His Beautiful Mistake

Chapter 9. Neo's POV

"I haven't seen you talking to Bree. I thought you're interested?" si Zalde.

He sat down beside me and I just went quite. Ininom ko na ang mainit na kape na gawa niya.

"Oh, I remember now. Magkatabi pala kayo ng unit," bahagyang tawa niya at napailing pa.

"Ano? May nakita ka na ba'ng mali sa kanya? At ayaw mo na?" pagpatuloy na tanong niya.

.

I shook my head and just smiled a little bit. After talking to her last night and today, this morning, I was gaining a strong confidence inside me. Madali mo siyang mapapaamo dahil malambot ang puso niya.

Although, I find her innocent, but damn it! I couldn't trust that eyes of her.

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"No, I was honestly having a great time talking to her last night and this morning," I said and smiled.

"Really? So, ano na? Kaya mo na ba na ikaw muna? I just need you for the time being, Neo."

"I don't know. . . Maybe, yes? Depende. Just put a hold, Zald. And tell them that someone is spying and that someone was just around. Tiyak mas pagbubutihin nila ang lahat, dahil alam nila na may sekretong nagmamanman sa kanila," suhesyon ko.

Ito lang din naman ang paraan para mas mapagbuti ng mga staff ng resort na ito ang mga trabaho nila.

"Ito ba ang ginagawa mo sa iilang negosyo mo sa Italya?" bahagyang tawa niya at napailing pa.

"Well, sort of. But as of now the heads are okay. I trust them," tipid na sagot ko.

Natahimik kaming dalawa at inubos ko lang din ang kape.

"Do you need more?"

"No, thank you."

"I honesty asked Faust to come here and managed the resort for a month," he started and paused a little bit.

I looked at him more and he seems serious about this.

Ang buong akala ko ay may gagawin lang din si Zalde sa negosyo nila sa Probinsya, at babalik din agad. Pero ang marinig na si Faustino ang pansamantalang ipapahawak niya rito ay tiyak may mas malalim siyang dahilan.

"But of course I need you for the first two weeks. Faust couldn't make it as planned. Susunod na lang siya. Kaya ikaw na muna," seryosong titig niya.

"Sure, bro. No problem," tapik ko sa balikat niya. At natahimik siyang saglit. Natahimik kaming dalawa saglit habang nakatitig sa maliwanag na langit.

"Is your mother giving you a hard time?"

I smirked and smiled a little bit. Hinuhulaan na ni Zalde ngayon ang takbo ng isip ko.

"No, it's not, Mama. I just need to clarify things on Mr. Chen. I need him to get into my business in New York. So I need to be there and probably I need to stay longer there."

I heard him and nodded. Ang akala ko tuloy kung ano na, investor lang din naman pala.

"You can do it, Zald. You're good at that," tipid na ngiti ko.

I know he can ace this anyway. Dito naman siya magaling sa bahaging linya na ito.

"But before that, I will be going home to El Real Rancho, Neo. I will probably visit Elias grave before flying to New York."

My brows furrowed and I stared at him. He looked at me seriously and then he continue talking.

"Napanaginipan ko kasi ang kapatid mo noong nakaraang gabi. I was about to tell you, but I couldn't remember the message he wants to relay to you."

As furrowed, now my forehead wrinkled as I stared at Zalde.

I never had a dream of my half-brother, Elias. He haven't showed up in my dreams lately. . . Noon napapanaginipan ko siya madalas noong nasa Italya pa ako. Minsan naiisip ko ang laki ng pagkukulang ko sa kanya, at kahit sa panaginip man lang ay gusto ko siyang makita.

"Does he looked okay? I-I mean, in your dreams?" I worriedly asked.

Knowing that I have an ulterior motive towards Bree , and that might give Elias a warning to me, or maybe the other way around.

Hindi ako naniniwala sa mga kaluluwa na nagpaparamdam. . . Matagal ng namatay si Elias, at sa tagal na iyon ay binabagabag pa din ang konsesnya ko dahil sa kaso ng pagkamatay niya.

Mom always notify me every time she dreamt of Elias., and Dad was the same too. . . At ako lang yata ang hindi niya pinaparamdaman ngayon. Pero ramdam ko sa loob ng puso ko ang bigat na dala nito.

"He seemed okay, but the only message I remembered was - Bree?" Kunot-noo ni Zalde.

"But he looks okay to me. He had a little bit of smiled when he waved. Although he never mentioned your name, and perhaps maybe? I just can't remember, bro. Alam mo naman kung panaginip ay pagkagising mo ay nakakalimutan mo na ito. Pero hindi ko nakalimutan ang pangalan ni Bree. I wonder what's the connection between the two?"

Zalde seriously stared at me and I twinkled my eyes, and looked away. Ayaw ko na mabasa ni Zalde ang mensahi sa mga mata ko. Ang galing pa naman ng mukong na ito.

"I guess so. . . I'm not sure. But maybe it was a different person. Maraming naman Bree sa mundo," bahagyang tawa ko.

"Oo, Neo, maraming Bree sa mundo," he seriously stared at me and I smirked. He then patted my shoulder.

"Kilala kita, Neo. You might have your reason for not telling about this, but I do hope that you're doing a good deed."

I went quite and so is he. Iba nga naman si Zalde, baliw minsan. Pero madalas ay magaling mag-isip at alam niya agad ang takbo ng utak at puso ko ngayon. Kaya nga siguro nakuha niya ang loob ni Elias, at naging mas malapit silang dalawa.

"You're too old to be told, Neo. Just figure it all out. Matanda ka na. Hindi ka rin naman nakikinig sa akin."

"Damn it!" I smirked and laughed a little bit.

"How can I listened to you, Zald? When at most, you are the most caught in troubles?" kantyaw ko. At totoo naman.

Kailan pa ba naging seryoso si Zalde sa babae? Huh, puputi na ang uwak, walang Zalde na magpapaluko.

"Anyway, I will leave you the business for two weeks and Faust will take over," tapik niya sa balikat ko at tumayo na siya.

"Ikaw na rin muna ang bahala sa mansyon ko. You can stay there, I'm easy," pagpatuloy niya.

Tumayo na rin ako at inayos na ang sarili. I have to drop him to the main Island and that, I will be his pilot for today.

"No need. I will just probably visit the mansion, anytime. I need to stay in the unit, in order to get closer to Bree," pilyong ngiti ko.

"You idiot!" sabay sapak niya sa ulo ko.

"Kapag ikaw at si Bree ang nagkatuluyan ay sagot ko na ang reception dito. Ano?" kindat niya. Pilyo pa itong natawa.

"Sure ball, Zald," sabay tapik ko sa balikat niya.

Umigting na ang panga ko habang iniisip ito, at gumuhit ang pilyong ngiti sa labi ko.

There is no way that me and Bree will be ended up together and walking down the aisle. . . I have no plans for that, and it will never be happen.

Huh, f*****g no way.

Sabay kaming humakbang dalawa. Naghihintay na ang pribadong helicopter niya at ako ang magiging piloto niya ngayon. Hindi na kasi siya babalik, at ako na lang din ang babalik mamaya.

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IT WAS DIM WHEN I ARRIVED. Dapat sana ay bukas pa ako, pero wala na rin naman akong nagawa pagkatapos kong maihatid si Zalde. I went straight away to my unit, thinking about Bree. And that maybe she's up there, on her balcony. But my smile faded when I realized that she's not home, and that no one was around on her unit.

Umigting ang panga ko habang nakatitig sa madilim na langit.

Huh, this is f*****g insane Neo! I swore silently in the back of my mind. Isa-isa ko pang tinitigan ang mga nabili ko para sana sa kanya.

I bought some sweets and goodies from the other Island. I have no f*****g idea why the hell I even bothered to buy them.

E, sa basta ko na lang naisip si Bree, at inisip na magugustuhan niya ito. Masarap din naman ito sa tuwing magkakape sa umaga.

Damn it! What an absolute jerk Neo! Mura ng isip ko. At pilyo akong napangiti sa sarili.

Napahawak ako nang mahigpit sa rehas na bakal sa harapan at napayuko na sa sarili.

Elias. . . Isip ko.

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"Neo?"

I felt the spark of magic from the bottom of my heart when I heard her voice. . . I lifted for a stare, and her beautiful smile shines.

"Neo? Akala ko bukas ka pa?"

Umayos agad ako at ngumiti sa kanya.

"Ngayon ka lang ba dumating?" ngiti ulit niya.

Napako na ang mga mata niya sa supot na nasa ibabaw ng maliit na mesa ko rito. Kinuha ko agad ito.

"Here, for you," sabay lahad ko.

"A-ano?" bahagyang tawa niya.

The way she smiled was like a chirping birds in my ears. And her voice sounds so sexy to me.

"Mahuhulog iyan ano," sabay tingin niya sa distansya ng balkonahe namin dalawa.

Hindi ko naisip ito, at sabay kaming napatingin sa baba.

"Nakakatakot ano?" ngiti ulit niya.

"G-gusto mo bang pumasok sa unit ko? Kumain ka na ba? O baka gusto mo magkape tayo?"

I smile widely and winked at her.

"Is that okay? I love white coffee," I said and she chucked.

"Oo naman. . . Halika ka na! At huwag mo kalimutan 'yan," turo ng mga mata niya sa supot ng pagkain.

"Yes, boss," I said and grabbed it. I shook my head and nodded.

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C.M. LOUDEN