I don't have much agenda today since wala kaming taping ngayon, though may naka-schedule akong meeting for endorsement sa Quezon City mamayang hapon. And since mamaya pa naman, I think I'll take advantage of this free time para linisin ang bahay ko. It's a mess in here. Wala naman akong katulong dito at hindi rin ako nag-hire ng helper para linisin ang bahay ko from time to time. Kasi kaya ko naman, bakit iuutos ko pa 'di ba.
I played some music and turned it on full volume and started preparing the cleaning tools. Mas ginaganahan akong gumawa ng mga bagay-bagay kapag may music.
I started dusting the furnitures, vacuuming, sweeping, mopping, re-arranging things and I'm done! Hindi naman gano'n kalaki 'yung bahay ko since ako lang naman ang nakatira rito. Two floors siya pero malawak but not to the point na maliligaw ka sa laki. Ako lang naman mag-isa ang titira so what's the point of getting a huge house.
After resting a bit, I decided to take a bath to freshen up. Pagpatay ko ng music, nakarinig ako ng sunod-sunod at galit na galit na doorbell.
Huh.
Sino ba 'yon at mukhang first time makakita ng doorbell. Balak yatang sirain eh.
I opened the gate at ready nang gerahin kung sino man 'yon pero pagbukas na pagbukas ko, sinalubong kaagad ako ng matatalim na titig ni Ate Rainzelle.
"Ate Rain?"
"Kung hindi mo pa sana 'to bubuksan sisirain ko na talaga 'to." Inis na inis na bulyaw niya.
"I can't hear it, naglilinis ako-"
"So?"
"Eh nagpapatugtog din ako in full volume." Inirapan niya ako at hinawi ako sa daanan bago dire-diretsong pumasok ng bahay ko.
"What brings you here anyway?" She sat down on my couch while aggressively wiping her sweat. "You commuted?" I asked when I realized that I haven't noticed her car earlier.
"Long story," Sinabi niya lang bago tumayo at pumunta sa fridge to get some water. "I came here to ask you about this thing with Papa."
"What about it?"
"Sunday is getting near. What are you planning to do?" Agad na bumalik 'yung stress ko nitong mga nakaraang araw. This is literally killing me.
"Wala pa," Pinalobo ko ang pisngi ko.
"Well, I tried to talk it out to Papa, Uhm, about your situation and what exactly are his reasons. I tried to convince him to cut you some slack, we fought a little, this and that- long story short, I got my car confiscated."
"Seriously?" Hindi makapaniwala kong tanong. She had some guts to go against Papa? Wow.
"What seriously? If you're worried about my car, I have two more in my house so aside from commuting from there to here, that's not much of a big deal."
"No, I mean, you really did that?" Napahilamos siya sa mukha niya at nagpabalik-balik ng lakad. Hindi mapakali.
"You have no idea how nervous I am back there!" She exclaimed. "Hans tried to stop me but I just couldn't sit still and not do anything to help you, you know?" I dramatically held my chest and went to give her a hug but she lightly pushed my face away to stop me.
"Pawis ka, lumayo ka sa 'kin." Reklamo niya kaya natawa ako.
"Ate Rain, I appreciate it. But don't stress yourself too much about it alright? I got this. Ayoko nang abalahin pa kayo ni Kuya Hans. Just go and make a baby na dahil gusto ko na magkaro'n ng pamangkin." Pinanlakihan niya ako ng mata kasabay ng pamumula ng pisngi niya.
Si Kuya Hans ang napangasawa ni Ate Rain. Two years na silang kasal pero hanggang ngayon hindi pa rin sila nagkaka-baby. Though choice naman nila 'yon dahil gusto raw muna nilang i-enjoy ang buhay newly weds. But sana talaga matapos na sila sa phase na 'yon dahil gusto ko nang i-spoil ang una kong magiging pamangkin.
"But still, let us know if we can be of any help. Nandito lang kami ni Kuya Hans mo. 'Yung Kuya Lumiere mo, 'wag mo na asahan at walang ibang alam gawin 'yon kung hindi manira ng araw." We both laughed. Wala namang bago ro'n.
"You sure you got this?" Paninigurado niya.
I was about to answer her nang biglang nag-ring ang phone ko. Someone's calling so I picked it up and it's Rider.
"You still hanging out with Rider?" Ate Rain asked amused.
"Just friends," I cut her thoughts and she just gave me a meaningful smile. Napailing na lang ako bago sinagot ang tawag.
"What's up?" I greeted.
(Today's the day you're meeting my brother.) Nanlaki bigla ang mga mata ko.
"Now?!" Napatingin sa 'kin si Ate Rain because of my sudden voice raise.
(Buti nga napilit ko siya eh. This is your one time chance dahil I just blackmailed him to come.) Napasabunot ako sa buhok ko. Anong oras na ba? Hindi pa nga ako naliligo! May pupuntahan pa ako mamayang hapon sa Quezon City. Ugh, bakit naman kasi biglaan 'tong Rider na 'to!
"Okay, I'll be there. Maliligo lang ako."
(12 pm. Don't be late or he's gonna bail on us.) Ang arte-arte naman nitong kapatid ni Rider. Feeling celebrity, kainis!
"Fine. Bye." I said and hung up.
"What's that?" Ate Rain asked. I almost forgot na nandito pa pala siya. Si Rider naman kasi eh!
"It's Rider, he thinks his brother can help me with my problem and I'm meeting them right now." Paliwanag ko.
"He has a brother?" Hindi makapaniwalang tanong niya.
"I know right?!" I secondhanded. "Anyway, I need to take a bath na. Are you staying or...?"
She waved her hand. "No, no, I'll be leaving. But can I borrow your car? I can't commute anymore."
"Sure. Take the Avanza, the key's inside the drawer beside that lamp." I instructed and immediately ran to shower.
After taking a bath and getting ready, I went to the garage para kunin ang motor ko. Motor lang naman palagi ang dala ko kapag pupunta sa ice cream parlor ni Rider dahil wala namang matinong parking lot doon. Haharang lang sa daan 'yung car ko kung sakali.
Upon arriving, sinalubong kaagad ako ni Rider ng nakakalokong ngiti kaya hinagis ko sa kaniya 'yung helmet ko.
"Ow!" He groaned pagkasalo niya ng helmet na tumama sa tiyan niya.
"You manipulative jerk," I mumbled but he just laughed at me.
"He's already inside." My eyes widened.
"Really?" I fixed my hair. "Does he know me? Anong sinabi mo sa kaniya?"
"Wala pa. Hindi niya pa nga alam 'yung exact reason bakit siya nandito eh. I just said that me and my friend has a favor to ask. That's it." I parked my motor at the side and went inside the shop.
"What is he like? Your brother." I asked.
"Well, he's nice, generous, and hindi ako matiis." He winked at me so I made a disgusting face to mock him. He pushed me lightly and we both laughed. "There he is," He pointed at the man na nakatalikod sa direksiyon namin.
I checked him out from his position. I can say that he's tall because he has long legs. He also dresses well and has a fair complexion. Hindi ko lang makita 'yung buhok niya dahil nakasuot siya ng cap but all in all, I guess he's a pretty decent guy. I can sense it. I just hope this will all work out well.
"You ready?" Rider asked. "C'mon don't be nervous it's just my brother. Mabait 'yan. Slight." I nudged him.
"Nervous my foot."
Pumunta na kami sa direksiyon ng kapatid niya at nauna siya ng kaunti para kausapin siya at ipaalam na nandito na ako. Kilala niya kaya ako? I mean, I'm a celebrity so it's kinda impossible for him not to see me on tv or on billboards. Unless sa kuweba siya nakatira 'di ba. And if it happens na kilala niya nga ako, I guess malaki ang chance na pumayag siya sa request ko, right? Right?
"Kuya," Rider approached him. "My friend is here." Tinuro ako ni Rider na nasa likod ng kapatid niya. Nang lingunin niya ako, parehong nanlaki ang mga mata namin.
"Ikaw?!" "The fuck are you doing here?!" Sabay naming sigaw sa isa't isa. Si Rider naman ay nagpalipat-lipat ang tingin sa amin.
"You knew each other?" Hindi makapaniwalang tanong niya.
"Ha!" I exclaimed and aggressively sat on the chair across Creed's. Yes, unfortunately, Rider's brother, the one who he told me that could help me solve my problem is no other than Alexander Creed Valerio. My egocentric co-actor.
"What the hell is this Rider?" Creed asked.
"What? Hindi ko naman alam na magkakilala kayo. How?" He asked in return. Obviously confused.
I rolled my eyes. "Magkatrabaho kami Rider. You know I'm actually surprised that you don't know that. Don't you watch tv?"
"No. I don't have time for that." I sighed. That's why. "Pero magkaaway ba kayo?" Tanong niya ulit.
"Magkaaway kami? Galit sa mundo 'yang kapatid mo, Rider. Hindi lang ako ang kaaway niyan." Creed gave me a menacing look. Naalala ko tuloy kung paano dinescribe ni Rider si Creed kanina. Nice? Generous? Pfft. What a con.
"Hey, my brother's nice." Pagtatanggol niya pa na ikinakunot ng noo ko. So mabait sa kaniya si Creed? Well, that's very hard to imagine.
"Why am I here again?" Creed asked looking at his watch from time to time. Making himself look like a busy man and that we're just wasting his precious time. To hell with this guy.
"Leina has a favor to ask-"
"Wala na! Kaya ko na pala." I cut him off.
"Leina," Rider called me. I just crossed my arms and turned sideways. Attitude na kung attitude pero automatic din talaga na lumalabas ang sungay ko kapag kaharap ko si Creed. You can never expect me to be nice to him unless may camera. "Excuse us for a minute." Paalam ni Rider sa kapatid niya bago ako hinila patayo.
"What?" Dinala niya kasi ako sa likod ng counter habang si Creed ay naiwang nakaupo lang doon at nagbabasa ng kung ano sa magazine. Totally ignoring the world.
"Come on, my brother can help you." He tried to convince me.
"Sure your brother can. But he won't." He sighed. "Look, I don't know what kind of relationship you have with your brother but I assure you that it's nothing similar to ours. We're not even civil." He gave me a worried look.
"But what about this Sunday? Ilang days na lang Leina." Napamasahe ako sa sintido ko. "Just at least give it a try, hm? If anyone can pull off the act of being your boyfriend on Sunday, that's Creed. Bonus pa 'yung the fact na magkatrabaho pala kayo. That'll be a piece of cake for the both of you." I groaned.
I'm so annoyed right now! At mas naiinis ako kasi tama si Rider. Kung mayroon mang taong makakatulong sa 'kin nang hindi nahahalata ni Papa, that's definitely Creed.
I looked at him, still reading that magazine. Hindi ko alam kung binabasa niya ba 'yon o bored lang talaga siya. I heaved out a deep sigh.
"Think about it." Rider tapped my shoulder. I looked at him and slowly nodded. "Really?" He grinned.
Bumalik na kami sa table na kinauupuan ni Creed at umupo sa harapan niya. Ang loko ni hindi man lang kami tinapunan ng tingin at nasa magazine pa rin ang atensiyon. Jerk.
"Kuya," Tawag ni Rider at saka niya lang kami tiningnan. "Leina needs help." Walang nagbabago sa mukha niya at nakatingin lang siya sa kapatid niya samantalang ako hindi na mapakali kakakutkot sa kamay ko sa ilalim ng table. I just know na hindi siya papayag. He's Creed Valerio. He doesn't just give out favors whenever somebody asks.
"How do I say this..." Rider trailed off.
"I need you to be my pretend boyfriend this coming Sunday." I said straight to his face. Sa akin na napunta ang tingin niya. Amusement crossed his eyes but it eventually fades.
"What?"
"There's this situation with my papa and I needed someone to bring this Sunday to our family dinner. He insisted on meeting with my boyfriend which I clearly don't have so I've no choice but to ask someone to pretend instead." Paliwanag ko. He raised an eyebrow.
"Then just have a boyfriend. Easy." He crossed his arms.
I scoffed. "I can't just have a boyfriend," I said in a sarcastic tone. "Kung gusto ko, magkakaroon ako pero ayoko nga ng ibang commitment other than work." I almost rolled my eyes. Hindi niya ba gets 'yung logic do'n? Duh.
"No." My jaw dropped.
"What no?" I asked.
"I won't participate in your charade." He simply said and picked up the magazine he was reading and completely ignored us again.
I tried to squeeze his head in the air thinking of crushing his brains out. Ugh! What do I even expect in this guy? Unbelievable.
"Kuya, please?" Rider snatched the magazine from Creed. "Leina's my friend and if you help her, you're helping me too." Creed just stared at his brother. Then at me, then back to his brother.
"Give me one good reason why I should take part in this." He said to me. An idea crossed my mind. He'll definitely hate me for this but this is my last card.
"Let's just put it this way," I leaned forward to him. "If you help me, then we're even." His eyebrows furrowed.
"Well, I really think that I should have my payment for keeping a secret you know." I gave him a meaningful smile and as soon as he realizes what I meant, sinamaan niya kaagad ako ng tingin. He stood up from his seat and walked headed towards the door. Tatawagin sana siya ni Rider pero pinigilan ko siya. Bago pa tuluyang makalabas ng pintuan si Creed, he stopped walking and turned his head in our direction.
"You know my number. Text me the time and the place." The only thing he said bago tuluyang lumabas. Ngiting wagi kong nilingon si Rider na nagtataka pa rin sa nangyari.
"What just happened? Paanong bigla siyang pumayag?"
"Well, let's just say that you're not the only one Creed cannot resist," I smirked. I looked at my watch and realized that I'm almost late for my appointment.
"Oh shoot! Rider, I gotta go. My lakad pa pala ako sa Quezon. Thanks!" Paalam ko. Hindi ko na hinintay ang sasabihin niya at tumakbo na kaagad ako palabas.