His Personal Taste

Kabanata 1- Cheaters never win

Diego's POV

                        "Reservation under Diego Colton Tanseco." I said sa lalaki sa may pintuan.

            It's a high-end snack bar near my office. I have a three-hour break before my meeting. Slowly, I walked to the direction where I was told.

            She's wearing a pink blouse and a denim high-waist short. Dionne texted me. Melanie Silvejo does ring a bell. Parang narinig ko na ito somewhere. I saw the girl looking at the glass wall. She's playing with her phone and looked at me. Nag stiff naman siya at unti-unti, nabanat ang kanyang labi para ngumiti.

            And yes, I saw her somewhere. She's tanned but not too dark. Her hair is jet black and straight. Hanggang sa bewang iyon. May malalalim na dimple sa kanyang pisngi. Not bad for a marriage interview. Kung mag-aasawa man ako, mas gugustuhin ko na presentable at elegante. I deserve the best of the best. I am one of the businessmen who has the touch of King Midas at the moment.

                        "Hi." Naglahad siya ng kamay sa akin.

            Even her palm feels soft. Her perfume is not too sweet or strong. Sakto lang. Damn, the girl knows how to lure men. I shook her hand and sat up confident.

                        "I think I saw you somewhere." I said.

            She blushed and nodded at me.

                        "Yes. We've attended business conference and auctions. But I never talked to you since you are surrounded by more experience men than I am in the field."

            Well, the best deserves the best. I do not talk to small time businessman. I don't know what to talk about with them. I was trained to handle big accounts since the I time, I've started this craft and it always boost up.

                        "You are the niece of Gregorio Silvejo and Felicidad Querio, right?" I asked. I did a background check last night.

                        "Yes, and your sister Dionne was my organization mate in college. I know you before." She answered.

            So, she is older than me. I nodded. The food was served and we talked about things. Most likely from our Alma Mater and business things. I was drinking my water when I saw a familiar girl from the other side of the road. It was Addie's best friend from college. I saw her a lot of times with Addie. I can't be wrong.

            A taxi stopped at her front and a man got out of it. She kissed him fully on the lips, not minding other people. I shook my head with disgust. Get a room! I was about to tore off my gaze from them, when the guy faced my direction.

                        "Diego?"

            Melanie's sweet voice tried to catch my attention. I grabbed the fork too tight and swallowed as my head is going berserk. That f*****g jerk!

                        "Diego, do you know them?" Melanie asked again.

                        "f**k!" I muttered.

            Mabilis akong tumayo at humakbang papalabas ng pigilan ako ni Melanie. I can sense her disappointment but I don't care.

                        "Where are you going? Are you okay?" Tanong niya.

            Tinagtag ko ang pagkakahawak niya sa pulso ko. She looked surprised and offended at the same time. Tiningnan ko muli ang labas ng glass wall. They were still there, laughing like a newlywed. That made my head wild. Gusto kong suntukin ang tanginang lalaking iyon.

            Hinawakan ulit ni Melanie ang kamay ko.

                        "Let go of me. I need to go." I said.

            Umiling siya. Her eyes started to water.

                        "Bakit? Am I not attractive to you?"

            Now her bitter voice is talking. Kinagat ko ang labi ko at umiling. I tilted my head and smirked at her.

                        "Go better tell your uncle that we are not getting married. I don't like too innocent girl."

            Iniwan ko siya agad na tiningnan ang banda ng gagong iyon pero wala na sika sa dati nilang kinatatayuan. Kinuyom ko ang aking mga palad at agad na sumakay sa aking kotse. I headed to her clinic. Halos paliparin ko ang sasakyan ko sa ere para mabilis na makapunta roon. I would try to warn her. I know Adoracion. She would not believe me if I told her na niloloko siya ni Gio.

            Damn, no one can deny that that guy is a good boyfriend to Adoracion. Umabot sila ng sampung taon. He's too good for us to think na may kababalaghan siya at ang best friend ni Adoracion. I don't know but thinking of that girl makes me angry.

            She's naïve but she isn't worth all the heartaches. She's fond of her best friend and her boyfriend. A kapag nalaman niya, the girl might lose her sanity. Pinark koi yon at agad na pumunta sa receiving area ng vet clinic niya.

                        "Magie, nasaan ang boss mo?" tanong ko sa babae sa information desk.

                        "Sir Diego, nasa operation ngayon si Doc. Pasok na lang kayo pagkatapos."

            Tinuro niya ang operating room ng clinic nito. Imbis na making agad akong tumulak papunta doon. Malakas ang pagkakabukas ko ng pintuan. Nadatnan ko siyan tinatahi ang tiyan ng isang poodle.

                        "Anong ginagawa mo rito?" tanong niya kahit na nakamask pa siya.

            Hindi ako gumalaw at tinitigan siya. She looked at me again. I bit my lips. Hindi pa niya alam. She looks normal. Natapos din agad iyon at agad niyang hinubad ang suot niya at nilugay ang buhok niya.

                        "Ilang beses ko na bang sinabi sa'yo na huwag kang basta basta pumasok kapag may operasyon ako." Aniya at tinapon sa bin ang surgical gown niya.

                        "That's okay. That's just a dog."

                        "Anong dog? Kahit na aso lang 'yan, pasyente ko 'yan! Saka baka mahawa ka ng virus kapapasok mo rito ng basta basta."

            Naghugas siya ng kamay sa sink at sinimangutan ako. Ewan ko, but I felt guilty. Gio's cheating on her. Nilingon niya ako.

                        "Bakit ka ba narito? Office hours pa ah? Saka may date ka ngayon di ba?" tanong niya ulit.

                        "I cancelled it." Sagot ko. Natigilan naman siya.

                        "Hindi mo ba nagustuhan? Pangit ba?" tanong niya. Tila natatawa siya sa akin. I rolled my eyes.

                        "To be honest. You're the total opposite. She's a great catch." Sagot ko. Nawala naman ang ngiti niya at sinimangutan ako.

                        "Eh bakit ka nandidito? Bumalik ka na nga at makipag-date dun!" Sigaw niya.

            Umiling ako. Isip bata. Naputol ang usapan naming ng dumating si Gio na may dala pang isang pulang rosas. Agad na nag-igting ang panga ko.

                        "Babe!" Niyakap ni Addie si Gio.

            Gio smiled and kissed her forehead. Agad kong kinuyom ang mga palad ko. He handed her the roses and kissed her hands.

                        "Sorry, I'm late. I met with a client." He reasoned out.

            Hindi ko napigilang tumawa ng nakakaasar. Taka silang tumingin sa akin kaya namulsa ako. Client my ass. Kunot ang noo ni Gio sa akin.

                        "Pare, bakit na nandidito?" he asked.

            May galit pa ang boses. I smirked at him. I'm not sure what is my preference pero hindi ko palalampasin ito. Para saan pa't nagging sakt ng ulo ako ng mga tao noong college? Saan pa't araw araw na ata akong may pasa sa pakikipag-away.

                        "Ikaw? Bakit ka nandidito?" tanong ko, malamig din ang boses.

                        "This is my girlfriend's clinic." He said.

                        "Your girlfriend? Really? Sino sa dalawa? Addie or your 'client?'" I mocked him.

            Gulat naman ang mata ni Gio at agad na lumapit sa akin para kuwelyuhan ako. Marahas kong tinagtag 'yun at pinandilatan siya. Pumagitna naman si Addie sa amin.

                        "Ano ba?! Tumigil nga kayo!" She shouted.

            Hindi naman nagpatinag si Gio sa akin. Pilit niya akong kinukwelyuhan pero tinatagtag ko 'yon. I smirked even more nang makita kong hindi siya mapakali. Ganyan nga, kabahan ka. Cheaters never win.

                        "Shut up." Sigaw ni Gio sa akin.

                        "Diego, ano ba? Ano bang sinasabi mo at nag-aaway na lang kayo bigla?" tanong ni Addie.

                        "Why don't you ask your boyfriend?" I said.

            Tiningnan naman ni Addie ang lalaking 'yun. Galit pa rin ang mga mata nito. I love trouble. I love making someone's life miserable. Adoracion doesn't deserve this. She may be insensitive and loud sometimes but she's a friend. I remember how we used to sneak our way in the laboratory whenever we had problems. Sa kanya ko unang nasabi ang mga pagdududa ko sa sarili ko and she accepted all of me. She's like a sister I never have in Dionne.

                        "Ano ba? Pinapakaba niyo ako!" She said again.

            When her boyfriend couldn't talk, she grabbed me. I can see that she's having a hunch pero ayaw niyang aminin iyon.

                        "Your f*****g boyfriend is cheating on you. And guess who's she dating? Your best friend." I said.

            Unti unting nawala ang pagkaahawak niya sa akin. Tears flowed in her face. Akala ko, hindi siya maniniwala at magagalit siya sa akin. This is not what I'm expecting. Nilingon niya si Gio.

                        "A-Akala ko matagal mon ang tinigilan 'yan? Akala ko ba malinaw na? P-Pinatawad ko na kayo pero inuulit niyo na naman?"

            Nagulat ako roon. I grabbed her arm and made her look at me. Mas lalong sinilaban ang galit ko.

                        "You knew?" I asked.

            That two words are like acid in my throat. Alam niya and she let them? At talagang pinatawad niya pa?

                        "Sabi mo, Gio. Ako na 'yung pinipili mo? Bakit?" She cried harder.

            Lumapit si Gio para hawakan siya ng ako naman ang humigit sa kwelyo niyo. Pinaulanan ko siya ng suntok. Pilit siyang gumaganti pero mas mabilis ako.

                        "Tangina mo! Kung matagal ko nang alam, matagal ka nang pinaglamayan." Tinadyakan ko siya.

            Hindi naman umiibo si Addie. Nananatili siyang nakatitig sa amin. Gio's face is bleeding. Halos basag ang ilong niya sa lakas ng mga suntok ko. He should be. Black belt ako sa taekwondo at nagboxing din ako.

                        "A-Addie." He said.

            He tried to reach out but she didn't move. She wiped her tears as she looked down at Gio.

                        "You deserve it." She said and walked out of the room.

            Tiningnan ko naman si Gio, helpless siyang nakahiga sa sahig. Sinipa ko siya sa tagiliran kaya napahawak siya doon.

                        "Subukan mong magsumbong sa pulis, sisirain ko ang buhay mo. Do not contact her anymore. She's breaking up with you."

            I smirked and walked through the door. I stopped before going outside and faced him again.

                        "Cheaters never win. Put that in your mind, Gio."