8
Nakauwi na si Mavee pero nawiwindang pa rin siya sa bilis ng mga pangyayari, mula nang naging “girlfriend” siya ni Jay Craig na nalaman niyang JC pala to most of his friends (he prefers to call him Craig) ay parang nag-iba na ang mundo niya, Pamatay naman kasi ang ka sweetan nito, ganito ba talaga siya? Nakakabaliw rin ang kanyang physical aspects, minus the zeros on his bank accounts, lagi siyang naliligalig tuwing malapit ito, masyado siyang affected.
Napalundag tuloy siya nang biglang tumunog ang telepono niya, hindi nakaregister ang number and she is sure that it’s a landline.
“Hello?”
Natuwa naman siya, pinapatawag siya ng isang kumpanyang inaaplayan niya. Tanggap na raw siya! Sa tuwa ay agad na naidial niya ang number ni Craig.
“Hello, Hon.”
Hon? Tinignan niya ang number na nakaregister sa screen, number pala ni Craig, akala niya ay kay Leila na bestfriend niya.
Napakunot-noo si Jay Craig, he is actually in the middle of a business conference when his phone rang, he doesn’t care even if somebody is about to present his proposal, he let the person stop and answered the phone call.
“Honey?” Lahat nakanganga sa kanya, sa tagal kasi ng pagkakakilala nila kay JC, ngayon lang ito sumagot nang phone in the middle of the meeting and what is shocking is the word “honey.”
“Craig, I’m hired!” Nasabi na lang niya. “I got a work.”
Napangiti siya. “That’s nice. I’m happy for you. I’ll fetch you later ha, I’m in the middle of the meeting, you take care, Hon. Bye.” Tumingin siya sa mga ka business associates niya na shocked pa rin. Medyo nahiya naman siya but he didn’t care. “So, where are we now, Mr. Tan?”
Nakatingin pa rin si Mavee sa cell phone niya, hindi siya makapaniwalang tinawawan niya si Craig and he’s in the middle of the meeting but he answered the phone! OMG! Nakakahiya talaga. What’s happening to her?
After the meeting ay nakangiti pa rin si Craig, naalala niya kasi ang mukha ni Mavee, tuloy hindi niya namalayan na nasa tabi na niya si Raima Wong na matagal na nilang kasosyo sa negosyo, kaklase niya ito since high school.
“What’s happening to you, JC?” Nakasimangot na tanong nito.
Nilalaro pa rin ni Craig ang sign pen niya. “Why?”
“What why? Imagine, you let Mr. Tan stopped in the middle of the meeting just to answer a call from one of your girls! They even heard you calling her honey.” Nagpupuyos na ang kalooban nito.
“So? It’s my company, I can do what I want, Raima.”
“Who called?” She tried to fish some information.
“None of your business, Raima.” He went out of the room. Naiinis na naiwan si Raima sa loob. Another woman ha, I bet, tulad nang iba, hindi rin siya tatagal sayo, JC.
****
Isa actually siyang staff ng isang private company na nageexport ng iba’t ibang klaseng organic products, although hindi naman kalakihan ang suweldo, ang importante ay may trabaho siya. She was assigned in the advertising department. Immediately, she will start tomorrow kaya ang saya-saya niya, malapit lang din ito sa tinitirhan niyang apartment kaya okay lang. Kanina, ipinakilala siya sa mga magiging kasamahan niya, mukha naman silang mababait at accommodating.
Sa sobrang saya niya, she treated herself sa isang fast food chain. Gabi na nung makauwi siya. She was sure that she left the apartment with lights off, how come me ilaw na nakasindi? Lock naman.
Pagpasok pa lang niya ay agad na dumagundong ang boses ni Jay Craig. “Where the hell did you go?”
“Ay guwapo!” Sigaw niya sa sobrang gulat sabay hawak sa dibdib.
“Where have you been? I cannot contact you, I was so worried.” Galit ang boses nito. Lumapit ito sa kanya. Naconscious na naman si Mavee.
“Sorry, nadrain ang battery ko. I just went out to celebrate.”
“Went out to celebrate? Alone? Didn’t I tell you to wait for me because I will fetch you?” Salubong na ang mga kilay nito. Seryoso ang guwapong mukha. Medyo napaatras siya, lumambot naman ang ekspresyon nang mukha ni Craig nung maramdamang parang natatakot si Mavee sa kanya. Damn! Bakit ba di niya maiwasang maging bossy sa harap nito, wala na siya sa opisina.
“So-sorry, nakalimutan ko.”
Yun lang? Nakalimutan niya lang? Samantalang muntik na siyang tumawag nang taong hahanap sa kanya. He is disappointed.
“Sige, I have to leave. Magpahinga ka na.” Nasabi na lang niya, he is experiencing something strange right now, an unfamiliar feeling which he doesn’t really like.
“Wait.”
“What!” He is now irritated.
“Ku-kumain ka na ba?” She looks guilty.
“What do you think? After work I came here to fetch my girlfriend only to find out she’s doesn’t care. Do you think I had my dinner already?” HE said in his low voice.
Girlfriend? Shit! Tama pala, nagpapanggap siyang girlfriend nito, baka kakailanganin siya nito ngayon. Bakit ba hindi niya naisip yun?
“Sorry, just stay.” She is really guilty. Nakatungo na siya, nahihiya kasi siya dahil alam niyang may usapan silang susunduin siya nito.
Nagsalubong ang mga kilay nito, naningkit ang mga singkit na mga mata. His jaw muscles moved. He stepped towards her.
Craig went near her, very near that she can actually smell him and hear his heartbeat. She looked at him which he should not do because their eyes locked and she can feel the intense feeling she has right now.
“Damn, Ma. Venice, next time follow me.” Anas niya.
Nakaawang na ang bibig niya, bakit ba ganito ang nararamdaman niya everytime he’s near her. Nanlaki ang mga mata niya nung maramdaman ang mainit na mga labi ni Craig. He’s kissing him…again! She was stunned for a moment, she doesn’t know what to do, how to react. PEro nakakahilo ang ginagawa nito, her knees wobble, her heart agreed to her mind to kiss him back. So she did!
****
Kanina pa iritado si Craig. He’s been waiting like an eternity, it was very clear that Mavee should wait for him. They will celebrate, and when he came in,he cannot even find her shadow! Where the hell is she? He tried to contact her but she was out of coverage area, he is so worried!
He was about to call the police when the door opened. It was Mavee, he was really relieved, akala niya ay napano na to. Then she said she just celebrated. Imagine, she celebrated alone, without him. Is it not clear to her that he will fetch her? Why would this girl not follow her? Yung iba nga nagkakandarapa na makuha ang atensiyon niya, begging for him, following him like the lord pero ang babaeng ito…
Damn Mavee! He cannot help but raised his voice on her, he saw that look in her eyes, bakit parang bigla itong nangilag sa kanya? Why all of a sudden he doesn’t want her to be afraid of him? Bakit masyado siyang concern sa feeings nito? Di ba dapat hindi? He hired her, he should do her duties.
“Sorry, just stay.” She said as if begging. His heart skipped when he heard him that’s why he cannot help but go near her which he should not do because the more he’s near her, the more he wanted to do more.
“Damn Ma. Venice, next time follow me.” Nung umangat ito nang tingin sa kanya, her lips were parted, he couldn’t anymore control himself, he grabbed her waist and kissed her. At first she didn’t react, then she kissed her back. Napaungol siya, he knows she’s not an expert but he doesn’t care, he wanted to teach her. It his pleasure to teach her! They were catching their breath when they separated.
“Remember Ma Venice, follow me, I’m in control here.” He whispered. Mavee just nodded.
“Good.” Ngumiti siya.
“I-ipagluluto muna kita, pe-pero hindi kasing sarap nang luto ni Manang Meng. Noodles na lang kasi yata ang nasa kusina ko.” Nahihiyang sabi niya.
“Noodles? Instant noodles? You call that food?”
“Ang yabang mo, ano pala ang mga yun kung hindi pagkain?”
“Never mind, mag gogrocery tayo bukas.” He declared.
“Pero.” Mavee protested.
But Craig kissed him again! My god, nasasanay na ang lalaking ito sa kakahalik sa kanya!
“Follow, Honey.” He said. “Now, let’s eat.” He commanded. Hinila nito ang kanang kamay niya palabas ng apartment. He was the one who locked it also, nakalimutan niyang nabili na pala niya ito kaya may sarili itong susi.
Namalayan niya na lang na nasa kotse na siya nito. Hindi pa naman niya pinapaandar ang sasakyan. “I know you’re full, but please have dinner with me, I wanted to have my girlfriend tonight.”
Seryoso ito sa girlfriend thing ha. Nagulat pa siya nung pigla itong yumuko, akala niya ay yayakapin siya nito, yun pala ay kinuha lang nito ang seatbelt niya. Kumindat pa ito sa kanya pagkatapos.
Ang haba nang hair mo Mavee! Kung sana totoo lang ang lahat, kung sana talagang girlfriend siya nito. She is so sure that he is a sweet man, perhaps he’s not aware but in spite of a little roughness in him, he is still sweet, thoughtful and very caring. Mavee, stay calm, remember, no falling in love.
“Okay ka na?” Nagulat pa siya nung nagsalita ito, she blushed again! Paano kasi, nakatitig lang siya sa kaharap, parang nabatobalani.
“Are you falling for me?” Walang pakundangang tanong nito. Biglang naghurementado ang puso niya, lecheng tanong yan! Bakit ang hirap sagutin ngayon.
“No! Of course not!” Sagot niya ng pasigaw. Nakaka tense kasi ito.
“Good.” Sabay ngiti nito. “And Honey, you don’t need to shout, you are just few inches away from me.” He chuckled.
Bwisit! Bakit ba apektado na siya sa presence nito ngayon, masyado na ring nag sisink –in sa utak niya ang ka sweetan nito. Bigla ang seryoso nang mukha nito habang nagmamaneho, tutok na tutok sa daan. Ang bilis talagang magchange ng mood nito. Pero in fairness, kahit ano pa ang facial expression ng kumag, guwapo pa rin talaga.
“You are always staring at me, Mavee, pag yang titig na yan will turn into love, I’ll tell you, mahihirapan kang mag move-on.” Seryoso pa rin ito.
Aba! Ang kapal lang nang face! “And who told you that I will fall in love with you?” Nandidilat na ang mga mata nito. Nakakapang-init lang ng ulo.
“Me.” Then he looked at her and winked. Leche talaga!
“Conceited!”
“I am aware of that.” Ngisi lang nito. “Mavee, tell me about the company that you will be working with.” Nandun na naman ito sa seryosong tono, bilis talagang magbago ng mood, parang bagyo lang.
“Well, it’s far far from your company, Craig, but the people are great…I guess.. They are selling organic products and they are actually trying to venture outside the country.” She knows that he’s listening to him.
“Sounds interesting, and where are you assigned?”
“In the advertising department, I really hope that I will enjoy working with them, Craig.”
“I know you will, Mavee.” Itinabi nito ang kotse , napakunot-noon siya, they are in front of the famous Italian restaurant, ang alam niya marami itong branches around the Philippines and she is aware that they are trying to have branches in other Asian countries. Paano niya nalaman, simple, nasa restaurant and hotel business rin ang family niya, correction, hindi na nga pala raw siya part ng pamilya, dating pamilya. Bigla tuloy siyang nalungkot.
“Are you alright, Honey?”
“Ha? Yah. May iniisip lang.” Ngumiti lang si Craig. Pinagbuksan siya nito ng pinto, he’s such a gentleman, kaya hanggang ngayon palaisipan pa rin sa kanya kung bakit kailangan pa nito ng hired girlfriend, kahit naman siguro sinong babae kung ganito kaguwapo at kayaman ang lalaki, talagang mapapasagot.
The security guard immediately opened the door for them, he courteously greeted them as if they know him. She smiled, perhaps he is always eating here, with his money, he can eat in fancy restaurants even every day, although she still believes that Manang Meng is one of the best cooks she ever met.
“Good evening, Sir.” Bati nung isang waitress na alam niyang nagpapa cute rito, bigla tuloy siyang nainis, bakit ba may mga babaeng alam nang may kasama ang isang lalaki na girlfriend o asawa ay nakukuha pa rin nilang magpa cute. Easy Mavee, ni hindi ka nga totoong girlfriend, mas lalo ang asawa. Saka malay ba niya kung ilang babae na ang dinala ni Craig rito. Umupo sila sa mesang malayo sa karamihan. Talagang iba ang restaurant na to, very unique ang interior design, elegant, and very romantic. No wonder sikat at binabalik-balikan, she’s sure that the food are great too. Ibinigay ng waitress na nagpapa cute ang menu sa kanila. She’s not into Italian food except sa pasta, and besides, she’s really full now, alam naman yun ng kaharap.
“Just give me the best food the you can serve me, and the faster, the better.” Tumingin ito sa kanya. “The best vegetable salad for my girlfriend.”
Tinaasan ng kilay ni Mavee si Craig, how can he be so demanding, even in a restaurant like this, and how did he know that she likes vegetable salad especially that she’s on diet? Nakakainis talaga itong lalaking ito, sobrang tsamba naman at alam ang gusto niya.
“So, tell me about your family, Ma. Venice.” Seryoso nitong sabi habang hinihintay ang order nila. Bigala siyang kinabahan, should she tell him about her family in Gensan? Sasagot n asana siya nung biglang may lumapit sa kanilang napakagandang babae. Literal na maganda talaga na, she got the looks and the body, isa na naman ba ito sa mga girlfriends niya or flings as he always say.
“JC! Good to see you here.” Maarteng wika nito bago humalik sa pisngi ng binata, mga babae talaga. She looked at her and raised her eyebrows. Aba, maldita lang, eh hindi naman ikaw ang kasama.
“Ah, Mavee, I’d like you to meet Raima, Raima, this is Mavee, my girlfriend.” Pagpapakilala nito sa kanya na parang wala lang, di man lang nag effort sa girlfriend thing, mas lalo tuloy tumaas ang kilay nito. Mavee knows that inside that beautiful face is a bitch attitude, so she didn’t mind extending her hand to her.
“I thought you will meet a very important person tonight, JC that’s why you left us early?” Maarteng tanong nito, so obviously, kasamahan niya ito sa trabaho, a business partner perhaps?
“Yes, I am, Raima. I’m meeting my girlfriend, and if you’ll excuse us, we will still have our dinner.” Mavee wanted to smile but she didn’t , obviously, Craig wanted to dismiss Raima, ni hindi man lang nito niyayang kumain.
“Of course!” Nagpupuyos ang kalooban na umalis ito papunta sa mesa nang mga girl friends nito na nakatingin sa kanila. Lahat nakataas ang mga kilay, maya-maya lang ay umalis ang mga ito. Naimbiyerna yata sa kanila.
“You didn’t even invite her to be with us.”
“I just don’t like, besides, I know that my girlfriend will not want it too, right?” Tanong nito sa kanya. Namula na naman siya, bkait ba madalas siyang apektado sa mga tanong nito. Tumingin ito sa direksiyon ng mga mata niya. “Just don’t mind her, hindi naman malulugi ang restaurant ko kung aalis sila.”
Nanlaki ang mga mata niya, sa kanya ito? My gosh! Kaya pala ganun na lang kung makademand sa waitress na ngayon ay inilalagay na ang inorder niya.
------Xian-----