Chapter 5 TMWCBM

Nev

Kinabukasan ay natagpuan ko si Eros na nagluluto sa kusina. Akala mo isang greek god na nagluluto sa kusina, ang cute pa ng apron kasi hello kitty.

"Cooking isn't part of your duties," tawag ko sa pansin nito.

"You were tired from yesterday."

"We both are, um-order ka nalang sana."

Umupo ako sa upuan at hinintay na matapos ito sa pagluluto. It's not part of his duties, but I'll let him be. Kung anong gusto niya then, bahala siya.

After preparing the food, he stood next to me like a freaking robot, again.

"Hindi ka kakain?"

"Later will do, Ma'am."

"Sit and eat with me."

Hindi narin ito umangal at umupo na sa harap ko. He began eating and so was I.

"Ilang tux dala mo?" tanong ko sa kalagitnaan ng pag-kain.

"Five."

"Nilalabhan mo ba 'yan?"

He shooked his head as a response.

"Anong ginagawa mo sa mga tuxedo mo?"

Tumingin lang ito sa trashcan sa tabi saka nagpatuloy sa pagkain. Does that mean he's just throwing his stuffs away? Motherfucker son of satan.

"Bumibili ka ng tux?"

Umiling ito at tumitig sa'kin.

"Personally designed for me."

What the fuck? Does he have a freaking designer? Goddamn, how wealthy is my bodyguard? And why is he a bodyguard?! Holy crap this is giving me a massive headache.

"May meeting ako ngayon. You can roam around while I'm gone."

"I'm going with you, Ma'am."

"Oh Jesus, stop. Wala tayo sa Pilipinas, Eros."

"Safety matters-"

"Damn it! Walang papatay sa'kin dito!"

"We don't know, Ma'am."

"You're getting into my nerves, Eros."

"Part of my duty, Ma'am."

"Fucking stop!" naiinis na sigaw ko.

A small smile formed his lips. Mukhang tuwang-tuwa pa na naiinis ako. This motherfucker has the guts to laugh at me.

"You're not going with me, and that's final."

I stormed out of the kitchen and went to my room. Hinanda ko ang mga susuotin at nilapag sa kama. Bitbit ang tuwalya ay pumasok ako sa bathroom at ini-on a g shower. Ayoko muna magbabad sa bathtub ngayon, I'll be late if I do so.

Lumabas ako ng nakatapis lang ng tuwalya. I found Eros standing at my door. Gago bastos!

"Fucking shit! Privacy, Eros! I need privacy! Get out!"

His adams apple moved. He opened the door and went outside. I hurriedly put on my clothes, hindi na ako nag-abalang i-blower ang buhok ko at kinuha nalang ang suit case saka lumabas.

"I'm going, and don't follow me," pinandilatan ko ito ng mata saka umalis.

I arrived at one of my stockholder's company and everyone was already there, mukhang ako nalang ang hinihintay.

"Sorry for arriving late, let's start," I nodded.

Sumandal ako sa swivel chair habang nakikinig sa nagsasalita sa harap. May iilang meeting ako na dapat puntahan, may iilang establishments din akong dapat tignan, I'm making my business grow bigger.

Nauna nang lumabas 'yong iba matapos ang meeting, I was left alone inside the conference hall, or so I thought?

"Nev Chivan, it's nice to finally see you, after years of not seeing each other."

Nag-angat ako ng tingin.

"Rivas," maasim na ani ko.

He's my enemy, business enemy to be exact. He's after the land's that I own. Nakikipag-karera sa'kin pagdating sa negosyo at inaagawan ako ng stockholders.

"Aren't you happy to see me?"

"I would be lying if I'd say yes."

"Hot-blooded, Nev. Kamusta ka na?"

"I was living my life happily, not until I saw your filthy face."

He chuckled as he got up from his seat at lumapit sa'kin. The strong scent of his disgusting perfume lingered on my nose. Yuck!

"Stay away from me, nakakasuka 'yang pabango mo."

"Sensitive sense of smell, you're pregnant?" he asked.

"None of your business, you spawn of satan."

"Ouch. I'm hurt. So you are pregnant," natatawang ani nito.

Oh, dear gawd he's so nosy.

"Who's the unlucky guy?" he added.

"Fucktard."

I picked up my suitcase and left him alone. Naiinis ako sa kaniya, sa pagmumukha niya, sa amoy niya, sa lahat ng mayroon sa kaniya. Napaka-bastos pa ng ugali, akala mo hindi babae ang kinakausap. Hindi marunong magpa-kumbaba, walang ka-gentle gentle sa appearance at attitude nito, kaya hindi mo talaga matatawag na gentleman ang daga na 'yon.

Bahala na siya sa kung anong gusto niyang isipin, I don't care and I also don't give a fuck. Napaka-gaya gaya talaga. Alam kong aagawin niya na naman at sisiraan ako sa investor ko na 'yon, he's a carbon copy of satan, from face to attitude. I don't find him attractive at all, he looks like a mouse to me.

"Nev, you're so hot-headed. Relax, hindi ko aagawin si Mister Almodovar sa'yo."

Ang kapal ng mukha, humabol pa talaga.

"Dude, I don't care."

"Want to grab lunch with me?"

"Rejected."

Two faced motherfucker. Akala siguro hindi ko alam totoong ugali. 'Wag ako, Rivas, kilalang-kilala kita, mula ulo hanggang paa.

"Hindi na nga kita aawayin or aagawan or what, masama daw sa buntis na ma-stress kaya magpapaka-bait muna ako for nine months. That's how nice I am, may exception kasi buntis ka."

"Leave me alone, pwede? Makita ko lang pagmumukha mo nas-stress na agad ako."

"Lunch lang eh, ang damot mong buntis ka."

"Gago."

Magkasabay kaming dalawa sa elevator. He kept bugging me about the lunch. Gusto yata ng sapak, sapak 'to sa'kin mamaya. The elevator door opened and Eros face welcomed my sight.

"Anong ginagawa mo dito?"

"Fetching you."

"Are you her husband? Unlucky piece of shit," ani Rivas.

"Kindly shut the fuck up, Rivas?"

I handed my suitcase to Eros and walked away.

"I see why you're declining my lunch offer, susunduin ka pala," habol ni Rivas.

"Kung wala kang magawa sa buhay mo Rivas, papakin mo nalang 'yong kape na parang milo. Also, whenever we see each other, act like we don't know each other. We're not close kaya 'wag kang feeling," litanya ko.

"You just hit me directly in the heart, Chivan. Napaka-sakit. I wonder what did that guy saw on you, eh ang pangit mo naman-" napatigil ito sa paglalakad at pagsasalita kaya lumingon ako.

Eros' hand was on his shoulder. His broad chest was almost covering Rivas' body. Pansin ko ring mas matangkad at mas broady ang features ni Eros kaysa kay Rivas.

"Degrading a woman, I see," malamig na ani ni Eros.

"Dude, it was a joke."

"Not funny, Rivas," irap ko.

Umiling ako kay Eros, he finally let go of Rivas' shoulder and walked with me outside to the parking lot.

"Nag-lunch ka na?"

"Hindi pa."

Umangat ang isang kilay ko sa sinagot nito. I never thought he could speak Filipino language, akala ko nakakaintindi lang, english kasi parati.

He opened the car door for me and I entered. Pumasok ito sa driver's seat at nagsimulang magmaneho.

"Dumaan tayo sa grocery store, sa hotel na tayo kumain ng lunch. Sino magluluto? Ikaw o ako?"

"Your choice, Ma'am. You're the boss."

"Hm I'll cook, you'll help me."

He nodded. Dumaan kami sa grocery store na malapit sa hotel kung saan kami naka-check in. He's pushing the cart while I'm looking for ingredients to buy. As we were looking at the meat section, a woman's voice was calling Eros kaya napatigil kami.

"Eros?"

"Oh my! Eros ikaw nga!"

A woman- who looks like Venus' age -showed up.

"Psyche," Eros's voice was firm.

Psyche? Her name is Psyche?

"It's good to see you here, you're with another girl, I see," she stared at me, halata ang selos at inis sa mukha nito. Her face lighten when she faced back at Eros.

"You are?" bumaling ito sa'kin.

"None of your business," I answered.

"Bastos."

Goddamn! Did she just say bastos ako? Compared naman sa kaniya na two faced animal.

"Bitch," I mumbled.

"Nev," Eros's face was dark.

Tangina. Nev? The fuck?

"Brat. Anyways, wanna have lunch with me? I also want to talk to you about something," her voice was sweet toward Eros.

Napaka-peke.

"I can't."

"No, it's fine. You can have lunch with her."

'Wag ka narin bumalik sa hotel kung ayaw mong masakal, Eros Atticus.

How dare he call me by my name?! I'm still his boss and he can't just disrespect me like that!

"Declined."

"But Eros, marami akong gustong sabihin sa'yo," she stamps her feet like a baby.

"I said, I can't!" Eros raised his voice a little.

Enough for her to stop acting like a baby.

"You can go," ani ko.

"See? She's permitting you. Wait, sino ba 'to? Cousin mo?" she pointed at me.

How dare you point your freaking filthy finger on me, you witch!

"Bullshit."

I bit my lip as he walk towards me, passing the red-haired psycho and grabbing my wrist.

"Let go of me or I'll smack you in the head," I warningly said.

He did let go of my wrist.

"You're getting into my nerves, Eros."

Nagpatuloy ako sa paglalakad na parang walang nangyari, kumukuha ng mga canned foods at iba pang ingredients para sa lulutuin ko mamaya.

"Don't do that again. Don't call me by my name and don't raise your voice when I'm around. If you do, I can easily seek another bodyguard."

"I'm sorry, Ma'am."

"I don't need your apology. Give me that cart, puntahan mo 'yong babae doon, go and have lunch with her," ani ko sa nang-uutos na boses.

"She's not important."

"Important or not, I don't care. She wants to talk to you, then goes and talks to her. Bumalik ka nalang mamaya after lunch. I'll be fine, ilang lakad lang naman 'yong hotel."

"Ihahatid kita."

"No need."

"Ihahatid kita."

"Eros," banta ko.

"Ihahatid pa rin kita."

I heaved a sigh.

"Fucking fine. Napaka-desisyon."

Truth to his words, hinatid nga ako nito pabalik sa hotel saka binalikan 'yong babae na nagngangalang Psyche. Bagay sila. Eros and Psyche. Parehong salaula.

I entered my hotel room and cooked something for lunch. Matapos mag-lunch ay nagbihis ulit ako. I'll go on a walk at magw-window shopping narin, kapag may natipuhan edi bilhin. That's how basic it is.

*****

@MyNamez_Anne