Part 44
While we're in the car, Drake called us to have news about his brother. He was too worried about Darius, we can't give him proper news since hindi namin alam kung buhay pa ba-I mean ligtas si Darius.
And I think, nawala na rin ang kaba ni Darlene noong magsimula siyang kumain. Panay na kasi ang kain niya, ni hindi na niya nga ako pinapansin.
Tumawag ako kay Jin kanina para utusan siya na hanapin ang malalapit kay Almendral, including their faces. I think it's time to find who really behind their deaths, kung hindi si Almendral baka malapit lang sa kaniya.
I asked Tito Dylan's permission if I can tell Darlene about the organization dahil alam kong curious na naman siya. At syempre kailangan kong sagutin ang tanong ni Darlene, at um-oo naman si Tito.
I also received a message from Trevor. Nasa loob siya ng Scythe's hideout to do his job as a spy. We knew that ever since dahil matagal nang trabaho 'yon ni Trevor, naging mahirap lang dahil noong una hindi pa siya pinagkakatiwalaan.
"Paano sila maniniwala?" Gavin asked when we're inside at Trevor's house. Nasa loob kami ng opisina ng daddy niya.
"Hindi naman agad sila maniniwala." Harvey added.
Tumingin silang lahat sa akin, waiting for my answer.
"I know that, matagal ko nang naisip 'yan." I said. "To make them believe na totoo si Trevor sa kanila, you need to do something," I looked at Trevor. "Kailangan mong ibigay ang identity namin to prove your loyalty to them, and you need to give them news about us. Parang ikakanta mo ang plano nating lahat.."
"What? It looks like I was betraying everyone," Trevor said.
"And that's the point, you need to make them believe that you are betraying us para maniwala sila na totoo ka sa kanila."
It's kinda hard to make that, akala ko kapag ginawa niya may possibility na maniwala agad sila. But I was wrong, masyado rin pala nilang tinitingnan ang tao kung totoo ba o hindi sa kanila.
On the other hand, we made them believe that Trevor was with them by giving them our plans on how to get there, on how we made our plans, at kung sino sino kaming lahat at higit sa lahat... ang lahat ng tungkol sa Pamilya ni Darius.
But of course, I'm not dumb para ilaglag sila Tito Dylan at ang pamilya niya. Syempre, ginawa ko silang tanga.
I gave them a fake infos. Mas lamang ang peke sa hindi. Kasalanan na nila 'yon kung hindi nila makitang totoo, at least ako ginawa ko ang trabaho ko. Sila 'yong tanga dahil masyado silang uto-uto.
I blinked when I heard Darlene's voice calling me.
"Phoenix, ayaw mong kumain?" She asked.
Nilingon ko siya. "No, it's for you. Kumain ka na, and, baby, wear your seatbelt." Hindi kasi niya suot.
Ginawa naman niya ang sinabi ko.
"Someone's following your brother's car. Trevor told me when he went to Scythe's hideout earlier, that's their plan." I told her, she deserves to know what's happening to her brother.
Napalingon siya.
I'm sure, curious siya kung bakit nandoon si Trevor.
"Si Trevor? Nakakapasok siya sa loob ng hideout ng mga kalaban?"
See? I'm always right-hindi pala, siya pala ang always right. Yes, Darlene is always right. Lagi naman kasing tama ang mga babae.
Tumango ako. "His job is to be a spy inside of Scythe's place. It's hard for him because it's so fucking dangerous, if ever they found out that Trevor is our spy for sure they'll kill Trevor immediately."
But Trevor has his own way. Hindi naman siya basta basta malalaman na spy. He's not well-trained just to be caught.
"Bakit naman niya tinanggap ang trabaho na 'yon?"
"Because that is his job." I simply said.
I explained everything para makuha niya. Hindi niya kasi makukuha kung simpleng gano'n lang na sagot ang sasabihin ko. So I started by telling that inside our hideout, we have assigned jobs.
We really can't disobey our assignment, that was against the rule. If we do that, we need to leave the organization whether we like it or not.
We have an expulsion inside the organization lalo na kung tangkain ng isang member na kunin ang position ng ka-member niya.
Pero kay Madrid hindi 'yon ang nangyari sa kaniya. Because Drake shot him to death. I hope he's okay in hell right now. I was wondering if nagreunion na sila ni Satanas do'n.
Also, our organization has a lot of rules kaya ang dami kong sinabi, pinagdasal ko lang na sana nakuha niya. Pero alam ko naman na matalino at marunong siyang makuha ang ibig kong sabihin, minsan lang hindi.
We have a lot of rules, hindi pwedeng lumabas ang organization sa kahit anong usapan lalo na kung hindi naman kailangan, if someone betraying us... kailangan mawala 'yon, kailangan rin kami sa meetings and so on.
Lastly, no involvement of the Police and other governments because it's an illegal fraternity inside the Philippines. We just need to make sure that we're always safe.
"Edi ba? May position? Ano-ano naman 'yon at sino-sino?"
"The Mafia Boss is your father, and the Mafia Queen is your mother." I know, she doesn't know about these.
Aside from that Princess rin sa Palace si Tita Serine noon, but the title inherited by Darlene. Huwag lang sana siyang maging Queen. Ayokong maging Queen si Darlene.
Hindi ko alam ang mga nangyayari bago maging Queen ang Princess pero sana hindi siya maging gano'n.
The next was her brother, in underboss it has two person na pwedeng tumayo sa position which is me and Drake. Ako pa rin naman ang nasusunod at hindi siya. And in fact, sa akin ang first position pero tinanggihan ko. I have a lot of responsibilities.
Si Drake naman, I know he's busy in business, but he's with Tito Dylan. Pwede siyang tulungan ni Tito if nagkakaroon ng problem sa company nila.
It was a powerful position because it's next to Tito Dylan. Kaya nga gustong makuha ni Madrid 'yon, e, but he died. He deserves that though.
Also I should be with Drake, but we didn't do that. Isang araw pa nga lang na makita ko si Drake, nagsasawa na ako. 24/7 pa kaya? Still, we need to do our job. We need to clarify our enemies info bago makarating kay Tito Dylan.
"Hindi ko inakala na may ganitong kinemerut si Kuya, ang galing niyang magtago ng secrets, ah?" She couldn't believe.. "Tapos ikaw! May power ka pala, sana all. Sana 'yong power mo color blue para same kay Elsa-Aray." I pinched her cheeks.
"Position power in the Mafia Organization, not a power like your favorite Queen Elsa." Tumingin ako sa daan.
I know that Queen Elsa, lagi niyang pinapanood sa phone ko 'yon.
"Hoy, maganda kaya 'yon! Lalo na si Olaf! Tapos si Sven! Ang cute-cute nila, pati si Kristoff!"
What? Who's that fucking Kristoff?
"Who the fuck is Kristoff?" I looked at her as my brows furrowed.
"Edi 'yong sa Frozen!"
Oh, I remembered but still... "I can't believe that someone is cuter and handsome than me."
"Disney lang 'yon!" It's just a fictional character. "Next na nga."
"You should stop watching that." Dapat ako lang ang cute at handsome sa paningin niya.
"Sige, Rapunzel na lang. Ang pogi nga ng partner niya doon, e, si Eugene."
"But, his only concern is about wealth," I said.
"Pero good-hearted siya! Saka, love niya naman si Rapunzel. Hindi mo kasi napanood, e! Tulog ka nang tulog." Tumingin siya sa akin. "Kaya hindi rin tayo magkaintindihan pagdating sa ganitong usapan, e."
I really hate watching that. Pero dahil gusto niya nanonood kami ng Disney kaso lagi akong natutulog. But I was watching that para magkaintindihan kami sa kwento niya, hindi ko kasi maintindihan minsan.
We came back to our topic. Which is about Darius' position, which is the Ace boss.
"He was the one who's managing the rules, helper and source of information. It's different from underboss, hon. Darius' position is dangerous too, he's the only one who needs to know the enemies identity and others shit-information. He's a leader that shouldn't be afraid to have his life on line or in danger."
"Seryoso ka?"
"I'm serious, hon." I'm not joking. "But I know your parents never let him in danger."
"Okay, next na."
"The next is the Medic, Vanessa, and Blythe." They are part of the org, that's the reason why Vanessa and Harris met. Gago lang talaga si Harris dahil sa maling paraan sila nagkakilala ni Vanessa.
I know that, kasama kaya niya kami noon sa Rax.
The next was weaponry. It was Giovan and Ivan. And the Trainer, was Andrei. He was the one who's training the members. Next was sniper then assassins.
And Amora was with Tita Serine, and I know si Tita Serine rin ang nagturo sa kaniya ng iba. Hindi lang talaga nalaman ni Arvin na kasali siya dahil code name ni Amora ang gamit niya.
"Finn and JP, well-known as computer hackers, can track the enemy using their skills to hack. They can track us too."
Pero magaling rin si Mavis sa gano'n, may iba kasing ginagawa si Mavis whenever he's inside the organization.
The next one is, we have to make sure everyone's got a cure if ever na may poison ang bullets. That's why we have a poison and hallucination specialist. The next was spy and it was Trevor, hindi ko alam kung bakit may seducer, but according to Owen, yes, to him, that every girl there is a flirt. May nakukuha naman silang nga inuutos ni Tito.
"The seducer-." Darlene cut me off.
"Ako mismo papatay sa 'yo kapag ikaw 'yan."
Wala pa nga akong sinasabi. At saka, hinding-hindi ko gagawin 'yon. I will never do that because if I did, baka hindi na ako sikatan ng araw dahil sa kaniya.
At kahit noong hindi ko pa siya girlfriend, ayoko ng trabaho na 'yon. Gusto ko kay Darlene ko lang gagawin 'yon, siya lang ang aakitin ko.
"Excuse me, babe. I'm not a seducer... well when it comes to you, yes. I'm seducing you everyday." I winked.
But nothing has happened and it's not effective. Hindi ba si Darlene tinatablan ng karisma ko? I mean look how handsome I am, hindi ba siya tinatablan? I am so handsome tapos parang wala lang sa kaniya.
"Hindi na ako magtataka kung makabuntis ka ng maaga." She rolled her eyes.
"You mean mabuntis kita ng maaga?" Tumingin ako sa kaniya.
"Iyang bibig mo, Velasquez, ha? Bubusalan ko ng mga bala 'yan. Gusto mo?" Kinasa niya ang baril.
Of course it's a joke.
"I was just kidding." Bawi ko dahil baka gawin niya talaga ang balak niya. "If we have a child, I want us to be successful first and we also have a stable job."
Lagot ako sa Papa niya kapag nangyari 'yon tapos sa mga pinsan at mga Tito pa niya. Dude, parang buong angkan ng Miranda haharapin ko kapag nangyari 'yon. Kay Tito pa nga lang, parang hindi ko kaya... sa mga Tito pa niya kaya? Kina Drake, well it's fine since sanay akong iniinis sila pero kina Tito, hindi.
I don't wanna die at an early age. May takot din ako sa pamilya niya.
And even though I have a lot of money today, I have company. I still need to be successful in my future profession. Because I can lose my money, not today but maybe soon.
"Dapat lang, mapapatay ako ni Papa kung sakaling hindi 'yon mangyari." She said, "So, ano nga? Anong klase ang seducer ba 'yon at may pa gano'n-gano'n pa?"
It was a trick. Hindi ko lang alam kung paano nagagawa 'yon, si Lian at Owen lang ang gumagawa no'n. As I heard, after getting info to those girls, they killed them after.
It actually has a prize and I don't know what kind of prize it is.
"Pero, bal, hindi mo ba napapansin na iisa lang ang ginagawa niyo?"
Nilingon ko siya. "Huh?"
"Bakit hindi niyo na lang lahatin ang paghahanap ng info kung iisa lang pala ang dapat ninyong gawin? E, puro information lang dapat niyong kukunin, e."
It wasn't possible to do that since they have a lot of members. Kung marami sa Black Forum, of course marami rin sa Scythe. Hindi naman sila basta basta, they are powerful organization. That's the reason why her parents had to divide into two dahil marami sila.
And we have the rules to follow. Naghahanap kami ng information pero iba't ibang tao. And if ginawa namin ang suggestions ni Darlene, paano namin malalaman ang bawat skills ng mga 'yon? Plus the fact that we cannot do it rush dahil kung sakaling ganoon ay there's a possibility na mawalan kami ng kasamahan.
At kaya gusto ni Tito Dylan na lahat kami marunong o handa. Especially, we are still young. Ayaw pa naming mamatay lahat.
Hindi pa ako nagkakaroon ng anak o tagasalo ng pangalan ko kaya bawal akong mamatay.
Our next topic was about defusing the bomb. Sina Dash, Arvin, at Mavis ang marunong sa gano'n, just like Tito-I mean, Sir. Lazarus, he knew how to defused a bomb. Parang tinuruan niya si Mavis kung paano matuto. Lastly, we are all trained before we fight or attack the enemies once we get your Tito Dylan's command.
"Ang galing naman." She commented. "Pero 'yon lang ba talaga ang position mo? Wala ng iba? Kahit isa?"
Isa lang ang position na meron ako pero marami akong position na alam.
"I know a lot of positions." I smirked.
Hindi niya ako gets. Iba ang nasa isip niya, I'm sure of that. Hindi niya na-gets ang sinabi ko.
"Tulad ng mga ano?" She asked innocently.
Napaubo ako dahil tama ang hula ko. "Don't mind it. Continued eating."
Ang inosente niyang babae pero ang galing humalik.
Damn, woman.
Tinuon ko na ang paningin sa daan. It's traffic, at wala akong kausap. Natutulog na siya, leaning on the car door while her legs were on my lap.
Inayos ko ang damit niya dahil nakikita ang harap niya. When we got at the hideout, inalis ko ang seatbelt niya. Kinuha ko rin ang cardigan niya sa backseat
"It's showing, inaayos ko lang," I said when she woke up.
Niyaya ko na siyang lumabas. Una naman siyang bumaba habang nasa likod niya ako.
Nakapunta na siya dito kaya alam niya ang daan. Ako ang nakasunod sa kaniya. Some bodyguards were looking at her, maybe pamilyar sa kanila si Darlene.
Pumasok kami sa elevator, we need to go to the fifth floor. Hinawakan ko ang kamay niya nang magsara ang pinto ng elevator.
"You've been here before, right?"
"Oo, dinadala ako ni Kuya rito tapos pag-tulog lang ginagawa ko." She replied.
Kaya pala hindi ko siya makita noon dahil lagi siyang tulog. Lagi pa naman akong nandito dahil kay Dad, madalas kami ni Darius dito para sa training pero wala siyang ginagawa na training.
We headed to the fifth floor. Siya ang unang lumabas, nakasunod naman ako sa kaniya. I saw Jin at the end of the hallway.
"Hay nako, Nix. Ang tagal mo." He gave me a flashdrive. "Nandiyan na lahat ng names and faces ng mga bullshit na kasama ng Almendral na 'yon."
"All?" Paninigurado ko.
"Oo naman! Una na ako, may susuyuin pa akong dragona. Babalik din ako kaagad." He was talking about my cousin. Lagot siya kay Lala.
Hawak ko sa kamay si Darlene nang pumasok kami sa main room ng Black Forum. It has three rooms inside, the conference room, and two headquarters. Dito kami madalas kapag walang pasok noon.
Dumiretso ako sa sofa habang pumunta naman siya kung saan nakalagay ang mga baril. This place has a lot of different guns. We can get the gun as long as we put our code name.
"You can't get the gun, Miranda." I sat on the sofa while holding a glass and a whiskey. "You need a fingerprint and also a code name."
"O, edi pahiram ako ng fingerprint mo tapos ng code name mo para mabuksan." Humarap siya sa glass shelf.
Ginamit niya ang fingerprint niya para buksan kaso ayaw kaya humarap ulit siya sa akin. Pilit siya nang pilit about picking that gun.
Gusto niya talaga 'yong may design na baril. I've seen her gun, at lahat 'yon may design. May diamonds pa kaya ang bigat ng baril niya, e, dahil puro diamond.
Tumayo na ako para buksan. Hindi naman siya titigil. I opened the glass box using my fingerprint and of course my code name.
"Galing..." She was amazed.
The glass shelf opened, kinuha naman niya agad ang baril. She was amazed while looking at it.
"Ang ganda naman nito." Bigla niyang tinutok sa akin kaya nagulat ako.
"H-Hey! Stop pointing your gun at me."
Hindi ko alam ang dahilan kung bakit ako laging natatakot sa kaniya tuwing tinututukan niya ako ng baril.
"Hindi naman kita babarilin." Pinunasan niya ang baril gamit ang palad.
"Damn!" Fuck, nagulat ako nang barilin niya ang vase. Akala ko, ako ang tatamaan, hindi pala.
"Angas naman ng tunog..."
Naangasan pa siya... lagot siya kay Tita dahil mahal ang vase na 'yon. It was from the United States. Lahat ng gamit dito mahal kaya nga bawal naming pakialaman.
"Nix! What's happenin-"
Lumingon ako sa nagsalita, it was Yuan Valencia.
"Hehe... sorry..." Darlene cut him off.
"Put down the gun, babe..." ginawa naman niya ang utos ko bago tumabi sa 'kin.
"Nix... girlfriend mo?" Tanong ng lalaki.
"Yeah, we're engaged actually-."
"Gago, kapag 'yan nakarating kay Papa!"
I couldn't move when she pointed the gun in my jaw. "I was just kidding..." kinuha ko na ang baril sa kamay niya. "Yuan, this my girlfriend, Darlene." I held her hand. "Babe, he's Yuan, your cousin's friend."
Reid's friend.
She nodded. "Teka, ano nga palang ginagawa natin dito?"
"To make sure nothing bad happens to your brother. Finn and JP were locating him." I responded. "Let's go to the conference room." Masyadong malapit sa akin ang baril kaya halos ilayo ko sa akin.
We headed to the conference, iniwan na namin si Yuan dahil kailangan pa siya headquarters. Everyone was there when we entered inside, nagulat pa sina Harvey dahil kasama ko siya.
Sa swivel chair ako naupo para makita ang ginagawa nila Finn. They are still locating him. Hindi nila malaman kung nasaan si Darius kaya masyado silang nahihirapan. But after a damn minute, they found out that someone was running after Darius.
"Ang lakas ng tama ni Darius, sino bang pupuntahan ni Darius sa Laguna?"
"Malay... pero may ime-make sure raw siya." Darlene answered.
"Does your brother have a girlfriend? Maybe he's visiting his girlfriend if he has..."
Darlene shook her head. "Walang girlfriend 'yon. Ni ka-date nga wala, e. Lagi ko kasing bina-block sa messages niya."
Totoo lahat ng 'yon, even my messages especially to the girls who's messaging me through Instagram and Messenger. She's blocking them, but I don't care though. Wala naman akong pakialam do'n. Tuwang-tuwa pa nga siya dahil pinagtitripan pa niya.
One time, the girl chatted with me and Darlene replied with a picture of us. I was damn laughing dahil talagang naka-middle finger pa siya sa picture na 'yon and also iyong mirror shot namin, I was kissing her jaw while she was sitting on my lap then after that, she blocked the girl.
"Siguro ikaw rin nagblock sa akin sa messenger gamit ang account mo," Gianna said. "Hilig mo pala mang-block."
I was the one who blocked her.
"Gago, hindi ako 'yon. Si Phoenix 'yon."
Nakakaasar ang mga pinagsasasabi ni Gia sa kaniya sa chat. I couldn't believe that she called Darlene a 'baby' before.
"Ay, Nix, nagseselos ka sa babae?"
"I'm not." Why would I be jealous? Well, yeah... isang beses. Pero isang beses lang naman.
"Gago, na-track ko na si Darius. Nilihis niya 'yong sasakyan kung saan may mang-aambush sa kaniya."
Our attention went to JP who's holding a laptop. They were tracking him. Since Trevor is here together with the news he got from the other organization, sinabi niya sa amin lahat kung ano. The Scythe was planning to kill us all one by one. Pero may files na nakopya si Trevor para may copy kami.
Tiningnan ko ang mga tinutukoy niya sa harap ng laptop. Their faces are here and their identities. Ang pangit ng mga mukha nilang lahat.
The file has the person who will kill us, and I saw Darius' name which is the first main target. I even saw Spencer's name, the one who helped me before. I don't know if he's still loyal to Scythe.
"Pansin ko lang... bakit wala ang pangalan mo, Darlene?" Gael asked. "Gano'n din kay Nix."
Sinilip ko ang screen at wala nga. Bakit wala? I mean, I don't wanna die but it's just confusing why.
"Aren't you scared to die?" Harris suddenly asked.
Their topic was about these shits, about deaths.
"Hindi," Darlene replied. "Gago, hindi ako pwedeng mamatay. Hindi ko pa nakakausap ang Mama ni Mama sa Spain."
My eyes stopped in front of Darlene, that's her grandmother right? Mag-uusap sila ng Lola niya and if that happens, malalaman na niya na Prinsesa siya.
"You going to Spain?" I asked.
"Baka..." She replied.
Her grandmother is in Spain, right? I couldn't help but to feel nervous whenever she's mentioning that they are going to Spain.
Anong gagawin nila do'n?
Lumingon kami sa pinto nang pumasok si Darius at ang magulang niya. Behind them is a guy, I don't know him. Anyway, Darius is here.
"How'd you escaped with those fuckers?" I asked while looking at him, mukha siyang ewan.
"JC helped me. He's the one who told me the roads to avoid the ambush."
Oh, JC... Lara's brother. For sure si Lara ang nagsabi sa JC na 'to ang sitwasyon ni Darius.
"Pero bakit ang kalma mo naman sobra?" Gianna asked.
Nilingon siya ni JC at simpleng tinanguan. Gianna did the same but it was too secretive. They knew each other.
"Nothing, it's useless if I don't become calm," sagot ni Darius. "But my arm is hurt." He has a wound on his arm.
"Kakalma ka na lang 'yong hindi pa maingat." Darlene said.
"You don't know the word enemies..." Darius rolled his eyes.
Even their parents commented about what happened.
Ang lakas naman kasi ng tama ni Lara. Kung sinabi niya lang na buhay siya, edi hindi mangyayari 'to. Ang lakas ng trip ng babaeng 'yon.
Nanahimik na lang ako habang nasa tabi ni Darlene. Tito finds out about Scythe's plan. He was too curious why our name wasn't there.
They have another plan. Hindi namin makuha kung ano 'yon. If they have a plan then kailangan kami rin meron, we can't just chill here. Kailangan rin namin maghanda but fuck, looks like it's just the game for them.
Iyon ang pinag-uusapan nila pero ang nasa isip ko ay ang pagpunta nila Darlene sa Spain. Hindi pa siguro niya alam na Prinsesa siya, hindi pa siguro sinasabi nila Tita.
After at the conference, ipinagpaalam ko si Darlene sa magulang niya na sa condo ko siya matutulog. They agreed so... sa akin si Darlene uuwi.
"Ingat-"
"We'll stay in my condo." Putol ko sa sinasabi ni Darlene.
Hindi naman siya umapila. We arrived at the unit at three in the morning. I was so sleepy, at alam kong hindi lang ako. Inaantok na rin si Darlene kaya sa kama agad siya dumiretso. I closed the door. Hinarap ko si Darlene at nakahiga na siya sa kama para yayain siyang mag-shower pagkatapos ko.
"Have a shower first, baby, so you're fresh when you sleep." I removed my shirt then went inside the bathroom. "Don't sleep without taking a shower."
"Oo na! Bilisan mo diyan!"
I took my toothbrush before going outside. She's watching TV while sitting pretty on the bed.
"Why don't you take a shower with me?" I smirked.
"Ulol!"
Tumawa ako bago ulit pumasok sa bathroom. I put down the toothbrush. I went to the shower to take a bath.
Ayaw pa niya, willing na nga akong kasabay siya. Para hindi na siya maghihintay. After taking a shower, kinuha ko na ang towel. I covered my half body before I went outside
May binulong si Darlene kaso hindi ko narinig.
"What?" Nilingon ko siya.
"Wala."
"I heard you saying something." Lumapit ako sa kaniya.
"Ah, wala. Makaligo na nga." Tumayo siya at pumasok sa bathroom.
Sinundan ko siya ng tingin bago kumuha ng damit sa closet. But I didn't wear a shirt, lumabas ako sa balcony para doon siya hintayin.
I put my hands on a railing as I blew the smoke.
I need to go to company tomorrow. Isasama ko na lang si Darlene bukas tutal wala naman kaming gagawin.
Nilingon ko ang loob at hindi pa rin siya tapos. Ang tagal talaga maligo ng mga babae pati sa pag-aayos kailangan matagal. Ano bang sabon ang ginagawa niya? Halos aabutin na siya ng ilang oras, nagriritwal pa yata siya sa loob.
"Ano ba naman 'yan, gabi na nag-i-smoke ka pa." Oh, she's here now. Wearing a pajama. "Gusto mo bang magkasakit sa baga?"
I leaned on the railing while watching her moves.
"It gave me a relaxing feeling." Binuga ko ang usok nang mag-angat ako ng tingin sa taas.
"Relax ka nga, sakit naman aabutin mo," she's holding something, tinutok pa niya sa buhok niya.
What's that? Wait, oh, it's a blower.
Lumapit ako sa kaniya matapos maitapon ang hawak. I closed the balcony door, inayos ko rin ang kurtina para matakpan ang glass door. I sat on the bed beside the side table, where she was blowing her hair.
I was confused. Why do girls blow their hair? Natutuyo naman ang buhok nila 'di ba? Since I'm curious, I asked her why.
"Edi, para matuyo ang buhok. Ayokong mahiga kapag basa ang buhok ko."
I nodded and continued watching. After she finished, she turned off the blower.
"Wow," I commented after holding her hair. Tuyong-tuyo na ang buhok niya unlike before na sobrang basa. "Your hair is dry."
"Matagal ko ng ginagawa 'to." She put back the blower. Nahiga siya sa kama. "Gawa ka ng pagkain."
Kakahiga ko palang tapos gusto niyang kumain.
"Let's just sleep." Inaantok na ako, gusto ko ng matulog.
"Nawala ang antok ko kaya manonood na lang ako tapos matulog ka na pero gawan mo muna 'ko ng pagkain." Kinuha niya ang remote.
Tumayo na ako para bumili. I don't want to cook food. Sa mcdo drive thru ako bumili ng pagkain. Saglit lang naman ako at saka wala naman sigurong mangyayari sa kaniya.
I brought a takeout, bumalik na ako sa unit nang makabili.
"What the fuck are you doing here?" Nakatayo lang naman si Lara sa harap ng unit at panay ang silip sa loob.
"Nandito si Darlene ko kaya ako nandito, ayaw akong pagbuksan ni Darlene!" She complained. "Ay, hindi pala ako nagdo-doorbell."
"She's not accepting a fake dead girl like you."
"Ay, putangina, sinong fake dead girl, ha?!" Her brows wrinkled. Handa na siyang sugurin ako.
I rolled my eyes before getting my phone to fake a dial. "Guard, may baliw dito at nagfe-fake ng kamatayan niya." I said over the phone.
"Nakaka-two strike ka na, ha!" She looked so irritated.
"Si Darius naman ng tatawagan ko-"
"Hoy, putangina, 'wag! Baka nagpapagaling 'yon!"
"Crazy." I commented.
"Maka-crazy ang gagong 'to, can't wait na umiyak at magmakaawa ka kay Darlene with matching words na 'don't leave'. Can't wait talaga!" She smirked before leaving.
Nakakainis ang mga 'to, panay ang sabi na iiyak at magmamakaawa kay Darlene. Hindi naman mangyayari 'yon, right? Yeah, it won't happen.
Pumasok na ako sa loob ng unit. Naabutan ko siyang nanonood ng favorite movie niya. Napaangat siya ng tingin, her eyes went straight to the paper bag.
Binigay ko na sa kaniya bago ako mahiga sa tabi niya. Sinabi niya manood ako ng movie. I hate watching this kind of movie, still pinanood ko.
I was half asleep while looking straight at the screen. Nasa tabi ko siya, nakadapa ako sa kama while I was hugging her on waist
I couldn't get the main plot of the movie. Inaantok na kasi ako, hinihintay ko lang na matapos sa pagkain si Darlene. Gusto ko siyang katabi matulog.
But my sleepiness hitted me, nakatulog ako. I just woke up because of her. Panay kasi ang siksik niya sa akin, muntik na akong malaglag.
Ang laki ng space niya tapos sa akin konti lang. Nilingon ko siya bago hawakan ang braso niya. Ang lamig at halatang nilalamig na siya.
I fixed the blanket on her body, but she removed it. Hinawi niya ng paa ang blanket.
"Hey, you're cold." Inayos ko ang blanket.
"Mainit..." her eyes closed, sleepy.
"Ang lamig kaya ng braso mo."
"Maiinitan ako," humarap siya sa akin, nakapikit pa rin siya.
"Okay then, I'll hug you instead." I kissed her on the side of her head. "Baby, hug me." I rested my head on her neck as I kissed her.
She hugged me.
Napatingin ako sa silk pajama para ayusin. I sleep again, but an hour, she woke me up again.
"Hoy, Velasquez." Siniko niya ako.
"What?" I asked.
"'Yang kamay mo, Phoenix. Tatanggalan kitang kamay," she looked at me. "Gusto mong maranasan na mawalan ng kamay?" She faked a smile.
"Baby, I'm just hugging you," hinila ko siya palapit.
"Just hugging you..." she murmured. "Dito kasi ang yakap," she put my hands on her tummy, not on her chest. "Kung saan-saan dumadapo 'yang kamay mo."
I chuckled. "Hindi, ah. Niyayakap lang naman kita."
"Ulol, Phoenix. Baka nakakalimutan mo ang trip mo tuwing gabi. Hawak na hawak ka lagi."
I laughed. "It's soft-aray, love." She pulled my hair. Umayos rin naman siya. "Let's sleep na, mahal. I love you." I kissed the side of her head before closing my eyes.
I woke up at six in the morning since I have a conference meeting at eight in the morning. Nilingon ko si Darlene, bakit ang ganda ni Darlene kahit nakanganga siya? But it looks funny.
Tumayo na ako para dumiretso sa bathroom. I opened the curtains first, hininaan ko ang aircon dahil ayaw magkumot ni Darlene. Naiinitan daw siya, e, ang lamig na ng braso niya.
After that, I took a shower.
"Darlene, wake up." I said while fixing my sleeve then sit beside her. Inayos ko ang buhok niya. "Hey, we need to leave," I whispered but she just covered her face. "Hon, I have a conference meeting today." Tumayo na ako para kunin ang coat sa sofa
Gusto ko siyang isama sa conference meeting ngayong araw kaya niyaya ko siya. Gusto ko lang rin malaman ng mga empleyado ko na girlfriend ko siya.
Nang magising siya ay dumiretso siya sa bathroom. Lumabas naman ako ng kwarto para tawagan ang isa sa mga kasama ni Lala, and it's one of my employee.
"[Good morning, Sir. Velasquez.]"
"Good morning, I want you to do something. Remember, Hazelle and her family? My grandmother was the reason why their company was connected to mine. Since I don't want to see their faces in the meeting, I want to cut my connections to them."
At kapag may connections pa sila kumpanya posibleng gamitin sila ni Oliver para gawin ang gusto niya. It's not that I don't want him to be part of the company ayoko lang na mawala ang pinaghirapan ni Lolo at Dad para mapalago ang kumpanya.
I know my cousin, may pagka-demonyo rin 'yon, e. Tss... lahat gagawin no'n mapunta lang sa kaniya ang lahat.
"[We will do that, Mr. Velasquez.]" She said, "[By the way, Sir, the conference meeting will start at eight. Everyone was there and waiting for you.]"
Nakita ko si Darlene, she's wearing a decent simple dress. She pouted after stopping in front of me. She pouted.
"I know, that's why I am going to the meeting," siniil ko ng halik ang labi niya. Damn, it tastes like mint, huh. I held her chin to kiss her more. Muntik ko nang mabitawan ang cellphone ko.
"[And it's about sales and marketing, the sales of southern network, Sir.]"
Darlene slightly pushed me, tumingin ako sa kaniya bago magsalita. "Just discussed that in the meeting."
She kissed me on the jaw before going into the kitchen. Sinundan ko siya ng tingin.
I went back to the conversation. It took a minute before I ended the call. Pag-uusapan naman 'yon sa meeting, pinapaikot-ikot niya lang ang usapan.
Pumunta ako sa kitchen. Kumakain si Darlene at inalok naman niya ako kaya kinuha ko na lang. I'm still not eating breakfast. After we ate, umalis na rin kami sa condo.
Dumaan kami sa starbucks dahil gusto niya ng coffee kahit nakapag-coffee na siya.
Malayo ang condo ko sa company at traffic pa kaya for sure, naghihintay na sila sa akin. I'm not being a VIP, sadyang kasalanan ng traffic 'yon.
When we got to my company, a bodyguard stopped in front of us. Kinuha niya ang susi ko. Darlene held my arm while we were going inside.
Lumapit sa akin ang isang empleyado. I signed the papers. Nagdiretso kami ng lakad ni Darlene, panay ang tingin ng iba sa kaniya.
Her hands held mine. "Your hands are sweaty..." Her hands were wet. "Are you okay?"
"Oo?" She looked nervous.
I squeezed her hands before we walked in front of the elevator to wait. We went inside to go to the seventh floor. I noticed that everyone was looking until we got inside of the elevator.
"Bal, may something ba sa mukha ko?"
"Nothing, why?" Nilingon ko siya.
"Panay ang tingin nila sa mukha ko." She looked at the elevator door.
"Maybe they are just shocked. This is the first time I brought a woman here." What's the reason why I need to bring a woman here?
"Oh? Hindi nga?"
"It's true, I'm not like others who always bring a woman for their happiness."
"Sure ka?" Paninigurado niya.
"Oo nga, ikaw pa lang ang dadalhin ko sa kwarto ng opisina ko."
She looked at me. "Teka, ah, bakit ka may kwarto doon, ha?" Tinuro niya ako. "Anong ginagawa mo?"
Wala akong ginagawa. Wala naman akong gagawin ko do'n dahil wala siya.
"Nothing! It's for your purposes if you're here." I winked.
Aasa pa ba akong makukuha niya ang lahat ng sinasabi ko? Of course not, medyo inosente pa siya.
She pointed her index finger at me. "Bakit parang may laman lahat ng sinasabi mo?"
Wow, so nakukuha na niya ang ibig sabihin ko. Tsaka, totoo na siya lang ang makakaupo sa ibabaw ng table ko at ang dadalhin ko sa kwarto ng opisina ko. It's all hers.
When we got on my office floor, some of the employees looked in our direction. But mostly, kay Darlene ang paningin nilang lahat. They keep on talking about Darlene, they are confused about who she is.
"Mr. Velasquez! Good thing you're here now! Mr. Gomez was mad at you!" Mae approached me, one of my employees. "Pinapakalma nga ni Ms. Lala kaso nabwisit rin kaya ayon lalong lumala. Lalo na po si Mr. Gomez."
"Let him do his shit."
Lagi naman na galit 'yon kahit walang meeting, he was so mad at me. I wonder why? Siguro pinaglihi siya sa sama ng loob sa akin kahit hindi pa ako ipinapanganak noon.
Naka-reserve na siguro 'yong galit niya para sa akin, matagal na.
Hinila ko si Darlene papunta sa conference room. I heard Lala's voice immediately while we're still outside. Halatang nakikipagtalo siya sa loob.
Nang buksan ko ang pinto, napatingin silang lahat sa akin at kay Darlene. Una akong pumasok habang nasa likod ko siya at hawak sa kamay. They became quiet while looking at her.
"After a goddamn month you showed up!" Mr. Gomez said, irritated.
Stupid, I really can't go because I'm studying. I know it's part of my responsibility, but also my responsibility was to study. At saka, alam naman nilang lahat 'yon, hindi ko alam kung nasabihan ba si Mr. Gomez.
"Should I say sorry?" I asked boredly.
"Yes-." I cut him off.
"I've changed my mind." My apology was expensive. "Let's just start the freaking meeting." Binitawan ko si Darlene para paupuin siya desk chair. Nakatingin lang silang lahat kay Darlene. "Why you all keep looking at her? I said, let's start this nonsense meeting."
Panay kasi ang tingin nilang lahat sa kaniya.
"It's not nonsense, Phoenix. This is important."
"Then proceed." I sat beside Darlene.
They proceed to the meeting. Nakikinig naman ako sa mga sinasabi nilang lahat, it was good. The performance of the company every month was great.
But I can't be happy because of their reports. I asked a damn question. Tinapos ko ang pakikinig sa mga sinasabi nila na may nag-back out sa deal pero may napapansin lang ako... why are they staring at Darlene?
"I don't like those stares..." I whispered.
Tumingin siya sa akin. "Yeah, it makes me sick." She ate something that came from her bag.
"I was feeling that too." I said.
The meeting stopped a bit because it's lunch. Lala gave me a food pero wala akong plano na kainin 'yon. Hindi pa yata gutom si Darlene dahil ayaw niyang galawain ang nasa harap niya.
"Why aren't you eating, Mr. Velasquez?" Mr. De Asis asked.
"I'm not eating that... tuna sandwich..." Of course I like tuna sandwich, hindi ko lang gusto kumain. Mas gusto kong kainin ang gawa ni Darlene.
"What about your..." Hindi alam ni Ms. Selene ang itatawag kay Darlene, isa sa mga board members.
Hindi ko pa nga pala napapakilala sa kanila si Darlene.
"She's my girlfriend before..." I received a death glare from her. Hindi pa kasi ako tapos magsalita, love. "She's my wife now." I added, hinila ko ang swivel chair kung saan siya nakaupo. Inakbayan ko siya. "Right, hon?"
She nodded. "Oo."
Damn, that's the answer that I want to hear.
"That explains why you both have rings in your fingers." Mr. Harriet pointed our ring fingers.
It was a promise ring plus the ring that I gave Darlene before. Na parang engagement ring ang style.
"Yeah, it was a simple wedding. I think it's been a long time now since my wife and I got married." It's so good to hear whenever I'm calling her as my wife.
"We don't know that... but still congrats."
"Thank you." I simply said. Lumapit ako kay Darlene."Why don't we make it legal?" I whispered through her ears, I kissed her neck.
Lumayo ako sa kaniya nang mapansing nakatingin pala ang ibang board members sa aming dalawa. We are too PDA.
"Natutuwa ka na naman."
Of course, alam na nilang asawa ko siya kaya ako matutuwa.
"Well..." I said, teasing.
"Since you two were married a long time ago, why didn't you bring her here? Ngayon pa lang? Or even a Party."
Pinagmasdan kong uminom si Darlene bago magsalita. "She was pregnant back then." I joked but remained serious.
Darlene almost blew out the water. Bumaba ang kamay niya, she pinched me on my arm. Inalis ko ang kamay niya dahil ang sakit.
I put my hands on her thighs then looked at her but I received a death glare. I smirked.
"She can't come to me because she needs to get rest for our baby." I suddenly imagined her having a baby. "It's hard for her because it's her first time to carry a baby in her tummy." Masaya kaya kapag may baby? "But now she can, someone taking our twins." tumingin ako sa kaniya, nang-aasar.
"Wow... congrats really!" Miss. Selene looked so happy.. "What's their names?"
"My wife and I baby girl's name is Presslyn..." I replied. "Then my son's name is Duke." Sinipa ako ni Darlene pero lumayo ako.
I saw her typing on her phone before my phone beeped, I saw her message.
From: love
Kapag hindi ka tumigil, tatanggalan kita ng karapatang mag-anak. Hinding-hindi ka magkakaroon ng anak sa gagawin ko sayo.
I coughed when I saw it. I typed a reply while listening to their congratulations.
To: love.
No freaking way. Sayang ang lahi ko.
Hindi kami magkakaroon ng little Darlene or little Phoenix kapag nangyari 'yon.
Hindi siya nagreply kaya hinayaan ko na lang.
"We appreciate your congratulations to me and to my beautiful wife." Nilingon ko si Darlene na napipikon na.
Tumigil na rin ako dahil baka hindi niya ako pansinin. They also stopped congratulating us, but the topic goes to a wedding. Ang akala talaga nila kasal kaming dalawa. Hindi pa kami kasal, sa future, oo.
After the wedding topic, we continued our discussion about the meeting. They are giving some ideas about future strategies, they have good ideas and examples where this goes, o 'yong mga suggestion nila. Except for this person named Louie, he kept on disobeying my decision.
I know he's point but he doesn't know where his point could go kung puro desisyon niya lang ang masusunod. What's the point of this meeting kung puro gusto niya lang ang masusunod? Kontra nang kontra. Kaya nga nagmeeting para pagsama-samahin ang mga suggestions nila tapos ang gusto niya, sa kaniya lang naka-depende.
Naunahan pa ako ni Darlene na magsalita dahil napansin niya rin pala.
Good thing, after the meeting, my irritation faded. I adjourned the meeting before standing up. Sinilip ko ang ginagawa niya sa cellphone ko, she saw my posted. Natawa ako nang makita ang stolen picture niya.
Una siyang lumabas ng conference. Kinuha ko muna ang laptop bago sumunod sa kaniya. But some of board members talked to me kaya hindi ako makaalis. Nagpaalam na rin ako dahil ayoko namang mainip si Darlene pero hindi ko inaasahan na nandito si Drake.
I stopped walking when he called me. Tumingin si Darlene sa paligid, as if hindi siya nakita ni Drake.
"What?" I asked in a bored tone.
"I thought you were working on Darlene's death threats? Someone sent her again. It wasn't Astralla, it was her brother, idiot." He said.
I know that, alam kong si Aristotle ang nagpapadala no'n pero ang sumusunod kay Darlene? Hindi sila.
"Someone was following her too. It wasn't Astralla or her brother. I don't locate the person. Maybe that person knows that we can track her." he added.
It was Lara.
"You're late on the news... that person is in Spain. I told Tito Dylan and Darius about it. I'm the one who tracked that person."
But I don't know that person. Ang alam ko lang nasa Spain 'yon. At saka, Drake became slow, huh. Dati siya 'yong unang nakakakuha about news when it comes to this tapos ngayon hindi na.
"Alright." He said sarcastically. "Just work on that... and Darlene please go home. Amir was looking for you."
Darlene looked at her brother. "Okay."
Drake leave right away, he need to buy a twin banana pero hindi niya alam kung saan. Ang dami kaya sa Davao del Norte no'n.
Tss... yaman yaman nila Drake. They have a lot of choppers, private planes, and damn cars. I don't know kung alam ba ni Darlene 'yon dahil minsan ko nang nakita lahat. It's a place na puro sasakyan, choppers, at private plane lang nila ang nakalagay.
Anya was craving those bananas, I guess?
I closed the glass door of my office. It was tinted so, hindi makikita ang tao sa loob ng office ko. She went straight to my office table, I watched her to see my things.
She has a picture frame on my table..
"Bakit itim lahat?" She sat on the desk, crossing her legs.
"I wanted a black so here it is. Why? You want to change it?" Lumapit ako sa kaniya pero tumigil rin ako sa harap niya.
Umiling siya. "Hindi, ha. Maganda naman siya," she said. "Ay, wait lang, akala ko si Papa ang nakahanap kung nasaan ang taong sumusunod sa akin noong nakataas. Ikaw pala 'yon? Galing mo, ha?"
"I think you forgot who I am."
"Wow, ang taas, ha. Pero paano nga?"
"Simple, I research about the person who wants your head, it's only the Morriston siblings and she's not like Aristotle. Her intention was to look for you. She has no plans to kill you. I don't know the reason but I know she's in Spain."
Hindi ko lang alam kung anong rason no'n para sundan si Darlene.
"Do you have a family in Spain?" Of course they have! Taga-doon ang grandparents niya.
She nodded. "Oo, iyong Mama ni Mama doon nakatira."
"Maybe it's part of your family, try to ask your Mom." Malay mo isa pala sa pamilya niya do'n ang sumusunod kay Darlene. "By the way, how's the twins?" I asked when I remembered what I said earlier.
Hinampas niya ako pero mahina lang. "Ano ba?"
"What? I'm asking you. You're not complaining earlier, what happened now?"
"Pucha, hindi nga kasi. Saka, tigil-tigilan mo kakasabi ng kambal, ha? Ni hindi mo nga alam na kambal ang anak mo." Nag-angat siya ng tingin, her eyes looked directly at me.
"It's twins," I assured her.
I know it's twins. Gagalingan ko nalang sa paggawa.
"Gago, paano ka naman nakakasigurado?"
"I will release a lot to make sure it's twins, Miranda. I will make sure of that." Aside from that, I will do some prayers para naman mangyari at saka malakas naman ang lahi ko. May lahi rin silang twins kaya sure na 'yon.
"You didn't get it so-." She cut me off.
"Nagets ko 'yon!"
I held my chest, acting like I couldn't believe what she said. "Damn, I can't believe you."
"Para ka namang tanga."
"I just can't believe..." Hindi niya kasi makuha ang mga ipinupunto ko. "Your head eat a lot innocence." hinawi ko ang ilang strand ng buhok niya, dinampian ko ng halik ang pisngi niya
"Paanong innocence ba?"
"Sometimes you don't get my jokes... " I gave her a kiss on her jaw. "I love you..."
"Ah, hindi ko naman kasi talaga makuha."
Kaya nga ang inosente niya minsan. Tinitigan ko ang mukha niya. Sinalubong naman niya ang tingin ko.
"Nakakailang naman..." she whispered. Binaon niya ang mukha sa dibdib ko. "Tama na nga, kinikilig na ako sa titig mo."
I chuckled. "You're pretty, I love you..."
I was about to kiss her but someone entered, it was my employee from Finance. Napailing nalang ako dahil hindi marunong kumatok.
Umalis rin naman siya pagkatapos ilapag ang papers sa center table. Sinabihan ko rin siya sabihan si Lala na magdala ng pagkain sa office para makakain si Darlene.
Lala did what I said, she brought food from my restaurant. Kumain nalang muna kaming dalawa ni Darlene para hindi siya magutom.
After eating I started to work so that after 5 pm we could go outside. It's not hard to finished this kaya matatapos rin naman ako agad except to this papers na kailangan kong pirmahan.
My eyes and head are focused on these papers.
Nag-angat ako ng tingin. I leaned on my swivel chair when I saw Darlene lying on the sofa, looking sexy the way she lay down. Her head was resting on her palms. Nakapatong naman ang libro sa sofa habang binubuklat niya isa-isa.
She yawned and continued. Pansin ko lang... parang hindi Prinsesa ang datingan ni Darlene. Iyong tipong mayaman naman siya pero nagpapalibre lagi.
Hindi mahahalata na si Darlene ang pinakamayaman sa lahat, kahit na siya ang pinakamayaman kay Tito Dylan dahil sa simpleng sinusuot niya at nabubuhay lagi sa libre. She's simple yet elegant.
I continued my work baka kasi hindi ako matapos kung tititigan ko lang siya.
Naistorbo lang ako nang pumasok si Lala. My forehead creased when someone entered and it was Hazelle. Wala naman akong pakialam kahit magalit siya sa ginawa kong pag-cancel ng deal sa kanila. Besides, she's fucking spread news na engaged kaming dalawa, e, hindi naman talaga.
"Because we are!"
"No fucking way. I don't love you. Now get out of my place and stop bugging my life or else I will bring your Company down seriously, and make you and your family suffer a lot." I can do that, tingnan mo ang ex ni Lala. Her father suffered because of what I did.
Siguro kung hindi tumigil si Sawyer baka naghihirap na sila ngayon.
"You will regret this!"
"I won't regret this. Never. Now can you leave and don't ever show yourself to me."
She didn't speak instead of looking at Darlene. Tumayo ako nang balak niyang sugurin si Darlene pero mabuti nalang nahawakan ni Lala ang kamay niya.
"Leave this place, bitch." Lala forced Hazelle to leave "Guard! Guard, pakikuha nga ang babaeng 'to!"
"Don't touch me! I said, don't touch me!" The guard was pulling her outside of my office.
"That bitch... " si Lala. "Isa pang tapak no'n dito, kakalbuhin ko 'yon."
I sat again on my swivel chair.
"Support kita diyan." Darlene went to my table. "Phoenix, totoong tinigil mo ang deal sa kanila?"
I pulled her to sit on my lap. I held her waist. I smelled her cologne from her shoulder, she smells good.
It's true, I cancelled the deal and I cut my connections to them. Like what I've said, I don't want their company connected to mine. At saka, ginagamit lang sila ni Oliver. Hindi ba sila nakakahalata? Ayoko lang na mawala ang lahat ng sa 'kin.
"Lakas din ng amats ng Oliver na 'yon, e, 'no?" She said. "Pero parang kilala ka noong Hazelle, e."
Hazelle was my date before.
"I'll tell you but don't be mad, hon, okay?"
Naningkit ang mata niya habang nakatingin sa akin.
"Hey, I said don't be mad, love"
"Okay." Binaba niya ang tingin sa mga papel na nasa harap namin.
"Back then Hazelle was my date-."
"Nagdate kayo?" It's only a date!
"Yeah, but it happened once. Only once, baby. She met me in Rax but believe me I don't have interest in her, she was nothing. I don't like her either."
"E, bakit mo sinasabi sa akin ang tungkol doon?"
Para hindi siya magalit at aware siya na may nangyaring gano'n.
"So, you can be aware that it's only one date. I left her on that date because of your father. He called me to look for someone in Laguna, but he told me to stop after a week. Then after that date, I forgot about her."
Bakit kasi pinatigil sa akin ni Tito Dylan na hanapin siya noon?
"But she didn't stop, she kept on bugging me. She only stopped when she saw me with you. Remember when we're in the Hospital. That's the day when your brother's friend attacked me? Well, it's also the day when I first time claimed your lips. Remember when we were in the restroom."
She slapped me that day!
"Para ka kasing tanga no'n."
Alam ko 'yon.
"You slapped me three times. No one dared to slap me, Miranda." Ang sakit kaya ng sampal niya.
"Kaya nga isang karangalan 'yon sa isang katulad ko."
"At least I kissed you..." First time-hindi. Hindi ko siya first time na mahalikan, remember, I was her first kiss? Siya rin ang first kiss ko.
Lahat ng first ko sa kaniya, from my first kiss, first girlfriend, first woman I introduced to my family and of course, she's also the last dahil wala nang kasunod. But I wasn't Darlene first boyfriend pero ayos lang, at least ako ang first kiss niya not that fucking stupid asshole.
Galit pa rin ako sa pangalan na Jude. Kahit mamatay ako, inis pa rin ako sa bwisit na 'yon.
Tama nga siguro si Darlene, once na mag-break kami, pakiramdam ko magre-relapse talaga ako sa kaniya.
"Sigurado kang 'yon lang?"
Yeah, I pulled you inside the cubicle. You sat on my lap, fighting back my kisses. We kissed each other.
"Oh, right. It's not just kissed. I kissed your neck and something almost happened." And that's the first time I saw her... basta. Hindi ko na lang sasabihin.
"Pero paano nagkakilala ang Lola mo tapos ang babaeng 'yon?" Hindi ko rin alam kung paano sila nagkakilala.
"I don't know, my grandmother just called me about that coming marriage but you see? I didn't agree. And that Oliver... I know he's doing something and I need to find out that also."
Alam ko naman kasing hindi titigil ang bwisit na 'yon. Hindi lang dapat tinututukan ng baril 'yon, e. Dapat do'n tinutuluyan. But still I won't shoot him, tss... he's not worth it though.
"Ang dami mo namang ganap sa buhay, buti hindi ka nahihirapan 'no?"
"If you just knew..." Mahinang sagot ko.
Simula kaya nang mamatay ang magulang ko, salo ko na ang lahat. But I can't be tired, I can't just stay in the room and cry what I felt. Marami akong responsibilidad, I can be tired but I can't just give up. Umaasa pa rin sa akin ang mga kapatid ko.
You were handling a huge company tapos minsan nagkakaproblema pa. I'm taking care of my siblings, Tita, and Lala. They are my family so I need to take care of them. I'm figuring out my parents' death, may problema pa sa pamilya ni Daddy. And lastly, Phoebe who has heart diseases. Lahat 'yon salo ko lalo kapag nakikita kong nanghihina ang kapatid ko.
Kung pwede lang kunin ang sakit niya, ginawa ko na para hindi siya mahirapan.
Everytime na nangyayari 'yon sa kaniya parang gusto ko na lang kunin ang nararamdaman niya. She's not deserve that. I know it's hard for her because she can't do what she wants, kailangan nasa bahay lang siya. But good thing... today she can go to School.
Darlene asked if she has a donor, but I said she doesn't want to get operated on.
She doesn't want to do the operation. She was scared whenever she's thinking about that kaya hindi na lang namin ino-open ang usapan na 'yon para hindi siya kabahan dahil bawal rin 'yon sa kaniya. She's too young for operation but we still need to find. She needs a donor and that was a secret. It's for her own good.
She just smiled after hearing my words.
I tilted my head to kiss her cheeks. "Yeah..." I sniffed her neck. "You know what, Darlene... you smell good." I whispered, inayos ko ang dress niya at saka siya hinalikan sa pisngi.
"Ano ba, bal." She was typing on the keyboard. "Anong magandang damit?" She changed the topic.
"For what?" I asked, confused.
"Dito," turo niya sa monitor kaya tumingin ako pero natigilan ako nang makita ang ginagawa niya.
Hindi ako makapaniwala na naglalaro siya ng barbie? I'm not sure, basta 'yong pinapalitan ng damit at nilalagyan ng makeup.
"Darlene, that's only for a kid. Saan ka naglalaro n'yan?" I was so confused, naglalaro pala siya no'n.
"Dito sa y8," she laughed. "At saka, 'wag kang epal, love. Binibihisan ko siya, anong magandang damit?" She put her arms around my nape, sumandal rin siya sa braso ko.
"I don't know, I'm not playing that."
"Okay, ako na lang ang maglalaro." She continued to play.
Pinanood ko na lang siya habang nilalagyan niya ng damit 'yong barbie? I'm not sure kung 'yon ang tawag sa nilalaro niya. Basta nilalagyan niya ng accesories sa katawan.
"Try to put this on," I pointed at the white shoes.
"Hindi bagay."
"It is, look," tinuro ko pa ang tinutukoy ko.
"Hindi siya bagay sa dress." Umiling siya. "Sige na nga, tapos lagyan natin makeup." I saw how she moved the mouse just to do the makeup on the character.
Hindi na ako nakasali, I just realized that... I never played this in my entire life tapos dahil kay Darlene magagawa ko? Dude, I am a CEO-Billionaire.
"Ang ganda na niya 'di ba," she was so proud.
I nodded. "Yeah, it is." I agreed. "Play ka lang d'yan, while I'm doing my work." I laughed.
She laughed. "Ginawa mo akong bata. Doon ako sa sofa."
"No, baby, stay here." I locked her in my arms, hindi naman siya umapila. She just played but it was a different game.
I continued reading the papers. Inaantok ako pero kailangan kong tapusin 'to lahat. She got bored playing, she asked me if she could play a music so I said yes.
But can I ask a question? Bakit feel na feel niya 'yong song na 'August'?
"Darlene, gusto ko lang ipaalala sa 'yo, you have a boyfriend, you have a happy relationship." I commented.
Nilingon niya ako. She laughed so hard, hindi siya nagsalita. Napailing nalang ako sa trip niya.
Niyaya ko na rin siyang umuwi nang mag-five ng hapon. Tapos ko na rin naman lahat ng ginagawa ko. She went outside, naiwan niya ang bag niya kaya kinuha ko sa sofa.
Sumunod ako sa kaniya palabas ng office. Hinawakan ko ang kamay niya nang pumasok kami sa loob ng elevator.
"Where do you want to go?" I looked at her from the reflection of the mirror.
"Uwi na tayo, gusto ko na umuwi, e."
"Okay then, I'll take you home." Lumabas kaming dalawa sa elevator.
Nang makuha ko ang susi ng kotse sa bodyguard, pinagbuksan ko ng pinto si Darlene. I went inside after closing the door.
Hinatid ko siya sa bahay nila. Hindi pa ako umalis dahil pumasok rin ako sa loob ng bahay nila. Our pets was in the sala. I kissed Lucy's head before sitting on the sofa.
"Bal, wait lang. Magpapalit lang akong damit."
I nodded. "Okay, I'll wait for you here."
She smiled. Sinundan ko siya ng tingin habang umaakyat siya. Ang bilis niyang umakyat kaya muntik na siyang madula pero napahawak siya sa railings.
"Hey, don't run!"
She laughed. "Next time!"
Napailing ako sa kaniya.
Nakita ko namang bumaba si Darius, he was holding a phone and looked so frustrated. Tumigil siya sa harap ko.
"Phoenix, how can you read this?" He showed me his phone.
Tumingin ako sa screen para makita ang tinutukoy niya. "Wow, umabot na kayo sa instagram?" I laughed.
Si Lara lang naman 'to. Siya lang naman ang kukulit kay Darius, walang duda. Sa kaisa-isang following niya, si Darius lang ang nandoon.
He rolled his eyes. "She asked if I had one, so yeah, I gave it. It's just confusing, in her following. Ako lang ang nakalagay d'on. Look." Pinakita niya ang profile ni Lara.
dUmp_AccountKoTo
duMp.
0 posts | 4, 091 Followers | 1 Following
"See? Anyway, read this. Dudugo ang ilong ko kakabasa ng message niya."
Tumingin ulit ako sa screen at puro messages ni Lara ang nakita ko but the hell. Ang dami talagang alam n'on. Ibang lenggwahe ang gamit niya.
I read her message at sa tingin ko... sasakit ang ulo ko dito.
"Wait, I just get something," umakyat si Darius sa taas.
Binalik ko ang tingin sa screen.
What will happen if Lara knows that Darius knows that she's alive.
I smirked as I typed a message.
darius_gunther:
Lara, is that you?
Seconds after she saw the message. Hindi nakapagreply si Lara.
darius_gunther:
I know you're alive, Abi. I saw you at the cemetery.
I laughed knowing her reaction. Nag-angat ako ng tingin sa taas nila at wala pa rin si Darius. Lumabas ako habang hawak ang cellphone ni Darius.
dUmp_AccountKoTo:
HûH, cíñuE ÙHn?
darius_gunther:
You, obviously it's you. You're Lara, right? My ex.
Dude, anong kayang reaction niya?
She didn't reply but my phone rang. Panibagong number ang nakita ko kaya naguluhan ako kung sino, but when I answered the call... it was Lara.
"[Hayop ka! Sinabi mo 'no?!]" She shouted. "[Putang ina naman nito! Bakit mo sinabi?!]" Dudugo ang tainga ko sa sigaw niya.
I almost laughed. "Well..."
"[Ulol! Tanginang 'to!]"
"Sir. Phoenix, tawag po kayo ni Miss. Darlene, at 'yong cellphone daw po ni Sir. Darius."
I nodded at the maid. "I'll go there." Umalis rin naman agad siya.
"[Wait-Putanginang 'to! Hawak mo 'yong cellphone ni Darius, hayop ka! Ikaw 'yon! Putang ina!]"
"Your reaction was priceless for sure."
"[Hayop ka! Hindi mo ba alam ang kaba ko nung nabasa ko 'yon?! Kingina, kinabahan ako! Letche 'to! Kinginang 'to!]" She ended the call.
I laughed before deleting the message. Pumasok ako sa loob ng bahay. Nakita ko si Darius kaya binalik ko sa kaniya ang cellphone niya.
Umakyat naman ako sa taas para pumasok sa kwarto ni Darlene. I saw her brushing her hair. Napatingin siya sa akin.
"You're calling me, why?" Tumigil ako sa harap niya.
"Dito ka na magdinner." She smiled.
"Okay, I will," I smiled back. "Gusto mo dito rin ako matulog?"
"Ulol, Phoenix."
I laughed. Pumunta naman kami sa dining.