Chapter 5

       "No.. no.. no.. Bro. You're not damn serious, are you?" naaalarmang sabi ng kausap sa kabilang linya.

Hindi man nakikita ay batid ni Gunner na hindi sang - ayon ang kaibigan sa plano niya.

        "I am dead serious Bro! If that motherfucker Gibson could do this to me.. so do I. An eye for an eye." nanggagalaiting wika niya.

        "Bro.. Parang gusto kong pagsisihan na sinabi ko sa'yo. I just want to inform you about Nina. But please spare Kristel from this. You're not like that. Mabait kang tao. Nabubulagan ka lang ng damdamin mo sa ngayon. Please listen to me. Bago ka pa may pagsisihan."

        "Damn!" marahas na nasambit ni Gunner kasabay ng pagputol ng tawag sa kanya ng kaibigang si Harrison mula sa Pilipinas. He could still hear the exact words he said. 

        He just can't believe it. How could Nina betray him? No, there must be a misunderstanding. Maaring nagkakamali lang si Harrison sa ibinalita sa kanya. For Pete's sake, ikakasal na sila ni Nina in few months time! Nakatakda na next month ang engagement party nila. He loves her. He could give her everything she wants and ask him. He is willing to do everything for her. They've been together for 3 years. Magnobyo na sila hindi pa man ito beauty titlist. 

         His phone flashed as an indication that a message was sent to him. He felt his body froze as he saw right in front of his eyes the proof of her infidelity. It was a picture of her kissing another guy on the lips. He just can't help but closed his eyes and his lips turned into a thin line. 

        How could she do this to him? He has given her everything that she wants. Everything she asked. Another picture was sent. Mas malinaw at mas mabibistahan ang lalaking kasama ni Nina. 

        'Damn.'

         The famous playboy of Almabis Clan. None other than Gibson Almabis. What a small world and coincidence? Habang kasama at inaalagaan niya dito sa Paris ang unica hija ng mga Almabis, kasama naman ng kanyang fiancee ang nakatatandang kapatid ni Kristel.

       Napatiim bagang ang binata sa tindi ng sakit at galit na nararamdaman. 

        No one could ever do this to a Montenegro! An eye for an eye. Gibson must be penalized to a similar degree for what he is feeling and suffering right now. Mata sa mata, ngipin sa ngipin they say.

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        "When and how did it happen bro. I need that information." may diin na sabi niya sa kaibigan.

        "Sure bro. I'll give you the full details when I'm done. Just keep your line open." iyon lang at mabilis na tinapos ng kausap ang kanilang usapan. Mukhang naistorbo niya ito sa kung anuman ang ginagawa nito at wari'y nagmamadaling tapusin ang tawag niya. Napailing na lamang siya. There goes Clifford again.

        Matapos makausap ang kanyang kaibigan na private investigator na si Clifford ay minabuti ni Gunner na tawagan naman ang kanyang sekretarya.

        "C-come again sir?" muling tanong sa kanya ng kanyang sekretarya na si Geneva. Mukhang pupungas - pungas pa ito. Tinawagan niya agad ito nang makapag isip - isip ng isang desisyon not considering the time in the Philippines. Kesahodang natutulog na ito. He just don't care and hindi na siya makapag intay na magbigay ng instruction.

        "Tell the VP, Mr. Roman to take charge of everything for a while. I'll extend my stay here for a week or two. Call Chloe after that and tell her na si Marian na ang paganapin niya sa iniwang character ni Kristel. To hell with the audition. Just give them the chance to be part of the series as supporting actors. Did you get it?"

        "Noted boss." mukhang nasa huwisyo nang sabi ni Geneva. 

        Mahinang tikhim ang narinig niya sa kabilang linya. "Uhmm Boss?"

        "Yes Geneva? May tanong ka pa ba?"

        "Hindi po ba kaya kayo nagpunta ng Paris ay para kumbinsihin si Kristel na bumalik na at gumanap sa fantaserye? Hindi nyo po siya napapayag?" Out of curiosity ay naitanong nito.

        "No, she's not going to do it anymore. Pumayag man siya o hindi. There's something in store for her. More than anyone expected." may pinalidad sa boses ni Gunner.

         Gunner received a message from Nina telling him she will be away for a week for an out-of-town trip. Just as he received the message, he immediately called Clifford to keep an eye on her. He wants to know everything. Every detail of what she's doing. He can't let her fool him when they are about to get married.

Right now, he wanted to drown himself with alcoholic drinks and wines. But he needs to look after Kristel. Hope she feels better soon. 

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        Maayos ayos na ang pakiramdam ni Kristel nang siya ay magising. Iinat inat siyang bumangon at agad na nagtungo sa comfort room to refresh herself. Nang makatapos ay lumabas na ng silid. She's starving. Ngayon siya nakakaramdam ng gutom. Mula sa entrada ng kusina ay naaamoy niya ang mabangong amoy ng pagkain. There she saw Gunner preparing some stuff. 

        What the hell!

        Halos lumuwa ang mata niya while staring at Gunners' back. Really? A God from Olympus stepped down para ipagluto siya. Ang hot at ang sexy naman ng cook niya. The Big Boss becomes her cook for today. Napangiti siya sa naisip. Agad siyang nagkubli sa dividing wall ng living room and kitchen. She doesn't want him to know that she's staring at him. Pumaling siya at tinutop ang dibdib.

        'Common Kristel! Behave.' saway niya sa sarili. 

        Inhale. Exhale. Nang sa pakiramdam niya ay humupa na ang pagkabigla ay pumaling na siya. Pagsilip niya ay dibdib na ni Gunner ang bumulaga sa kanya. Oh-oh! Pagtingala niya ay nakangisi at aliw na aliw ang mukha ni Gunner ang nakatungo sa kanya. Pakiramdam niya ay umakyat lahat ng dugo niya at namumula ang pisngi niya.

        'Shocks!'

        Mabilis siyang pumihit upang bumalik sa silid ngunit maagap siyang napigilan ni Gunner. Hawak hawak ang kanyang kamay ay iginiya siya nito sa dining table. There served on the table a simple American breakfast - eggs, hotdogs, bacon and fried rice. 

        Bahagya siyang nagulat nang ilapat ni Gunner sa kanyang noo ang palad nito. 

        "How do you feel now?" tanong nito sa kanya.

        Matipid siyang ngumiti dito. "I'm fine. Thanks Boss."

        Tumango - tango na rin ito at humila ng sariling upuan sa tabi niya. He then closed his eyes and muttered a prayer. 

        "So, let's eat."

        Sa amoy pa lang ay natakam na siyang kumain sabihin pang gutom na rin siya talaga. Nagulat pa siya ng lagyan ni Gunner ng fried rice, egg, hotdogs at bacon ang pinggan niya. Kinagat niya ang labi niya bago nilingon si Gunner. He is directly and intently looking at her. 

        "K-kain ka na rin." yaya niya kay Gunner. 

        "Yeah, sure. Thanks." Agad naman nitong kinuha ang sariling pinggan at nilagyan ng pagkain. There, they ate breakfast together. Who would have thought na makakasama niya ang CEO ng Royal Crown Film and Entertainment Inc?

        Not that she doesn't belong in the circle for she is the heiress of Almabis Clan. But because she knows Gunner. He is the type of person who doesn't mingle with other people unless it's business.