"Today is the worst day of my life. I am so much disappointed of myself; I felt wasted and dingy. It's really sad knowing no one's there for me" — Jasmine Illyza Martin Relova
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"FVCK, it's her!"
Vaughn stops sipping his gin and took a glance at the person his brother was cursing.
Upon seeing the woman grinning and walking straight towards them makes him wanted to take her head out of her body. This is the kind of woman he wouldn't like for the rest of his life.
"Hey, handsome!" Said the woman and smiled seductively, but he's not affected with her charm.
Hollerith Carlson is her name. The daughter of the highest rank official in the US Air Force. A high paid supermodel but he didn't find her attractive after all she's just an ordinary person in his eyes. The first time he laid his eyes on her he knew, she's after something and he hates it.
First impressions last, for him.
Hollerith is gorgeous, yeah, but he don't like her especially her personality. Too vulgar, liberated and seductress. He honestly don't like every inch of her.
"Hey Captain, want some pleasure tonight?" She said seductively then flipped her blonde hair. She leaned in closer never minding that Evander is just sitting right beside Vaughn. She puts her arm on the counter and slightly bend showing off her cleavage but Vaughn just smirked at the sight. He didn't even stiff, he really hates her to hell.
"Fvck off Hollerith!" Then he continued sipping his gin. He avoided her gaze, too annoying.
He heard her groan in annoyance. He fvcked her once, and he regret it. He don't like her dish.
"I really don't understand why you keep on pushing me when lots of men wanted to taste and devour and fvck me hard. Don't you find me hot huh?" She said in a bitchy tone.
There, another one that Vaughn hates is her bitchy side. Her face really doesn't fit her personality. Too bad.
Evander remained silence while listening to their rumpuses. He continued sipping his gin and can't stop grinning. He's opposite of his older brother, if Hollerith would ask him for a sex he'd say yes immediately without having a second thought. Why not? It's a blessing in disguise! For pete's sake she's Hollerith! A famous sexy supermodel. Lots of men are gaga over her.
"I don't like you. If you want someone to warm your bed then ask those men not me," Vaughn said in a very cold tone, he really liked it when he insults her. He stood and stare at her without any expression in his face. "You're the reason why my job is at risk you bitch!"
Then he walked out. He lost his gusto.
-----
HUMINGA ng malalim si Illyza nang tignan ang sarili sa salamin. Tumulo na naman ang munting luha mula sa mata niya nang maalala ang ginawa sa kanya ng lalaking nagngangalang Vann. Pakiramdam niya isang kalapating mababa ang lipad ang tingin nito sa kanya. Well, hindi naman niya ito masisisi. May kasalanan din naman siya, kung hindi lang sana siya nagpunta sa bar ay hindi ito mangyayari sa kanya. Alam niyang iba siya kung malasing pero sige parin siya. Now, she deserves this lesson.
Pinahid niya ang luha at naglakad papunta sa malawak na salamin ng kanyang hotel room na inuukupahan. Napahinga siya ng malalim at at tinanaw ang nagagandahang street lights ng New York.
Later that night, she went somewhere to ease the pain inside her but she didn't attempt to go to any bars to avoid recurrences of last night. It was horrible.
She sat on one of the bench in the park and watch the people passing by in the beautiful street of New York.
"Fvck it!"
Napapitlag si Illyza nang makarinig ng malutong na mura mula sa likuran niya. She don't know who the guy from behind but her body suddenly reacted just by hearing his voice. Her heart beats fast and hands and forehead were sweating.
She calmed herself at pinakiramdaman ang lalaki sa likuran niya. She feels him draw nearer and she couldn't move. She has this strange feeling about the person behind.
He sighed heavily. He seemed problematic.
"Maybe soon I can punch a woman." Mabilis na inangat ni Illyza ng tingin ang lalaking nakatayo sa kaliwa malapit sa kanyang inuupuan. Nahigop niya ang hininga nang makita ang lalaking hindi inaasahang makikita niya muli ngayong araw. Nakatayo ito ilang hakbang ang layo mula sa kanya.
Binawi ni Illyza ang tingin nang dumako ang mga mata nito sa kanya.
"What the! You again?!"
Umusbong muli ang inis ng Illyza. Kung sabihin nito iyon parang nakagawa siya ng kasalanan. Tumayo siya at inignora ito, lalakad na sana siya nang haklitin nito ang kanyang braso.
"Are you following me or what?" Mahihimigan sa boses nito ang pagkainis.
She looked up and raised her brows.
"Me?" She pointed herself. "Following you?" She pointed him mockingly. "Seriously?? You have too much confidence of yourself mister!"
He grinned and tilted his head.
"I see you thrice this day. Morning, afternoon and this evening. Really?" He raised his brows while looking down at her. Accidentally, his eyes landed on her cleavage. "Nice ass," he let go of her arm while smirking.
Sasampalin na sana ito ni Illyza nang mabilis nitong mahawakan ang kamay niya.
"Wrong move, Miss Foreign." Anito and pulled her closer. She bumped on his hard chest.
Pakiramdam ni Illyza umakyat lahat ng dugo sa mukha niya kaya sa inis niya ay tatadyakan na sana niya ang ari nito nang maagap ito, he turns her quickly. Now, he's standing behind na mas lalong nagpainis sa kanya. Para na itong nakayakap ngayon.
"Still a wrong move, Miss Foreign." He said from behind. His lips almost kissing her right ear. Vaughn's hot breath is too good for the cold weather of New York.
Pakiramdam ni Illyza kulay kamatis na ang mukha niya dahil sa halong inis, galit at hiya. His reflexes are excellent huh!
"Let go of me, you maniac!" Pagpupumiglas niya, mabuti nalang at binitawan agad siya nito.
She faced him. Her eyes were fiery of too much anger.
She heaved a deep sigh and shook her head.
"Today is the worst day of my life. I am so much disappointed of myself; I felt wasted and dingy. It's really sad knowing no one's there for me. And here you are, putting down on me. You don't even know just a single piece of me."
Illyza turned back and walked away. She wipes her tears. Ayaw na niyang makausap o makita muli ang lalaking 'yon. He's too much! Hindi niya lubos akalaing sa ganoong klaseng lalaki niya nabigay ang sarili.
Habang naglalakad palayo ay napahinto siya nang may grupo ng mga kababaihan ang tumawag sa kanya.
"Illyza Martin?"
Napapikit ng mariin si Illyza. Shit, not this time.
Naglakad sila papunta sa harapan niya. May mga suminghap, nanlalaki ang mga mata habang nakangiti.
"Ikaw nga! Miss Illyza pwede kaming papicture?"
"Oo nga! Fan niyo po ako!"
"Gosh!! For the first time nakita ko na ang idol ko! Grabe ang ganda at sexy mo pala!"
"Parati ko pong pinapanuod ang mga pelikula mo te, grabe!"
Napilitan siyang ngumiti at tumango ng kunti. Inayos niya ang sarili at huminga ng malalim bago pinagbigyan ang mga babae.
Pagkatapos magpapicture ay umalis agad ang mga babae at lalakad na sana si Illyza nang may isang pinoy na lalaki ang lumapit sa kanya at bigla nalang siyang niyakap ng mahigpit. Nanlaki ang kanyang mga mata at sinubukan itong itulak pero hindi kaya ng lakas niya. May ilang mga taong dumaan pero parang wala lang itong pakiaalam. Ayaw naman niyang sumigaw dahil ayaw niyang makalikha ng kahihiyan.
"Bitawan mo 'ko ano ba!" She whispers scream. "Who the hell are you!" But the guy didn't listen.
Sinubukan niyang kumalas sa mahigpit na pagkakayakap nito but he's too strong for her strength.
Nagulat nalang si Illyza nang may isang brasong humatak sa kanya palayo rito, at bumulagta ang lalaking kanina'y nakayakap sa kanya. Nanlaki ang kanyang mga mata nang lingunin ang taong tumulong.
She was shock, he helped her!
Unti-unti ay lumapit ang ibang mga tao para makiusyuso.
"Vann, stop it!" Awat niya nang susuntukin na naman sana nito ang lalaki.
Vaughn stood firmly at mariing tinitigan ang lalaking sinuntok na ngayon ay nakatayo na hawak-hawak ang panga. The guy smirked.
"Who the fvck are you?" He said earnestly, his eyes seemed like a dagger.
He heaved a sigh to calm himself.
The guy shook his head at pinahid ang dugo malapit sa bibig nito. He grinned.
"I have so much admiration on her. I'm sorry for my mistake," tumingin ito kay Illyza. "I'm sorry Miss." Then he ran as fast as he could.
Vaughn was a little bit confuse of what he had said, but later he disregarded it.
"Who wouldn't harass you if you're wearing that kind of shit?"
Anang Vaughn nang maupo sila. Illyza glanced at her dress.
Did he just called my dress a shit?
Her forehead knitted, there's nothing wrong with her wearing. It's just one of the normal outfit here in New York, a fitted black dress, a red trench coat and a high heeled destroyer ankle boots.
She stared back at him.
"Excuse me mister? It's not all about my wearing here but his admiration on me." She rolled her eyes and took a glance on her wristwatch.
She sighed. She had so much of this day, gusto na niyang bumalik sa hotel na tinutuluyan at magpahinga. Sobrang nakakapagod ang araw na ito.
"I need to go now. It's almost midnight. Thank you, goodbye and goodnight."
Dali-daling tumayo si Illyza but Vaughn caught her arm.
"Let me accompany you home." Gusto sanang magprotesta ni Illyza but she felt tired. Sobrang pagod na ng katawan at isipan niya. She badly want to get rest kaya hinayaan nalang niya ito.
Nang makarating sa labas ng hotel na kanyang tinutuluyan ay lalabas na sana si Illyza sa kotse ng lalaki nang hawakan nito ang braso niya.
"It's kind of unfair, you know my name but I don't know yours." He said looking at her seriously.
She leaned on the seat. Binawi niya ang brasong hawak nito.
"I'm still wondering about how the guy knew you and his too much admiration on you," he tilted his head. "I think you're not just something like ordinary person in your country." He stated.
She sighed, took off the seatbelt and smiled a bit. She's exhausted.
"Thank you for your help, I really appreciate it..." Inayos niya ang suot at huminga ng malalim. "I think this is our last time that we see each other. By the way, I'm Jasmine. Nice meeting you Mr. Vann, goodnight!" Aniya pagkatapos ay mabilis na lumabas ng kotse. She didn't bother to give more information about herself. Just her first name is enough.
-----
VAUGHN sighed before stepping out from the headquarter's office in Washington DC. It's already nightfall. He took off his cap at pumasok sa kanyang kotse, mariin niyang hinawakan ang manibela at pumikit ng mariin. Hindi padin mawala-wala sa isipan niya ang ginawa kanina. Gusto niyang manuntok, magwala dahil sa pagpasa ng resignation letter kaninang umaga. Sobra niyang pinanghihinayangan ang ginawa, he loved his job so much.
He heaved a sigh and starts the engine and drove away going to where his helicopter is. He'll fly back to New York.
He wanders in the city of New York to take off the heavy feeling inside him. Hanggang sa paglilibot niya ay napadpad siya sa hotel kung saan niya hinatid ang kakaibang babaeng nakilala niya noong isang linggo. He's wondering kung nandoon padin ba ang babae o umalis na. Hanggang ngayon ay napapaisip padin siya sa kung anong klase itong tao sa sariling bansa dahil pinagkakaguluhan ito ng mga kalahi noong nakaraang linggo.
He stopped his car at lumabas. May kung ano sa sarili na humigop sa kanya papasok sa hotel. He stopped in the reception area.
"Good evening," he greeted.
"Good evening. How may I help you, sir?" Magalang na anang Amerikanang babae. Malapad ang ngiti nito pati na ang ibang kasama sa area.
Tumikhim siya.
"I just wanna know if Jasmine is still here?" He asked straight to the point.
"Which Jasmine you mean, sir? May I know her last name?"
Vaughn went blank. He needs to put his feet down or else he'll be embarrass.
He sighed and shook his head, he was about to leave when his eyes darted to another direction.
There, he found what he was looking for. She just got out from the elevator.
He was astonished seeing her so damn gorgeous and sexy in her Army green long dress trench coat. It suits her.
Napahinto sa paglalakad si Illyza nang makitang muli ang lalaking hindi niya inaasahang makikita ngayong gabi. Napakagwapo nito sa suot nitong uniporme.
"Hey!" Anito nang makalapit sa kanya.
She looked up at him. Pakiramdam niya malalaglag na ang panty niya nang makita ito sa malapitan. Sobrang gwapo nito sa kanyang uniporme. So, he's in a military forces. That explains his fast reflexes.
She studied him, maayos na nakataas ang kulay light brown nitong buhok, ang asul at berde nitong mga mata ay nakakaakit, sabayan pa ng tindig nitong nakakabighani. She's truly mesmerised with his handsomeness. Hindi niya alam na makakakita pa siya ng lalaking 'sing gwapo ni Kevin.
Pero kahit kailan, walang makakapantay kay Kevin lalong-lalo nasa puso niya.
She heard him chuckled.
Kumurap-kurap siya at tumingin sa ibang direksyon. Napahinga siya ng malalim.
"Hi"
Muli, ay bumalik ang tingin niya rito.
"Ah, hi! Nice to see you," she smiled tightly. "Ahm, by the way. What are you doing here?"
Nagkamot sa batok ang lalaki.
"Oh yeah! Ahm... I was looking for my friend. He, ahm... He stays here," pagsisinungaling nito.
She nodded.
"Ah, okay. Bye, I have to go." Pagkatapos ay nilagpasan niya ito.
"Wait!"
Mariing pumikit si Illyza. Hanggang kaya niya ay iiwasan niya ito. It's kind of awkward na nakikita niya ang lalaki. Presko parin sa isipan niya ang nangyari isang linggo na ang nakakaraan, hindi niya malimot-limot kahit sa pagtulog ay nakikita niya ang mukha nito at ang sariling nakahiga sa kama nito.
Naglakad ito sa palapit sa kanya.
She sighed at tumikhim.
"Can you join me out?"
Nagulat si Illyza sa sinabi nito. Kumabog ng husto ang kanyang dibdib. Diba nandito siya para sa kaibigan?
"Anong sabi mo?"
Umangat ang kilay ng lalaki.
"Ha?"
Tumikhim siya, nakalimutan niyang hindi pala ito nakakaintindi ng tagalog.
"I mean..." umiling-iling siya at ngumiti ng pilit, "...nothing. Excuse me."
She then continued walking. Binilisan niya ang paglalakad hanggang sa makalabas ng hotel. Papara na sana siya ng taxi nang abutin ng lalaki ang kamay niya. Agad na binawi niya ang kamay na hawak nito.
"Hey!" She retorted. She don't like it when he's nearer especially when his hand holds her. Nakakapanindig balahibo.
He stopped. His eyes sparkles with amusement. Desire pulsed through his viens; she's the first woman who did this thing to him. No woman refuses his charm but she does. This is quite challenge huh.
He shrugged.
"I need someone to accompany me tonight,"
Her brows rose quickly.
"Ha?" She laughed a little. "This is ridiculous! I don't do escort mister!"
Pero hindi nagpatinag si Vaughn. He's really serious. He stares at her intently.
"Miss Foreign, Filipinos are known for being kind, polite and everything..." He tilted his head and grinned. "Can you prove it to me?"
To be continued...
✴ever_minah✴