ELC16
Six went away once again after I walked out of his room. I heard from Ate Glen that he went back to Manila that night. Hindi na naman ako lumabas ng maid's quarter noon kaya hindi ko alam.
Now, he's been away for one week. I don't know how he's managing the whole ranch and plantation when he's not around. Honestly, I cared less because I'm thankful that's he's out of my sight. I also think that I need this time to condition myself. I may be ignorant of most of the things that I encounter every single day but I would never be fooled or at least... not going to get fooled for a long time.
Isa pa, I didn't choose to stay for love. And while it is the strongest emotion that's reigning in me these days, I'll just learn how to withstand it. Matututo din ako... siguro.
"Saan ba kayo galing?"
"Hmm! Sarap! Ano ito, Ate?" I asked again about the unknown food that I was eating. Dandi was silently eating beside me.
"Maja blanca." Ate Lucy answered me.
I nodded at her. "Naglibot lang kami, Ate. Di ko talaga alam, sumusunod lang ako kay Dandi." I chuckled while munching the tasty food.
It was my day-off today and since Dandi is also free, we decided to stroll around. Actually, it was true that I was just following her around and thanks to her tour-guide nature, she took me to good places! Ang dami nga lang naming nagastos na pamasahe. Hmp.
"Nakakatuwa 'tong si Reese, Nay. Parang ngayon lang nakalabas." Dandi said while chuckling.
I faked a laugh to join her but actually... if only you knew, Dandi. It was really my first time to go out freely like this that's why I'm really hyped about it.
"Syempre, isang araw lang ang day-off niyan sa isang linggo. Ikaw talaga, 'nak..."
Tumango-tango si Dandi habang nasa bibig ang kanyang kutsara.
"Sabagay..."
I left them in the dirty kitchen when I finished eating. I went to the maid's quarter to take a bath because I felt so sweaty and sticky because of being outside all day.
I dried my hair using the electric fan because I have no blower so have to improvise a tool to use in exchange to it. After dressing up and combing my hair, I went back to the main mansion. I was surprisingly getting faster when it comes to preparing myself. Kasi naman, kapag umaga even if I want to enjoy the shower, someone will knock the door, telling me to hurry up! I hate sharing bathrooms, gosh!
"Ano 'yan, te?" I asked Ate Glen who's carrying a lot of paper bags in her arms. I secretly examined those especially that I spot well-known names in those.
Her eyes went on me. I was startled when she walked fast and give all the paper bags to me. Hindi pa ako nagkandaugaga sa pagtanggap noon.
"Anong gagawin ko dito?" I said while clutching the bags.
And why the hell is she just throwing these luxury items? For sure mamahalin ang nasa loob nito!
"Sa'yo yan!"
"Sakin?" My eyes widen. "Binili mo ko?" I asked happily while putting all the paper bags in my arms so that I can properly carry it all.
"Hindi! Wala akong pambili ng ganyan! At kung meron man, bat kita ibibili?"
Ngumuso ako dahil sa aking narinig. Why not? I'm mabait naman. But wait... if it's not from her. Kanino?
"Eh kanino galing?" I asked, turning my back to follow her who's now going in the dirty kitchen.
"Sa Senyorito!"
My lips parted and I look down on all the paper bags in my hand once again. Why did I forget that? This isn't just the second time. Ilang beses na rin nga palang naulit ang pagbibigay niya. Then... he's here now?
I suddenly felt suffocated again.
My eyes shifted on the paper bags that are hanging in my arms. I slightly opened it up to see what's inside. It has dresses, I guessed, but my forehead creased from what I saw in the greater number of paper bags.
Shorts!
What the fuck? I felt like something snapped in my head and I burst out in anger. My face heated up as the scene flashed in my mind. The one that became the reason why I have to see shorts in these paper bags!
Ugh! Six is really pushing my anger to the brim!
Stomping my feet for every step, I went up to Six's room and knocked loudly and repeatedly to the point that my knuckles hurt a little and it turned red.
My fist stopped in mid-air when the door opened. Six's lazy cold eyes went to me. I cannot stop myself from looking at him from head to toe. He's topless and his pants are hanging loose on his waist. Damn it! Great timing, Kill!
His eyes went on the paper bag that I was holding.
"Nabigay na pala sayo..."
I cleared my throat and held my chin up. Chest in, stomach out. I wanna show him that I won't lose my composure just because he looks like a damn tasty meat in front of me!
Kill! Tingin sa mukha!
Oh shit, gwapo pa din.
I sighed deeply. No... I miss him.
But I can't show that.
"Di 'ko kailangan niyan." I said, lending him the paper bags but he just stared at it before he returned his eyes on me.
"Am I supposed to take it?"
My eyebrow raised with his stupid question. Seriously? I didn't answer him but I raise my hand a little to insist on him.
"It's yours."
"Ayoko."
"I'm not gonna wear that."
"Edi sana hindi ka bumili!"
"Spare me, I'm tired."
I sneered on him. Siya pa huh? I'm all quiet here! I don't even have a plan on paying attention to him once he came back but he was the one who triggered me! Why did he have to buy me this anyway? Did I ask for him to do so?
Ganon nalang ba palagi? If you know I'm angry, you'll just gonna give me something and hope that we'll be fine again? Are you buying me with all these material things? Well then, I don't need it.
Mas lalong sumama ang loob ko.
"Nakakapagod ka din..." I said, putting down all the paper bags in front of him before I turn my back.
Ilang hakbang palang ang nagagawa ko ay nagawa na niya akong hilahin pabalik. He pinned me into the wall. His dark eyes darted on me once again. I tried to push him away while I roam my eyes around but he placed both of his arms beside me to cage me more.
"Ano ba! Baka may makakita."
"Let them. I don't care." he coldly said.
I glared at him. Ganyan naman siya palagi! He doesn't care! He never cared!
"Kailan ba meron?" I sarcastically asked him. I stopped pushing him away from me and just leaned on the wall because there's no way I can escape now unless he let me go.
My breath became hitched when he stepped closer to me. I felt his own breath on my neck as he put his forehead on my shoulders. I froze and my damn heart somersaulted, slapping me with the fact that her loyalty's not on me anymore but to this man.
Damn you, bakit ganito pa ang napili mo?
"I'm sorry..."
My lips parted when I heard his husky whisper. Kulang ng nakasanayan kong lamig ang kanyang tinig. It was rather tired and lonesome. Now my heart is starting to blaming me. Ang daya naman...
I bit my lips to suppress my emotions. My lips quivered as I tried to take control of my future sobs. No... isang sorry pa lang naman, Kill. Pano kung di pa totoo? What if it's his scheme to pull you back again? Tapos ikaw magpapahila ka naman ulit?
"Aalis na ko..." my voice broke a little no matter how much I tried to maintain it.
"Alam kong ang gago ko nga..."
"Buti alam mo..." I pursed my lips to fight back my sobs. My eyes are getting warm because of my threatening tears.
"I'm sorry..."
Like really, how strong is that word to break the decision I strengthened for the past few days? Dalawa. He only said it twice but it's making me soft again. Bakit ganon? Bakit hindi na lang ako maging katulad niyang sing-tigas ng bato?
"O-okay..."
I tried to push him again because I still wanna hold on the tiny hope for myself. That perhaps... perhaps there's still a part of me that's loyal to me.
"Baby..."
My hand immediately weakened. I shut my eyes tightly as my hands balled on his chest. His head remained on my shoulders. I can feel his lips putting sweet and chaste kisses on my skin.
"Is there really no way to redeem myself, hmm? Forgive me, please..."
Is this Six, still? Why is he so sweet? Why is his voice sounds so sad that it makes me wanna just pull him back in my arms rather than pushing him away?
"I'll be better, baby. Let me redo this, please. I'll do it right this time."
I gasped the same time my tears fell. Oh my god...
He rose from my shoulder. My heart melted when I saw his eyes. He put his forehead on mine as his hand wiped my tears away from my face.
"Let me court you..."
"Magandang umaga, Pilipinas! Magandang umaga, mga katandaan! Magandang umaga, mga ka-silid!"
Wow! My Tagalog feels superior! Gosh, I'm really improving, aren't I? I have a new Speak Tagalog book, actually!
"Katandaan?" Ate Glen repeated while looking at me with a glare. "Ako ba 'yon?"
"Tayo nga ata..." Ate Martha commented.
"Tapos kami yung ka-silid?" Jem asked.
Ate Lucy chuckled and look at me. "Magandang umaga, Reese. Mukhang mas naunahan mo pang sumikat ang haring araw."
Kumunot ang noo ko. What was that supposed to mean?
"Ano po ibig sabihin non?" I asked Ate Lucy before I walked towards the informal dining table to share their breakfast.
"Ang taas kasi ng energy mo." Anne answered for Ate Lucy even if she's not the one I expected to answer. My eyebrow raised but since I'm in a good mood, I gave her a smile.
"Nak, samahan mo ako mamalengke ha?" Ate Lucy said to me. I turned to her and smiled while my hand is busy getting some fried rice to put on my plate. I nodded at her. I like the palengke than Ate Glen's utos!
Ate Lucy and I went to the public market straight after breakfast. We did the same routine of buying and tawad systems. Natatawa pa nga saakin si Ate because every time we buy something in a store with a man vendor, we don't need a long discussion of prices! They are giving out discounts! Ate said it was because of me.
I pouted. Sana boys nalang din yung vendors sa mga stores ng clothes para mabilis maka-discount. It's mostly girls kasi!
"Talaga, Ate?"
"Hmm, scholar ng mga Andrada si Dandi. Kaya nga laking pasasalamat ko kala Senyor at Senyora. Driver din kasi nila dati ang asawa ko noong nabubuhay pa..."
"Edi mabait sila?"
"Hmm... kaswal lang, anak. Pero sa paraan ng pagtulong nila saamin, aba'y oo, mabait ang pamilyang iyon. Kaya maraming trabahador ding nagtatagal sa kanila."
Tumango ako kay Ate Lucy. While listening to her, I tried to visualize what do my parents looks like to their employees? I hope... I hope it's the same as how Ate Lucy looks at the Andradas.
"Si Six po ba, Ate?" I tested.
"Ikaw talagang bata ka... Senyorito o Sir ang itawag mo."
I scratched the back of my head and I just smiled at her awkwardly because I don't get what they really want me to do. They want me to call Six Senyorito or Sir but he's getting angry when I call him that or even when I use po and opo! Who the hell shall I follow?
"Ano nga po?"
"Magaling sa negosyo ang Senyorito."
I frowned. But I wasn't asking if he's good in business? I'm asking if he's kind! I chuckled when I figured out that she seems to avoid saying that Six is not kind. Sus! It's okay to say it to me! I already know that he's not kind!
"Magaling din sa madaming bagay..." I giggled.
"Ha?"
I innocently looked at Ate Lucy with a smile while shaking my head with class.
"Wala po..."
"Good morning."
Ate Lucy's and my eyes widen when we heard of the familiar cold voice who greeted us good morning. We just arrived from the market and I didn't expect to see him immediately. What is he doing here on the front lawn? Talking to the trees? Finding an Instagrammable spot? Watching the grass?
"Ma-magandang umaga, Senyorito..." Ate Lucy greeted him back while nudging my arms to do the same but I remained shocked while looking at him.
Did he really say that? I mean... he never even greeted back every time we greet him. His highest form of greeting is a nod! But he even initiated a greeting today!
"Can I borrow her?" he asked Ate Lucy.
"S-sige po..." Ate Lucy said, still not recovering from his shock. "Reese, una na ko..."
"Huh?" I blankly answered after getting mesmerized by Six. "Okay po..."
She turned her back on us. I even observed that her steps are faster than her usual ones. I turned my eyes back on Six and I caught how he looked at me from head to toe. My forehead creased and I also copied him. My dress looks okay, though...
"You have shorts?"
Oh, God. He's still not over it.
His face darkened when I didn't answer immediately. He stepped towards me but before he can do something more, I put my hands in the air like a guilty criminal.
"Meron! Suot ko yung bigay mo! Promise! Gusto mo ba makita?"
"What the fuck, Reese!" he immediately secured my hands away from the hem of my dress when I tried to lift it up and show him. I smirked. I'm just teasing him! There's no way I'm going to lift my dress knowing that there could be someone who can see me! Well, pwede pa kung sa kwarto niya...
"Good morning, Senyorito." I greeted him with my sweet voice when he moved closer to me and I got the chance to lean on his ear.
"Tss..."
I hid my smile.
"Let's go." aya niya saakin at naglakad papalayo.
I walked a little more faster to catch up with him.
"Saan? Wala kang trabaho?"
Come to think of it, at this time, he should already be at his work! Medyo nagtagal din kasi kami ni Ate Lucy sa public market.
"I won't go to work."
"Bakit?"
He looked back at me. I gazed behind his back and I saw his Ford Raptor behind him. Hmm... he's going out?
"Do you wanna go somewhere?"
My lips parted when I heard him said that. My heart felt clenching... this time, not because of pain but because of amusement, happiness, and excitement.
"Ako?" I asked like it didn't process well in my brain.
I just wanna hear it again.
"Yup..."
"Bakit ako?"
He tore his eyes away from me. I bit my lips to suppress my smile while watching him in front of me. It was like a breath of fresh air. Seeing the usually cold and harsh Six shy of what he's doing.
"I..." he licked his lower lips, still not looking at me. "－wanna date you..."
I chuckled, feeling unexplainable happiness and at the same time, very entertained on this newly added trait on Six's personality.
"May trabaho ako..." I tried to tease him.
"I told Glen I'm gonna need your assistance this day."
I laughed. "May bago na pala akong trabaho ngayon, Sir?"
His eyes returned to me. I saw a spark of glow as the sunlight hit on it. Oh my god... what a beautiful sight to behold his eyes is? I saw how the side of his lips curved for a smile.
"Yeah... ako."
Hindi mawala ang ngiti ko habang nakatingin sa kanya. I think even my eyes are smiling too. My heart felt full.
"Hmm... pumayag na ba ako?"
His lips pursed a little. God, it's too cute! Mom, I want him!
"Ayaw mo?"
"Nagtanong ka ba?"
I saw how he tapped his fingers on the side of his legs as he roamed his eyes around. I watched him heartily as he does hesitate on his own. In the end, his eyes looked at me again.
Ngumiti ako.
"Can I... take you out?"
"Tagalog po, please..." I giggled. I don't know, I'm very hooked on Tagalog words these days, it sounds very sweet and sincere!
"Pwede ba kitang ilabas ngayong araw?"
My lips parted. My harsh man, very rugged-looking, cold eyes, big man, yet whispering soft Tagalog words to me... with that... I nodded at him with a smile.