Chapter Twenty Seven
"Hoy. asan ka na?" tanong ni Sammy sakin nung sinagot ko yung tawag nya.
"Paalis ng office? why?" i asked. inipit ko sa balikat ko yung iphone ko kasi nilalagay ko yung gamit ko sa bag ko.
"En Suite and Club Delirium?" i can sense she's smiling from ear to ear.
"Sure. pauwi na rin naman ako. wait for me." masayang sabi ko saka pinatay na yung tawag. nilagay ko yung ipad ko sa bag saka binitbit yung coat ko saka yung bag ko sa braso ko. inayos ko muna yung buhok ko saka lumabas na ng office. nginitian ko si Laiza saka sinabihang umuwi na sya.
pagbaba ko sa lobby nandun na yung kotse ko. ngumiti lang ako sa guard nung inabot nya yung susi ng kotse ko. sumakay na ko saka pinatong yung gamit ko sa passenger seat.
nung nasa italy ako ganito rin naman ako eh. i drive my own car and i have my own life.
sometimes i think i'm like Andrea. but i'm not. i changed the way i dressed. the way i talk and the way i do things. but i'm not like Andrea. i still have the heart for everybody while Andrea shut us out of her life.
she coped up by shutting us all out of her life and me on the other hand. i accepted it. i'm cool with it. i just hate late comers. it piss me off bigtime.
pagdating ko ng FT umakyat na agad ako. andun na sila at nagbibihis.
"Get Dressed, Sister. we're having our fun night." excited na sabi ni Tiff sakin. umiling nalang ako saka pumasok sa kwarto ko. nagshower muna ako bago kumuha ng damit.
a black spaghetti strap black and pink mini fitted dress. pink yung top part nya na parang corset yung cut sa dibdib. tapos mula sa baba ng dibdib hanggang sa dulo. itim na sya.
i let my curls loose and took my channel clutch and my black pumps.
nag apply lang ako ng red lipstick saka lumabas ng pinto.
"Nice!" Anton whispered softly with amazement evident in his eyes.
"Lets go!" masayang sabi ko. si Sammy saka si Anton ang may dala ng kotse. si Sammy ang kasama ko sa kotse. si Andrea daw susunod nalang kasi may taping daw.
"All girls night out?" tanong ko kay Sammy.
"ask Anton." she answered and rolled her eyes.
i chuckled softly. si Anton pa? malamang meron nanamang inimbita yun.
Pagdating namin sa En Suite ayun nga. may sumalubong samin na limang lalaki.
at merong isa na di na umalis sa tabi ko. si Jace Montenegro.
kahit nung umupo ako sa table namin.
hindi na kasi kami kumuha ng Suite. okay lang naman din since nasanay na ko kakaparty sa Italy saka sa U.S lagi kong kasama si Theo.
"Is there any drink in particular that you would like to have?" he asked. i smiled softly
"wala naman. i'll have what they'll have." i answered. tinanong nya din sila Anton. Jace here is a perfect gentleman. pagbalik nya sa table namin umupo lang sya sa tabi ko saka pinatong yung braso nya sa sandalan ng upuan na inuupuan namin. paikot kasi yung sofa.
"So. i heard you just came back. from where?" Jace asked. trying to start conversation.
"Italy." i simply answered.
"at bakit ka naman nasa italy?" he asked again.
"i'm helping my brother in managing our business." i answered and smiled at him. "You? what keeps you busy?" i asked.
"I'm managing our export products from our farm. you're from SDU too right? bet you know my cousin Xander."
i smiled and nodded. "Yeah. i know him. we've been classmates before i left Harvard."
he frowned at me. "Harvard? thought you graduated from SDU?"
"yeah. i graduated from SDU. took also my masters there but something came up. hindi ko tuloy natapos yung masters degree ko. instead lumipad ako papuntang US para itake ulit yung masters ko sa Harvard."
"ah. i see. you look kinda young." nakangising sabi nya. i chuckled softly.
"i'm young. i'm just twenty three." i answered.
"twenty three and she already finished two courses and two masterals. mind you." sabi ni Anton. halatang halatang binebenta ako kay jace. sus!
"is it true?" he asked. admiration is evident in his eyes.
"geez. ang daldal." i whispered softly na ikinangiti ni Jace lalo.
"c'mon." he encouraged. i sighed.
"i took my master's degree the same year i enrolled as freshmen architecture student. in harvard too. i finished architecture in just two years. and when i flew to italy i took my masters degree in interior designing the same year i established my business with my business partner, Rence. ayun." napafacepalm ako. "nakakahiya talaga." i whispered softly.
"its cool. really. beauty and brains. you're package deal." nakangiting sabi nya.
i chuckled softly. "parang nerd na nga eh. sobrang talino lang sa tingin niya." i took the glass of margarita in front of me and drank it.
"you know what? i like you." nakangiting sabi nya saka hinawakan yung pisngi ko saka pinisil. natawa lang ako.
***
"Damn it!" i hissed angrily and shot Alexis's table a murderous look. just damn it! wala pa ngang dalawang araw na nandito may kasama na agad! tang ina lang!
"Pare, mabasag mo yan." paalala sakin ni Marco saka tinuro yung baso sa kamay ko. di ko na kasi namalayan na nahigpitan ko na pala yung hawak ko sa kopita na nasa kamay ko.
"Tang ina lang!" i blurted out and drank all the liquor in my glass.
"Selos ka?" nakangising tanong ni Lance saka nginuso yung table nila Alexis.
"Sino ba yang tarantadong yan?!" i hissed angrily.
"si Jace, Pare. pinsan ni Xander" sagot ni Marco sakin.
"Lintek! ipatawag mo si Xander ngayon din. ipauuwi ko na sa kanya yung tarantadong pinsan nya."
"nasa palawan si Xander Pare." natatawang sabi ni Nate.
"Damn it!" i hissed. natawa sila sakin.
"Anu bang kinaiinis mo kasi?" natatawang sabi ni Marco
"that bastard is touching my property! Damn it!"
"Kalma Bro. yung puso mo." sabi ni Lance na ikinatawa nung tatlo.
"instead murmuring and nagging us like a gay. why dont you start marking your property?" nakangising sabi ni Nate.
"Right!" i hissed and stood up. pero bago ko pa malapitan si Alexis ay hinarang na ko ni Adam.
"Hands off my cousin, Pare." nakangising sabi ni Adam saka dahan dahan syang tinulak pabalik sa inuupuan nya. "pabayaan mo syang mag enjoy. panindigan mo yung sinabi mo noon."
"i told you i'll stay away until i finished what i have to do. but i never told you i'll let anyone steal her away from me!" mariing sabi ko.
"and looks like they're enjoying each others company." nakangising pang aasar ni Marco.
"DAMN IT!" i shouted. pinagtawanan lang nila yung outburst ko. tatayo sana ulit ako nung hinawakan ni Adam yung dibdib ko saka sinandal ako sa counter.
"I'm warning you Steven, a step near my cousin i'll send her away again." he said dangerously. pero nakangisi pa din. tinabig ko yung kamay nya saka inis na ininom yung scotch na nasa counter.
"Naku. hindi ata dala ni Alexis yung kotse nya. baka mamaya ihatid ni Jace yon." nakangising pagpaparinig ni Nate.
"And who knows kung san sya dadalhin nun." panggagatong pa ni Marco.
"ALAM NA!" they blurted out together and give each other a high five. i gritted my teeth harshly. just the thought of Alexis riding on that bastard's car drives me murderous and insane. tumayo ako.
"San ka pupunta?!" nakangising sabi ni Lance na natatawa tawa pa.
"Magpapalamig ng ulo bago pa ko makapatay ng apat na tarantadong nagpapakulo ng dugo ko lalo!" i hissed angrily and went out of the parking lot. i checked the cars. and just damn it. wala nga ang kotse ni Alexis. yung kay Anton lang saka yung kay Samantha ang nandun. nakita ko rin yung isang kotse na may nakalagay na Jace sa likod.
"Magkamatayan muna bago mo maipasok si Alexis sa kotse mo." mariing sabi ko.
***
"can i send Alexis home?" Paalam ni Jace kila Anton.
magsasalita sana si Sammy nung tinakpan ni Anton yung bibig nya.
"Sure Jace. please take her home." malanding sabi ni Anton. i rolled my eyes. talagang binenta ako. tss.
inalalayan ako ni Jace palabas ng En Suite. sila Anton din dumiretso na sa parking lot. nauna nang umalis sila Anton.
"i'll see you at home, Lex." tipsy na sabi ni Sammy saka hinalikan ako sa pisngi. natawa nalang ako. tipsy lang but she can drive. malakas kasi ang presence of mind ni Sammy kapag nakainom. kaya kahit anong lasing nyan di sya maloloko o madidisgrasya.
inalalayan ako ni Jace papunta sa kotse nya. pasakay na sana ako nung may mapansin ako.
"Your tires are flat." i said softly.
"Huh?" nakakunot noong sabi nya.
"Flat Tires, Jace." i said a little bit louder.
lumapit sya sa side ko saka sinilip.yung tinitignan ko.
"Shit!" he blurted out. "panu nangyari to?!" galit na sabi nya.
tatawag sana kami ng tutulong samin nung may humintong kotse sa tapat namin..
"May problema ba?!" nakangising sabi ni Steven nung bumaba sya ng kotse nya. i raised my brow. base on the look on his face i think i know what happened.
"Flat tires." i still manage to answer while looking at him suspiciously.
"tsk. tsk. tsk. you have spare tires pare?" tanong nya kay Jace.
"Yeah. but just one. i have two tires flat." inis na sabi nya.
"Need a ride Angel?" nakangising sabi ni Steven.
"No, i'll just take a cab." i answered coolly and smiled at him.
"No, Lexi. go with him. i cant let you take the cab in this kind of hour. its Dangerous." mariing sabi ni Jace. i sighed softly. ayoko na kasing makipag talo. hinalikan nya ko sa pisngi saka ngumiti. "i'll call you okay?" tumango nalang ako saka pumasok sa kotse ni Steven.
ngingisi ngisi pa sya nung sumakay sya sa driver seat. pero nagtaka ko nung inabutan nya ko ng wipes. tumaas yung kilay ko.
"Wipe your face. disinfect it! that lips of his was filthy!"
"Seriously?" natatawang sabi ko. nung di ko sya sinunod sya na mismo ang nagpunas sa mukha ko. tinabig ko yung braso nya.
"Good job Steven. you obviously made a way to get what you want." i said calmly. ngumisi sya lalo.
"Made my way? i dont know what you're talking about." patay malisyang sabi nya.
"Mamatay man ako?" i said softly and smiled at him. napatiim bagang sya. "See?"
"Madaya ka talagang maglaro." he hissed.
"hindi tayo naglalaro, Steven. it just so happened that i know what you did without anyone telling me."
"sasakay ka pa sa kotse ng ungas na yon. pano kung dalhin ka nun sa kung saan?!" inis na sabi nya. i chuckled softly which fueled the flame even more.
"so what? thats none of your concerns, Dear. i dont own you any explanation." i smiled at him.
"Oh yeah right! but incase you forgot. you are part of Steadlex. your scandal will affect the whole business. i want you to behave and act like a VP that you are." inis na sabi nya.
"right. Self proclaimed CEO, for as long as i can bring them big amount of money in their account. they dont have any rights to question me with my morality. i'll do what i have to do and vice versa."
"Anung klaseng reasoning yan! Nag US ka lang naging tanga ka na." asar na sabi nya.
"Tatlong taon nang nakalipas Steven. istupido ka pa rin." i replied with the same intensity. napanganga sya sa sinabi ko.
"istupido?!" di makapaniwalang sabi nya.
"Yeah. istupido. di ba ikaw din ang nagsabi nyan sakin noon? if my memory serves me right. you told me that what you do with your life is none of their concern for as long as you do what you have to do? kinukwestiyon mo ang bagay na nanggaling sayo?" i chuckled softly.
napanganga sya lalo. "Close your mouth, you look like an idiot." panunuya ko sa kanya. inihinto na nya yung kotse nya sa tapat ng FT.
"damn! stop doing that!" he hissed.
"Doing what?" i said with a mocking smile.
"Telling me that i look stupid or like an idiot." natawa ako.
"Because you are. you're questioning me with the way i think when in fact i learned it from you. seriously Steven? get a life." natatawang sabi ko saka bumaba sa kotse nya.
***
"Because you are. you're questioning me with the way i think when in fact i learned it from you. seriously Steven? get a life." napanganga ako sa sinabi nya. lintek! bat ba napakatalino ng taong to!
matagal na syang nakalabas sa kotse ko nung matauhan ako.
"Lintek na pag iisip yan!" asar na sabi ko saka hinampas yung manibela.
she talk and act like a perfect whore sleeping her way to different beds every night. and i hate it! i hate how she talk like a perfect bitch.
"Damn it Alexis!" i shouted. asar na asar kasi talaga ako. she acts like a loose cannon.
"I'll make sure i'll be the first and last man you'll ever have in your life. to hell with those rules. i'm living in hell already and i'm gonna make the most out of it!"