Hotness Overload

Chapter 9

NAGHAHANAP ng mapupuwestuhan sa HappyChic si Itchie habang hinihintay na matapos ang trabaho ni Min Ho pero nakarating na siya sa pinakadulong bahagi ng fast food chain sa kakahanap ng libreng upuan ay wala pa rin siyang nakita. Paalis na sana siya nang may tumawag sa kanya.

"You're Mitchel Karenz Mallari, right?"

Hindi niya kilala ang lalaking iyon. The man was wearing black-rimmed eyeglasses and a gray suit over a white V-neck shirt. His hair was tousled in a very chic way and well, he was simply gorgeous. Sa kutis ng balat nito, mukha itong Koreano. "Yes, I am. Do I know you?" Saan at kailan siya nakatisod ng ganito kaguwapong lalaki?

He motioned her to take the seat across him. Tumalima siya. The guy took off his sunglasses. She gasped. She knew that face!

"Jang Seung-hyun?" halos pabulong na sambit niya. Ito ang Koreanong tinitingnan lang niya sa magazine noong nakaraan! "Imposible. Ilusyon lang kita." Pumikit siya at marahas na ipinilig ang kanyang ulo. When she opened her eyes, she was greeted by the same handsome face. This time, he was smiling. "Oh my God. Sinasabi ko na nga ba't marami akong nailigtas na buhay noong past life ko kaya napakasuwerte kong nilalang. Can I take your picture? Autograph? Kiss?"

He chuckled. "The PI I hired was right about you. You're really interesting."

Tumaas ang kilay niya. "I can't believe this. Are you my stalker?"

The guy laughed softly again. "I'm Jang Seung-hyun, Min Ho's brother. 'Sorry for the late introduction." They briefly shookhand.

"Kaya pala pareho kayong guwapo!" she said in delight. Tinutop niya ang bibig niya. "Ay, mali. Hindi ka yata marunong mag-Tagalog –"

"Nah, marunong akong mag-Tagalog. Natuwa lang ako nang makita kaya hindi ko napigilan ang sarili ko na tawagin ka."

Napangiti siya. "I see. By the way, alam ba ni Min Ho na nandito ka? Saka pa'no mo ko nakilala? Kinukuwento ba niya ko sa'yo?"

Marahang umiling ito. "Pinapasubaybayan ko ang kapatid ko sa isang private investigator at dahil madalas kayong magkasama, napasama ang pangalan mo sa report na pinapadala sa'kin. Are you and my brother...?"

"Dating?" she chuckled. "No, we're not. We're just friends. I hope you don't mind pero bakit kailangan mong paimbestigahan si Min Ho?"

"Well, you see, my brother left Korea without our father's consent. Ilang beses na namin siyang kinausap para bumalik na siya sa'min but he's stubborn. So our family hired some people to give him a close watch while he's staying here in the Philippines."

She cocked her head at one side. "Min Ho ran away from home?"

"Yes, he did."

"Why?"

"Min Ho has always been like that. When things slip out of his hand, he runs away. My brother is coward and weak. He's too pressured by our father's expectation on him so he chose to run. Nagrebelde siya at puro sakit ng ulo na lang ang binigay sa'min." Marahang umiling ito. "That good for nothing bastard..."

Iyon ba ang dahilan ni Min Ho kung bakit ito umalis ng Korea? Dahil hindi nito kaya ang pressure mula sa ama nito? Parang hindi naman siya makapaniwala. "Ahm, can I say something?"

Halatang nagulat ito. Ngumiti ito kapagkuwan. "Go ahead."

"Ahm, Min Ho and I aren't really close. Pero sa pagkakakilala ko sa kanya, hindi siya duwag o mahina. He's stubborn, yes. Hmm... pa'no ko ba sasabihin 'to..." Nag-isip siya. "Si Min Ho... para siyang tahong. Matigas ang shell niya pero kapag nakuha mo na ang laman sa loob, masarap iyon." Kumunot ang noo ni Seung-hyun. Siya rin ay nagsalubong ang kilay habang pilit pinapaintindi ang sinasabi niya sa binata. "What I'm trying to say is, facade lang ni Min Ho ang pagiging matigas. Pero hindi siya gano'n. He has a big and a strong heart. Handa siyang tumulong sa mga kaibigan niya kahit siya pa ang mapasama. He must did reckless things in the past but I'm sure he did it for the good of someone. 'Gets mo?"

Umiling si Seung-hyun. But amusement was visible in his eyes. "Do you like my brother?"

She felt her cheeks burn. This was Min Ho's brother kaya medyo nahihiya siya. Still, she couldn't help but smile sheepishly. "A lot."

"Hyungnim."

Sabay silang napatingin ni Seung-hyun kay Min Ho na blangko ang ekspresyon. But there was something in his eyes that told her he had heard everything and he was pleased with it.