Chapter 35
"You stay here, i'll just take a shower." he said.
Tumango ako at ngumiti. Bago siya pumasok sakaniyang banyo ay hinalikan muna niys ako saaking noo. I pouted and stayed inside his room.
He's really neat. Back to those immature days, makalat ako sa room ko. Well, i don't think i need to fix my own room when we already have a maid to do that. But when i stayed at U.S doon ko lang natutunan maging independent sa lahat ng bagay.
While roaming around to his room, his phone suddenly beeped. I gulped, trying to stop myself from touching his belongings.
I sighed.
The curiosity is eating me up! Ano ba 'to! should i check it?
Privacy niya 'yan, it doesn't mean i am now his girlfriend i'll meddle with his things.
But guess what! the curiosity within me won! Blame it with my curiosity!
I slowly grabbed his phone, napapasulyap naman ako sa may pinto ng banyo kung lalabas na ba siya. Mukhang hindi pa naman siya tapos, kaya dahan dahan kong binuksan ang phone niya.
And i saw an unknown number texted him:
"I had a great time, that was fun."
I suddenly couldn't move after i read that. Nanginig ang kamay kong tinignan ang numero na 'yon sa contacts niya. It's not registered to his phone.
Who could this be?
I shook my head stopping myself thinking about things that i shouldn't thought. But i couldn't help it. I immediately tapped the call button and call that unknown number.
Wala pang segundo ay sinagot na agad ang tawag, and i almost fell when i heared who it was.
"Hello, Drexzel! you missed me agad?" Samantha giggled on the other line.
Agad ko 'yong pinatay.
Anong ibig sabihin nito! They had a great time together?
Agad kong naalala ang pagiging sweet sakin ni Drexzel ngayong araw. Just like in a movie, when the guy changed his mood into something jolly which is not usually him means he's seeing other girl.
Is he seeing Samantha again?
I sighed deeply before putting his phone back. Hindi pa rin siya tapos. I stood up and grabbed my bag and walked out. Madali akong pumasok ng elevator nang makarating sa ground floor ay agad akong lumabas at pumara ng cab.
I don't want to face him with my ranging jealousy and anger.
Why are they still communicating, i mean i get it! may kaugnayan sila sa business pero... i don't understand, i'm just mad with that text!
I chose to leave, ayoko manatili roon dahil alam ko kahit mag-explain siya both my ears and my mind are closed, galit pa ako, i need to calm down first.
Padabog akong pumasok sa kwarto ko nang makarating. Nakasalubong ko pa ang kapatid ko at mukhang napansin ang galit ko kaya hindi na siya nagtanong pa, but knowing him, he'll probably asked me tommorow or later.
My phone beeped, i checked it and I received a text from him.
Drexzel:
Where are you? bakit ka umalis?
Umirap ako at pinatay ang phone ko. Bahala ka diyan, magsama kayo ni Samantha.
Pero ngayong iniisip kong magsasama nga sila ay kumukulo na ang dugo ko and my tears is building on my eyes. I can't help but be emotional over something, hindi pa naman siguro na may ginagawa nga silang kababalaghan behind my back. I just concluded.
I should take this in a mature way, I don't want to be like a toxic girlfriend.
But for now, i need some space just for a day. I need to think, i need to build my trust even more stronger so i won't doubt him that easily.
The next day acted like nothing happened, pumasok ako sa café nang hindi iniisip ang bagay na 'yon. Ayokong simulan ang umaga ko ng negativity.
"Good morning, Miss Chloe."
I smiled to them.
Dumiretso ako sa opisina ko at umupo sa swivel chair. I sighed. I want to make myself extra busy today, tutulong na lang ako sa counter. Pero agad naman akong natigilan.
Baka biglang pumunta rito si Drexzel? anong gagawin ko?
I shook my head. E'di pumunta siya, hindi ko na lang siya papansinin. No! i am not acting like an immature bitch, gaya nga ng sinabi ko may pagtatampo pa ako at baka hindi lang kami magkaintindihan kung maguusap kami agad.
"Mae, tutulong ako sa'yo. Marami na bang customer?"
Medyo gulantang humarap saakin si Mae.
"P-Po? o-opo, weekend po kasi kaya medyo maraming tao, may event rin kasi sa malapit kaya may ibang dumarayo rito."
Napatango ako.
"Kung gano'n tutulong ako."
Pinatabi ko si Mae at tumulong sakaniya, iilan lang ang staff namin tuwing weekends kaya medyo nahihirapan kaya mabuti na lang at tumulong ako para mapagaan ang trabaho nila kahit papaano.
Hindi ko nga pala dala ang phone ko ngayon, kung sakaling tawagan ako ni Drexzel may rason ako kung bakit ko hindi nasagot ang tawag. My phone's not with me.
"One espresso, please."
I took down the customer's order without looking at him. As i raised my head up, medyo nagulat pa ako nang makitang titig na titig ito saakin.
"Is that all, sir?" i asked.
"And can i have your number?" biglaang sambit niya.
My brows furrowed.
"We don't give personal information, sir." i said, politely.
Napatango naman siya.
"Pangalan mo na lang kung ganoon." bahagya siyang natawa nang makita ang reaksyon ko. "I know, mabilis ako masyado but i don't want to lose this chance to meet you."
Bago pa ako nakasagot ay may tumikhim na sa likuran niya. My eyes widened when i saw Drexzel's stoic expression. Agad naman ako nanlamig.
"You've said your order, dude. So back off, stop flirting to my girl."
I got stunned. He really look pissed.
"Gano'n ba? Too bad, i was planning to make her mine."
Wait, what? ano bang pinagsasabi nitong isang 'to?
"Malas mo, akin 'yan." he pointed me.
What am i? a thing?
Agad na akong pumagitna sa dalawa. Sinenyasan ko na si Mae na siya muna bahala. Agad kong hinila si Drexzel papasok ng opisina ko.
"What was that?" i asked.
He hissed.
"What? He's flirting with you right in front of my face, you think i will let him?" iritadong sambit niya.
"I am not flirting back, okay? customer pa rin 'yon. Ano na lang sasabihin ng ibang customer?"
"To heck with them, i can even buy their soul."
Napailing na lang ako sakaniya. Humalukikip ako, at umiwas ng tingin. I just remembered what i read last night. Nakakainis.
"And you, why aren't you answering my calls? you left last night without a notice, is there a problem?"
"Wala."
I sighed frustratingly.
"Baby, i know there is. I don't want this to give you a reason to leave me again."
Natigilan ako. He always tells me that, that he doesn't want me to leave just like what i did before. Ewan ko pero nakikita ko ang takot niyang 'yon.
I sighed.
"W-Wala nga..."
He reached for my hand and held it tightly. Napapikit naman ako.
"Please, tell me..."
Napabuntong hininga muli ako.
"Fine." i said. "I saw a text from your phone, it was an unregistered number and it says that she has a great time with you. Yes, i assume that text was from a she and most specifically from Samantha, your great ex."
"What?"
"Yes! kung sa tingin mo nagsisinungaling ako, you can check your message box and see it for yourself!" singhal ko.
He grunted and took out his phone. Agad niya 'yon binuksan at mukhang hinanap ang text na tinutukoy ko. Nang mabasa niya at napabuntong hininga na lang siya.
"See?" irap ko.
"I don't know who this was, but if ever this was Samantha, the whole company just celebrated the success of our project and that's it, I had fun with the whole company, hindi dahil sa kasama ko siya."
Umirap ako.
"And you see, her number is unregistered 'cause i am not interested with her, anymore."
"Siguraduhin mo lang..."
He hissed again and went even more closer to me. I stiffened when he attacked an embrace.
"Don't do that again, how can we fix things if you're walking away?"
Umirap ako.
"Whatever."
Pinitik naman niya ang noo ko. I frowned, and he grinned. He kissed me on my forehead giving me a tickling sensation on my stomach.
"And, don't talk with other guys when you know their intentions."
"What intentions?"
"That guy is obviously flirting with you, huwag ka na tumulong sa labas. You stay and lock yourself in your office."
Bahagya naman akong natawa. How can that be possible, i am the manager of this café. Hindi naman pwedeng mamalagi ako lagi rito sa opisina ko. Gaya ngayon, kakaunti lang ang mga staff, tumulong na ako para kahit papaano mapagaan ang trabaho nila.
I am the manager, however, i also need to take care of my employees. Right?
Habang may ginagawa ako sa mesa ko. Drexzel, from my back, wrapped his arms around my waist made me stiffened a bit.
"Wala ka bang trabaho ngayon sa kumpanya niyo?" i asked.
"I postponed the meeting, hindi mo kasi sinasagot tawag ko. You made me worried." he uttered.
I chuckled.
"You know what? You're too far from the Drexzel before..." sambit ko.
"Tss."
Natawa naman ako.
"Oo nga! I can imagine the old Drexzel frowning at this moment, crossing his arms, grim lips, no emotion at all."
"Do you like the old Drexzel better?"
Nag-isip naman ako kunwari.
"I like 'em both, i like you."
He hissed once again. Napakunot naman ang noo ko.
"Bakit?"
"Like lang?"
Natawa naman ako ng matindi. Kinabukasan ay nagpaalam muna ako kay Marie na hindi muna papasok. I want to have my own clothing line at 'yon ang aasikasuhin ko ngayon. I told my mom about it. She offer some help but i refused, may sarili naman na akong pera. I can build my own business with my own money, i don't want to rely on anyone.
"Are you sure, iha?"
"Opo, mommy. Kaya ko naman po." sambit ko.
She nodded.
"I know someone who can help you, kahit sa mga tela man lang na gagamitin mo."
Tumango na lang ako.
"But i don't want it to be free, mom." sambit ko. "Gusto ko babayaran ko ang mga gagastusin ko."
"Malamang, iha! business is business."
Napairap ako sakaniya. The next day i texted Drexzel about my plan, we didn't see each other yesterday. May business trip siya for three days, so i am gonna miss him for three days. I looked for a condo na rin. Again, i want to be independent, not relying to anyone. Just like what i did in U.S.
Agad naman akong nakahanap around taguig, hindi na rin malayo sa café ni Marie. At dito ko rin balak na itayo ang clothing store ko.
It was a tiring day, nakauwi na ako sa mansyon. Next week, lilipat na rin ako doon sa condo. My phone rang and i immediately answered it.
It's Drexzel calling...
"Hey..."
"Hey. You sound tired?" napapikit ako nang marinig ang boses niya sa kabilang linya.
"Yep, i just got home. I was looking for a unit, and fortunately nakahanap naman ako kaagad."
"Why don't you stay at my penthouse, instead?"
"Ayoko nga umasa sa kahit kanino, i want to stand on my own. Mapabahay man, trabaho, foods, car, anything, i don't want to rely on anyone including you."
He grunted.
"Paano 'yan? I want you to rely on me, but if that's what you want then i'll support you."
Napangiti naman ako.
"Thank you."
Dahil na rin siguro sa pagod ay hindi ko na namalayan ay nakatulog na pala ako. I feel bad the next morning dahil tinulugan ko si Drexzel so i immediately texted him and apologized. Pero wala naman akong natanggap na reply mula sakaniya. Maybe he's on a meeting.
So i shrugged it off.
But as the time passes by, wala pa rin akong natatanggap na mensahe mula sakaniya ay agad na akong nakaramdam ng kaba.
Did something happened?
"Chloe..."
Agad naman akong napabalik sa sarili nang marinig kong magsalita ang kapatid ko.
"What?"
"Have you seen this?"
Hinarap niya saakin ang phone niya. I almost fell on my chair when i saw a picture of Samantha and Drexzel together and what more made me teared up when i saw the headline of the article.
'Drexzel Acosta is now engaged with her long time girlfriend.'
"This is not true..."
My lips are now trembling.
"Tangina mo talaga, Drexzel..." my brother uttered.
But couldn't hear a thing, all i can hear is my shuttering heart. Why?
To be continued.