LIAM'S POV
"Something not good happened at the site, Liam and so the board were asking for you to be here and fixed it with your expertise dahil alam nilang magagawan mo agad ito ng solusyon."
When dad informed me that through skype, I couldn't help but blew out an exhausted breath.
Hindi pa nga natatapos ang paggawa ng bagong branch ng hotel naming 'yon, nagkaproblema na agad ito.
"Dad, do I really have to be there? Alam mo namang marami rin akong inaasikaso rito. I know the board can handle that at nandiyan ka naman so----"
"Never tell me you're going to make your dad work again, Willy! Alam mong hindi dapat pinapagod 'yang daddy mo so you better get your damn ass here kung ayaw mong ako mismo ang gagawa nun para sa'yo!"
When my mom threatened me that habang nasa likuran ito ni dad, I couldn't help but pouted at her way.
Sa edad nitong 54, hindi pa rin talaga nawawala ang malatigre nitong awra.
"Mom! You know I can't do that!"
"Well, I know you can, dimwit! Hindi mo lang talaga maiwan-iwan yang mga babae mo diyan sa Pinas! Baka akala mo hindi ko alam yang mga kalokohang ginagawa mo diyan! You're always in the headlines at palagi mo nalang pinasasakit ang ulo ko! When are you going to give me my first apo then kung puro ka nalang pambababae? Hanggang kailan ka ba talaga magseseryoso ng babae huh?"
Just hearing her sermons now, an exasperated groan escaped from me. She's at it again. Bringing up that 'apo thing ' whenever she could get a chance to do so.
"Honey, calm down okay? Magkakaapo ka rin----"
"Isa ka pa, Wilfredo! Kung hindi lang kasi nagmana 'tong anak mo sa pagkababaero mo, edi sana hindi sumasakit ang ulo ko sa batang 'yan ngayon! I swear kapag hindi ka pa nakahanap ng babaeng seseryosohin mo, William Montero, ipapakasal kita sa anak ng kaibigan ko rito! You better keep that in your mind!"
At that threat, I felt like I became more exhausted now kaysa kanina. Alright. Ipapakasal talaga... As if magpapakasal ako sa kahit kaninong babae nalang.
"Liam, pumunta ka nalang agad rito okay? Ikaw ng bahalang umayos ng problema rito. And if you want to change your mom's mind to set you up in one of her friend's daughter for a marriage, you better bring some woman with you here tomorrow. I'll end this call now dahil baka tuluyan ng highbloodin tong mommy mo. Bye."
Then the screen turned dark when that call ended.
And just hearing those threats from my mom, mas lalo lang sumasakit ang ulo ko.
She was at it again.. Setting me up with her friend's daughters. Well, okay lang naman 'yon sa'kin noon because most of those women wasn't actually looking for a serious relationship but just a partner in their beds. Just the right women I've been looking for.
But now.. kasal? She's going to set me up for an arranged marriage? Oh no. Hindi ko yata mapapayagan 'yon.
Shaking off my head, pinindot ko nalang yong intercom na nasa harapan ko.
"Dulce, alam mo ba kung nasaan siya ngayon?"
"Yes sir. She's in La Café Mosses right now and I think she'll be working overtime again this time."
Hearing that news, napapahugot na lamang ako ng malalim na hininga.
"Okay. Thank you for that, Dulce." Saad ko nalang rito before I pressed the end button before I leaned my back against my chair.
She's working so late again this time. Was she really in dire need of money now to even work overtime? She was just abusing her body dahil sa mga ginagawa nito ngayon.
Goodness with this woman. Dumadagdag pa talaga ito sa poproblemahin ko ngayon. Wala naman itong pamilyang binubuhay so why couldn't she just take a break from work at magbakasyon muna----
"....if you want to change your mom's mind to set you up in one of her friend's daughter for some loveless marriage, you better bring some woman with you here tomorrow....."
I paused with my thoughts when dad's words suddenly replayed in my head.
Giving me a very good ideas right now to solve my problem with my mom and that woman.
Ohhhh....oo nga naman ano. Ba't hindi ko nalang kaya isama ang babaeng 'yon bukas? I know hindi agad ito papayag but man, I'm William Montero and I can find ways to convince her to come with me in Canada tomorrow.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SUZY'S POV
"Where are you?"
"Answer my call."
"Please.."
When I read those texts, napapailing ko nalang na ibinulsa uli ang cellphone ko before I resumed my work.
Mga ilang araw ko ng iniiwasan ito at ilang araw na rin akong palaging pinupuntahan niti sa school at kahit sa mga trabaho ko. At nitong mga huling araw naman, hindi ito nagpapakita pero panay naman ang tawag at text nito sa'kin. I don't know kung saan niya nakuha ang number ko but it doesn't matter anyway. As long as hindi ito pumupunta rito, it was fine. Titigil rin naman ito kapag hindi na'ko makita nito ng matagal. He was a man whore afterall so makakahanap din 'yon ng bagong paglalaruan nito.
"….You just gave me another reason to pursue you now and I promise that this time, I will make you mine…"
When his promising words echoed through my head again, binilisan ko nalang ang paglilinis na ginagawa ko.
I shouldn't thought about it.
Especially that kiss….
Because everytime na naaalala ko ang halik na'yon, the more I hated myself for liking it and even stupidly hoping that it'd happen again, darn it! And it was wrong of me to feel that way lalo na sa lalaking 'yon. He was just doing this for his lusts so I should never give into him.
Dahil sa kagustuhan kong mawala ito sa isipan ko, binilisan ko pa lalo ang paglilinis ko. And it didn't take me long to finish mopping the whole café.
"Hindi ka pa ba uuwi, Suz?"
When Fe asked that, I straightened up and wiped my sweats off my forehead before I turned to her way.
"Mauna ka nalang, Fe. Susunod nalang ako sa'yo." Tugon ko na rito while I was still holding the mop with me.
"Sige. Ikaw ng bahalang maglock ng mga pinto rito saka siguruhin mo lang na uuwi kana agad okay? Lumalalim na ang gabi at kailangan mo naring magpahinga."
When she reminded me that again, I couldn't help but smiled at her kahit pagod na pagod pa 'ko ngayon.
Well, if I won't work overtime these days, baka hindi na'ko makagraduate ng tuluyan nito dahil wala akong pambayad ng graduation fee. And besides, higit isang linggo nalang internship na namin at sa gabi nalang ako pwedeng magtrabaho nun kaya kailangan kong kumayod ngayon.
"Opo ma'am. Uuwi agad ako. Mag-iingat ka."
When I playfully answered that with a grin, nakangiti na itong tumango saka umalis na. Leaving me all alone here.
Sighing out, tinapos ko na agad ang kailangan kong tapusin doon. And before going out, nagbihis na'ko ng malinis na damit saka inilock na ang mga pintuan.
Pagkalabas ko palang ng café, the cold breeze of the night greeted me. Lumalalim na ang gabi so this cold temperature was understandable.
Tightly hugging myself, naglakad na'ko agad patungo sa daan so I could hail a cab now. Medyo madalang na ang mga sasakyang dumadaan sa mga oras na ito but I know makakahanap rin ako ng masasakyan rito. With patience, I waited there. At mga ilang sandalil palang akong nakatayo doon, I felt my phone vibrated in my jeans' pocket.
And knowing na si Liam na naman ito, napapailing ko nalang na inilabas 'yon sa bulsa ko.
1 message received
Seeing that, I clicked the 'Read' button and a text message appeared from an unknown number.
'Can I see you tonight?'
I let out a sigh when I read his message. Couldn't he just leave me alone? I'm sure marami namang mas maganda at mas sexy na babaeng naghahabol rito kaya bakit ba hindi nalang niya 'ko kalimutan at pabayaan nalang? I was so out of his league anyway so ano ba talagang kailangan nito sa'kin?
With a shook of my head, ibinulsa ko nalang ult ito saka pinara na agad ang taxi na papunta na sa direksyon ko.
The ride to my apartment was just a few minutes away so it didn't take me long to get to my apartment. Lumabas na'ko agad ng taxi pagkaabot ko ng bayad sa driver. Desperate to take a rest now, tumakbo na'ko agad patungo sa apartment ko.
Sa halos isang linggong pag-oovertime ko sa trabaho, kulang-kulang na palagi 'yong tulog ko. Lalo na't patapos pa lamang ako sa research ko.
And about naman kay Klent, I refused his offer to be his date in his family dinner date dahil bukod sa nakakahiya, I have no time for that now. At dahil minsan nalang din ako pumupunta sa school nitong mga nakaraang araw, halos hindi ko narin ito nakakausap ngayon. I like him but I have to work to graduate and it was more important to me. Dahil kailangan kong ipakita sa lahat na kaya kong umasenso nang hindi humihingi ng tulong sa iba.. Nang hindi humihingi ng kahit na anong tulong galing sa sarili kong pamilya.
'Yong sarili mong pamilya na walang pakialam kung buhay ka pa ba o hindi....
When thoughts about my family
were trying to appear in my head again, I quickly shrugged those thoughts off saka dali-dali ng binuksan ang pintuan ng apartment ko. Tears were threatening to fall from my eyes again this time.
I have to sleep now so I won't think about them anymore. They don't deserve to be remembered dahil wala silang mga kwentang----
"Suzy…"
I stopped with my thoughts when that voice suddenly called out my name from behind me.
Here he comes again!
I sniffed and then blinked my tears away before I turned to face him.
"What now? Ano na namang ginagawa mo rito?" sita ko na rito, not wanted to hear any of his stupid offers and promises to make me his dahil wala akong oras dun.
"Hindi mo pa rin ba maintindihan kung bakit hindi ako nagpapakita at nagpaparamdam sa'yo?"
The bastard just shook his head saka lumapit na ito sa'kin.
"Yes. Hindi ko talaga 'yon maintindihan that's why I'm here. Can I come in?"
I frowned at him and gave him a suspicious look when he asked that.
"At ba't naman kaya kita papasukin rito, aber? Para pagsamantalahan mo?"
I glared at him when he suddenly chuckled at that. As if he was amused to hear that.
"Pagsamantalahan? And why would I do that? Hindi ako ganung klaseng tao, Suzy. Yes, I love having sex with women but forcing them to have sex with me was never been my thing. So are you going to let me in or not?"
I tried to consider that. Giving it a deep thought and weighing it kung papasukin ko ba ito. Ayokong mapalapit na naman rito but it's bloody cold out here at giniginaw na'ko ng sobra.
Papapasukin ko ba ito? May punto naman ito sa sinabi nito and as long I didn't allow him to touch me, walang mangyayaring galawan.
Blowing out a resigned sigh, nilakihan ko na ang bukas ng pintuan ko.
"Get in now before I'd freeze here in cold."
Agad namang tumalima ito. Pumasok na rin agad ako saka isinara na ang pinto sa likuran ko. Kinapa ko na agad ang switch ng ilaw sa dingding malapit sa may pintuan. The light flooded throughout the room, revealing those few books at the table na naiwan ko pala sa sala kagabi when I was working with my research.
Being so exhausted now, hindi na'ko nag-abala pang damputin ang mga librong 'yon and just slumped down on the sofa sabay baba ng backpack ko sa mesa.
I know he was just watching me with curious look but I just ignored him and just take off my left shoe.
"Kung ano mang kailangan mong sabihin ngayon, please say it now dahil wala akong oras para makipag-away sa'yo, Liam." Matabang na saad ko na rito habang tinatanggal ang sapatos ko.
I felt him walked around, probably he was giving my apartment a close look.
"I didn't know na ganito pala kaliit ang tinitirhan mo.."
I just scoffed at that saka tumingin na rito. And I thought I could see him with disgust in his look right now but no, I could only detect amazement in his face instead while he was intensely staring at me. At hindi ko alam kung bakit ganito ito makatingin sa'kin ngayon pero hindi ko na 'yon pinansin.
"Compared to your hotel suite or your house, baka nga malaki pa ang banyo mo kaysa rito. And good for you but I don't care. I only need this space for myself kaya kung ano mang sadya mo rito, sabihin mo na. Pagod ako so please, sabihin mo na so I could sleep now." I answered in a straightforward manner.
I noticed him heaved out a breath before he slowly walked towards me. Gusto ko ng mataranta rito but seeing na huminto naman ito mga isang metro ang layo sa'kin, I stayed on my seat.
"Gusto mo bang sumama sa'kin bukas?"
"Sumama bukas? At saan mo naman kaya ako isasama bukas?" kunot-noong tanong ko rito, wondering why the hell he would suddenly asked me that.
"I'm going to fly out to Canada tomorrow for some business matters and ilang araw akong mawawala rito."
"Then that's great! Hindi ko na rin kailangang magtago just to avoid you."
Agad na dumilim ang mukha nito when I exclaimed that in excitement.
"I want you to come with me there, Suzy.."
Natigilan agad ako nang bigla nalang niyang sabihin 'yon.
"To come with you?" I asked to confirm if I wasn't just hearing things now.
"Yes. I'm taking you with me and just think about it like a short vacation abroad."
When he confirmed that, I let out a disbelief scoff which caused him to groan in disapproval.
"A short vacation with you? At ano namang gagawin ko dun kasama ka, Liam? Para maging katuwaan mo, ganun ba?"
"No. This is just a plain invitation out of kindness, Suzy. Not that I want to fool around you. Gusto lang kitang makapagrelax doon dahil alam kong pagod na pagod ka na sa kakatrabaho mo rito."
"That's because I need to at hindi ko kailangan ang invitation na 'yan because I don't need that. Especially your unnecessary concern." I firmly refused in a snap.
"Hindi ko kailangan ang awa mo, Liam at wala akong oras sa mga ganyan because unlike you, I don't have the luxury to do that. I've got jobs to do and a research to finish before next month so no. Umalis ka nalang ng mag-isa mo."
"Then I'll just tell your employers to give you a short vacation leave----"
"Oh how nice of you to do that. Kung hihingi lang din naman ako ng agarang 'Vacation Leave' gaya ng gusto mong mangyari, edi sana hindi na'ko nagpumilit pa na dagdagan ang oras ng trabaho ko so I could earn more." I sarcastically cut off na siyang ikinabuntong-hininga nito, probably having no words to reason out now.
Well, of course. Hindi niya 'ko maloloko rito. I know he was just doing this for his plan to make me gave into him. And I don't want to hear any of his lame excuses right now.
Blowing out an exhausted breath, tuluyan ko ng hinubad ang isa ko pang sapatos before I got up on my feet.
"Alam mo, Liam? Kung wala ka ng ibang sasabihin sa'kin, ba't hindi ka nalang kaya umuwi----"
"No. I'll stay here tonight."
Halos mapatanga na lamang ako rito when he suddenly spouted that, not even a tinge of shame and hesitations could be detected in his face right now.
"I'll stay here with you tonight kapag hindi ka sasama sa'kin bukas, Suzy."
"Pinagloloko mo ba'ko ngayon, Liam?"
"No, I'm not."
I glared at him when he snapped that with a straight face. This jerk!
"Pwes hindi mo nga ako pinagloloko ngayon dahil binablackmail mo 'ko!"
"Well, you can say that. It was either you come with me tomorrow or I'll sleep here tonight. Sa kama mo mismo katabi mo. Your choice."
The moment he shamelessly admitted that he was indeed blackmailing me, I felt like my scalp prickled up in an instant. At dahil pagod akong makipag-away rito, all I could do right now was just tightly squeezed out my eyes while pinching the bridge of my nose.
Oh God…
"Pwede ba, Liam.. Pagod na pagod ako ngayon sa trabaho at dumadagdag ka pa talaga ngayon.." timping saad ko na rito sabay tingin uli rito, too tired to even argue right now.
"Gusto ko ng matulog ngayon kaya pwede bang sa susunod mo nalang ako inisin? At kung pwede? Maghanap ka nalang ng ibang babaeng dadalhin mo sa kung saang impyerno man ang punta mo bukas basta 'wag lang ako!"
He didn't answered and just stood there while staring down at me with an unknown look in his eyes. But after awhile of his silence, nagtaka nalang ako nang bigla nalang itong lumapit sa'kin and before I could even realize what he was going to do, I yelped out in surprise when he suddenly picked me up in his arms na siyang ikinalaki ng mga mata ko.
Oh my God!
"Liam! What the hell are you doing now??" I asked in horror while wriggling myself in his arms.
"I'm just doing you a favour, woman. You want to sleep now so we're going to sleep now. Aren't that sweet?" He teased saka nagsimula ng naglakad papasok ng silid ko.
"I swear mapapatay talaga kita kapag hindi mo'ko ibababa ngayon, Liam!!"
When I shouted that threat, he just shrugged his shoulder before he carefully laid me down on my bed. Pagkababa niya sa'kin, mabilis pa sa alas kwatrong bumangon na'ko palayo rito in a scare that he would take advantage on me again.
"Anong binabalak mong gawin, Liam?? " Tarantang usisa ko agad rito pagkalayo ko rito.
I groaned in distaste when he just smiled at me with his eyes dancing in amusement while looking at me.
"Wala naman akong binabalak na masama sa'yo, Suzy. Gaya ng sabi ko, I just want you to have a sleep now. So sleep now.." He stated as he began to take off his suit jacket now na siyang ikinalaki pa lalo ng mga mata ko.
Holy hell!
"Liam!!! If you want to sleep here, then why the hell are you taking off your clothes now??!!"
"Of course, I said I'm going to sleep here tonight so I should take this off para makatulog naman ako ng maayos ngayong gabi."
When he said that as if sinasabi nito na dapat alam ko na ito, halos mamatay na'ko dahil sa kabang nararamdaman ko ngayon. Because hell! Halos hindi nga'ko halos makatulog dahil sa halik nyang 'yon noon so how much more if I see him naked now? Edi mapapaaga ang libing ko nito??
Not wanted that to happen, I quickly searched for anything na magagamit ko para itaboy ang manyakis na'to!
And I cursed out when I couldn't find anything useful except sa mga hanger na nakasabit sa may dingding sa likuran ko. Well, I'm desperate to kill him now para maging choosy pa'ko!
Without giving it a thought, kinuha ko na agad ang isa sa mga hanger na 'yon and then threatened him with that.
"Wag na 'wag mo itutuloy 'yang binabalak mo, Liam dahil malilintikan ka talaga sa'kin ngayon!"
"Binabalak? At ano naman kayang binabalak ko?" Nagmamaangang pang sagot nito though his eyes was obviously laughing at me now!
"Wag na wag mong itutuloy ang paghuhubad mo dahil matatamaan ka talaga sa'kin nito! At hindi talaga ako magdadalawang-isip na gawin 'yan sa'yo!!" Bantang sigaw ko pa rito while tightly holding the hanger in my hand as my weapon.
"Ano ka ba naman, Suzy. Para paghuhubad lang, marami ka ng reklamo. Baka atakehin ka niyan sa puso huj? Hindi ko pa nga lang nahuhubad lahat ng damit ko, ang tindi na ng reaksyon mo."
Gusto ko na talagang saksakin ito ng hanger ngayon dahil sa lakas ng apog nito!
"Don't worry, pang-itaas na damit lang naman ang huhubarin ko so you'll be fine."
I gasped out in horror when he suddenly added that. Dahilan para halos lumuwa na ang mga mata ko Lalo na ng sinimulan na nitong tanggalin ang necktie nito saka ang butones ng damit nito, revealing his naked chest on me.
"Liam! I swear papatayin talaga kita nitong hanger gago ka kapag hindi ka pa titigil sa paghuhubad ngayon!"
"Hmm? Are you sure you want to kill me with that thing, Suzy? Baka naman gusto mo munang tanggalin 'yang kawawang panty na nakasabit sa hanger na 'yan?"
At the mention of that, my wide eyes shifted down to the hanger in my hand at pagkakita ko palang sa pink na panty kong 'yon na hindi ko man lang napansing nakasabit pala rito kanina, I froze as my blood ran cold.
"Holy shit!"
"Don't curse that innocent underwear, Suzy. Ang cute pa naman n'yan kaya maawa ka naman diyan."
When he teased that, mas lalo pa'kong nanlamig sa kinatatayuan ko.
Finally realizing na nakalimutan ko palang ilagay sa drawer ang mga nakasabit kong mga underwear rito.
"Hindi ko alam na ganito pala kaganda ang decoration ng silid mo. A cobwebs of panties everywhere? Oh God. It was so unique. Kung alam ko lang sana na ganito ang makikita ko rito, then I would've brought a camera with me nang may souvenir naman ako rito."
When he teased that again with his so amused voice, my eyes swiftly took a scan of my room. At gaya nga ng sabi nito, my panties were all over my room now na para bang may ibinebenta ako ngayo'ng ukay-ukay rito.
And I totally forget about it hanggang sa banggitin ito ng gagong 'to.
Parang gusto ko ng mamatay... Habang buhay….
At dahil sa sobrang kahihiyan, wala na 'kong ibang maisip na gawin ngayon kundi tumakas mula rito.
Kaya naman dahil sa matinding kahihiyan, kumaripas na agad ako ng takbo papasok sa loob ng banyo na nasa dulo ng silid na'yon. Just to escape from that humiliation.
Sana'y kunin na'ko ni Lord..
I cried that out in my mind pagkapasok ko palang ng banyo at rinig na rinig ko naman ang tawa nito sa labas while calling out for my names.