Hot Stuff

Chapter 7

We were all sad placing our stuff in the boxes. After the success of the party last night, here we are now minding our moving out.

My eyes bore into the bed as I remembered what happened in there between me and Xabart. It was a good thing I did not need to stay here a bit longer, coz I don't think I could sleep peacefully in this bed again.

Tilting my head I sighed, no way in hell our paths would cross in this lifetime again. Like what he just told me he just 'f****d and leave', my lips twisted.. why I let that kind of man to be my first experience, he seemed living only for s*x.

"Gladys, you done? Adith and Nhessa are leaving now. Come down here" it was Quel.

"Wait me up, I'm coming.."

When I reached our living room they were all in tears. It seemed they were now only realized now that we were going to take different paths this sooner, when yesterday they were all right about it.

"I will miss you so much all bestfriends!" Adith said in her crack voice hugging tightly the girls.

"Can I join your group hug?" I ran to them and joined the circle.

"Ohh shut it girls, stop crying like as if we are not going to see each other anymore." Quel stopped the cry and let go of the hug.

"Blame Chu, she started this." Nhessa sobbed.

"It's not as if I am the only one here who crying hard. You all did." she was still sobbing.

We laughed our tears. I'm going to miss my bestfriends. They were those people who never misjudged me despite that everyone misunderstood my attitude and personality.

After Adith and Nhessa left, we ordered food coz no one in the mood for cooking.

"Gladys, can I crash in your pad some time, just in case of emergency?" Brix said suddenly.

"Yeah sure, I do have some spare room. I won't mind." he helped me unpacked my things and it was a real big help for me.

My eyes happily roamed my new condo, pale blue for the walls and modern interior from living, kitchen, bedroom and bathroom. Thanks to Aunt Claire. Why I had to start soon working in F&N as part of Human Resources' staff. I was hired last week as a human resources personnel, funny that I did not feel any pressure during interview. They did not ask me about anything, well even my personal information it was just a story-tell for interviewer. No one dared to ask and no one gave any comments when I entered the premises. The HR manager seemed only there for me for my personal appearance and that's all.

I took up BS in HRManagement and my Aunt gave me the work that is related to my course.

"What's your hobbies and interest?" asking this certain applicant in front of me.

"I can sing and I can dance Ma'am!" the applicant smiled at me.

My forehead creased. How on earth that singing and dancing were related in a Janitorial position? Are you going to sing and dance while mopping those floors? Still I managed an impasive look, I am part of the Recruitment why I oftenly faced applicants in all positions.

"And..?" I trailed off.

"That's all Ma'am!"

I nodded, he was smart and actually passed the qualifications for the position but I do hope next applicant should know that everything you're about to say in your interview should be relflected into your designated position like these 'Hobbies and Interest'.

"Congratulations, we'll call or text you for your orientation date." I told the applicant.

"Thank you Ma'am."

I sighed and looked at my wrist watch. My working time would end soon and just a few applicants perhaps then I could get home. It had been a month when I started working here as part of HR in F&N and so far I was doing well and learned few things.

Next applicant came in and I continued. I am really happy with my work now and so far this could be a very good diversion from those things that I wanted to bury in my past.

When the lift hit the ground floor I started walking to the parking. My place was just near here and yet I still using my car for work.

My eyes watered looking at the food in front of me. I have been living here in my condo for a month and yet I had endulging take outs and processed food. And now I had to settle myself with these tocino and hotdogs, coz I was too tired to eat outside. Since then I could only eat good and healthy foods whenever I homed to my family in Antipolo or I chose to eat in a fine restaurant. I just now realised that it was really hard to being independent, mostly if you did not know house chores. My eyes swirled around my kitchen, there were plates and mess in every corner. Got to call the maintenance sooner.

No choice but to eat these foods in my table, or else I had to surrender my independence.

I heard my door bell dinged and it puzzled me who could be my possible visitor? After my house warming party three weeks ago that was also the last time I saw my bestfriends. They were really serious now with their jobs and life.

"Hello sis!" Brix face lit on my door.

"Brix!! You are just in time, you're my saviour!! Come on in!" I pulled him inside. And brought him to my kitchen, since he's here he needed to cook for me. You know, this kid was really gifted when it came to kitchen like as if he inherited his cooking skills from Mom.

"Hurry and cook me some dish, please!!"

"Ohh well, can we eat outside instead?" he frowned. "You can't fool me, you just want me to be your personal chef for the moment.. or a helper." as his eyes roamed my kitchen.

"Don't be so full of yourself! Chef really? You know Brix even you going to cook me everyday and night, you will only a cook and not a personal chef! That two is different."

"Aish! You're too good at everything and yet you couldn't cook your own food.." he said muttering.

"Yeah, I know!" smiling at him.

"Can we just eat outside then? It's too early you know." as he glanced to his watch.

"Your treat?" raising him a brow.

"You've got a date and yet still you're asking me to pay? That's too much!!" as he shook his head. "-Ouch!"

I smacked his head. "You and your thick face, really Brix?"

"Gladys if you forget about me being student then I'll refresh your pretty little head, even I have no classes nowadays still am a student. Why not you treat us? When you are the one who is working." he told me matter of factly.

"Okay! All right, my treat!" I smirked to him and walked towards my room.

I changed clothes and do my hair and I was ready to go.

"Steak and salad? I thought you are hungry?" Brix raise his brow and returned the menu.

"Steak is a heavy meal, dear brother. I could get fat by eating steak, ohh I have to go to the gym later then. An extra hour will be enough to burn out all those calories."

"Really huh.. when you only happy with your tocino and hotdogs a while ago. That was not even considered a healthy foods."

"Like as if I do have a choice? Even steamed foods Brix, I sucked!" I told him dramatically.

I knew, I could consume healthy foods coz I could afford them but I always ended up into canned goods like tuna zero transfat, oatmeal and fruits. Like what I have said before, I had no knowledge when it came to kitchen and cooking. The last time I tried to make myself a salad, when I was cutting the cheese I cut my finger. Why I did stop trying.. even frying eggs, I consumed one tray before I could let just say it was more acceptable fried eggs.

"Hire a maid? So you have someone taking care of your needs." he suggested.

"Don't wanna, you know how much I dreamed of to be an independent then you are suggesting me to take a maid?"

He suddenly turned serious. "Mom is worried about you, coz we all know that you have no knowledge when it comes to kitchen and house chores."

"I'm fine Brix, tell Mom not to worry about me. There's a lot of fine diner around my unit and around Manila, I'll just spend more but that's life." I shrugged.

He stared at me while I widened my eyes. "What is it?"

"Nothing, if Mom could hear you she might be wiping tears because of your speech. You talked like as if you're a real matured woman. You're really a grown up woman now.." he grinned at me.

"Ahh yeah, I'm a well grown up woman Brix. I know that." I winked at him. Since last month I stopped asking anything from my parents. And I am so proud of myself.

"With proud and pride.." shaking his head but still smiling.

We started eating after the waiter served our order. I looked at Brix. He's turning nineteenth this year and my brother's growing handsome and I am pretty sure a lots of women will going chase after him.

"Let's go?" Brix said later the dinner.

"Yeah. Let's go."

I stood up and headed to the door first. "You think it is better if I'll enroll myself into a cooking class? Some culinary course or whatsoever. French or japanese cuisine?"

I looked for Brix's answer and found him still in our table. Rolling my eyes when I realised that I was talking to air.

"Ouch!" a loud voice of a woman that I bumped into.

"Oh, I'm sorry.. I didn't-"

I stopped from what I was saying when I recognized the man that was holding the woman. It's him.. He was looking at me also with his.. impassive face?

"What happened?" Brix asked as he neared us.

"No-nothing." I said and faced the woman. "I'm sorry Miss, excuse me." I walked past them without looking at him again and almost sprinted to our car.

"What is it Gladys? Got a problem?" Brix was seemed bothered of my weird reaction.

"Nothing, I just.. just got stomach problem why I ran to here." I lied and held to my stomach.

"I told you to eat rice, what if you got sick. And why you only have canned goods in your house? If Mom will know about it.."

I let him with his bubble coz I was too pre-occupied by him, by Xabart's appearance, my whole system was pre-occupied by that coincident meeting. I knew that there was a huge possibility that we bumped to each other as Manila was not that big. And it was not a surprise seeing him with another woman, even seeing him kissing another woman or more. He's a casanova for crying out loud!

"Not going home yet?" asking Brix when he parked his car inside the building.

"Nope, you looked not fine. I'll stay with you." he told me and turned off the engine.

"I am fine, Brix."

"I will leave once I see your okay, come on."

He went out first why I did not appeal to him, did not want to tell him that my stomach was not really my problem. And it was only an alibi.

"Seriously Brix, I'm fine."

"Gladys don't be this hard, okay? I will leave, I will just walking you to your condo." he insisted.

"But you will drive late to Antipolo."

"I can still drive even it is midnight or whatsoever." he said firmly.

I opened my door while Brix still following me. Brix was acting like my big brother now.

I headed to my room for a bath before sleeping. Then suddenly I stopped when I remembered the man.. I sighed. Before entering my bathroom I looked for Brix.

I saw him watching television while sitting on the couch. "I thought you were leaving?"

"Tss. Whatever." he lazily said and stood up.

"Hmm.. how about sleeping here?" I did have spare room here also.

"No possible, as I have errand to do before going home." he told me and walked towards the door.

"All right, take care then.. text me when you get home, okay??" I told him before leaving.

"Yes girlfriend!!" he smirked at me and closed the door.

I shook my head while smiling at Brix's wittiness. Brix and I are more close than my sister Hannah, well a b***h could not put up with another b***h coz it would really a disaster.

I continued my bathing, it was past nine now and I still have work for office tomorrow. Though it was still early but I treasured my sleep, I had to sleep eight hours a day to become more productive for the company. Did not want to humiliate my Aunt, not because I am her niece.. I would work less for the company. I might be a b***h but I wanted to prove to them that I am serious with my profession.

I pouted when I heard my door bell, what again Brix? Good thing I just finished my bathe.

"Not again Brix or else!!" I covered myself with the towel before leaving my room. "What again, Brix?" a bit annoyed of him when I opened the door.

My jaw dropped at the man in front of me.. and swallowed a bit hard. My grip tightened to my towel around my body, when I had nothing under this towel as I was fresh from the bath.