Craving for Love (Cougar Series #43) - SPG

Chapter 2

I am playing with my swivel chair as I drown in my thoughts. There are tons of paperwork to do on my table, but I just can’t find the motivation to finish them. At least, that’s what I keep on telling myself.

Siguro nga isang kalokohan ang sinabi ko kay Nash kahapon. Kung iyon ang tingin niya ay wala akong magagawa doon. But if that is the case, then I just have to make it real. If he thinks that I am only kidding about having a baby, I will show him that I am not.

Magalit na siya kung magagalit pero masisisi niya ba ako? I am thirty-six, and I do not even have a boyfriend or someone I can call the guy of my life. I was so engrossed with Sebastian and I’s relationship that I was blinded. And right now, who would want to marry someone like me? I am already way past my due date.

Sure, I am still gorgeous. I still got the curves, the looks, and not to mention the wealth. But knowing people nowadays, they can be picky. It doesn’t matter if they are handsome or ugly; everyone is just naturally particular.

Should I just skip the introduction and go for it? It’s not like they need to know my actual age. I can deceive them with my pretty face.

I was so busy planning what to do later this evening when someone decided to play a trick on me by slamming his arms on my table.

“s**t!” I shrieked, holding my chest where my heart was beating so fast. When I saw who it was, I immediately gave him a deadly stare. “What the hell, Nash? You forgot to take your pill this morning?” I went back on my chair and closed my eyes before heaving a sigh.

“Kanina pa ako nandito, Nat.” He moved some of the papers on the table and sat on it. “Hindi mo lang talaga ako narinig. Mukhang ang lalim nga ng iniisip mo kaya hindi mo napansin ang gwapo kong presensiya.”

Automatikong napairap ang mga mata ko bago siya tinitigan. “You wish! Ano ba kasi ang ginagawa mo rito? I told you just to send me a message if you’re going home, right?”

He shrugged and started playing with my stuff. “Maagang naubos ang tinda ni Aling Manda kaya maaga niya akong pinauwi. Wala naman akong gagawin kaya dumeretso na ako rito.” Aling Manda is a vendor where he works. He is a kargador, or someone who lifts heavy things that they sell.

“Tara,” pag-aya niya, “kain tayo. Mukhang hindi ka pa nagmimiryenda eh.”

“Hindi pa nga.” Tumayo na ako. I grabbed my blue coat and wore it. Inayos ko ang kulot at nakalugay kong itim na buhok. Pinalitan ko rin ng rubber shoes ang high heels ko dahil kanina pa iyon masakit. I don’t even know why I have a pair of those heels.

After that, we went outside to eat at our favorite place. Tuhog-tuhog!

I can’t help but exclaim as soon as I lay my eyes on the food stall. There is my favorite Kwek-kwek, Fishball, Kikiam, and there are also Squid balls and Chicken skin.

“Agh!” bulalas ko. “My diet is so ruined.”

“Diet ka diyan,” apila ni Nash, nakasunod sa likod ko. “Sabi ng kasamahan niyo hindi ka raw lumabas ng office para man lang mag-lunch. Anong kinain mo, papel?”

I sighed in satisfaction as soon as I tasted the Kwek-kwek. Sinawsaw ko agad ang ikalawa sa matamis na sauce at muling sinubo iyon.

“Dahan-dahan naman, Nat! Para kang bata.” Pinunasan niya ang baba ko na may tumulong sauce. Sinubukan ko ring punasan iyon gamit ang likod ng kamay ko pero pinigilan niya ako. “Madudumihan ka. Ang dugyot mo kumain!”

Hinayaan ko na lang siya at saka um-order ng s**o’t gulaman. “Damihan niyo po ‘yong s**o, Manong ah?”

Natawa siya dahil sa sinabi ko. “Sige, Ine. Tutal eh suki ko naman na kayo, kahit isang basong s**o pa ang gusto mo.”

“s**o na lang po ibigay niyo, Manong Nestor,” ani Nash.

Hinampas ko siya sa braso na tinawanan niya lang. Ilang minuto kaming nakipaghuntahan kay Manong Nestor at kinumusta ang pagtitinda niya. May pangilan-ngilang estudyante ang naroon dahil mukhang uwian na sa malapit na school.

It looks like Mang Nestor is fond of kids having a daughter of his own who is in elementary. Ilang minuto na lang ay darating na rin ang anak niya na sinusundo ng pinsan niyang si Joshua. And if I remember it correctly, the kid’s name is Cassie.

Minsan ko lang siya makita at maabutan dito sa tindahan pero sa mga sandalling iyon ay nag-e-enjoy ako. I love kids. Not as much as Mang Nestor, but I still love them. They are like a bundle of joy running around everywhere and enjoying life without a care in the world.

“Gusto mo ba talagang magkaroon ng baby?”

Napalingon ako kay Nash na patuloy pa rin sa pagkain ng paborito niyang Chicken skin. “Why? Are you finally willing to have s*x with me?”

Pumikit siya sandali at huminga nang malalim, tila nagtitimpi. “Huwag mo ‘kong simulan.” Dinilat niya ulit iyon at saka ako pinalapit sa kaniya para bumulong. “May alam akong bar kung saan may mga lalaking naghahanap ng ka-one night stand.”

Tumaas ang kilay ko. “Where is that ‘the world is too dangerous for you’ quote that you told me?”

Bumuntonghininga na lang siya. “Gusto mo bang marinig o hindi?”

“Ito na nga eh. Ang init agad ng ulo.”

“Gaya ng sabi ko, may isang bar akong alam kung saan may mga naghahanap ng ka-one night stand. Pero…”

Kumunot ang noo ko dahil sa pa-suspense niya. Pinalo ko ang braso niya bago bumulalas, “Bilisan mo na! The suspense is killing me.”

“Pero… ako ang pipili ng lalaki na makaka-one night stand mo.”

“Wow!” Pumalakpak ako at bahagyang lumayo sa kaniya. “You are so supportive, aren’t you? What if I don’t like the guy that you picked for me? Don’t I have a say about this? I mean, I am the one who is supposed to have s*x with someone, might as well pick a handsome one.”

“Huwag kang mag-alala.” Sumandal siya sa upuan at saka inubos ang laman ng cup niya. Ininom pa niya ang sauce hanggang sa masimot iyon. “Hindi naman ako pipili ng pangit, ‘no. Ayokong magmukhang kung sino-sino lang ang magiging inaanak ko.”

Malakas akong natawa dahil sa sinabi niya. “That’s it! So, akala mo kukunin kitang ninong ng magiging anak ko? Dream on!” Tumayo na ako at dumeretso sa basurahan para itapon ang kalat ko.

“Hoy, Nat! Anong ibig mong sabihin? Dapat lang na magkaroon ng gwapong ninong ang anak mo.”

Hindi ko siya nilingon pero natawa pa rin dahil sa sinabi niya. Hinarap ko si Manong Nestor at sinabi, “Salamat sa masarap na Kwek-kwek, Manong! Sa uulitin.”

“Sige, maraming salamat din. Mag-iingat kayo sa pagbalik niyo.”

Nginitian ko na lang siya nang maramdaman ang mabigat na braso ni Nash sa balikat ko. Halos masubsob pa ako sa sahig dahil sa ginawa niya.

“Ang bigat ng braso mo, Nash! Sabi ko naman sa ‘yo, you should start your diet already. Ayokong magkaroon ng bundat na ninong ang anak ko kapag bininyagan na siya.”

“Gagawin mo rin naman pala akong ninong kung ano-ano pa ang sinasabi mo.”

We were in that same position as we head back to my office. He waited for me to finish since I only have a few hours before I can go home. He played an online game using my phone while I finish what has to be done that day.

I CLOSED MY ears with the sudden boom of the music that welcomed us. The bar called Queen is noisy, wild, and the people here are all having a party. It was a good thing that it’s not as dirty as I thought it would be.

Whenever I heard of something like bars, and clubs, I always think of those I see on television. Like, kissing here and there, making out, and all those sorts of stuff. But I guess it depends on the genre of the movies I have watched. I should start watching teen fiction or something.

“Come with me.” Hinila ni Nash ang kamay ko.

Nakipagsiksikan kami sa kumpulan ng mga tao hanggang sa makarating kami sa isang table na walang tao. I guess this is the table that I reserved a while ago. Not bad for the two of us. Kasya pa ang dalawa kung tutuusin. One for me, and one for him.

Sumalampak ako sa upuan at tinungga ang alak na nasa mesa. Bago pa man ako makainom ng ikalawa ay pinigilan na ako ni Nash.

“Maaga pa para magpakalasing. Tandaan mo kung bakit tayo nandito. Maglasing ka na kapag magkasama na kayo ng irereto ko sa ‘yo.” He checked his phone for a second. “Parating na raw siya.”

“Parating pa lang?” I snorted. “Boys are supposed to be here earlier than the girls; if not, at least dapat hindi ma-late. Minus point na agad sa ‘kin. Bleh!”

Umiling naman siya pero hindi na nagsalita.

Tinitigan ko siya at doon lang napansin na medyo pinagpapawisan siya. It’s not like the place is hot, tama lang para mag-relax ang mga tao. He is also shaking his knees while clenching them, a sign that something is bothering him.

We have been friends since our college days. I was in my fourth year while he is in high school. Hindi pa talaga kami close n’on dahil masyado pa siyang bata, and we just don’t click. Nang grumaduate ako at tumuntong naman siya ng college, doon kami mas naging malapit sa isa’t isa.

We aren’t close. Ang nanay niya ang ka-close ko dahil kaibigan siya ng lola ko na pumanaw na. And I was always at their house to hang out with her and her little daughter, Nadine. She is a cute twelve-year-old kid who loves to sing. Kahit hindi ako marunong kumanta ay napapakanta ako dahil sa kaniya. She is just so full of spirit.

Anyways, with all those years na magkakilala kami, I already know some things about him, some of his mannerisms, his hobbies, and even when something is bothering him.

And something is really bothering him right now.

I held his hand, which was clenching his knee. I was about to ask what’s wrong when his phone rang.

“It’s Fiel. Malapit na raw siya. Hintayin ko na siya sa labas. Wait here.”

Pinanood ko siyang maglakad palabas nang hindi pa rin maalis sa isip ko ang dahilan. He didn’t even bother looking at me when he said those words. He used to stare at me whenever he’s talking, pero ngayon, he’s not.

I am worried. It looks like something is not right, and this thing must be postponed. We can do this next time. Hindi niya kailangang ipilit ang bagay na ito kung may pinoproblema siya. But he chooses to be stubborn.

This kid is seriously a pain in the ass.