Maginoong Medyo Bastos

Chapter Thirteen

The first minute they spent in silence, but they heard Greg sigh, breaking the deafening silence.

"She doesn't like talking about this, but last year, she was sexually harassed by her model in her own apartment," started Greg. "Tulala rin siya noong nakita ko siya sa labas ng 7-eleven. It took quite some time for her to talk, and she was crying."

Kaagad na napakuyom si Jax sa kanyang mga kamao, nakaramdam ng galit sa kanyang dibdib.

That explains it...

That was why she seemed to be so guarded when she's alone with him, especially the first time. Labis ang kanyang pagtataka noong nakita niya itong nanginginig kaharap siya. He thought that there might be a reason.

That was it.

"Pota, hindi ko ma-explain 'yong pakiramdam n'on. Sarap mambasag ng bungo, ganoon. Muntik ko nang mapatay 'yong lalaki. Pakiramdam ko, kahit napatay ko pa, hindi pa rin mawawala 'yong pakiramdam na 'yon," dagdag ni Greg.

Jax pursed his lips before looking outside the window.

"That was what I was feeling when I saw the guy with her. Parang nandilim 'yong paningin ko like how dare he ruin her good time? She just wanted to be there to be inspired and to cool off—"

"Nakausap mo 'yong mga kaibigan?" tanong ni Axel.

Santi nodded before rolling her eyes. "A bunch of buffalos. Ayaw nilang ipaaresto namin ang kaibigan nila kaya nag-abot ng pera, like excuse me? The Concepcion might be a mess of a clan, but we got money that could buy their lives thrice. They thought." She groaned in annoyance. "Kung hindi lang kami inawat ng staff, nasuntok ko na 'yong mga 'yon."

"It's just that, she may seem like someone who knows how to fight, but there are things she hasn't healed from." Nagtama ang mga mata nina Greg at Jax sa salamin. "Kaya please take good care of her."

Jax pursed his lips. Hindi niya maipaliwanag ang ekspresyon ng mga mata ni Greg pero para nitong sinasabing siya ang magkalalaban niya kapag may ginawa siyang masama kay Vannessa. Tumango si Jax dito.

Inabangan nila 'yong lalaki sa labas ng nightclub. Ang sabi ni Santi ay may nakapagsabi sa isa sa mga kaibigan niyang nakita raw nito si Jacob sa loob ng nightclub.

They wasted no time. When Santi pointed at the guy, they immediately went out of the car, and gave him what he deserved. Sinabihan nila ang babaeng maghintay na lamang sa kotse dahil ayaw nilang mabahala si Vannessa kapag nakita nito sa Santi na may maraming mga pasa sa mukha, lalong-lalo na't sa condo ni Vannessa natutulog ang babae.

Jax wasn't the type of person who settled things using his fists, nor was he the type who acted impulsively. But sometimes, his anger got the better of him. He hated it. Thinking about Vannessa sitting, not knowing what to do drove his fists down to Jacob's jaw.

Hindi niya alam kung ilang minuto bago sila naawat. Jacob, together with his friends, was able to land punches on his face as well, but Jax made sure that the guy had the worst hits.

May matinding galit sa mga mata ni Greg nang nakita niya itong nakatingin sa duguang mukha ng lalaki. Kinuha nito ang pitaka bago ibinato sa direksyon ng mga kalaban ang mga isang libong laman ng pitaka nito. "Bumili ka ng ticket papuntang impyerno kasi kapag nakita ko pa ang pagmumukha mo, pati si Satanas, hindi ka maisasalba."

Hindi na nila hinintay pang makapagsalita ang lalaki at tumalikod na tsaka sabay na umalis. Huminga nang malalim si Jax, pinakakalma ang sarili.

'That's enough for tonight,' he said to himself.

When they entered the car, Santi immediately asked, "What did you say to him?"

Greg only shrugged before starting the car. "Bought his soul," he replied.

Hindi pa nagpaawat ang mga kaibigan ng lalaki at binato ang sasakyan ni Greg pero nagpatuloy lang sa pagmamaneho ang lalaki, nakatiim ang bagang.

"Let's not tell Vannessa about this," they all agreed.

-

Jax woke up the next day with a little throbbing in his head. Tiningnan niya ang sarili sa salamin. May bago siyang mga pasa pero hindi naman grabe ang mga ito. They'd be gone a few days time.

Nang bumaba ang kanyang tingin sa kanyang mga kamao'y may sugat din ang mga ito. He just washed his hands gently before taking a shower.

Bago pumunta sa Fedora ay kinausap niya muna si Santi para ibigay kay Vannessa ang iilang mga pagkaing binili niya para rito. He bought her chocolate bars, donuts, and her favorite food that he knew about, shawarma.

May malisyosong tingin si Santi nang inabot niya rito ang supot ng mga pagkain pero tinawanan lang niya ito. "Ikaw ha, halatang-halata ka na, boy," natatawang sabi nito.

Umiling-iling si Jax. "Kaya huwag mo na lang sabihing sa 'kin nanggaling para hindi halata," biro niya rito.

He still really hadn't thought about her feelings for Vannessa, but he felt the urge to protect her whenever he could. But it was probably just his big brother instict. After all, he has Bee, his younger sister.

Sinuntok siya nito nang marahan sa braso kaya napangiwi siya nang dahil doon. "Swerte ka, tinulungan mo kami kagabi, kung hindi ibubuking talaga kita," sabi nito. "But really, thank you for being there. I am grateful sa inyo ni Ruiz."

Jax smiled before subconsciously patting Santi's head that immediately made the girl pout. "Kung may nambastos sa inyo, sabihan n'yo lang kami."

Natawa ito sa sinabi niya. "Asikasuhin mo muna 'yang mga pasa mo, bhie." Kaagad siyang natawa sa naging tugon nito. "Pero akin na 'tong isang J.Co ha? Service fee."

Tumango-tango siya habang tumatawa.

WHEN HE ARRIVED at Fedora, his heart was beating faster than ever.

Sinalubong siya ni Jan nang nakakunot ang noo. "Ang pangit mo na nga, mas pinapangit mo pa. Anong nangyari sa 'yo, oy?" tanong nito.

"Cosplay. Gusto ko sanang maging kamukha mo," aniya.

Sinamaan naman siya ng tingin ng kaibigan kaya natawa siya sa naging reaksyon nito.

When he entered Vannessa's office, he saw how she trembled, but she immediately smiled to hide her initial reaction.

Nang makita ng babae ang mukha niya'y kaagad nagsalubong ang mga kilay nito. "Ba't parang nadagdagan 'yang mga pasa mo?" tanong nito sa kanya. "You should know that we don't tolerate destructive behavior here."

Ngumiti siya rito nang tipid tsaka umiling-iling. "Sorry, Miss," aniya. "Nadapa lang."

Vannessa didn't look convinced. "Grabe namang pagkakadapa 'yan. Para kang sinuntok ng sahig, ah." Nanliit ang mga mata nito, binabasa ang galaw niya pero tumawa na lamang siya para itago ang nararamdaman.

"Ganoon na nga."

The girl chuckled before shaking her head. When Jax's gaze dropped to look at her hands, he saw that they were trembling. She immediately hid them in her pockets when she noticed that he was staring.

He felt his chest tighten when she looked up and gave him a small smile.

Naalala niya ang sinabi ni Greg tungkol sa isang modelo nito. That made Jax's blood boi, and by then, he swore to himself that he'd never disrespect her in any way possible.