Playful Seduction

Chapter 16.

“I already told my friend na magreresign na ako. Kailangan ko lang mag stay for at least two more weeks para makahanap sila ng kapalit ko.”

Tumango tango ako habang ngumunguya ng carbonara. “I can’t believe it still. You will be working with my dad. It’s just so nice that I get to see the both of you in the same workplace.” I have been thinking about it ever since the night na ipinakilala ko si Raius sa bahay.

Naiimagine ko na, na kapag pupunta ako sa office ni daddy, I will see Raius looking serious while working. Ah. That must be an amazing sight to see. Tapos pwede rin kaming mag dinner na sabay sabay kaming tatlo. I am already formulating plans!

“Oh, mukhang iniimagine mo na, ha?” Natatawa na sabi ni Raius.

“Oo naman. We can have lunch together. The three of us,”

“Ang sa akin lang, kung makakapasok ako, your dad is still my boss. A-ayoko lang mapolitika doon, mahal.”

Napa awang ang labi ko at napa isip ako. “Oh. I get it.” Napahawak ako sa pisngi ko. Oo nga naman. I know exactly how things work in an office. I mean,

“Kung makapasok man ako dahil daddy mo ang may-ari, gusto ko ipakita na tatagal ako doon because of my own skills and talent.”

Tumango ako. “I understand, mahal. Naunahan ako ng excitement.”

“It’s okay. Naiintindihan ko rin naman.” He grinned at me. “Anyway, saan mo gusto pumunta pagkatapos natin kumain?”

“Nood na lang tayo ng sine? Let’s check out what movie we can watch,” Hindi naman kasi ako updated masyado sa mga current movies na available sa cinemas. Nakababad ako sa social media but I am more into the business side.

It’s been three days since we went to our house in Forbes and knowing that we’re official in my family’s side makes me feel I am free of some sort of burden. Pinaplano ko na nga kung kailan ko maisasama si Raius sa Isabela. I also want Habby and Zyrus to meet him. Pakiramdam ko naman ay magkakasundo sila.

“Fine with me, maaga pa naman.” Sabi nya habang nakatingin sa wrist watch nya.

“It’s settled then! C’mon, mahal. Ubusin mo na ‘yang food mo. Naunahan na kita.” Itinuro ko ng nguso ko ang dalawang slice ng pizza sa plate nya.

“What if I’ll check kung ano ang available movies and time para alam natin?”

“Pwede. Okay lang.”

“I’ll call you para sabihin anong movies available. I’ll buy us the tickets na rin.” Tumayo sya at inayos ang suot nyang t-shirt.

I nod bago sumubo ulit ng carbonara. “Okay, mahal. Bilisan mo.”

Sinundan ko lang sya ng tingin habang naglalakad sya palabas. After this, may isang slice pa ako ng pizza. Tingin ko naman ay mauubos ko. Si Raius ang pumili na kumain dito and parang medyo wala sya sa mood kumain ng marami. Usually ay sya ang mas mabilis maka ubos ng pagkain between us two.

I waited for his call. Medyo nagtaka lang ako dahil two floors away lang naman ang cinema from where we are and nasa harap na mismo ng kinakainan naming dalawa ang escalator. I don’t know bakit hindi pa rin sya tumatawag to tell me the line up movies.

Ubos ko na ang kinakain kong carbonara when my phone rang.

He told me three movies. I chose the comedy one, plus in thirty minutes pa naman daw magsisimula ang next showing. The other two movies are horror and action and I am not in the mood for either. Pumayag rin naman si Raius. Of course, I asked him if okay rin sa kanya.

He then told me that he’s already in the line to buy the tickets kaya pinutol ko na ang linya. He came back after a few more minutes. He explained na medyo mahaba raw ang pila since sikat ‘yung movie na pinili ko panuorin. Nang maubos nya na ang pizza nya ay tumayo na kami.

“We will still buy popcorn ha? Hindi ako sanay manuod na walang kinakain although I am still full right now.” Hinimas ko pa ang tyan ko. We just got out of the place we ate at.

“Oo naman, mahal. Maglakad lakad na lang muna tayo para bumaba kahit kaunti ‘yung kinain natin bago tayo pumasok sa sine.” Naka akbay sya sa akin.

We started walking around the same floor of the cinema dahil ilang minute na lang naman bago magsimula ang movie. Wala naman pila sa bilihan ng cinema food so we bought popcorns, slushies and hotdogs.

The movie is nice, overall. It’s funny and we were both entertained.

Akon a ang nag volunteer na magdadrive pabalik sa condo ko. Just like the usual, he parked his motorbike on the parking spot of my car when we left. Ganito na ang routine namin although personally minsan mas gusto ko na ang motorbike na lang ni Raius ang gamitin dahil mas convenient dalhin.

Madali maka singit sa daan, madali rin makahanap ng parking at mas mabilis kung tutuusin. But since we are not in a hurry anyway, we decided to used my car.

“Wag mo na ako ihatid sa taas, mahal. I’ll be fine. Andyan lang naman ‘yung elevator, oh?” Natatawa na sabi ko sa kanya when he said his intention to walk me up. Gusto ko iyon kung tutuusin, but I know na kailangan nya pa rin magpahinga dahil may pasok rin sya mamaya.

“Alright. Let me walk you to the elevator na lang.” He said with a boyish grin.

“Okay. No problem.”

He gave me a smack on my lips bago ako pumasok sa elevator when the door opened. I bid my goodbye and then I am gone. Hindi mawala ang ngiti ko. I love that even though lately hindi kami sobrang matagal na nagkakasama ni Raius, eh, quality naman ang oras naming dalawa.

Sulit na sulit kung baga. No dull moments. Ewan ko sa kanya, ha? But every time we spent together is really fulfilling for me.

Sya ang nag-aya na lumabas kami ngayon so I told Adelaine na hindi na muna ako papasok since I can re schedule the only schedule I have today. Inaya ko na lang na magpa spa kami ni Adelaine mamaya and dinner on me. I need to pamper her especially lately na medyo hectic na ang parehong schedule naming dalawa.

With the launchings and expansion of RaiRen apparel among other things na dapat naming isipin na dalawa, baka mas mapadalas ang pag papa-spa naming ni Adelaine.

When I think about what Tito Ram told me when I said that my bestfriend, Adelaine, is the one I will be hiring to be my assistant, I feel like I achieved something big because somehow, I kind of think that I proved him wrong.

Ang sabi nya sa akin, it’s a big NO NO in a business to hire your friend because it will be complicated. Lalo na kung close na close mo, let alone your bestfriend. Iba raw ang magiging mindset ng kaibigan ko sa pagtatrabaho because she will think of me as her bestfriend rather than her boss, which can turn into a disaster.

Pinag isipan ko rin naman iyon dahil alam ko na possible. I’ve heard similar stories. May mga magkaibigan na nagkasiraan, some even went to court. Nagkakaroon ng understanding. Pinag-isipan ko ng mabuti ang desisyon ko. Until in the end, naisip ko pa rin na isusugal ko na.

My decision is based on my own perception. Maybe aside from the other decisions I made for my business like the branding, the products and how I want to manage it overall, ang pag hire ko kay Adelaine ang isa sa pinakamabigat at critical na decision.

I am not making it bigger that it usually is. Adelain has been a friend for years now. I will be broken kung magkakasira kami, pero hindi ko rin maimagine ang sarili ko at that time na magsisimula ako to deal with a stranger as my assistant.

I would have to train that someone, he or she would have to know things about me to be able to serve me better. Naisip ko agad na I will probably be a cool boss. So, Adelaine will not be a rebellious employee.

And now, look at us. We are in synched. It feels like I am managing my business and my life with my bestfriend. Never pa kami nagkaroon ng away regarding work. We are supportive of each other. She’s not stepping out of her bounderies when it comes to her work position and ako rin. Maybe bias ako dahil I care more of her wellbeing than the other regular employees but it’s in my discretion na lang.

That afternoon, dinaanan ko sya somewhere tapos dumiretso na kami sa favorite naming spa somewhere in BGC. Even way back in college, I always share what I have with her. Never sya nag take ng advantage sa akin. Naiinis pa nga ako sa kanya before dahil minsan nangangailangan sya ng financial help pero never sya lalapit sa akin. Nalaman ko na lang kasi umabsent sya one time at nakita ko sa post ng kapatid nya sa f*******: na nasa hospital ang mama nya.

I have money. I am privileged. And I am her bestfriend. AKo na ang nagsasabi sa kanya na kung alam nyang kaya ko sya matulungan, then I should be the one helping her because we are bestfriends.

“Grabe, iniisip ko pa lang kahapon na ayain ka magpa spa. Parang nareceive ng utak mo ‘yung iniisip ko.” Natatawa na sabi nya nang makasakay na sya sa sasakyan ko.

I am currently driving along Kalayaan Avenue right now at medyo traffic.

“I can feel the pressure in my back as well. Kailan pa tayo last na nagpa spa? About two months ago pa if I remember it right.”

“Oo ata. Naku naeexcite na ako matulog mamaya siguradong bagsak na naman ako nito.”

“Hoy, kakain pa tayo, ano ka?”

“Alam ko naman. Automatic na!” She said chuckling. “Well, saan mo na naman ako balak pakainin? Hmm?”

Tumawa rin ako. “Wala pa. You can check online kung saan mo trip. I feel like having Japanese later but I am good with anything basta gusto mo.”

She immediately got her phone from her bag. “Okay! Wait lang.”

We both love eating and discovering different restaurants or other places, pero between me and Adelaine, sya ang malala talaga palagi ang cravings. Sya ang madalas na pinapapili ko kung saan nya gusto kumain kapag lalabas kami, pero may mga times naman na aayain ko sya at may certain place na ako na gusto mapuntahan at matikman ang pagkain nila.

Kanina ko lang pinatawag si Adelaine sa spa to book us an appointment. Kaibigan ni mommy ang may-ari nitong spa so let’s just say na kahit fully booked sila ay ginagawan nila ng paraan kapag pangalan ko na ang ginamit. Pati na rin rush booking. I am giving big tip rin naman ang nakakausap o nakaka kwentuhan ko na rin ang mga staff dito sa ilang taon na ba naman na dito ako pumupunta.

Bago kami makarating sa parking lot ay nakahanap na ng kakainan namin si Adelaine. Japanese restaurant. Bagong open and a few blocks away lang dito sa spa. I am craving for ramen and sushi kasi.

“Hi Ma’am Raisa, Ma’am Adel!” Masiglang bati sa amin ni Carissa. She’s the attendant in the front desk. College pa lang kami ni Adelaine, sya na ang nandito. All of them seems to love their job dahil dalawa pa lang yata ang umalis.

“Hello! Namiss nyo ba kami?”

Tumawa sya. “Ang tagal nyo nga bumalik Ma’am.”

Inilapag ni Adelaine ang apat na paper bag sa harap ni Carissa. “Ayan, pasalubong. Bagong collection namin yan.”

“Ay wow!” Tuwang tuwa na binuklat ni Carissa ang isang paper bag. “Naku salamat Ma’am. Hindi nyo kami kinalimutan ha! Napanuod ko nga ‘yung launching ng bagong products nyo.”

I smiled at her. “Salamat. Ikaw na lang magbigay sa kanila, ha?”

“Opo Ma’am!” Itinago nya ang paper bags. “Ipapa prep ko lang po sila. Upo po muna kayo.”

Aside sa gusto ko ang serbisyo nila, the asthetic of this place is really nice. I love the girl boss vibe of this place. I always endorse this kasi totoo naman rin na dito ako nagpapa spa. Kapag naaabutan ko si Tita Emilia, the owner and my mom’s friend, nagiging ON THE HOUSE na lang imbes na magbabayad pa ako.

Umupo kami sa purple na couch while waiting. Pareho kaming naglabas ng cellphone ni Adelaine to entertain ourselves.

Napatingin ako sa entrance nang tumunog ang glass door. I saw two people come in. When my eyes landed on the guy’s face, kumurap ako dahil familiar, pero baka namamalik mata lang ako. But when the guy looked at me at nagulat ang expression nya, doon ko na confirm.

“Holy hell!” Bulalas nya. Mabilis na naglakad sya palapit sa akin.

Automatic na napatayo naman ako. Hindi ko inaalis ang tingin ko sa kanya dahil baka mali pa rin ako but when he hugged me without a word, sure na sure na ako.

“Fancy seeing you here, Rai!”

I swallowed. “I-Ikaw rin, Noah.”