Chapter 9: The Apartment

1417 Words
Will heaved a deep sigh as he tried to fix his eys on the damn road.  Kahit kasi na sabihin niya sa sarili niya na sa daan lang ang tingin, hindi niya mapigilan na sulyapan ang babaeng natutulog sa shot-gun seat ng sasakyan niya. Nakatulog ang prinsesa.  Hindi niya alam kung dahil ba sa nainom nito o talagang napagod lang ito sa pag-iyak kaya ito nakatulog agad nang sumakay ito sa kotse niya. He expected to have another battle between them, pero hindi nangyari. Bagkus, tahimik itong lumuha at sumigok-sigok sa tabi niya hanggang sa makatulog. "Daddy please, don't do this to me. I promise I'd do better. I promise I'll be the daughter that you would want me to be. Just please don't do this me, please," pakiusap nito kay Tito Ernie bago sila tuluyang umalis sa mansiyon kani-kanina lang. But as expected, Ernie Echavez didn't listen to the princess' plea. Itinuloy lang nito pagtatanggal sa mga 'di kakailanganing' gamit ng anak nito sa pupuntahan nila. There are still traces of dried tears on her face. Her hair was beautifully unruly. And her mouth, slightly parted. Mula siyang nagbuga ng hininga, muling ibinalik sa daan ang mga mata. Those luscious lips are to die for and he claimed those tonight, twice. Dammit! This deal wouldn't be easy, he thought. Well, ganoon din naman ang naisip niya noong unang pagkakataon na hilingin iyon ng matandang Echavez. It was that or he’d lose his mother’s farm… forever. Ernie Echavez wanted him to take his daughter away for some time, to teach her a lesson or two. At first he refused not only cause he thought it might just be another ploy from his Dad to make him go back to Michigan, but more importantly, Cassie was a handful. Noon na nga lang sinundan siya nito sa Palawan, masyado nang nabulabog ang buhay niya, maging guardian pa kaya nito sa loob nang tatlong buwan? That's impossible! Pero anong magagawa niya? Kailangan niyang bawiin ang lupain ng nanay niya na parang nakakagago lang na ibinenta ni Nick Johnson sa iba! Mabuti na lang kay Ernie Echavez nito iyon naisipang ibenta. Ernie Echavez was a family friend. But he never had a chance to meet Cassie. Not until two years ago when he saved them from Don Gomez's men— the then leader of the Mexican drug cartel. Bukas pa sana ang balik niya sa mansiyon ng mga Echavez para sunduin ang prinsesa. Tito Ernie said, he’ll talk to the princess tonight. But for some reason, the princess showed up in front of him as mesmerizing and feisty as ever, challenging him for a race! And her body was a part of the deal. F*ck! Humigpit ang kapit niya sa manibela nang maisip kung ilang kasunduan na ba ang sinuutan nito na ang premyo ay ang katawan nito? Dammit! How could he know that? She sleeps with whoever she wanted, according to people within their circle. Lihim uli siyang napamura. Kung bakit apektado siya sa kung ilang lalaki na ang naikama ito, hindi niya alam. At mas lalong wala rin siyang ideya kung bakit paulit-ulit niya itong sinusulyapan kahit na inutusan na niya ang sarili na h’wag itong titignan. Muli siyang napabuga ng hininga at inilabas sa bulsa niya ang locket na pag-aari ni Cassie. It was one of those things she pleaded her father to take with her pero tumanggi ang ama nito. He took it secretly from her not-allowed-to-bring stash. It has value, kamayanan nang maituturing kung sa iba. It was made of platinum and precious stones. At lahat ng may halaga at maaring ibenta, pinaiwan lahat ni Tito Ernie sa mansion. The old man was serious not to give any money to Cassie for the next three months. Cassie only have one small travelling bag with her which she was cuddling tightly while she was asleep, as if her life depended on it. Iilang pares lang ng damit ang naroon. He himself had the final check. No gadgets. No money. No Status. Cassie will live with him for the next three months as an ordinary person. And he just knew where to take her. Some place she wouldn't ever forget. He grinned. ---- Nagising si Cassie dahil sa masakit na sinag ng araw na tumatama sa kanyang mukha. Her head was throbbing and her eyes hurt. She squintily opened her eyes and tried her hardest to move her body. Tumama ang balakang niya sa isang matigas na bagay. Kailan pa naging ganito katigas ang higaan niya? She seriously needs to have a bed replacement. Muli siyang umusog papagitna sa kama upang hindi maabot ng sinag ng araw ang kanyang mukha. Ang kaso, walang nagbago. The damn sunlight is still shining brightly against her face!  Inis niya tuloy na hinablot ang unan niya upang sana ay itakip iyon sa mukha niya. Hindi niya alam kung ano ang nangyayari dahil pagkaalis na pagkaalis pa lang niya unan mula sa ulo niya, nauntog na naman siya sa isang matigas na bagay. She cursed under her breath and forced herself to sit down on the bed.  Kaya lang, she off-balanced and fell on the bed. “Stupid, Cassandra!” bulong niya bago padaskol na tumayo, hinihimas ang pang-upo. How can she fell on her from a king-size bed? She angrily forced open her eyes. Only to be welcomed by an unfamiliar sight. Ipinaikot niya ang tingin sa kanyang paligid. Mababa ang kisame, may kulay blue na sira-sirang wallpaper ang dingding, at malamig ang suwelo na kulay gray. Napatunganga siya sa hinigaan niya nang ma-realize niyang hindi siya sa king-size bed humiga but in some old-fashioned bamboo sofa. Napahawak na siya sa ulo niyang lalong nanakit. Where the hell am I? Events of last night came flooding her mind like a movie played in fast forward. Agad na kumabog ang dibdib niya. It was not a dream last night. It was all real! And just like on cue,  biglang bumukas ang pinto na malapit sa dining area, she guess? Mabilis na nakaagaw ng atensiyon niya ang lalaking kalalabas lang ng banyo--nakatapis ng tuwalya ang ibabang bahagi ng katawan nito habang ang isang kamay ay tinituyo ang buhok gamit ang tuwalyalito. Her eyes fluttered, her throat suddenly felt dry. It's like she's seeing an apparition form a greek god! And now she’s confused. Is living with Will really a punishment or a reward? "Like what you’re seeing, baby?" nakangising tanong nito maya-maya. She rolled her eyes and lifted her head a fraction. Now she’s sure. Living with Will is clearly a punishment. He is an over-bearing bad-mouthed jerk whose main reason for living is to crush her pride and self-worth. She faked a smile.  "You know what you are right, you are good looking even from afar. But I just realized with that attitude and mouth of yours, you are far from good looking." Will chuckled before walking towards her, sinfully half naked. He towered over her and gently pinched her nose. She quickly covered her nose, annoyed. "Good morning too, princess. I like you're your sarcasm this morning, very subtle," anito bago ngumisi. "You can have your breakfast while I change.” Tinuro pa nito ang ‘di kalakihang foldable table na nasa dining area. She shook her head in defiance. "I'm not hungry!" singhal niya. He chuckled, again. "Suit yourself, princess," anito bago tumalikod at humakbang papasok sa isang silid. That’s it? Hindi ito mamimilit o magagalit sa kanya? Why? What does she expect Will to do with her? Baby her? She rolled her eyes. She knew better. She took that time to study the room she's in. It was small and cramped up. May maliit na TV sa bandang kaliwa niya; may dalawang pang-isahan na upuan na gawa sa kawayan na ang disenyo ay kaparehas ng hinigaan niya; at sa tabi niyon ay ang pinto at bintana na gawa sa jalousie. No other appliance just the basics. It was simple and plain. At base sa buhos ng liwanag mula sa bintana, alam niya, tanghali na. She bit the insides of her cheeks when her stomach made a gurgling sound.  Wala pa siyang kain na maayos sa loob ng dalawang araw. And last night, all she had was a couple of shots of tequila. Napangiwi na siya at napahawak sa kanyang tiyan. Hindi siya puwedeng kumain. Kailangan niyang tiisin ang gutom niya. Hinding-hindi siya kakain ng pagkain ni Will. Paninindigan niya ‘yon kahit na bumulagta na siya sa gutom!
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