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Chapter 13
Hindi ko alam kung matatawa ako o maiinis sa nakikitang ngisi sa mga labi ni Terrence. Para bang hindi siya naniniwala o talagang hindi na bago sa kaniya marinig ang mga ganoong katotohanan.
"Asshole! Why are you smirking like that?" irap ko sa kaniya habang nagmamaneho siya, natatawa rin naman.
He asked me to just leave my car in the parking area of the bar. Ipapakuha na lang daw ito bukas. He didn't want to do another convoy. Bukod sa sayang daw ang gas ay hindi rin daw magandang nasa magkaibang kotse pa kami.
"That is a shallow reason for your friend to get mad at you, Priscilla. Well, real friends should not fight over a man to begin with."
"I know. Isa pa, wala naman kayong relasyon nung maging tayo-"
"I don't even know her. Don't even find her attractive."
Bumuntonghininga ako at itinuon ang atensyon sa labas ng bintana. Medyo mabilis ang takbo ng sasakyan ni Terrence dahil wala namang traffic. Hindi rin siya nakikipag unahan sa ibang sasakyan. I'm just glad that he doesn't drive like he owns the road. Nayayabangan ako sa mga ganoon.
Rich men who don't use their power and stand in the society just to take advantage of the mediocre really earn my respect. I mean... we are all breathing the same air. Walang dahilan para magmataas.
"That's my point. Hindi kayo magkakilala nang maging tayo. She's just crushing hard on you but she already feel betrayed."
"Betrayed my fucking ass. Stop being friends with her, Priscilla. She won't do any good to you."
Hindi ako sumagot. Ruth and I have been friends for years. Nakakapanghinayang naman kung nang dahil lang sa isang lalaki ay mag-aaway kami.
Kung siya nga ay tila hindi nanghihinayang. Dapat ikaw rin, Priscilla. She just showed her true colors.
"How about some tacos before we go to your penthouse?" wala sa sariling sabi ko habang pinagmamasdan ang isang taco house.
The poster where there's a huge taco shell with all of its ingredients and grated cheese on top of it made me drool. Mahilig ako kumain no'n pero wala lang panahon dahil masiyadong abala sa mga kaganapan.
"You want some?"
Nilingon ko si Terrence. He was already looking at the taco house before anchoring it on mine. I smiled at him and shrugged my shoulders.
"Do you mind?" I asked.
He gave me a half smile. Sa kahit na anong klase ng ngiti o tawa, walang tulak kabigin sa kaniya. Kahit ata titigan ko siya maghapon ay hindi ako magsasawa.
Subukan ko kaya?
Terrence did a reverse drive and maneuvered the steering wheel. Nagtungo kami sa malit na parking space ng taco house. As soon as we both got out of his car, we met in the middle and reached for my hand to pull me closer to him.
Ngumiti ako sa kaniya. Kaagad niya rin binitawan ang kamay ko at dinala ang sa kaniya sa may bewang ko.
"You do love holding my waist, yes?"
He chuckled. "I love the feeling it gives me. Feels like you are giving me the right to own you."
"Hindi pa ba?"
Nilingon ko siya, may mapaglarong ngisi sa mga labi niya.
"All of you?" he shot me a glance. "Of course. I won't give you a choice."
Ngumisi ako, naiiling at ayaw rin naman kontrahin ang sinasabi niya. The moment I let myself be in a relationship with him, it's already given that he has now owned me.
At ayos lang sa akin. Gustong gusto ko. Who wouldn't want to be owned by a goddamn Monasterio?
Terrence opened the door for me. Sabay kaming pumasok. The people inside automatically shot their gaze on us. Nagtagal ang titig nila sa amin, lalo na ang mga babae. Some of them were exchanging mutterings. At ang karamihan sa kanila, kay Terrence nakatuon ang mga mata.
Nilingon ko si Terrence. He must have noticed that I was going to tell him something that he crouched a bit so that he may be able to hear me.
"They are looking at you," I whispered.
"Yeah?"
Sa klase ng sagot niya, tila ba wala siyang pakialam kahit pa halos lahat ng babae ay nasa kaniya ang atensyon. He looked like an international celebrity, a fallen angel who was banned from heaven because of his sins, a great medieval warrior who would never back out and slow down from any war.
"Hindi na bago sa'yo dahil sure akong kahit saan ka magpunta ay hinahabol ka ng tingin." sabi ko.
Matunog siyang ngumisi at umayos ng tayo. Mas lalo niya akong hinapit sa bewang palapit sa kaniya. Mas lalo rin umugong ang mga bulungan. It made me suddenly doubt if we should go now since we're already stealing their attention and I hate that.
Pero gusto ko talaga kumain ng tacos kaya bahala sila sa mga buhay nila. Mainggit na lang sila... at maglaway.
"Don't mind them gawking at me. What's important is that my eyes are only focus on you."
Hindi ako dapat kinikilig lalo na at nasa publikong lugar kami. Pero kapag siya ang kasama ko, walang tsansa. It's even frustrating that he does nothing to make me feel this way.
Nakakainis!
"Ewan ko sa'yo. I'll order for us-"
"No. Ako ang magbabayad ng kakainin natin-"
"But I have money!" I laughed a little as we stand in front of the counter.
"So do I," he answered and even raised his brow as if whatever I reason out to him would be invalid.
Huminga ako nang malalim. Gusto kong matawa sa sarili ko. Sinabi kong ayaw ko makipagrelasyon sa mas bata sa akin dahil kahit ang mababaw na dahilan ay posibleng pag-awayin namin.
Heto kami ni Terrence, nagtatalo kung sino sa amin ang gagastos sa kakainin namin dahil parehas kaming mayaman. Rich men and their ego about who should pay for everything is damn annoying sometimes.
I'm not the type of woman who depends on anyone's money. Dahil marunong magsikap ay mas gusto kong gamitin ang sariling pera panggastos. Ayaw kong dumating ang araw na isusumbat niya sa akin ang tungkol doon
But this is Terrence Monasterio. He holds the surname of one of the wealthiest families all over the world. Money is nothing for him. Kaya sige, gastusan niya ako hangga't gusto niya. Tutal ay literal na triple ang yaman niya kaysa sa akin.
"Alright! How about you give me cold cash and let me order for us? No credit card please. This isn't an extravagant place." I smirked.
The corner of his lips curled up in a victorious grin as if it's a big deal for him that he won this petty argument.
Damn it. The first argument that I really enjoyed having with a man.
Mula sa bulsa sa likod ng slacks niya, binunot niya ang isang itim na leather wallet doon at naglabas ng ilang lilibuhin.
"I'll look a table for us," aniya na hindi maalis alis ang ngisi sa labi.
Natawa ako, naiiling. Sinundan ko siya ng tingin habang naglalakad sa bulwagan ng shop. His ass was pretty obvious with his dark slacks. Sa bawat paghakbang niya, humahakab iyon doon. Mukhang tambay rin sa gym ang isang ito.
Matapos um-order at magbayad ay nagtungo na ako sa mesa kung saan naroon si Terrence. He chose a spot somewhere far from the crowd. Nasa tabi kami ng glasswall, tanaw ang mga sasakyan na dumadaan. He was looking at it while lazily leaning his back against the chair. His thighs spread apart and fingers were drumming against the table.
"Our orders will be served by the staff." sabi ko nang makaupo sa harapan niya.
Saka pa lang siya lumingon sa gawi ko. Tipid siyang ngumiti at mariin akong tinitigan. Bumaba ang mga mata niya sa balikat ko.
"Aren't you cold?"
Maging ako ay napatingin na rin sa katawan ko partikular sa aking dibdib. Tiningnan ko siya pagkatapos.
"We were always naked in Casa Vallejo but I didn't feel cold. Dito pa kaya sa Manila na mainit at may damit naman ako?"
Kung wala lang kami sa publiko, malamang ay bumunghalit na ng tawa itong si Terrence. He had to bite his lower lip just to stifle himself from laughing out loud.
"That's because our bodies were always on fire." aniya sa malalim na boses.
Natawa lang ako. I'm afraid that if we continue talking about this topic, the people around might heard us.
We had fun eating our tacos and a glass of lemon iced tea. Nakakatuwang sa ganoong klase ng pagkain ay nakahanap ako ng kasayahan. It's a bonus that I got a good company through Terrence.
Dumiretso na rin kami sa penthouse niya pagkatapos. We made love and ended up falling asleep by two AM. Mas nauna siyang magising sa akin kinabukasan. Breakfast was ready and both of us were going to work.
"Let's have lunch together. I'll pick you up before twelve." aniya.
I was sitting on his lap. Tapos na kami kumain at nagkukwentuhan na lang. Maliligo na sana ako kaya lang ay hinila naman niya ako paupo sa kandungan niya.
"Okay. I have a meeting before lunch. Magkita na lang tayo sa lobby or... you can drop by my office if you want."
He was giving wet kisses on my shoulder. I was just wearing his plain white oversized shirt. Sa ilalim ay wala akong underwear. Dadaan pa sana ako sa penthouse ko para doon na lang maligo at mag-ayos pero mabilis si Terrence at naisipan na kaagad ako pabilhan ng damit at underwear sa secretary niya.
"Go ahead and finish whatever you need to do. Sa opisina mo na lang ako maghihintay."
It made me a bit excited. That will be the first time he'll visit my building. Sana isang beses, ako naman ang bumisita sa opisina niya.
We took a bath together, made love under the shower and even in the bed after. Sabay na rin kaming nagbihis. It's surprising that he already knew what kind of formal dress I like. He was even excellent in guessing my size.
"You look hot with that office dress. But you are hotter with my blanket wrapped around your naked body." he whispered as I stood in front of the mirror inside his manly walk-in closet.
Inihatid niya ako sa office. Ipinakuha na lang niya ang kotse ko sa bar na pinanggalingan namin. He kissed me hard in the car that led us to having sex again before he finally let me step out of it.
The car window rolled down. Bahagya akong tumungo at kumaway sa kaniya.
"Drive safely."
"I'll see you later." he winked.
Natawa ako, ngumisi siya. He started maneuvering the steering wheel and drove out of the basement.
Nakatanaw sa papalayong itim na Bentley niya, napatingin ako sa gilid nang marinig ang kalabog ng pintuan doon. The smile on my lips immediately faded when I saw Ruth walking towards me.
Umayos ako ng tayo at malamig siyang tinitigan. Ang mga mata niyang nababalutan ng eyeshadow ay nakatuon sa gawi ng papalayong kotse ni Terrence.
"Hmm. You slept in his place?" she asked and I can feel the bitterness through it.
"Yup. He asked me to."
I crossed my arms over my chest and stood straight to appear taller. Mas matangkad naman talaga ako sa kaniya. Kapag magkatabi kami ni Terrence ay halos nasa lebel na ako ng pisngi niya. Given that he's six footer.
"You see that, Priscilla? He's just toying you. He just wants your body and when's he done, he'll just dump you like a hot potato! I'm just concerned-"
"You are not. Alam mo ba kung ano ang nararamdaman mo sa mga sandaling ito, Ruth? Hindi ka nag-aalala sa akin..."
Tuluyan na akong pumihit paharap sa kaniya at mariin siyang tinitigan sa mga mata. My expression turned even more colder and unbothered. She stared back at me. I can still smell the scent of anger lingering in my nostril.
"Naiinggit ka. Nagseselos. You can't accept the fact that the man you fucking like is in a relationship with me-"
"But he doesn't love you."
Natigilan ako, nawalan ng yabang. Oo nga. Tama siya. Kahit may relasyon kami ni Terrence, aaminin kong hindi iyon nabuo sa pagmamahal. Our relationship are made of lust and attraction towards each other - not love.
He doesn't say those three words. Wala akong ideya sa nararamdaman niya para sa akin. Aside being his bed warmer, may iba pa ba?
Maging ako rin naman ay walang nararamdaman sa kaniya noong maging kami bukod sa paghanga. Sino ba namang hindi? But then as the time passes by, I'm starting to grow feelings for him that is more than just all of that.
Sa aming dalawa, ako ang unang nahulog. Pero hindi ako aamin hangga't hindi siya nahuhulog sa akin.
"He may be in a relationship with you but that doesn't mean he is in love with you," Ruth added, her face holding a smug look. "Weeks or a month from now, I bet he'll find another woman to replace you."
Imbes na patunayan sa kaniyang tama siya sa mga paratang niya, hilaw akong ngumiti sa kaniya. Kung alam ko lang na may ganito siyang klase ng pag-uugali, sana ay hindi ko na siya hinayaan maging kaibigan ko.
"If that happens, then at least I've got to taste him and feel him inside me. You know, seeing Terrence Monasterio on top of my naked body is such a nice view. Too bad you won't be able to experience that since my man doesn't like you. He doesn't even find you attractive." I smirked.
Hindi siya nakasagot. For someone who adores Terrence so much, it's painful to hear what he does with your friend when the lights are off. As much as I don't want to tell her those confidential things, her arrogance and immaturity are triggering me.
At isa pa, ano ba ang ginagawa niya dito sa building ko? Huwag niyang sabihin sa akin na sinadya niya ako dito para ungkatin na naman si Terrence?
"I gotta go. Have to attend important things than talking to you," I said and smiled sweetly at her.
Tinalikuran ko na siya at nagsimula na humakbang nang huminto ako at muli siyang nilingon. Matalim ang mga mata niya, tila magagawa akong sirain sa ganoong paraan.
Tumaas ang sulok ng labi ko.
"Oh, by the way, RIP to your unrequited feelings. Better luck on your next life."
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