My Husband Next Door (PREVIEW ONLY)

Part 9

"You know, drinking cold water helps, too," pahabol sa kanya ni Sloane nang tunguhin niya ang pinto ng restroom.

"Gago!" bulyaw niya rito.

Dala-dala ni Helga ang purse at ang briefcase na linisan ang kanyang mesa. Nang tangkain ni Sloane na kunin ang briefcase mula sa kanya ay iniiwas niya iyon.

"It's not heavy, I carry this everyday."

Nagbiro naman si Sloane. "Baka may lamang IED kaya ayaw mong ipahawak?"

Inirapan niya lang ito.

Nagpumilit ang lalaki na ang kotse nito ang gamitin nila. Inunahan siya talaga nito sa pagbubukas ng passenger's door ng kulay asul nitong Porsche Macan Turbo.

"Thank you, but you don't have to do that, you know?" sabi ni Helga rito.

Parang awkward at napahiyang nagkamot ng batok si Sloane. "Ang hirap ninyong intindihing mga babae. Pag tinutulungan namin kayo, inaakala ninyong iniisip naming mga lalaki na mahina kayo. Pero pag hinahayaan naman namin kayo, sasabihin ninyong wala nang gentleman sa mundo. Tapos ipapa-trending n'yo pa kami sa Facebook. Ang labo!"

Gustong matawa ni Helga ngunit nagpigil siya. May point naman ang loko, in fairness.

"Well, you won't be having that problem with me. Hindi ko kailangan ng tulong o alalay mo and it's not because nagpapaka-feminist ako or something. Ganoon lang ako talaga, no offense."

Nagliwanag naman ang mukha nito. "Okay! Point taken. Mabuti nang nagkakalinawan tayo."

Nang kotse na sila ay nag-umpisang mangulit na naman ang lalaki. "Saan mo pala natutunan 'yung fighting abilities mo?"

"Simpleng self-defense lang ang pinatikim ko sa iyo."

"That was not a self-defense. You attacked me!"

Lahat talaga ng sasabihin niya ay may nakahandang pangtapat ang taong ito. She didn't think he would back down, ever. Kahit pa siguro tutukan niya ito ng baril sa ulo.

"Actually, I am living a secret life, Sloane. Cover ko lang ang pagiging COO ng bangko. I was trained in Russia to be a secret agent of an underground organization of world-class assassins. Nasa Pilipinas ako ngayon para sa isang misyon, and I need to get married para mas kumapal ang cover ko. Now, I need to know if you're still with me or not. Oh, wait, hindi ka na pala makakawala dahil kailangan kitang patayin since alam mo na ang totoong pagkatao ko."

Helga saw her fiance's jaw dropped and that was the most hilarious thing ever.

"You're... you're joking, right?" naguguluhang tanong ni Sloane.

Noon na siya napatawa.

Napasipol naman ito. "Jesus Christ, Helga! I almost bought it."

Lumakas ang tawa niya. Halakhak, to be exact. And she never remembered laughing out so loud like this. "Oh, my God. I was right. You're watching too much TV!"

"Masisisi mo ba ako? You should've seen your face while talking. Napakaseryoso mo habang nagkukuwento ka, your voice was very calm. There was no trace of lying at all. How are you able to do that?"

Balik-seryoso si Helga. "Being emotionless, you mean?"

"Exactly."

"Well, I run a huge business, Sloane. I had to learn how to turn my emotions on and off."

"I like your laugh, by the way. At least marunong ka rin palang tumawa. Akala ko nga biglang kikidlat noong humalakhak ka."