your private space." alanganing sabi ko.

"Its okay. why are you hiding anyway?" he asked, he have this playful smile on his lips.

i hesistated to answer him truthfully. but then he's a stranger. wala naman sigurong masama. "i'm hiding from someone."

"Your ex? or suitor?"

"Ex." i answered.

"why are you hiding from him?" he asked.

"Can we not talk about it?" napangiwi ako nung naisip ko sya. panigurado lagot ako pag nakita nanaman nya ko mamaya.

ngumisi si Ram saka tumango. "Sure. hide here for as long as you want."

"Thanks Ram." i answered and stopped in my tracks. "Ram? hmm. Zalderiaga?" i asked.

"uh-uh. you know me?" nagtatakang sabi nya. napakagat ako ng mariin sa labi ko. patay na lalo. pag nalaman ni Steven to. panigurado. may gera nanaman mamaya.

pero bat naman ako matatakot. i am my own self. i can be with anyone i wanna be with. and to hell with Steven. hindi ko sya tatay.

ngumiti ako kay Ram. "ahh. thats why you look familiar. Ram Zalderiaga from Zalderiaga Industries. i'm Alexis Sanvictores. i know your father."

"Sanvictores? from Sanvictores chain of businesses?" he asked. tumango ako.

"Wow. small world. investor nyo si Dad sa Steadlex ah?" he said.

"Yeah. Don Roderico Zalderiaga." nakangiting sabi ko saka umupo saka sumandal sa railings ng cabin.

"Interesting. ikaw yung kinukwento ni Dad sakin. the girl who wow-ed him." nakangising sabi nya sakin. kumuha sya ng in can na soda sa mesa saka inabot sakin yung isa.

"wow-ed him?" i asked. frowning.

"yeah. i vividly remember him telling me about his business partner's daughter who impressed him. my Dad is hard to impress you know, ako nga mismo na anak nya hindi sya maimpress eh but you? wow, you did it. no sweat." nakangiting sabi nya saka uminom.

namula ako sa papuring sinasabi nya. yumuko ako saka nilaro yung soda.

"You look prettier when you blush." he whispered. napangiwi ako.

"Uhmm. i better go." alanganing sabi ko.

"am i my boring you?" he asked.

"Uhm. no, i just feel like i should be heading back. baka hinahanap na nila ako eh." mahinang sabi ko.

"uh-uh. did i scare you?" natatawang sabi nya saka uminom. "I'm just complimenting you, thats all. besides. you caught my attention the moment i laid my eyes on you."

"like some kind of a merchandise huh?"

"whaaat? Merchandise?" he bursted out laughing. halos mawala yung mata nya kakatawa. "anu bang tingin mo sa sarili mo? paninda?" tumawa ulit sya.

"Hope you choke yourself laughing." nakasimangot na sabi ko saka inirapan sya.

"thats mean." natatawang sabi nya. there's amusement in his eyes. "well, you see Alexis. i noticed you because you look like an angel playing with the mortal. you look surreal." manghang sabi nya.

"Men are bunch of over acting idiots." matabang na sabi ko saka tumawa.

"Ang sama mo." sabi nya saka umismid. tumawa lang ako.

"You, Alone?" i asked.

"No, i'm with my friends. kaw? alone?"

"No, company outing ng Steadlex. i'm with the heads and the self proclaimed CEO." i rolled my eyes when i said the last sentence