Chapter 3.1
When I confirmed that he was the man I bumped into this morning in front of the restaurant, the first thing I want to do was to hide. I badly want to runaway, even though I'm not sure if he saw me nor recognized me.
I harshly turned my whole body to Iris who's now enjoying another glass of alcohol, I don't know. It seems like she's enjoying this more than me, seeing that she's throwing her hands up to the air while swaying her body together with the beat of the music. She didn't even noticed that I'm being restless now.
Gusto ko na lang umuwi!
I froze on my seat when I smelled that familiar scent. He's just right behind me! Oh God!
"A glass of Jack Daniels— whiskey sour mash old no. 7 black label."
Despite the loud music around, I still heard him loud and clear. His deep and low voice that made him even more manlier than he already is. No matter how much I stopped myself from looking at him, I still did. From the corner of my eyes, I saw him leaning at the counter, arms rested above the counter and his hands are intertwined, giving me the full view of his tattooed arms now that he's only wearing a shirt. I gulped and looked away.
Iris noticed my movements, and eyed me curiously. I silently, I mean literally, told her to find another place, and I thought she'll get it but she didn't.
"What?" She screamed right at my face and I have to wipe off some droplets of her saliva on my face. I scrunched up my nose and looked at her, in total disbelief but she just giggled.
Oh God! She's tipsy already? Ilan na ba ang na-inom nito? Kakarating lang naman namin! Tsaka cocktail drinks lang naman ang mga ininom namin!
Tiningnan ko ang counter at gusto ko na lang mapatampal sa noo ko nang makitang mas marami pala siyang ininom na alak maliban sa cocktail na ininom namin. Am I that preoccupied with that man?
Now I got uncomfortable when I remembered he's just right beside me.
Dahan-dahan akong bumaba sa high chair para alalayan si Iris.
"Let's go Ris," I gently told her not just because of her, but also because I'm afraid that this man here will recognize my voice. I want to get out of here without him recognizing me. I know that I'm the one who owed an apology but I'm so embarrassed for some reason.
"No, Sheen! Come on! I'm still sober!" Saad niya.
Nakahinga naman ako ng maluwag nang makitang maayos pa naman siya pero dahan-dahan nang tumatama ang alak. Bago pa man tuluyang mangyari 'yon, kailangan na naming umalis. Hindi ko alam kung ilang oras pa ang kaya kong itagal dito ngayong alam kong nandito 'yong lalaki kaninang umaga.
Hinila ako ni Iris papunta sa dance floor. Hinawakan niya ang dalawa kong kamay at nag-umpisang sumayaw. Pilit kong hinihila ang kamay ko pero mas lalo lang niyang hinihigpitan ang hawak sa akin. Nang lumakas ang music, tumalon-talon si Iris dahilan para tumalon na rin ako kasabay siya.
Kung kanina ay wala akong planong magsayaw, ngayon ay sumasabay na ako sa pagtalon ni Iris. Itinataas namin ang mga kamay naming dalawa habang tumatalon. Kapag may lumalapit sa amin ay tinataboy ni Iris, at bigla na lang niya akong yayakapin na para bang aagawin ako sa kaniya. Napailing ako habang napapangiti.
"We should get another drink, you're still holding back. Come on!" She whispered on my ear because of the loud music.
It took us a lot of time before we past through the group of dancing people. Parang hindi ako makahinga sa dami ng tao, sa amoy ng magkahalong alak at pawis.
Pagkaalis namin sa dance floor ay gusto ko na lang bumalik ulit nang bumungad sa akin ang walang kasiya-siyang mukha ng lalaki kanina. He's leaning his back at the bar counter, and putting all of his strength on his arms on his elbow behind. His muscles flexed because of the force he's using.
I gulped and looked away when he arched his brow, noticing my gaze. Iris dragged me to the counter and ordered another drink. All I could do was to sigh.
"Could we get a seat at the second floor?" I asked the bartender. Instead of drinking here, it would be better to drink upstairs, that way she'll sobber up a bit because of the less throbbing lights.
"Yes ma'am!" Agad naman na sagot ng bartender. Tumango ako at nilingon si Iris na papunta na sa pagiging lasing, kunting inom na lang. Hindi ko alam kung bakit ang lakas niyang mag-aya samantalang ang baba naman ng alcohol tolerance niya.
Inalalayan ko si Iris at sinabihan ko ang bartender na pa-dalhan kami ng tubig sa itaas na agad naman niyang tinanguan. Pagkaakyat namin sa taas ay agad kaming nakahanap ng bakanteng upuan na nasa dulo.
Umupo kaming dalawa ni Iris at hinintay kong dumating ang tubig naming dalawa. Rinig pa rin ang ingay mula sa baba pero tolerable naman. Pwede kaming magsalita na hindi na kailangang magsigawan.
The table next to ours is a group of men, to say that they're handsome is an understatement. They're talking as if they had a secret that are forbidden to be told. Minsan ay nagtatawanan sila pero hindi naman talaga gano'n ka lakas. Napansin kong nagtitinginan ang mga babae sa kanila, katabi rin nila sa kabila. They're gawking at these men. Well, guwapo naman talaga ang mga lalaking 'to.
Napangiti ako nang itoun ko ang tingin sa unahan ay papalapit na ang isang lalaking may dalang tubig. Itataas ko na sana ang kamay ko para dumeretso siya sa amin nang bigla na lang siyang harangin ng isang lalaki sa katabi naming upuan.
"I'm sorry, bud. But could you give us the water first?" Tanong no'ng isang matangkad na lalaki, lahat naman sila matatangkad, na nakasout ng itim na dress shirt.
Kumunot ang noo ko.
"But sir—" napalingon sa akin ang bartender dahilan para lumingon rin sa akin ang lalaki. Nanlaki ang mata ko sa hindi inaasahang atensyong nakuha mula sa lalaki at sa mga kasama niya. Tumango na lang ako at umiwas ako ng tingin.
"If it's for the ladies, I'll just get my own," saad naman ng lalaki na muling nagpalingon sa akin pero tanging likod na lang niya ang nakita ko nang umalis na siya.
Dinala ng lalaki ang tubig sa amin at agad naman akong nagpasalamat. Ipina-inom ko kay Iris ang tubig na ngayon ay tila nabuhayan sa mga nangyari.
"Did you know those guys?" She nod her head towards the group of men beside us and I looked at them sideways before I looked at her again. I shake my head.
She giggled and leaned towards me. Umusog naman ako papalapit sa kaniya nang tila may gusto siyang sabihin.
"Those sexy men over there..." Binitin niya ang sasabihin niya at tiningnan ang mga lalaking tahimik na nag-iinuman. "They're cousins..."
Lumayo ako ng kaunti mula sa kaniya at nagtaas ng isang kilay.
"So?" Walang pakeng tanong ko. Ano naman ang meron sa mga lalaking mag-pinsan? Natural lang naman siguro sa kanila ang mag-inuman hindi ba?
Umirap siya nang makita ang reaksyon ko. Para bang ang tanga-tanga ko at hindi ko makuha ang pinupunto niya.
"Don't you get it?" Naiinis niyang tanong.
"Don't get what?" I really don't get what she's trying to point out.
She groaned and almost pull her hair because of frustration.
Chapter 3.2"They're on the top lists of the most eligible bachelors in the Philippines! They're heirs, Sheena! Heirs!" She told me like I should know that. "Their family owned chains of hotels. Not only that, but they has a lot of properties all over the world. They have a big share at their hotels and they didn't even get their inheritance yet. They're so freaking hot too! The women would die to at least have a one night stand with them!" She whispered but almost yelling at my face. I grimaced at her last remarks. It looks like they're treating them as Gods. "So you're like, having a crush on them?" "Crush would be an understatement but acceptable my dear," she told me. "They're my w*t dreams..." She whispered while fluttering her eyelashes. I almost puke. I wouldn't go that far with my crush. "Iris!" Sita ko sa kaniya pero tinawanan niya lang ako. "Don't be so innocent please!" She rolled her eyes and took a sip at the glass of water. She's now the one who's grimacing. "Why ar
Chapter 4.1The constant ringing of my phone woke me up. I tightly closed my eyes and covered it with my arm, still sleepy from taking care of Iris the whole night. She's a bit handful when she's drunk. I grunt when the ringing didn't stop no matter how much I ignored it. I swear to God, whoever's calling me this early will really not hear the end of this. I slowly lift myself up and lean my back at the headboard, before I reached for my phone at the bedside table. I grunt as I felt a pain on my head. I tightly closed my eyes and the memories of last night started flashing back at the back of my mind. I sat up straight when the scene before we went home, flashed. "Oh God..." I groaned and rub my forehead. Iris vomited on him! On his dress shirt that seems to cost more than my monthly salary! Oh God! I can't believe that it happened.I was again interrupted when I heard the loud ringing of my phone again. My forehead form a creased when I saw that it's an unregistered number. I hes
Chapter 4.2Pinunasan ko ang mga luhang kanina pa pala tuloy-tuloy ang pagtulo sa pisngi ko. Inilayo ko ng kaunti ang cellphone mula sa akin bago suminghot. I don't want her to hear me breaking because of this. "I'm still hurt because of what you did before, it's still etched in my mind. It's replaying vividly, reminding me of that day. God knows how much I wanted to forget it, but I can't," I told her. My voice is laced with pain. "I'm sorry anak. I'm sorry," she cried. Tanging pag-iyak at hikbi na lang niya ang naririnig ko mula sa kabilang linya dahilan para muling tumulo ang panibagong mga luha sa pisngi ko. Oh how much I've been wanted to hear this. Kahit sa kaniya lang. Kahit siya lang ang magsabi ay sapat na sa akin. Hindi na muling nagsalita si mommy pagkatapos niyang umiyak. Nagpaalam na lang siya at pinatay ang tawag. I stayed on my room, staring at nothing particular. I don't know how everything went into this. I was just enjoying my work, almost got late in a meeting,
Chapter 5.1I ran passed through the revolving door. I almost bump to all of the people at the lobby who only walk normally, while I looked like I have been chased. I keep on saying sorry without looking at them. I have no time to do so, I'll be very late at this moment.I tried to catch the first elevator I saw but, unfortunately it closed before I could even reach it. I moved to the next one, it was about to close and I don't know how, it might be the adrenaline, but I managed to slip my hand in between the two doors to open it again. A sigh of relief past through my lips, but not long after, I'm having a difficulty in breathing again. I stared at him. My eyes were wide open. My jaw almost dropped at the shiny floor. I should've believed what Iris told me. I should've considered that coincidences happens in real life. Because the moment the door of the elevator slowly opens, I saw him again. Standing magnificently on his dark blue suit. His dark brown eyes peering on my black one
Chapter 5.2 I was pulled out of my trance when someone nudged me from the side. When I turned my head to my right, I saw her nodding forepart. I followed her line of vision and that's when I saw Sandy mouthing; "come here" to me. With a slight hesitation and nervousness, I stepped inside and it feels like the world stop while my eyes were on that one person who's gaze are piercing through me. Una akong nag-iwas ng tingin at dumeretso kay Sandy na naghihintay na sa akin. "The President wants to hear about the re-design of some of the designs you gave to their team personally," she whispered. Bahagya akong napalingon sa likuran ko. Napalunok ako nang makita siyang nakaupo lang at nakayuko. The little light illuminating his face indicates that he's looking at his cellphone. "You're already done with that, yes?" She hopefully asked me. Her voice waver and the more I stayed silent, the more she became restless too. She's looking behind us every second she could get, so when I slightl
Chapter 6.1I stretched my arms above my head as I yawn without taking my eyes off of the screen of my laptop. I've been sitting here for hours, squeezing my brain for ideas. I grew frustrated each second, doubting if this designs reached, nor surpassed their set of standards. After thinking about what he said for a hundred times today, I ended up agreeing with what he told me. It was really complicated not only for the guests but also for the hotel itself.I was thinking too much that I failed to notice that I'm steps ahead of myself. So I thought of designs that is minimal and pleasant to the eyes but not common. There's still uniqueness and originality with the designs despite of it's minimalism. Considering that their hotel is one of the top three hotel, the number one to be exact, the designs should be beyond what the guests expected to see. The luxury would still be there but not too much. After being satisfied with my designs, I decided to bring myself to sleep. I almost cur
Chapter 6.2Umuwi akong dala-dala ang mga katanungan na walang mga kasagutan. Para akong walang buhay na naglalakad papunta sa apartment ko. Dahil hindi naman kalayuan ang tinitirhan ko mula sa trabaho ko, pinili ko na lang munang maglakad ngayon nang makapag-isip-isip rin ako, pero mukhang maling ideya 'yon nang ilang beses na akong muntik mabangga sa mga taong nakakasalubong ko. Mula sa sementadong daan, napatingin ako sa harapan ko. At gano'n na lang ang gulat ko nang makita kung sino ang taong nakaupo sa gilid ng isang resto bar. Nakasandal ang likod niya sa dingding ng resto bar at mukhang wala siya sa sarili. Kahit na nakayuko siya at lasing na lasing nakikilala ko pa rin siya. Lalo na't nakasout lang siya ng t-shirt dahilan para makita ko ang mga tattoo niya sa braso at sa leeg. I really don't get why someone want to put a tattoo on their skin when it will only make it look so dirty. But this Lankov, Adam Lankov, is an exception. He looked great with that tattoos in his well
Chapter 7.1"Ugh! I really hate her! Why would I envy her? Tell me?" Iris is gritting her teeth because of too much anger. "I'm way more gorgeous than her!" She rolled her eyes which made me laugh a little. She scoffed when she saw my reaction and sip her drink. We're currently in a coffee shop we always visit to whenever we have time after work. We discovered this when we're both in college and until then it became our favorite shop. Now that we're both busy with our career, we rarely visit here. But I'm glad that we have time to visit now, if not, I don't think Iris won't stop calling me to rant this 'hate' and 'envy' she's telling me now. "Just let her be, Ris. You know your truth," I told her. I put a fork of chocolate cake on my mouth and savor it's taste. I hummed in approval as it suits my palate. "I know! But still! If you just saw that woman, you'll be itching to claw your nails on her." "I won't." I shrugged and continued eating my chocolate cake. I know that Iris is jus