Chapter Nine: Jealousy

[Fia's POV]

"MANANG, may pupuntahan po kaming isla ni Eric ngayon," sabi ko habang nagbibihis.

I wore the only two piece that I have. A leopard printed bikini and top it with a floral printed see-through beach dress. Good thing naisama ko ito sa mga na empake ko. I have nothing else to do in this cottage and I was sure that Kayden will be home after midnight. It was always the routine. Pagkatapos niya akong ihatid sa hapon para samahan si Manang Marla na maghanda ng hapunan ay babalik muli siya sa set. Hanggang magdamag na siya roon.

Since nakapaglaba naman na ako nung isang araw, bukas ko nalang ulit lalabhan iyong natira niyang nahubad na damit. Nakakaimbyerna pa dahil lahat halos ng t-shirts at boxers niya puro puti. Ang gastos gastos pa niya sa damit. Nakaka limang bihis yata siya sa isang araw.

"Nagpaalam ka ba kay Kayden?" tanong ni Manang habang may kung anong nililigpit na gamit.

"O...opo..." I lied. Alam ko naman kasing hindi iyon papayag. He would not even let me swim on the beach when I asked him the other day. Nagkataon lang talaga ngayong hindi niya ako pinasama sa set kaya hindi na ako humindi ng yayain ako ni Eric kanina. Kayden even told me blatantly yesterday na wala daw akong silbi kaya pumirmi naraw ako dito sa cottage.

Ano namang inaasahan niyang gagawin ko dito? Magbibilang ng ipis?

"O siya sige, nak, at uuwi rin kasi ako sa bayan ngayon. Babalik nalang ako sa makalawa. Wala kasing magbabantay sa dalawa kong apo."

"Sino po ang maghahatid sa inyo?" napabaling kay manang ang tingin ko habang nagsusuklay ng buhok.

"Iyong bunso kong anak. Susunduin ako nun kaya huwag kang mag-alala. Malapit lang naman dito ang sa'min."

Tumango ako. "Mag-iingat po kayo, Manang."

"Mag-iingat din kayo dito. Ikaw na ang bahala kay Kayden. Inilista ko na iyong mga paborito niyang ulam. May nagluluto naman sa isa sa mga crew niya kaya huwag kang mag-alala sa team. Siya nalang ang intindihin mo. Lutuin mo nalang kung anong gusto niyang kainin sa umaga."

Napalabi ako. "Matanda na po 'yon pero feeling aalagain parin."

Tumawa si Manang. " Hayaan mo na, nak. Kapag may tiyaga may nilaga."

I was almost tempted to tell Manang na hindi naman totoo iyong sinabi ni Kayden sa kanya. Liking that jerk would be a curse for me. But I've also thought that it was good to keep it that way--make her believe na 'patay na patay' ako kay Kayden. Masmabuti na iyon kesa tanungin niya ako ng mga tanong na hindi ko naman kayang sagutin. I couldn't tell her of the stupid reason kung bakit talaga kasa-kasama ko si Kayden. That would be too gross for the old woman to know.

Halos magkasabay kaming natapos na maghanda ni Manang. She was ready to leave when I was done but she said that her son was still on the way. Nauna na akong nagpaalam sa kanya kasi nag hihintay na si Eric sa labas. Iniwan nalang niya iyong listahan ng ulam at naghabilin pa ng kung ano-ano para sa alaga niya.

Eric was ready when I came out. He wore a dark aviator shade, a white beach shirt, and board shorts, with a huge smile plastered on his face.

"Ready?" he asked.

"Yap!" I answered and wore my dark horn-rimmed sunglasses.

We headed to his SUV right away. To be able to get to the island, kailangan umano naming puntahan ang isang karatig na beach resort mula dito kasi nandoon ang bangkang sasakyan namin.

Eric doesn't play that much role in the shoot. Kayden just consults him from time to time kung aprobado ba niya ang nakuhang eksena nito. He's one of Kayden's co-producers anyway so he could have his time to himself.

And today, we are going for a swim!

"Are your toes okay?" asked Eric while we were on the road.

"Oo, ano ka ba! Ilang araw mo na iyang tinatanong. Naka ilang araw na nga akong sumama sa set."

"We'll be swimming, baka lang sumasakit pa."

Napangiti ako at napabaling sa kanya. "Hindi na. Tsaka trip ko rin talagang maligo."

He laughed. I was too excited. Gusto kong pansamantalang matanggal ang stress na dala-dala ni Kayden. Gusto kong isiping pagkatapos nito ay may pag-asa parin ako kay Elijah. And Eric was just too nice to invite me.

The drive wasn't that long. Kulang kulang fifteen to twenty minutes ng dumating kami. We entered inside an exclusive resort. There were not much tourist inside kasi hindi yata peak season. Sandaling may kinausap si Eric para rentahan ang isang bangka. He also rented some snorkeling gears and kayak boat. Maganda raw kasing mag snorkeling at mag kayak sa pupuntahan naming isla. Mamaya pagbalik namin dito mag je-jetski daw kami.

I offered to pay the half of the expenses. Nakipagtalo akong magbabayad pero Eric was just too persistent. He threatened me na hindi daw niya ako isasama kapagka nagbayad ako.

Kaya wala akong nagawa.

"Careful. " Eric extended his hand para alalayan ako pasakay ng bangka. Sumunod naman siya sa likod ko.

"Thanks!" I said once we were settled. Nagsimula nang umandar ang bangka at nag-anunsiyo narin ang bangkerong aalis na kami. "Nakakainis ka hindi mo ako pinagbayad."

Eric smiled at me showing one cute dimple on his right cheek. "I invited you so I'm going to pay."

I rolled my eyes at him

and he just laughed at me.

"If you're going to invite next, then you're going to pay. Para hindi na sumama ang loob mo," dagdag niyang tumatawa parin.

Natawa narin ako. "Okay, next time ako naman ang taya."

"Aasahan ko 'yan."

Wala kaming ginagawa kundi ang magkwentuhan habang hinihintay na makadaong kami sa isla. Eric was such a nice guy. Very cool at ang gaan niyang kasama. His kind of air reminds me of Elj. Hindi kagaya sa kabwisit na si Kayden. I would need to combine all the negative adjective para siya mai-describe.

"We're here!" Eric announced ng maka dock na kami sa isla.

"Wow! Ang ganda nga!" I chimed in happily. The sand was powdery white and the water was bluish-green. Kitang kita ang ilalim ng dagat sa linis.

"What would you want us to do first?" tanong ni Eric habang kinuha ang mga nerentahang swimming gear.

"Snorkeling?" I pouted.

"Snorkeling then," he grinned and handed me the snorkeling mask and the fins. Hinubad ko na ang suot kong beach dress at agad na naisinuot ang snorkeling gear. Eric helped me up with the fins. Saka rin niya sinuot iyong sa kanya.

"Ready?" he asked when he was all done.

I nodded. "Ready!"

We laughed and we both dived into the water.

EVERYTHING could have been perfect. Almost. If not for Kayden. Bakit ba kasi may signal pa sa resort natu? I should have never answered his call.

Ang tanga ko lang talaga kasi!

"Where the f*ck are you, Fia?!" he growled on the other line. Halos mabingi na ako sa sigaw niya.

"Ano ba? Pwede bang huwag kang sumigaw!" naiiyak ko naring buwelta. How dare he shout at me na para bang isang mortal sin ang nagawa kong hindi pagpapaalam sa kanya!

"You tell me where you are right now or I'll call your mother and tell her that her well-behaved daughter whored herself --"

"Shut up! How dare you!" nanginginig kong sigaw, nangingilid na ang mga luha ko.

"Hin-di mo na kailagan pang insultuhin ako. Uuwi na ako ngayon din..."Ang sama-sama talaga niya. Wala siyang karapatang insultuhin ako!

"Don't make me repeat myself again, Fia. You won't like me when I'm mad. Saan ka ngayon?" gigil niyang muling tanong.

"Blue Palm Beach Resort..." I muttered. Sumasakit na ang lalamunan ko sa pagpipigil na umiyak. Wala naman akong laban sa kanya. He's the boss and I am his slave.

"Huwag kang aalis diyan. Ako na ang susundo sa'yo."

He ended the call bago paman ako makasagot. Wala akong nagawa kundi ang mapa-iyak. I have excused myself from Eric. Nasa table pa siya at kumakain. Ano ang sasabihin ko sa kanya? Na mauna na siya dahil susunduin ako ni Kayden? Hindi ko rin gustong magpang abot silang dalawa. Kayden was really mad that I came with Eric na hindi nagpaalam. Baka pati si Eric mabuweltahan niya. I did not expect na uuwi siya sa cottage ng ganito kaaga. Madalas naman pag nasa set kami hindi siya umuuwi ng ganitong oras.

Nasapo ko ang ulo ko. I need to calm down and think this over. Ilang beses akong huminga ng malalim, tinuyo ang mga luha saka nagdesisyong balikan si Eric.

"Are you okay? Was that Kayden?" tanong agad niya ng makabalik na ako.

Tumango ako. "Siya daw susundo sa'kin ngayon," I bit my bottom lip. I knew this might sound offensive for him pero wala na akong choice. "O-okay lang ba kung mauna kana?"

"Was he mad?"

Umiling ako.

"Hindi naman. May pag-uusapan lang kami."

"I'm going to wait for him. After all ako ang nagyaya sa'yo."

"Pero kasi..." Ugh, I'm not really good with lying.

"I'll talk to him," Eric cut off. " Kumain kana. Ako na ang bahalang kumausap kay Kayden."

I couldn't chew the food habang hinihintay namin si Kayden. Wala pang limang minuto tapos na ako. Nawalan na ako ng gana. Isang beses ko lang nakitang nagalit si Kayden sa set at ayoko nang maulit iyon. Totoong iba siya kung magalit. I've seen him kicked and threw off things.

Tiningnan ko si Eric, he still looks calm in his seat.

"Tapos ka na bang kumain? Hindi mo pa nagagalaw ang pagkain mo."

"Uhm, okay na ako," I tried to smile at him."Excuse muna, mag babanyo lang ako."

I have never changed my clothes since we came here. Katatapos lang kasi naming mag jetski. Inabot ko ang bag ko. I was ready to leave for the bathroom when I suddenly felt a very familiar frame standing right next to me.

"Where the f*ck do you think you're going?"

[Kayden's POV]

I HAD only been away for a few hours and she had used that to her advantage. So this was the kind of woman who talks as if she had not yet gotten over with my brother? Yet here she was, trying to relieve her itch with a guy she barely knew, all dressed in a skimpy bikini.

I swallowed hard as I surveyed her body. She was still dripping wet. Her strapless bikini top barely covers her breast, exposing a mouthful of cleavage. Hasn't she thought of covering herself? Even her flimsy bikini bottom exposed a tasteful pair of derriere to every man's liking. She was oblivious of the guys nearby who took their luck to get an eyeful of her. She didn't even seem to care na pinagpipyestahan na siya ng tingin ng mga tarantado.

I gave her a death glare clearly telling her a silent message. Her eyes shot right up to me, giving me the same look I was giving her, not making an attempt to move."Get in the truck, now!" I howled at her.

"Hindi mo siya kailangan sigawan. I was the one who invited her," answered Eric who stood up from his seat at umikot sa gawi ni Fia.

I clenched my teeth, glaring at Eric. "You would need to know where you figure all in here, Pare. She's my business." Napabaling muli ako kay Fia."Get in the truck now bago pa kita makaladkad,"I said stiffly.

Fia narrowed her eyes on me even more, giving me her generic resilient look before she marched off the restaurant. I heaved a sigh forcing myself to calm down.  I never thought that woman could be a pain in the ass!

" I don't like to be rude pero hindi ko gustong nakikipagmabutihan ka kay Fia, Pare. She's with me, you should need to know where you stand in here. Pareho tayong nandito para magtrabaho," I snapped at Eric when Fia was nowhere out of sight.

"She doesn't seem to be just an ordinary secretary to you, " he remarked.

"She's not. So keep off of her if you know what's good enough for you."

[Fia's POV]

I FELT so futile for not being able to muster any courage of slapping that bastard on the face! I hate him! I hate him so much! I felt worst than a prisoner being stuck inside a prison cell! Paano ba nagkaroon ng ganoon kademonyong kapatid si Elijah?

I breathed out heavily habang pilit kong tinatahan ang sarili ko sa pag-iyak nang biglang bumukas ang pinto ng driver's seat. Kayden came in and banged the door beside him. He turned on the ignition and swiftly manuevered the truck off the parking.

Gigil kong kinuyom ang mga kamay ko. Kung anong kinagwapo ng mukha niya ay iyon namang ikinasama ng ugali niya. Hayup siya! Is this man even capable of loving?

"Hayup ka!" I yelled unable to control my emotion. "Anong ginawa mo kay Eric?!"

He didn't answer, instead, he stepped harder on the gas and drove like a maniac.

"Ano?! Sagutin mo ako hayup ka!" sigaw kong napakapit sa dashboard. Plano ba niyang ibangga ang sasakyan?

"Put your seatbelt on and shut that little feisty mouth of yours, " he commanded rigidly pero hindi ko siya sinunod.

Out of fury, I grabbed the box of tissue in front of me and hardly fired it on his face. It hit his jaw. Hindi ako bayolenteng tao but he just made me, right now.

He winced in pain and stared menacingly into my eyes." Isa nalang, Fia. Kapag hindi kapa tumigil malilintikan kana sa'kin," he threatened.

"Ano, iba-blackmail mo uli ako? Iyan naman ang ikinakasaya mo diba? A-no bang ginawa ko sayo para itrato mo ako ng ga-nito?" nanginginig ang boses kong singhal, nanulas na muli ang mga traidor kong luha. "W*-la na ba akong karapatang lumabas? W*la naba akong karapatang mag enjoy kahit sandali? Sinunod ko naman ang gusto mo! I became your lowly personal secretary kahit hindi ko alam kung kailan mo isusuli ang pesteng camera ko!"

"Sinunod?" he asked sarcastically." Sinabi kong pumirmi ka sa cottage pero anong ginawa mo, ha Fia? You went out with Eric without even asking me! You must have been really itching to get away, huh?" He shot his eyes to me. " I bet my brother would do the same if he would have been here, even worst."

"Hindi makitid ang utak ng kapatid mo!" nagpupuyos sa galit kung sigaw. "Elj isn't capable of doing things that you do! I don't even know kung saang planeta ka nanggaling. I'm sure you're not even capable of loving! You're worst than a monster! Ang sama-sama mo!"

He laughed mockingly. "I'm not even capable of loving, huh?"

"Yes! You're a heartless jerk!" giit ko. Ever since I have never liked him and never will be. He's even worse than a cold-blooded aminal!

Napahawak ako sa dashboard ng biglang tumigil ang sasakyan. I haven't noticed that we were already at the compound. I could see some of the crew outside their cottages. I dried my eyes with my fingers and swallowed hard. I placed my hands in my heaving chest and tried to calm myself.

Pumikit ako at huminga ng malalim. God, how am I going to get away with this jerk?

When I opened my eyes, I nearly jumped off my seat ng may kung anong tumama sa mga binti ko. A shirt. His shirt.Napamaang akong napatitig kay Kayden. How rude could this guy be?

"Isuot mo yan kung ayaw mong ako mismo ang magsuot niyan sa'yo. Fix yourself," he demanded, giving me a steely look and went out of the truck, hardly banging the door to my face.