Ynoa's POV
My phone rang in the middle of nowhere.
"Yes sir?" sagot ko
"I need you here." Roemer said.
"What about my son?"
"Don't worry about him. Lo said he'll take care of him."
Humigpit ang hawak ko sa phone ko. I glared at chairman.
I gritted my teeth and ended the call. I looked at Zeijan who's sitting at my swivel chair and eating cookies.
Napapikit ako dahil sa naninibugsong galit.
"Ynoa, may karapatan ako sa bata. He's my son. "
"And I am his sister, his mother, his father. His family. Just for today. Papayagan kitang makasama siya. Ngayon lang." I uttered and went to Zeijan.
"Baby, I have to go to work muna ha? Stay with him. Be a good boy." I whispered.
All throughout the meeting, my mind is blank and empty. I wasn't able to focus the whole time, I was thinking Zeijan. I may be selfish, but I am only thinking the best for my brother. Hindi na bale na ako ang masaktan, huwag lang siya.
Halos balutin ng kaba ang dibdib ko nang makitang wala si Zeijan. Dumiretso din ako sa office ni Roemer pero wala sila doon.
"Where's Zeijan?!"
"Ynoa, calm the fuck down!"
A laugh awakened the whole floor.
"Did you have fun, young boy?" It was the chairman.
He's holding Zeijan's hand, while the other is full of paperbags.
"Yes po!"
My heart hurt after seeing my brother so happy. Nang makita ako ay dumiretso sa akin.
"I have toys! I have books and also clothes!" He exclaimed happily.
"Really? What did you say then?" I asked.
His eyes widened like he forgot something. He immediately ran towards and chairman and hugged him. Even I was shocked, how much more to chairman?
"Thank you po!" He exclaimed.
The chairman laughed heartily, it echoed and filled the room. Binuhat niya ang aking kapatid sa kanyang braso.
I clenched my teeth, halos manginig ang kamay ko. Hindi ko namalayan na nakatingin si Roemer sa akin. Parang naninimbang ang tingin niya, tila ba pinag-aaralan ang kilos ko.
"Lo, you seem so fond with Zeijan." Roemer uttered.
The chairman laughed, "Of course, apo. Expect me to visit often." He laughed again.
Yun nga ang ginawa ng chairman. He visits Zeijan everyday, and he always bring clothes, toys or anything. He never came empty-handed.
"Ynoa, make a coffee." Roemer said one morning.
Tinaas ko ang kilay ko. "At bakit?"
"What?"
"Why would I make you a coffee? I don't have a favor to ask."
"Damn. Can you just make me one?"
"Ayoko. I'm not your maid." Pagmamatigas ko.
"Just do it!"
"Pay me then!"
Kita ko ang gulat sa mata niya. Napangisi ako. Okay to a, may business ako.
"Five hundred lang naman eh!"
"Damn it!" nanlaki ng mata ko nang inilapag niya ang dalawang libo.
"That's for one week." He glared.
Kinuha ko iyon at ibinulsa, natawa ako. Iba talaga kapag yayamanin!
"Wait! Kulang to!" sigaw ko pero nakapasok na siya sa kanyang office.
I pouted. Dumiretso nalang ako at nagtimpla ng kape. Nang matapos ay dumiretso ako sa kanyang opisina. Zeijan is still in school though.
Nang mailapag ang kape ay biglang bumukas ang pintuan. The girl is here again!
I rolled my eyes when I saw her and rolled my eyes more when her voice echoed .
"Roemer! I missed you!"
Roemer pinched the bridge of his nose. I whistled and smirked. May palabas nanaman.
"What are you still doing here? Out!" She even pointed at me.
"Bitch, I don't understand you. Stop using an animal language please!" sinapo ko pa ang ulo na tila ba hindi ko naiintindihan ang sinabi niya. Halos matawa ako nang makita ang galit niya. That's it bitch. Stop using a mask! Isa kang plastik!
"What did you say?"
"Ohmy. I really don't understand you at all! Is that a monkey language?"
I smiled sweetly. "You look like one." I uttered. Narinig ko ang tawa ni Roemer, mas nagalit pa ang babae sa harap ko.
"Val, please. You should leave." natatawa pang sambit ni Roemer.
"W-why are you s-siding with her?" her eyes watered as she looked at Roemer.
"Woah. You think you're pretty crying? Para kang gusgusing bata." I butted in.
Hindi ko namalayan ang bigla niyang pagsugod. She pulled my hair, what the fuck!
Nakaramdam ako ng ginhawa nang bigla kaming naghiwalay. My hands went over my mouth when I saw her on the floor. Napalakas ata ang pagtulak ni Roemer sa babae. Maaawa na sana ako pero talagang may sungay e.
"What the fuck is going on? Bakit kayo ba?" she exclaimed.
Napailing nalang ako dahil sa mga pinagsasabi niya. She's so pathetic.
Halos mapaso ako sa biglang paghapit ni Roemer sa beywang ko. Mas inilapit niya ang mukha sa aking tainga. Halos tumayo ang mga balahibo ko dahil ramdam ko ang kanyang hininga.
"Sumabay ka na lang." He whispered.
"Ayoko." I hissed.
"I'll fucking pay." I pouted. His offer is very tempting. Sige na nga.
"Bitch, I'm his girlfriend!" mataray kong sambit.
"Roemer! Totoo ba?!"
He smirked and nod. Padabog siyang tumayo at umirap.
"Ang baba naman ng taste mo." mataray niyang sambit.
Parang napanting ang tainga ko sa narinig. "Animal language again. Kaya naman pala hindi ka maintindihan ni Roemer." I laughed sarcastically.
Roemer whistled. "That's my girl." He uttered and smirked more.
Parang may naramdaman naman ako iba. Pero pinili kong hayaan na lang.
"Ugh! I hate you!" padabog siyang tumalikod at akmang aalis nang pinigilan ko.
"Wait! You forgot something!" I screamed.
"What?"
I smirked and raised my middle finger. Kung kanina ay nagpupuyos sa galit. Ngayon ay tuluyan ng sumabog. She stormed out of the office, I laughed so hard.
Her face? Priceless!!
Halos bumalik ako sa katinuan nang makita si Roemer na nakatitig sa akin. What now?
I whistled when I remember something. I lend my palm over his face.
"Money, money, money." I smirked.
I stepped backwards when he stepped forward. I did it for few more steps untill I felt the cold wall. Wala na pala akong iaatras pa.
His thick eyebrows are almost touching. His eyes are dark as night and cold as ice. With his lips in grim line, he looked so serious and authoritative.
"Why do you need much money?" he whispered.
"Basic need." I answered. He leaned closer, our nose almost touched.
"Then how much do I need to pay for a kiss?" I swallowed hard.
I was about to push him when he did not let me. His grip tightened.
I scoffed. "You can't afford. Kahit ibenta mo pa ng sarili mo."
I equaled his stare with a glare. Why do I need money? I need money to get away. I plan to move to abroad with Zeijan. I need much money for that. Gusto kong takasan ang lahat. Gusto kong magsimula muli. Pagod na ako sa magulong buhay. Zeijan will have a bright future there. And that psycho won't follow us.
"Roemer anak, why--"
She covered her mouth with both of her hands. Agad akong kumawala kay Roemer.
"Did I interrupt something?" She giggled. She have this sofisticated aura but playful proposition. I eyed her from head to toe, she's rich for sure. With her shiny golds in her neck, branded bag on her hand.
"Mom what are you doing here?" his voice was cold and authoritative.
She's so beautiful, her skin is as white as snow. Hindi ganoon katanda ang itsura, hindi ko nga mahulaan kung ano ang edad.
"I'm just visiting! I thought of setting you up again but I guess there's no use." she giggled more.
"Good day, maam. Maiwan ko po kayo." I uttered.
"Iha, what's your name?" pinigilan ako ng babae.
"Ynoa Raldovan, his secretary." I smiled. She smiled back.
"You look great together." Sambit niya na ikinagulat ko.
"Mom!"
"What?"
We were all interrupted when a voice echoed.
"My! I got a perfect score!" Zeijan run towards me. I bit my lip and forced a smile. Behind Zeijan is the chairman. Did he just fetch my brother? Without my permission?
Binuhat naman ni Roemer ang bata. "What do you want then? I should give you a reward!"
Parang nag-isip naman ang aking kapatid. "Let's eat again at Jollibee with My!" Roemer chuckled.
"Sure thing, big boy. After our work okay?" Zeijan cheered after Roemer's remark.
Kita ko kung paano nagulat ang kanyang ina. Her mouth is in a big O while staring at Roemer. Damn it. She looks so confused, who would've thought? Even the chairman is here! Halos manginig ang kalamnan ko kung ano ang nasa isip ng kanyang ina.
"Who is he?" She asked. Nasapo ko nalang ang noo ko.