Chapter 27
No one dared to talk, everyone fell silent. Well, seeing my brother's reaction i think he knows about this and maybe that's why he keeps on asking me things back then.
I glared at Drexzel.
At sino sa tingin niya ang maniniwala sakaniya matapos ang ginawa niya noon?
"U-Uhm... well..." mom uttered.
Napailing ako. Agad akong nagmartsa kay Drexzel at hinila siya papuntang garden area kung saan makakapag-usap kami at magkalinawan na nang kaming dalawa lang.
I stopped when we reached the garden, pinaalis ko muna ang mga katulong na nagdidilig ng mga halaman doon.
"Ano bang gusto mo mangyari?" mariing tanong ko sakaniya.
"I'm going to court you." malamig niyang sambit.
"Of course you can't! hindi mo 'ko pwede ligawan dahil una, may girlfriend ka, pangalawa, hindi ako tanga para hayaan kang pumasok ulit sa buhay ko."
Natigilan siya. I don't know but i saw pain in his eyes after what i said. Umiling ako. Hindi, ilusyon ko lang 'yon malamang.
"I don't have a girlfriend."
Sarkastiko akong ngumisi. Kita mo 'to! anong tingin niya saakin? boba?
"And you think i will believe you? Samantha may not be around but God knows what relationship you have with her."
"She's not my girlfriend, wala na kami matagal na, alam mo 'yon. Y-You were my last." umiwas siya ng tingin.
Natigilan naman ako. He look flushed and i couldn't believe that i was his last girlfriend... i mean-- of course not! hindi ako naniniwala sakaniya 'no.
"Stop fooling me again, Drexzel. I won't let you."
His jaw clenched.
"I am not. What i said earlier was true, lahat ng sinabi ko sa'yo no'ng gabing 'yon ay totoo. I know i've hurt you but i swear and i promise you that i won't hurt you again."
No matter how much i want to give in, 'cause there's a part of me that wants to believe him but it's better to pretend blind and act like a stone just to guard my heart. He was my first fall, at ang unang bagsak na 'yon ay may naging malaking epekto saakin, unang pagkahulog ko ay gano'n na katindi ang sakit para saakin.
"It's a no, ayoko na magpauto ulit, Drexzel. The last time i let you, you wrecked my heart."
"I'm sorry baby if i'll be too pushy but i will still court you no matter what." sambit niya.
The emotion was there, the sincerity, but still, i need self-preservation. I've learned my lessons, i need to protect myself this time. Hindi ito ang oras para maging marupok ako. I've been really marupok five years ago but... people change. I changed.
"I will do everything..."
Natigilan ako. He'll everything? Napangisi naman ako.
"Everything?"
He gulped, a bit hesitant.
"Yeah, just take me back."
I wanted to melt but i will take this as a game changer.
"Be my slave, then."
I saw how he frozed. Mukhang hindi niya inaasahan 'yon. Well, he said he will do everything and i asked him to be my slave this time, siya naman ngayon.
Marahang siyang tumango.
"Then i'm gladly to be your slave." he said.
Napaiwas naman ako ng tingin. I thought pa naman na uurong siya or perhaps he'll think about it first pero agad siyang pumayag sa gusto ko. I couldn't even imagine him doing laundry. But this is a test if he's really sincere or his feeling were all true.
But... what if dahil dito mahulog ulit ako sakaniya? I'm slowly letting him in.
"You should give him a chance! I can see... we both can see that he's sincere, you keep on denying to yourself dahil natatakot kang masaktan." Marie exclaimed.
I told her about what happened yesterday. Todo tili naman siya at tinutulak na ako kay Drexzel. Well, since day one lagi na niya akong tinutulak kay Drexzel.
"Hindi naman siguro mali 'yon? 'diba?" umirap ako.
She sighed.
"I understand your sentiments, pero you can't deny his sincerity." she exclaimed again.
"I can see it alright, kaya nga binigyan ko na nga siya ng pagkakataon na patunayan ang sarili niya." wika ko.
"By being your slave?"
"Well, yeah." i shrugged.
"I can't imagine the oh-so-hottie like him would be someone's slave! Grabe ka, you'll let him suffer?"
Umirap naman ako.
"Have you forgotten that i suffered in his hand also? Matinding pagdurusa pa nga ang naramdaman ko dati." sambit ko.
Natigilan lang kaming pareho nang kumatok si Mae at pumasok. Telling us that Drexzel's outside asking for me again. I can sense Marie's malicious grin on me, i just shook my head and went outside to see him.
He's sitting near the glass window. I sighed. He's gorgeously hot in his long sleeve folded up to his elbows. Mukhang kakagaling lang sa kumpanya niya. I can feel my cheeks heated, napaiwas naman ako ng tingin sakaniya.
Damn, He's Lord's favorite.
I was about to step when a guy blocked my way. Taka ko naman tinapunan ng tingin ang lalake. He's giving me a shy boyish grin, napakamot pa siya sakaniyang batok.
"Yes?" takang tanong ko.
"U-Uhm... are you the m-manager--" hindi pa siya tapos sa pagsasalita ay sumagot na ako.
"Yes i am."
Napalingon naman siya sa mga barkada niya na nasa katabing table lang ni Drexzel. Our eyes met, his frowning at us. I looked away.
"Ako iyong nagbirthday rito noong nakaraan, a-and you caught my attention since that day a-and i really want to know your name and y-your number..."
Oh that's why he look so intimidated. Am i too intimidating for him?
"I'm Carlos by the way..." he introduced himself.
I smiled politely.
"I'm sorry but i can't give my personal number but my name's Chloe, it's nice to meet you Carlos." ngumiti ako sakaniya saka siya nilampasan.
Dumiretso ako sa table ni Drexzel, na nakatingin pa rin sa likuran ko kung saan ang lalaki kanina. Napalingon rin ako sa lalaki na ngayon ay naglalakad na pabalik sa mesa nilang magbabarkada na katabi lang nitong table namin. Binalik ko naman ang tingin ko kay Drexzel na nasa akin na pala ang tingin niya.
"Ano na naman?"
"You know that guy?" he asked with brows furrowing.
"He said his name is Carlos, so technically i know him." sambit ko sakaniya.
"Did he asked for your number?"
I lifted my brows.
"Yeah." maiksing sagot ko.
"And you gave it?" mas lalong napakunot ang noo niya.
"Of course not."
I grunted. I don't why am i having a casual conversation with him. Parang close kami para magtanong siya nang magtanong saakin.
"So what's your issue? bakit mo na naman ako hinahanap?"
"Just want to see you." simpleng sagot niya at hindi iniiwan ang tingin saakin.
I feel flushed. I didn't expect him to be straight forward. Maybe i should get used to it dahil mukhang ganito na talaga siya. But remembering the old him five years ago, he rather judge you in silence than be vocal.
People change, i changed. So is he.
"T-That's it?" kunwaring walang pakealam kong sambit.
"And we'll talk about our arrangement. You said, i'm going to be your slave when will i start?" tanong niya ka ikinagulat ko.
Whoah. He's fucking serious with this. Hindi man lang siya nagreklamo, hence he even asked when to start? He's unbelievable.
"I-Ikaw bahala..." i answered absentmindedly.
He frowned.
"Huh?"
"I mean-- ngayon, ngayon ka na magsisimula. Excuse me."
Agad akong tumayo at diretsong naglakad pabalik sa kusina ko. Naabutan ko naman sa loob si Marie na katawagan ang nobyo niya. When she saw me, she immediately bid her goodbye to her boyfriend then she asked me a lot of questions.
"So anong balita? okay na kayo? kayo na ba ulit? kailan ang kasal?"
"Gaga, walang gano'n." umirap ako sakaniya.
I sat on the sofa and spaced out. Hindi ako makapag-isip nang tama tuwing nandiyan siya. Pinapangunahan ako ng pagkamangha, kaba and many more fucking feelings.
"Tulala ka na lang ba the whole time?" Marie grunted.
"W-Wala naman..."
Wala naman talaga. I have nothing to tell her. Nag-usap lang naman kami saglit at dahil natanga ako kaya ako umalis roon. Minsan napapahiya na ako sa sarili ko.
The usual, nauunang umuwi saakin si Marie at naiiwan naman ako mag-isa sa opisina. Nang matapos ako sa ginagawa ko ay agad na akong nagpaalam sakanila para umuwi. Nasa labas pa rin pala si Drexzel at nang makita akong lumabas galing sa opisina ko ay agad siyang tumayo at lumapit saakin.
"Are you going home now?" he asked when he reached next to me.
I looked away.
I'm actually planning to shop, 'cause it's been awhile since nakapag shopping ako. All i think about before was how to pay my own bills, i rarely go shopping, kung may free time saka lang ako pupunta ng mall para mamasyal. Ngayon ko na lang ulit naisipan.
I want to go to a spa.
"I'm going somewhere." sagot ko naman, iniiwasang tignan siya.
"Where? I'm going with you." sambit niya. Saglit naman akong napatingin sakaniya at agad rin akong umiwas nang tingin.
I sighed.
Hinayaan ko siyang sumama. Tutal he's under my control now, probably sisimulan ko na rin kung ano ang dapat kong simulan.
He brought his car. Napasimangot naman ako at humarap sakaniya.
"Next time, 'wag mo na dalhin kotse mo." masungit kong sambit.
"Yes, ma'am." he said with a ghost of a smile on his lips.
Tinalikuran ko na siya at dumiretso na ako sa kotse ko, ganoon rin siya. I started my engine, he started his too. Napairap naman ako. Nakasunod lang siya saakin sa likod ko. Napapatingin ako sa rear mirror ng sasakyan ko para tignan kung nakasunod pa rin ba siya.
Nang makarating na kami sa Pavilion Mall, halos sabay pa kaming nagpark ng kotse. Nang bumaba ako ay bumaba na rin siya at lumapit saakin.
I headed first and let him follow me at my back just like a puppy. Ramdam ko ang mga tingin ng mga tao, well mostly girls and God knows what reason why these ladies are staring at our direction. Malamang itong gwapong nilalang sa likuran ko ang tinitignan nila.
Back off, girls. He's my slave.
Dumiretso ako sa isang kilalang spa. Agad naman ako sinalubong ng mga staff nila. Napapasulyap pa sila sa likuran ko kung saan si Drexzel.
"What service do you want, ma'am?" the girl in her 20's asked politely.
"One premiere suite please." wika ko sa babae.
Bumaling naman siya sa likuran ko.
"Kayo po ba, sir? Magkasama po ba kayo?" tanong naman niya kay Drexzel.
"Yes, i'm with her."
"Girlfriend niyo po ba si ma'am?" tanong pa ng babae.
I lifted my brows on her.
"Can you please stop asking personal questions?" iritadong sambit ko sa babae.
Namutla naman siya.
"Naku ma'am, sorry po. I'm just asking lang po dahil good for couple po kasi ang napili niyong suite."
Now, nagmukha tuloy akong walang modo. Bakit kasi tanong siya nang tanong, nakakairita.
"We'll be in a same suite."
"Okay po, ma'am. This way po." wika pa niya.
Napabuntong hininga ako at sinundan ang babae. Naramdaman ko naman ang pagsunod saakin ni Drexzel.
"Are you sure? I can wait." wika niya pa.
Binalingan ko naman siya.
"No, sasama ka saakin. I'm your master and you should obey my rules." umirap ako.
Dahil panigurado kapag hinayaan ko siyang maghintay rito sa labas, pagpipyestahan lang siya ng mga haliparot nilang staff rito.
Napailing ako. Eh ano naman kung pagpyestahan nga siya? Ano bang pakealam ko? I can just let him wait here habang nagrerelax ako sa suite ko. Sometimes, i don't really understand myself.
I fucking need this. I need time to relax and unwind. Peace of mind is what i want, and this will help me. It's been a stressful week.
Nasa katabing kama ko lang si Drexzel. Puro babae ang nagseservice saamin, nakakairita lang minsan ang babaeng nagmamasahe sakaniya dahil halatang nagpapa-cute pa ito kay Drexzel.
Napailing ako. Pilit na inaalis siya sa isip ko. I'm here to relax, i should stop thinking about him. Siya ang dahilan kung bakit stress ako lately, but how ironic that is, dahil kasama ko pa siya ngayon.
I sighed. Masyado na akong nag-iisip. I need to relax.
To be continued.