Owned by a Speed Racer

4

"You should go home after this," Ian said while slicing the sautéed beef on his plate. He then impaled it with his fork and it went straight to his mouth. He scooped some soup from the large steaming bowl of Ho To Tay above the restaurant table.

"Why would I want to go home this early?” I shot back before I plucked a broccoli flower from his plate. I put it inside my mouth and chewed it down. He arched a brow and fixed me with a stare that made me blush.

"Because I said so."

"Well, you're not the boss of me." I glared at him and he just scratched his jaw.

"Look, Daze —"

"Baby. That's what you're supposed to address me with." I corrected and he just rolled his eyes like a ten-year old.

"Look, baby. I'm busy today. I have a meeting in an hour. Hindi kita p’wedeng ihatid sa kung saang lupalop ka man nakatira dahil baka hindi na ako umabot sa meeting. Since you're stalking me, I'm guessing you already know that I'm a businessman, too."

I nodded because I do already know. He and his friends own a fastfood chain that serves Mexican and American food. They opened the first restaurant when he was nineteen. And a few years later, it already has ten branches nationwide.

"Just bring me with you, then. I'll stay inside your office while you attend the meeting. That way you could still drop me off."

He looked at me with annoyance overt on his face. "Hindi p’wede. Baka mamaya pairalin mo lang doon ang pagiging brat mo. What will you even do inside my office?”

"I’ll think of something. Please, bring me with you.” I coaxed.

“No can do, baby. I’ll hail a cab for you and send the plate number to your friend, Kristina. Just go home, okay?”

“You don’t want me to make a scene in here, do you?” I asked in the most brat-like tone I could muster. His face turned serious all of a sudden and his eyes held warning.

“Don’t you dare, Daze Alessaina,” he warned. We measured each other's stares but he was the first one to look away so I smiled proudly.

“I'm still not taking you with me.”

I pushed the beverage glass from the table and it fell to the floor in pieces. All eyes turned toward us. A waiter hurriedly went over to sweep up the broken glass. I knew every single person in the restaurant was staring at us so I started the drama.

“How could you do this to me?” I was shaking in pretense while looking at a shocked Ian. My eyes held derision and ire. "How dare you? I gave you everything but now you're telling me that you can't reciprocate my feelings because you’ve always been gay? You user! You just used me for money!" My lips trembled and my body shook.

Ian's eyes bulged. "What the actual f**k are you saying? Bawiin mo nga ‘yan, Daze! Stop this nonsense!" He was starting to become red all over. “I mean it, Daze. Stop it.”

"You’ve been lying to me all this time! I would've understood if you told me sooner but now it's too late." My eyes grew hot and tears came streaming down my face. “I poured all my attention and love to you for the past months, Jerry. How could you hurt me?” Waiters and waitresses are speaking in hushed tones. Other customers are whispering in each other's ears while scoffing at an uncomfortable Ian. I continued eyeing him with pain and contempt. He stood up and left a few bills on the table before dragging me outside with him.

"Hey, ouch!" I complained while trying to keep up. He only let go of my arm when we were already out of the restaurant. He looked seriously teed off. He was clenching his jaw while looking at me.

"You are so f*****g childish."

“Are you going to take me with you now?” I asked.

“No. Get in the car.”

"No," I replied with the same intensity.

"Do not try my patience, Daze. Just get in the damn car!" he yelled.

"I said no!" I shouted back but this time he remained cold.

"Fine by me. Guess I'll just leave you here and—"

"I hate you!" I screamed at his face but he just fixed me with the blank stare.

"The feeling is mutual,” he said indifferently. That did it. He saw how my tears fell on my cheeks one by one and his cold expression was changed with that of alarm. He quickly walked over to where I was standing.

“Ang sama mo!” He reached for my face and wiped the messy tears making their way down my face. His hands remained on my cheeks and his thumbed expertly wiped off the new ones falling from my eyes.

"s**t. Please stop crying.”

"You said you hate me!" I cried louder. He was starting to panic.

"No, no. I only said that because I got pissed off. Come on, Daze. Stop crying." He pulled me into his arms and gave me a hug but I just thrashed while I continued to cry.

"Hey, hey. Just calm down. I don’t hate you, not really. But what you did inside the restaurant was way out of line. Don’t do it again, alright?” He caressed my back. "Tell you what, kapag tumigil ka sa pag-iyak, isasama na kita sa opisina ko."

I looked up to see his face. He looked genuinely worried about me. "You promise?"

He nodded and tucked some loose strands of hair behind my ear. “I promise.”

That was all I’ve been waiting for. Wiping the tears away, I clapped my hands to indicate how happy I was. Ian’s face turned from confusion to understanding to annoyance. I grinned and hurriedly entered his car before he could even protest. He was wearing his frown when he sat on the driver's seat.

"I can't believe I fell for that. Damn it!" I just grinned at him and flashed him a peace sign. I always get what I want. Always.

***

Ian didn’t talk to me for the whole drive so I stayed silent. I’ve annoyed him way too many times today so I decided to shut my mouth for a change. He parked in front of a gargantuan building. He didn't open the car door for me but this time I did not complain since I put him in a bad mood. The amiable guards greeted him when we entered. Employees seem to get intimidated by his presence, too. Ian ignored them all and headed toward his personal elevator. The elevator dinged and we went inside. Silence embraced us after the doors slid close.

"Are you still angry?" I couldn’t help but ask. He didn't even look at me when he spoke. His eyes remained fixed in front of him.

"What do you think? Ipinagsigawan mong bakla ako sa loob ng isang restaurant, tapos niloko mo ‘ko para lang isama kita rito. Is that really how the little heiress of Aaron Monteverde acts? If so, then what a total shame.”

The elevator dinged and the doors opened. Ian's eyebrow flew up and when I stared at the direction he was looking at, I saw his friends. We stepped out of the elevator and the moment his friends saw us, they stopped chatting and started smirking at Ian. The guy who was sitting with his feet propped on the table nodded at me.

"Whoa, you must be Daze Monteverde. I’ve heard so much about you, Your Highness.” The guy said after he offered me a warm smile.

"Back off, Emman." Ian scowled.

"Ooooh. Damot, bro,” he cooed. The other two guys sitting on his couch raised their heads to look at me. Because I’ve been stalking Ian for quite some time, I already know the name of the other two guys. The guy with the chinky eyes was Zed. The other guy, the one with a mole at the bottom of his left eye, was Nathan. The latter looked at me then his eyes moved to Ian.

"If she’s your girlfriend, then paano na si Daisy?”