Kabanata VI

Watching Fred sleep beside me had me mesmerized. Fred had quite the perfectly carved sharp jaw and clean cut curly hair. His nose was tall enough to crease the pillow a bit.

I can’t believe I need to use this handsome man for my own gain.

Kinakagat ang puso ko ng konsensya.

Sabi niya gusto niya ako, and I know na hindi naman imposible ‘yon. Nakatakda nang magustohan niya ako.

Pero…

“Magiging okay ka ng wala ako, Fred. Si kuya hindi.”

Mabilis akong nagbihis at pumunta ng CR dala damit ni Fred. I saw a laundry basket there, so I just tossed everything there and then faced the mirror to fix myself.

Nag-retouch ako ng make up ko lumabas na.

Naabutan ko si Fred na naka-T-shirt. Tulala sa sahig habang nakangiti.

The faint sound of my footsteps made him turn in my direction. Agad siyang lumapit sa harap ko.

“When will I see you again?”

I narrowed my eyes, weirded out by his question. “Duh, ang lapit-lapit ng pharmacy ko sa unit mo.”

He let out a short chuckle. “So payag kang puntahan kita araw-araw?”

“Huh? Uh—” Sikreto akong napakagat ng labi ko, dahil ramdam ko ang pagi-init ng pisngi ko.

Ipinagsalubong ko ang kilay ko para itago ‘yon.

Hindi dapat ako malihis sa plano.

“Hindi kita kayang seyosohin.”

Fred looked at me innocently. “Really? But you just surrendered yourself to me last night.” He crossed his arms over his chest and damn those healthy triceps are so attractive. “What part of it do you not like? Ayaw mo ng baby? How about sweetie?”

“Hindi ‘yon, ano ka ba! I just really thought you’re with me on breaking them apart, tsaka alam ko kase  madali kayong mga lalaki pumayag ‘pag napagbigyan.”

That’s a lie. I just want to create a conflict here, and get his help along with it. I want Kuya Luthner to find me here last night.

I stuck the paper with Fred’s unit tight on the steel front cover of my pharmacy… and modified it a little.

I’m at Unit 507D. I’ll be drinking whiskey with Fred.

I thought he’d get mad, when he saw us, then I’d act traumatized, and ask him to stay with me. And then seduce him.

Pero kaasar eh. Ba’t ba hindi siya dumating?

Naputol ang pag-iisip ko nang biglang marinig ko ang mahinang pagtawa ni Fred. “That’s too generalized.”

“Eh ‘di hindi. Aalis na ‘ko.” Matulin akong naglakad papunta sa p***o, pero naabot niya pa rin ang braso ko.

“Wait, hindi pa ako tapos.”

Walang sabi-sabi niya akong hinila, kaya napasubsob ako sa dibdib niya.

“You’re not wrong.”

Kunot noo akong napa-angat ng tingin sa kanya, pero binungaran niya lang ako ng isang mabilis na halik sa labi.

Kumalabog nanaman ang dibdib ko.

I don’t want to get seduced! I’m supposed to be the one seducing Kuya Luthner!

“Fred!”

“You heard me. You’re not wrong. Use me, Mich.” A cute smile curved up on his lips. “If you can,” he added, whispering.

Doon lang nag-sink in sa ‘kin ang sinasabi niya.

“Payag ka?” I scoffed. “Eh ‘di inamin mo rin. You’re still into Heather. Ano bang maganda nakita n’yo ro’n sa babaeng ‘yon, ni Kuya, pati ni Mama. Ew!”

He hummed as he shook his head. “I’m not doing this for her. It’s for you, sweetie.”

I inhaled deeply hoping to tame the sensation of my racing heart.

Seriously, how did this man seem to intuitively know what would turn me on? The sweetie, Gosh! I love it.

“B-Bahala ka.”

“Okay then.” Napatingin siya sa wall clock at napa-iling-iling. “I’m late. Let me call Heather real quick.”

Lumakad siya papunta sa side table at dinampot ang cellphone niya.

“You’re clearly into her!”

“Silly, she’s my secretary.”

His thumb paused centimeters above his phone  screen when I walked towards the door again.

“Aalis na ‘ko.”

“Mich. Let me walk you.”

Hindi ko na pinansin.

Halfway palabas ng p***o, napahinto ay napahinto ako sa sinabi niya.

“Let’s have lunch together at 12. Discuss your terms with me. I’ll be waiting here.”

“Okay.”

Sa botika na ako nag-shower at nag-ayos ulit. Buti nalang nag-iiwan talaga ako rito ng extrang damit ko.

Hindi kami nag-uusap ni Celine halos, dahil ‘pag wala siyang ginagawa ay lagi naman siyang nakatutok sa phone.

Pagpatak ng 11:45 ay agad kong sinukbit sa balikat ang bag ko.

“Magla-lunch lang ako sa labas ah,” paalam ko.

“Ma’am, nawawala ba cellphone niyo? ‘Yung mama n’yo kase sa akin nagra-rant. Hindi ka raw kase umuwi kagabi.”

Doon ko lang naalala na nakapatay nga pala ang cellphone ko. Hinalughog ko ‘yun sa bag at in-on.

Tsaka nagsibungad sa ‘kin ang mga messages at misscalls ni Mama.

Mama: Hoy, babaita, nasaan ka na? Uuwi ka pa ba?

Mama: Kauuwi lang dito ni Luthner. May kinita ka raw. Lalaki? At sino naman, aber? T*ng *na mo, haliparot ka rin pala kagaya ng tatay mong walang kwenta.

Mama: Sinayang mo lang oras ni Luthner. Nagagalit pa tuloy si Heather.

I rolled my eyes and didn’t bother reading the rest of her messages and instead, checked Kuya Luthner’s.

Kuya: Mich, nasaan ka?

Kuya: F*ck Mich, are you serious?  Drinking with a man, at si Fred pa? Mich, tell me you're joking.

Kuya: Mich, answer my calls.

Kuya: T*ng *na, Mich. Itigil mo ‘yan. G*go ‘yang sinamahan mo.

Kuya: How long have you been doing this? Matagal na ba ‘to?

Kuya: Kung hindi ka sasagot. Bahala ka na dyan. Sisiguraduhin kong makakarating ‘to kay Mama, para madala ka.

So, kaya hindi siya pumunta.

Kuya Luthner didn’t care about me anymore.

Nangingilid ang luha akong naglakad paalis ng botika at pumunta ng condo ni Fred.

Akala ko naitago ko na ng maigi ang luha ko nang nakarating ako sa unit ni Fred, pero nahalata niya pa rin, at agad niya akong hinila para yakapin.

“What the hell happened, sweetie?”

I didn’t bother explaining. Nahihina na rin naman ako sa kakapigil ng luha ko.

“Fred, what do you think of killing me?”