Loving Rago Ken Marquez

Chapter 8

"Hindi pa talaga tayo uuwi?"

I took a deep breath before glaring at him. He immediately act like zipping his mouth. I can feel how my body tired is but I have to finish this for tomorrow.

"Nagugutom na ako." he pouted. "Sa bahay mo na lang kaya yan tapusin." his tummy growled. "Pati tiyan ko nagmamakaawa na."

Naiiling na pinagpatuloy ko lang ang ginagawang presentasyon. He stopped complaining when the door opened.

"Sir, someone wants to give you this."

My eyes settled on the paper bag that she's holding. I tilted my head and motion her to give it to me.

"Ano yan?" he asked my secretary.

"Hindi ko rin po alam, Sir Nathan, pero medyo mainit po nong hawakan ko."

Out of curiosity, my hands went down under the paper bag. It's hot. Tinignan ko ang nasa loob, I was surprise to see tupperwares inside. Nilabas ko ang tatlong tupperware na may lamang kanin at ulam.

"Can I have some!?"

Kakabukas ko lang ng mga tupperware ay agad na nanuot ang amoy ng Sweet and Sour Glazed Shrimp at Firecracker Chicken.

I tapped Nathan's hand just as he was about to take a shrimp. I called the surveillance team.

"Check who sent a paper bag.." i looked at the clock. "...10 minutes from now."

"On it, Sir." I heard sounds from the keyboard. "We're sending you the footage, Sir."

Pinatay ko ang tawag at pinindot ang footage na pinadala nila sa computer ko. Nathan stood beside me.

Pinaningkitan ko ng mata ang isang babae na lumabas sa isang kotse. Lumipat ito sa kabilang pinto, binuksan iyon at hinila ang isa pang babae.

"Is that Menerva Perciana right there?" Nathan tapped the screen. Inabot niya ang sariling cellphone at pumindot pindot doon. "See? She's the daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Perciana who owns the P Entertainment. And that girl right there is–"

"–is Sariya Quervas." huminga ako ng malalim. "I know her. The spoiled brat in Alvarez and Quervas family."

"Look at this, 'yummy food, yummy chef'. Kung ganito ba naman ang chef, baka chef na ang kainin ko at hindi na ang pagkaing niluluto niya." he laugh while showing me the picture.

Nakita ko ang likod ni Sariya habang nakaharap ito sa stove at mukhang nagluluto. Tinignan ko ulit ang mga tupperware na nasa lamesa ko.

She cooked this? Wala sa itsura niya na nagluluto siya.

Kinuha ko ang tupperware na may lamang maraming kanin. Hinati ko iyon at inilagay ang kalahati sa takip ng tupperware bago ibigay kay Nathan.

"I'm still curious but thanks bro." he smiled and sat at the visitor's chair in front of me.

We eat peacefully but my mind is chaotic because of that girl!

What the fuck is in her mind?!

"SARIYA that was scary! Akala ko mahuhuli tayo! Just by thinking of it.." she shivers.

Inirapan ko siya at umupo sa sack bean bag chair na nasa kwarto ko, "That's not scary, Erva. It's nothing. Wala ngang nangyare sa'tin e."

"At gusto mo pa talagang may mangyare sa atin? Diyos ko, Sariya! Nakakahiya kaya 'yon!"

I laugh at her exaggerated face, "Erva hindi niya malalaman na tayo 'yon. Sigurado naman akong maraming babae ang gumagawa no'n sa kanya." my smile became bitter.

"Ayan! Saktan mo pa ang sarili mong bruha ka!" singhal niya at hinila ang buhok ko.

"Maraming babae ang gumagawa ng ano kanino?"

Pareho kaming napatingin sa pinanggalingan ng boses. Nanlaki ang dalawa kong mata nang makita si kuya na nakasandal sa pinto ko.

I bit my lip and nervously looks at Erva, "Uh.. n-nothing, kuya. Kanina ka pa?"

He shook his head, "Narinig ko lang ay 'yung tinanong ko. Answer me honestly, Sariya." he raise his brows at Erva. "Care to tell me, Menerva?"

Lumapit ako kay kuya, "Wala naman talaga e. M-maraming babae ang gumagawa ng.. ng.. ng steps! Oo 'yon nga. May kanta kasi kaming ginagawan ng steps pero I think marami nang gumawa no'n." i nervously explained and gave him a smile.

"You're lying–" he messed my hair. "–but I'll take that reason, for now. Mukhang ayaw mo naman ipaalam sa'kin. Thanks for cooking tonight. Masarap as always. G'night, little sis, Erva."

He walked away.

I bit my lip again feeling the guilt building inside me. "Erva? Bakit nagui-guilty ako? Feeling ko nakagawa ako ng kasalanan sa kuya ko just by lying at him." malungkot na umupo ulit ako sa sack bean bag.

Lumipat siya sa tabi ko, "Feeling ko nga rin nahuli tayo sa isang krimen kanina dahil sa mapanuring tingin ng kuya mo." she exhaled. "Huwag mo ng isipin 'yon. Next time mo na lang sabihin pag handa ka ng malaman niya."

She brushed my hair using her fingers. I can feel the corner of my eyes heating up. I never lied to my brother. I always tell him everything but.. but.. this? I can't.

Nagsalita pa siya ng kung ano ano para mapagaan ang loob ko pero wala. Until, she bid her goodbye, malalim na ang gabi at wala ng traffic papauwi sa condo niya.

Minutes later, I found myself on kuya's door step. Kagat ang ibabang labi na kumatok ako. Binuksan ko ang pinto at bumungad sa akin ang kwarto ni kuya while he's in front of his computer.

"Hey. May kailangan ka?" tanong niya at tinapunan ako ng tingin saglit bago tumingin sa screen ng computer niya.

I sat on his bed and look at him. Lumipas ang ilang segundo pero hindi ako umimik. Kunot ang noo niyang nagtaas ulit sa akin ng tingin. Iniwan niya ang computer at lumipat sa tabi ko.

"May problema ba?" he asked again while looking at me with concern in his eyes.

Mas nagui-guilty tuloy ako. I looked at his eyes, "I'm sorry, kuya."

He smiled, "It's ok. Na-disappoint lang si kuya kasi nakita kong nagsisinunghaling ka e. You never lied to me, Sariya." he wiped my tears. "Don't cry. Kuya understands that you're not ready to tell it to me. Huwag ka ng umiyak baka biglang pumasok sila mommy at mapagalitan ako kasi pinapaiyak ko ang nag iisa naming prinsesa."

"Sorry for lying, kuya." I hug him. "I-I actually like someone. Dinalhan namin siya ni Erva kanina ng pagkain sa building na pinagtatrabahohan niya. 'Y-yung niluto ko. She's so nervous, thinking that we'll be caught. That's it. Promise."

He chuckles, "May I know who's this lucky guy is?"

Napalunok ako, "Uh.. it's Rio's brother."

"Hmm Rio? You mean Rio Marquez, right?" tumango ako habang nakayakap pa rin sa kanya. "And the only brother he have is Rago." he then whispered something.

"So you like your ex's older brother, huh?"