Way of Forever

Kabanata 12

“You really love showing off, huh?” Then, she raises their hand that was intertwined.

“Of course, ang ganda ba naman ng girlfriend ko,” sagot nito at i-nim-phasize pa ang word na ‘girlfriend’ sabay wink. Napa-roll eyes na lang si Maeve sa kahanginan nito. So their pretend thingy started last Tuesday at talaga pakitang tao ang lalaking ‘to. She bet na may nakakita sa kanila kaya ibang-iba ang reaksyon ng mga employee sa kumpanya nang pumasok siya.

“I knew it already, nasa genes talaga namin ang pagiging maganda.” Napahalakhak si Levine sa sagot ng dalaga. What did he expect? Na magiging mahiyain ang dalaga ‘pag nasabihan ng maganda? He should know better.

Umabot sila ng planning department— ang dating pinagtatrabahuhan ng dalaga. From their way to it’s office kita ni Maeve na nakasilip na ang mga empleyado doon sa kanila. See when people love tsismis? Abang-abang lang.

“Good morning, Vice President,” bati ng mga ito. They gave a side eye on Maeve. What if magsumbong ito sa VP about sa pinaggagawa nila noon? As if Maeve will step so low for that. She respectfully don’t care.

“How is it going?” Levine asked, then, scan the people in front of him. Biglang ngumiti si Diane nang mapansin siya ni Levine. He noticed her?! She looked down and blushed.

“We’re doing okay, sir,” sagot ni Ina.

“Good, then. I just visited para makita ang performance niyo,” reply ni Levine. Tapos tumingin ito sa katabi n’yang dalaga. “Are you doing okay here when you work here?”

Maeve wanted to roll her eyes but maintain her polite composure. “Yes. I enjoyed working here especially when I’m surrounded by people who love to talk. Not boring.”

Nanigas ang mga dating kasamahan ni Maeve dahil sa sagot niya. She smile at them innocently.

“Oh. Then you have a good workplace,” nakataas na kilay na sambit ni Levine. He saw Maeve’s provocative smile towards her former colleagues.

“Well…”

“Uhm, gusto niyo po ba sir i-tour namin kayo sa office?” magalang na tanong ni Ina. Dali-dali n’yang sinabihan ang team niya na pupunta sa floor nila ang Vice President.

“No need. Nandito naman ang secretary ko. I’m sure she’s familiar with this place.”

Napatango-tango si Ina. “Yes, of course. Then, we will not disturb you, Sir.”

Makikita ang inggit sa mata ni Diane. Bakit kasi dumating pa ang Maeve na ‘to sa kumpanya nila. How she wish na maalis ito sa pwesto nito ngayon. Siya sana ang kasama ni Levine ngayon.

Nang mawala na sa paningin nila si Levine ay nagsimula na ang ingay sa grupo nila.

“So sa tingin niyo totoong nag-de-date ang dalawa?” tanong ng isa.

Jade butt in, “Hindi pa ba obvious? The way the Vice President looked at Maeve was kinda gentle. At isa pa sabi ng ibang taga department they already held hands. Kaya nga sabog na sabog ang messages ko dahil doon.”

Someone gasped. "Really?"

Mabilis na tumango si Jade na parang bang tinitignan s’yang nagsisinungaling. "Bakit naman ako magsisinungaling sa ganitong kalaking balita?"

“Parang totoo nga.” Napatingin ang isa kay Diane. “Paano na si Daine?”

Jade gave the woman who speak a confused look. “Ano'ng paano na?”

“Well, ‘di ba may gusto—”

“Pwede ba magtrabaho na lang tayo?” inis na singit ni Diane habang nakatalikod sa kanila. Nakakarindi na ang ingay ng mga ito. Maeve! Maeve! Palagi na lang ito ang topic eh hindi naman artista ang dalaga. Ginagamit lang ito ni Levine para paglaruan at sa huli ay iiyak lang ito. She will just wait and laugh at Maeve for being naive and dumb!

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WYNDA BOUTIQUE

“How about this?” Lumabas si Maeve mula sa dressing room. Like a sunset setting, she walks out with a white fitted dress which accentuated her body. It has a diamond strap, glittering from afar. She’s tall and that added a key factor to her beauty. She turns around to show the back of the dress to Levine who had his eyes glued on her.

“Wow,” the saleslady besides them unconsciously said in admiration.

“Boss?” Maeve called. She crossed her arms and walked near to Levine.

Levine snapped and coughed. “This dress is beautiful. It suits you, sweetheart,” malambing na ani nito at niyakap ang bewang ni Maeve na parang bata.

Kinikilig naman ang saleslady sa dalawa. Ang sweet! Kilala niya kung sino si Levine pero hindi ang babae. Babaero ito pero ito ang unang beses nakita n’yang isinama nito ang girlfriend sa pamimili ng damit. And if she’s not wrong there was admiration and gentleness on his eyes when he looked at the girl.

Maeve stepped back a little from him. “You think so?” tanong ni Maeve at ini-exam-in ang sarili sa malaking salamin. Kahit ano namang siguro ang damit niya ay babagay sa kanya basta alam niya kung paano magdala. But of course, mapili siya.

Tumayo si Levine at pinaikot ang braso sa bewang ng dalaga. Maeve’s eyes sharpened at the two arms wrapped around her waist. Masyado atang nawiwili ang lalaking ito sa pagpapanggap nilang dalawa.

“Let go of me,” mariin n’yang sambit habang nakangiti sa harap ng salamin kung saan nakatingin din si Levine sa repleksyon nilang dalawa.

Hindi nakinig si Levine at inilapit ang bibig sa tenga ng dalaga.

“Alam mo bang nagpipigil lang ako?” Then, he drew his body closer to her. Ramdam ni Maeve ang namumukol na bagay sa likod niya. This horny bastard! Well, well, well, two can play a game. She turned around and wrapped her arms around his neck not minding the thing that was poking her abdomen.

“I think we should do something that makes us moan,” she said, biting her lips. The arms around her tightened. She laughed inside. Ang laki naman ng epekto niya sa lalaking ito. Sinimulan nito kaya sasakyan niya ang gimik nito.

A dangerous smile skips on Levine’s lips. “You are so naked on my head right now. My mouth wants to do sexy things to you. So do you want to roll on bed with me?”

Maeve laughs, really laughs. “If it is kinky, dirty, naughty and messy… why not? Siguraduhin mo lang na malaki ‘yan. Ayoko sa maliit.”

“Sweetheart, you’re gonna moan my name all night like—”

“Like?”

Levine curses. f**k! Muntik niya ng masabi ang bagay na iyon. This woman can’t remember it but what if she does when they s*x? Hmm.

The saleslady coughed. ‘Di niya na makayanan ang aksyon at sinasabi ng dalawa. She can feel her cheeks burning.

“A-ahm… kukunin niyo po ba ang damit?” she asked.

Naghiwalay ang dalawa at humarap ulit si Maeve sa salamin na para bang walang nangyari.“Yes. We will buy it. Pack it up along with the heels and necklace.”

Agad na sumunod ang saleslady, “Yes, sir.”

He turned around to face Maeve with a serious look.

“I’ll pick you up on Saturday, seven in the evening. Be ready. The start of our bet will be on that day with my parents. I expect a good performance on you, Maeve.”

“Don’t worry. I’m a good actress, Levine.” She smirks and goes inside the fitting room to change.