Operation:Break the Playboy's heart.

Chapter 2

Nexon cleared his throat and tried to focus, nawawala siya sa wisyo dahil may isang estudyante niya ang titig na titig sa kanya, it is non other done Emerald Montefalco, Tila wala itong balak na makinig sa mga sinsabi niya. Hanggang sa matapos ang klase ay nakatitig pa din ito sa kanya so he immediately took his things and left the classroom. Napasapo siya sa ulo habang nag lalakad sa hallway, maraming nag bago simula ng bumalik si Emerald he don't want to admit it but damn, he is affected by her wala pa nga itong ginagawa ay apektado na siya paano pa kaya kung mayroon na.

"Sir Cohen," agad siyang napahinto ng marinig ang tinig ni Emerald. "Iniwan mo yung pinasa kong papel sa table mo."

Nexon sighed, dahan dahan niyang nilingon ang dalaga at inabot ang papel na hawak nito but Emerald seems to tease him dahil ayaw nitong bitawan ang papel na hawak niya.

"Ipapasa mo ba o hindi?" He impatiently asked. "Look here Ms, Montefalco madami pa akong kailangan gawin so stop wasting my time."

"Kailan ko sinayang ang oras mo? You're the one who left my paper on your table, is that on purpose Sir?"

He can already smell the sarcasm in Emerald's voice, dati pa man ay palaban na ang dalaga. Emerald is smart, brave and a big damn sarcastic b***h! Kaya nga naiirita siya dito noon.

"Why would I?" Balik tanong niya.

Hindi na niya hinintay pa ang sasabihin ng dalaga, he snatched the paper and walked away. Emerald smirks, she crosses her arms on her chest and watches Nexon walk down the hall. Halatang halata sa binata na apektado niya 'to he should be, the day continues Emerald fixed her things and left. Wala din naman kasi si Mariah kaya't siya lang din mag isa, but instead of going home she decided to go to the nearest public library.

Mas nakakapag isip kasi siya lalo't tahimik ang lugar, aside that she also loves to read kaya't library ang paborito niyang tambayan. Agad niyang hinahanap ang librong nais na basahin ng makita niya 'to ay agad niyang kinuha at nag hanap ng bakanteng space malayo sa mga estudyante na tila bubuyog na nag kukumpulan sa iilang lamesa.

"Hello, I was just wondering, kung puwedeng maupo?"

Agad na umangat ang tingin ni Emerald sa lalaking nakatayo sa kanyang harap.

She nods her head. "Suit yourself,"

Agad naman na tumalima ang lalaki at naupo sa bakanteng upuan kaharap siya. She thought that it would be a peaceful time for her but the man started to get friendly that annoys her a little.

"Do you live around?" He asked. "Kakauwi ko lang kasi galing state so I know no one here."

Emerald gave him an awkward smile and nodded. Wala siyang balak makipag usap dito, she makes sure to show him that she is not interested at all.

"You look familiar pero hindi ko ma- determine kung saan kita nakita."

"I don't know you," straight forward niyang sagot. Her supposed to be peaceful day is starting to get ruined, she doesn't wanna be rude kaya't ngumiti lang siya dito at tumayo. "Enjoy your day."

Umalis siya doon, tila nawala na siya sa mood mag basa kaya't binalik na lang niya ang libro sa shelf na kinuhaan niya at nag lakad palabas ng library. Wala pa ang sasakyan niya kaya't no choice siya kung hindi ang mag commute but she doesn't want to go home yet so she went to a nearby coffee shop and ordered her favourite strawberry frappe and sat beside the glass wall. Kinuha niya ang laptop sa bag and started to check her emails, nothing seems unusual kinukulit pa rin siya ng mga kaibigan na bumalik ng New York pero hindi pa maaari. She would love to go back, nasa New York ang trabaho at buhay niya but she just can't, not now. Not until she wreck Nexon Cohen's peaceful life.

Tila nawala sa isip niya si Nexon ng makita si Amethyst na pumasok sa loob ng coffee shop, she smile and was about to greet her when she saw Aiden behind. Agad na lumingkis ang kanyang kapatid sa kanilang 'kapatid din.' Ayaw niyang mag isip ng hindi maganda, it's normal for siblings to be sweet right? But them is a little bit off and awkward. Hindi siya nag pakita sa dalawa she just watched and waited for them to finish ordering bago siya nag lakad palapit sa dalawa at binati 'to.

"What's up guys?"

Agad na namutla ang mukha nila ng makita siyang nakatayo sa kanilang tabi. Her confusion grows a lot, ayaw niyang mag isip ng hindi maganda but sure as hell, something is going on with this two.

"E-Ems!" Nauutal na wika ni Amethyst then her eyes darted to Aiden, "K-kailan ka pa nakauwi?"

Emerald scoffed. "Seriously? Mag iisang linggo na pero ni isa sa inyo wala akong nakita sa bahay, hindi niyo ba alam na umuwi na ako?"

She is trying to figured them out, her eyes were trace on Amethyst. Kilala niya ang kapatid, she is sure that Amethyst is hiding something from her.

"How's my surgeon sister?" Wika ni Aiden. "We're kinda busy at the hospital, alam mo naman yon diba? You're a doctor yourself."

Emerald smirked. "I know, but Amethyst is not a doctor right? She wouldn't be that busy to visit her sister!"

Amethyst chuckled in nervousness and nodded. "Busy ako no! Busy ako sa career ko, sa lovelife ko at sa trio wear!"

"Bakit galit? I'm just saying na you could have visited or even calls me!"

"Alright I'm sorry!" Wika nito. "Nag tatampo kaba?"

Agad na tumikwas ang kilay ni Emerald, siya mag tatampo? Crazy!

"Dream on, I'm just saying that you could visit Mama and Daddy too kahit wala ako, alam niyo ba na nalulungkot sila dahil halos hindi na daw kayo umuuwi?"

Agad na nag katinginan ang dalawa, she really smell something between them. She just hope that her guts were wrong, mahal niya si Aiden dahil kapatid niya ito and she surely love Amethyst the most.

"Sasama kayo sakin pauwi ngayon!"

IT WAS AN AWKWARD silence when the three of them entered the door and saw Silver sitting on the couch alone, ang mga mata nito ay agad na tumama sa dalawa. Emerald's suspicion really grow, ngunit hindi siya kumibo she just sat there and enjoyed the silence.

"Wala pa ba sila Mama?" Basag niya sa katahimikan. "Even Steel and Sachi?"

Silver cleared his throat. "Nasa school pa yung dalawa, si Mama nasa business meeting pa pero pauwi na si Dad naman on his way home."

"Ganoon, way don't we cook something for them. Tutal nandito na din naman tayo lahat, a surprise?"

Agad na nag tinginan si Aiden at Amethyst while Silver just heave a sigh.

"Hep! Walang tatanggi, let's do it."

After preparing for dinner ay nag tungo sila sa sa labas upang I set up ang camping tent, how she misses this kind of family dinner. Ang tagal din niya kasing nawala, 3 years or 4? She just missed the bond.

"Ateeee!"

Agad niyang binuka ang kamay at niyakap si Steel na tumatakbo palapit sa kanya.

"What's the occasion? Bakit may camping tayo di niyo namain kami na inform ni Sachi."

Emerald chuckled, Steel blue and Sachi blue. Obsessed yata sa kulay ang ina nila dahil halos lahat sila ay sinunod sa pangalan ng colors so to avoid confusion they called them Steel and Sachi disregarding the name blue.

"Wala naman, gusto ko lang ayaw niyo ba?"

Agad naman na umiling ang dalawa.

"Gusto! Ilalapag lang namin tung gamit za kwarto and tutulong kami."

Ems nodded and smile as shwe watched her younger siblings run. Paunahan pa talaga 'to tumakbo paakyat kaya't sinaway niya na dahil baka sa sobrang pakikupag unahan ay mahulog sila. Then her eyes went back to the three, tahimik ang tatlo na nag aayos ng gamit sa labas not the usual trio she remembered.

"Bakit ang tahimik niyo? May tinatago ba kayo sa 'kin?" Pag bibiro niya.

Amethyst chuckled nervously before shaking her head. "A-ano namang itatago namin sa 'yo, and may maitatago ba? e, para kang investigator."

Not convinced she just snorted, Hanggang sa dumating na ang kanilang mga magulang. Naiyak pa nga ang si Keana sa surprise na ginawa nila and they watched the stars that night napatingin siya sa mga magulang na masayang nag star gazing. The happiness that they both deserve after everything, how she wish to find that happiness someday. Kahit naman cold siya ay may balak pa rin siyang mag asawa, not now maybe someday.

----

"Ms, Montefalco?"

Her eyes narrowed to Nexon, ang gwapo nito sa suot na eyeglasses but that won't affect her.

"Yes, Sir, cohen?"

Nexon cleared his throat, nag lakad ito palapit sa kanya hawak ang ipad sa kamay.

"Can you define the definition of fine arts?"

Emerald sighed, agad siyang tumayo at tumingin sa lalaki. Her eyes traced to his perfectly sculpted face.

"Refers to an art," panimula niya. "form practised mainly for its aesthetic value and its beauty."

Nexon nodded his head but not that satisfied to her answer. "Is that it?"

Emerald's brows furrowed. "Want me to add a definition that isn't related to your question, Sir?"

Diniin niya talaga ang 'Sir' para damang dama nito ang bawat salita niya. So this is his game plan, picking on her and ger knowledge he really knows how to annoyher but that won't work she is smart enough to answer all of his academic questions.

"No, I just expected to much from you since you're smart but you didn't meet my expectations at all."

Emerald chuckled.

"You answered base on just your knowledge and not your personal emotions, as you can see you took an Art and design class mainly 'Fine arts' won't you show affection and emotions at all? Don't base it all on pure knowledge, use your emotions to answer."

Agad na tumalikod si Nexon at mag lalakad na sana pabalik sa harap ng muli siyang mag salita.

"Does it required me to use my emotions in taking up this course? If so then I'll use it from now on. Thank you for the advice Sir,"

That statement sent shivers down Nexon, parang double meaning kasi ang sinasabi ng dalaga. Nexon cleared his throat and changes the topic, Emerald's eyes wont leave him until the class is over. Nag paalam si Mariah na maaga daw aalis, she just nodded and immediately went after Nexon.

"Can we talk?"

Nexon sighed. Huminto siya sa pag lalakad at hinarap ang dalaga, her eyes is glistening maganda naman talaga si Emerald but she is much more beautiful now. Agad siyang nag iwas ng tingin dahil nakakapaso ang titig ng dalaga.

"May kailangan ka Ms, Montefalco?"

Emerald nodded, humalukipkip ito sa kanyang harap na parang bata.

"Are you grilling me on purpose?"

"Grilling? What?"

Emerald chuckled. "You know, pinag iinitan mo ako sa klase? I'm not dumb, you know that right?"

"Wala naman akong sinabi, and I'm not grilling you if that's your term. I'm your professor, normal na tanungin kita related sa course na kinuha mo right?"

Emerald nodded still not convinced. "Right, wanna grab lunch with me?"

Agad na nanlaki ang mata ni Nexon at tumingin sa palagid hoping that no one heard Emerald, hinawakan niya ang wrist nito af hinaltak patungo sa office niya. He immediately push her inside and lock the door.

"Are you seriously asking me out?"

Patay malisyang nag kibit balikat si Emerald at komportableng naupo sa visitors couch sa loob ng kanyang opisina.

"Nope, tinatanong ko lamg kunv gusto moag Lunch kasama ako. Of course, outside the campus."

Napahilot si Nexon sa sumasakit na ulo dahil sa dalaga, he watch her played with his things on the table completely unbothered.

"Emerald! You're my damn student so act like one—"

"I'm acting one, relax. Wala pa nga akong ginagawa," Emerald stood up, nag lakad 'to palapit kay Nexon. She fixed her tie pinag-pag din niya ang polo nito na may dumi sa gilid. "Sabihin mo lang kung gusto mo na mag Lunch kasama ako, I'm one call away." Nakahinga lang si Nexon nang maluwag ng makalabas si Emerald sa pinto. He sighed and sat on his swivel chair massaging gis throbbing temple.

"Damn that argh!"

He is sure as hell that he won't be having a peaceful year. Nang makalabas ng opisina ni Nexon ay parang nanginginig ang tuhod niya sa kagagahang ginawa, napahawak pa siya sa door knob at doon kumuha ng lakas.

"Kadiri!" She hissed, just by thinking of havinv lunch with that playboy gives her goosebumps. Inayos niya ang sarili at nag lakad palayo sa opisina ng binata, tinali niya ang mahaba at alon-alon na buhok dahil nakaramdam siya ng init. "Free trial ba sa impyerno ngayon?"

Summer na kasi kaya't kahit naka todo yata ang aircon e, tumatagaktak pa din ang pawis niya, or she is just tense up because of Nexon. She shook that taught off and mindlessly run but she bump to someone dahilan upang mapaupo siya sa sahig.

"I'm sorry, are you okay?"

Inabot niya ang kamay nito at tumayo, pinag pag niya ang damit. "I'm okay, its my fault tumatakbo ako sa mataong hallw—"

Agad na sumilay ang ngiti sa labi ng lalaking naka bangga niya, he is the same man in the library yesterday.

"Hello ulit," wika nito. "Do you work here? Let me guess, professor ka dito?"

"No, student ako dito."

Bumuka ang bibig ng lalaki na tila may nais 'tong sabihin ngunit walang lumabas sa bibig niya.

"I'll get going," she said and walked past him. Nag mamadali siyang makalayo sa lugar na 'yon, why is he here? Her rudeness towards that man yesterday is rendering to her mind rent free.

Agad niyang kinuha ang cellphone ng tumutunog iyon, he answered the phone call and it was her mother, tinatanong nito kung anong oras ang uwi niya at isasabay na daw siya nito pauwi but she needs to attend an evening class para makahabol sa lesson. It was late already, raining cats and dogs kanina lang ay umiinit na ang ulo niya sa sobrang init ngunit ngayon ay sobrang lakas ng ulan. Halos lahat ng estudyante ay nakauwi na while she is waiting for the rain to be over. Agad niyang kinuha ang cellphone sa bag ngunit sobra yata ang kamalasan niya dahil lowbat iyon, she sighed in annoyance and watch the heavy rain poured.

"It's late, hindi ka pa uuwi?"

Her eyes darted to the man beside her, hindi niya 'to napansin na nakalapit sa kanya maybe because she is preoccupied on watching the heavy rain halos wala na din siyang marinig sa lakas ng ulan.

"I was about too," wika niya. "Ikaw?"

The man shrugged inginuso nito ang sasakyan na nasa parking.

"Nag papatila lang saglit," He said. "Gusto mo bang sumabay?"

Hesitant she doesn't answer, tumingin lang siya sa wristwatch at sa malakas na ulan.

"Do you work here?"

The who she doesn't even know the name glance on her.

"I'm a professor here, Kaka start ko lang kanina and I just moved here yesterday."

Her jaw dropped.

"I-I—"

"Ms.Montefalco-"

Agad na bumaling si Emerald sa tumawag sa kanyang pangalan, it was Nexon. Nakasuksok pa ang kamay nito sa kanyang bulsa habang nag lalakad palapit sa kanila.

"Good evening Sir Cohen."

Nexon nods his head but his eyes remains in her face.

"Sumabay kana sa 'kin, nasa iisang vilage lang naman tayo."

Kumunot ang noo niya sa sinabi nito, iisang village? E, ang alam niya sa makati pa 'to umuuwi.

"Okay," she whispered and smiled. "Thank you for your offer Sir pero sasabay na lang ako kay Sir Cohen."

The man gave her a warm smile and nodded, binuksan ni Nexon ang dala nitong payong at sabay silang nag lakad palapit sa kotse nito. Tahimik ang kanilang naging byahe, hindi na nga niya namalayan na narating na nila ang village.

"Thanks for the ride," she said and was about to stepped out. Susugurin na lang niya ang malakas na ulan at maliligo.

"Take this," wika ni Nexon at inabot ang payong sa kanya.

"Thanks, but I can manage."

Mabilis siyang lumabas at parang batang mag tampisaw sa ulan iniwan naman niya ang mga gamit sa locker kaya't sarili niya lang ang mababasa its been a while and she wants to enjoyed the rain. A smile crept on Nexon's lips but he immediately look away, mabilis niyang pinaharurot ang sasakyan paalis sa lugar na iyon away from the damn tease Emerald Montefalco.