"What did you just say?!"
"H-heran's gaining investments from Locus— " I cut her off.
"Then do everything to get him! Sulutin mo! You know, I don't play fair. Heran is getting in my way, and I am not fucking happy about it! I told you, whoever dares to block my way, destroy 'em and crush them into pieces."
"Pero m-ma'am..."
"Hire a man to destroy Heran, hanapan mo ng ikasisira niya, or you can set him up. Whatever! Do something to lose Locus' trust in him. And be sure! Tayo ang sasalo kay Locus." I was checking my nails boredly when I said that.
"Y-yes ma'am."
"Get out." nangigigil na utos ko, kaya nagmamadali naman itong napaalis.
I heavily sighed before resting my back on my swivel chair. Maya-maya'y pumasok ang sekretarya ko dala dala ang ilang folders.
"Madam, these need your signatures." Tamad akong umayos ng upo at tinanggap iyon. Tinabi ko saglit, I'll check those first one by one. I'll be the one to give it back to them...para personal kong masabi ang mga puna ko.
"You may go now, oh btw, tomorrow take charge. I'm going to fix something."
"Yes Madam." agad na rin itong lumabas. Tiningnan ko ang oras at tumayo, holding the backrest of my chair I called Luhennce. This time he answered it, which made me smile.
"What do you want?"
"It's almost lunch, kasabay mo si Clarisse?"
"Yeah."
"Aw! Sayang! Ipagluluto sana kita."
"No need, is that all?"
"I miss you! Eat well!"
"Okay..." binabaan na niya ako. My lips pressed tightly after that. Marahas kong naibaba ang kamay na may hawak ng phone ko, at inis na nilapag iyon bago humalukipkip at humarap sa labas.
Hindi pa lang tumatagal ay muling tumunog ang cellphone ko, at ng tingnan ko 'yon ay agad akong napaayos ng tayo.
"Hello mum?"
"Amanda my dear daughter!"
"Mum you're gettin' hype again what is it?"
"Don't you missed me? I know you miss how I spoil you." ngumisi ako, si mommy talaga ang bata palang ako. She really loves to spoil me with things I want.
"Of course I miss that. But why did you call? Thought you were busy with your restaurant?"
"Yeah! But I want to ask you if you already have a boyfriend." napailing ako at napasapo sa noo.
"Mum, malapit na."
"Amanda dear, you're not getting any younger, find one immediately and get married. You're almost 30. You should settle now."
"Malapit na mum, soon I'll introduce him to you."
"Sure? Uuwi kami next month."
"Yeah, I promise."
"Okay bye! Pwede mo naman nang unahin ang apo, please... I'll go now." pakiramdam ko'y uminit ang mukha ko sa narinig pero hindi narin ako nakareact dahil binaba narin niya.
Well, okay na rin naman. I am ready to be a mother, si Luhennce na lang naman ang kulang.
I spend time working. 4 ako nakaisip na umuwi. I took a shower and cooked for my meryenda, namiss ko tuloy si Mavis, ang alam niya kasi hindi ako marunong magluto kahit ang totoo marunong ako, tamad lang. Nakasuot lang ako ng cotton sleeveless shirt at cotton shorts na maiksi. Nasa unit lang naman ako, kaya walang problema, wala rin akong suot na bra, masarap kasi sa pakiramdam. I was drinking cold water when I heard a buzz.
Mabilis akong lumabas ng kitchen at tinungo ang pintuan. When I opened it, mukha ni Kendrick ang bumungad sa 'kin. He was smiling genuinely, but that slowly vanished when his eyes drifted to my chest and he found out I was not wearing anything inside. Tinaasan ko ito ng kilay.
"Pasok ka," alangan siyang pumasok.
"Y-you're not wearing anything inside."
"I know."
"I'm here. You should wear one now."
"Oh, come on, Kendrick! 'Wag mo nga akong pairalan ng kainosentehan mo, you've already seen it and even touched it."
"What the hell?" nilingon ko siya.
"What?" I can see how his eyes darkened before looking away. Got you.
"Anong ginagawa mo rito?" I asked, to divert his attention. Masyado siyang affected sa 'kin, this guy is so weak.
"Nothing, nakakasawa ng mag-isa sa bahay." napataas nanaman ang kilay ko pero hinayaan ko nalang.
"I was about to eat my meryenda. You want some?" lumiwanag naman ang mukha niya.
"Talaga? Bibigyan mo ako."
"Yeah, kakasabi ko lang 'di ba?"
"Sorry, your voice deafened me. It's too good for my ears." sinamaan ko siya ng tingin at malakas na hinampas.
"Are you trying to tease me?!" mariing tanong ko at pinandilatan siya ng tingin.
"Of course not, ang sakit ah." He was caressing the part that I just hit.
"That's what you get for trying to tease a woman who knows how to fight."
"Mean," I rolled my eyes at him, gosh! This guy is really too much to handle.
"By the way, tomorrow you'll start your mission." papaupo na kami ng sabihin ko 'yon, kaya napalingon siya sa akin at sumeryoso ang mukha.
"You mean..." pinagsalin ko siya ng pagkain at habang ginagawa 'yon ay sinasabi ko ang ibig kong sabihin sa sinabi kong mission.
"Clarisse will be at a congress tomorrow, until the next day. It's perfect timing to start your part. Go after her, magleave ka muna sa work mo for 2 days, make sure sa 2 days na 'yon...magawa mong maging friends ka'yo, or medyo close. Para pagbalik, magawa mo na siyang lapit lapitan. One more thing, you have to make excuses... at palabasing coincidence lang pagkikita niyo roon. Ikaw na bahala magdahilan."
"And, how about you?" ngumisi ako sa kaniya bago sumubo ng pasta.
"Ano bang ginagawa ng daga pag wala ang pusa?"
"Naglalaro," simpleng sagot niya.
"Bingo! I will play my part too. May usapan kami ni Luhennce tomorrow. Kumagat siya sa gusto ko, we'll talk, and I will make sure after that, I will be able to come near him ng hindi niya sinusungitan." I dreamily said.
Nang lingunin ko si Kendrick ay tutok ito sa pagkain ng niluto ko na tila parang hindi naman pinakinggan ang sabi ko. My lips twitched because of that.
"Are you even listening?"
"I don't have ears. Can you see some?" Sarkastikong sabi niya.
"Oh I forgot! I forgot too that you're not human." sarkastikong sagot ko at sinimangutan siya. Kelan pa 'to naging sarkastiko kapag kausap ako?
I can see his jaw tightening as he starts to eat again, tumango lang ito na parang tanga at di talaga ako masyadong tinitingnan. Is he mad? Anong problema niya sa'kin?! Hindi ba ako maganda ngayon?
I am having a hard time reading him this time. I am good at gestures, but his is so complicated to know.
"How's work?" pag-iiba ko ng topic para lang mawala ang pananahimik niya.
"Work pa rin." Binatukan ko siya, mabilis siyang napangiwi dahil doon.
"Stop being sarcastic, you dick!" I glared at him. He was pissing me off.
"I am not, I am just stating the obvious. You asked me how's work. Hindi mo naman tinanong kung kumusta ako sa trabaho!" nagmamaktol na sabi niya na kinaikot ng mga mata ko.
What the hell is happening to him? Mabilis akong sumubo dahil naiinis na talaga ako sa kaniya.
Natigilan lang ako ng hawakan niya ng marahan ang baba ko as his thumb wiped something on the side of my lips. Naroroon ang mga tingin niya, bahagya siyang nakalapit sa akin, nkaya natitigan ko ang mukha niya.
Hindi na talaga ako magtataka kung bakit ang daming babae ang nababaliw kapag nakikita siya. Kung ako nanay nito, hindi ko 'to papalabasin ng bahay nila. Nang umangat siya ng tingin ay inangatan ko siya ng kilay. I kissed his thumb to clean it and to tease him a bit. Nagulat siya sa ginawa ko at marahang bumalik sa pagkakaayos ng upo at napatikhim.
"Para kang batang kumain." I frowned before sipping from my glass.
"You really know now how to ruin my mood," he grunted after I said that.
"You're always not in your mood, nawawala lang kapag nandyan si Luhennce." Natahimik ako, ng magsimula siyang magsungit. I didn't know that malakas din pala mood swings niya.
"Why are you mad now?" Galit na tanong ko, naiinis na talaga ako. Konti nalang uupakan ko na 'to.
"I'm not mad, I have no right to be." I was shocked and speechless after he said that. I wanted to say something but ended up pressing my lips together, again.
What the hell is his problem?
"Hey! You're being moody now! Are you trying to pick a fight with me?!" I scoffed, nakatayo na siya at nakatalikod sa akin kaya napatayo narin ako.
Marahas niya akong nilingon, na halos magbanggan na ang mga ilong namin sa sobrang lapit niya. I felt like I was stopped from breathing, and my heart skipped a beat because of shock.
His brows are now shut; I can't see the innocent Kendrick anymore. The one that I could toy around with.
"W-what?" I mumbled. He licked his lips first before looking down at my lips and up at my eyes.
"You're stummering. Are you intimidated?" nanlaki ang mata ko.
"W-what the hell are you saying?"
"Show me the Amanda who loves to tease me, I'm in a mood now." ngumisi pa siya na kinalaki ng mata ko.
"K-kendrick, w-what the hell are you doing?" hindi siya sumagot at mas lumawak ang tingin. Nanatili siyang nakaharap sakin habang may kinuha sa table. And I was shocked to see that it was a salad. He took one spoon of cream and put it inside his mouth, and before I could even react, he grabbed my nape softly and suckled on my lips.
The coldness of his lips and tongue brushed against my lips. He teased my lips for me to slightly part them for his access, and the moment I parted my mouth, I tasted the salad cream he was imparting inside my mouth, along with his soft and passionate kisses, sucking and nipping on my lips a little. Gulat na gulat ako na hindi ko na naisara pa ang mga mata ko at hindi makapag respond sa halik niya.
I can see how gorgeous his eyelashes are. Ang pagkunot ng noo niya at ang makapal niyang kilay. Mariin akong napakapit sa balikat niya ng pakiramdan ko'y mawawalan na ako ng balanse sa panghihina. The taste of salad cream was enhanced by his natural taste. And it was so fucking good. His hand drifted around my waist to give me support and pull me closer.
This time, I slowly closed my eyes and responded to his kisses because if I didn't, it'd drive me crazy.
He groaned because of my sudden response, and that made the atmosphere hotter.
. . .