Dangerously Yours (SERIE FEROCI 10)

Chapter Six

Alam ko ang mga paboritong ulam ni Caius. 'Yung iba, naging paborito ko na rin kahit hindi ko pa natitikman.

Mahilig siya sa pork at mga gulay. Paborito niya rin ang chop seuy at pork steak.

I'm starting to learn how to cook now, but I guess it's not that easy as I thought. I just tried to follow some videos on the internet. Pero hindi pala ganoon kadali gayahin ang nandoon. My fried rice earlier was not bad, pero madali lang naman iyon kumpara sa chop seuy at pork steak.

Napatingin ako sa natapos kong lutuin. I took a spoonful of chop seuy. I gasped. It actually tastes good, not bad at all! Tumikim din ako ng pork steak. I almost jump in happiness because it tastes good too. I know I'm not as good as Caius, but I'm so happy, especially knowing that this is my first time.

I let it cool off for a bit before I put it in a container. Plano kong dalhin ito sa campus at pagdalhan si Caius ng lunch. I don't know if he'll eat this, but I'll test my luck.

Inilagay ko na siya sa paper bag at inilapag sa table. Natigilan lang ako nang marinig na may pumasok. Napakunot ang noo ko... Umuwi agad si Caius?

I immediately went to the living room. I saw someone sitting on the couch, smoking. Mas lalong kumunot ang noo ko dahil prente pa itong nakaupo roon. I'm sure he's not Caius. Kahit likod ng ulo lang nito ang nakikita ko, sigurado ako na hindi ito si Caius.

Lumapit ako sa kaniya at sinilip ang hitsura niya. It seems like he felt my presence. He turned his gaze at me and his forehead creased when he saw me.

"Who are you?" sabay pa naming sinabi.

He's handsome. Mukhang matangkad at matipuno rin ang katawan gaya ni Caius. His eyes are cold, but his serious face shifted into a beam when he saw me. He smiled at me like some creep... What the f**k was that?

"Hello, I'm Cadence Lettiere," pagpapakilala niya.

Napasinghap ako nang maalala ko na siya. Tama, siya ang kapatid ni Caius. I know a little about him when I researched about Caius' family.

"Ikaw, sino ka? What are you doing here?" he asked, then stood up. Tama nga ang hinala ko na matangkad din siya.

"I-I'm..." I stuttered. I don't know what to say. Should I say that I'm Caius' wife? Will he believe it?

Cadence Lettiere chuckled and puffed on his cigarette once again before he put it in the ash on the mini table. I stared at him, and I felt shivers down my spine. There's something off about him, especially in his eyes that I couldn't explain. He's smiling at me, and yet, it feels like he's not. It feels like he's invading my soul, knowing everything about me with just his eyes.

He's mysterious to me.

"Ano'ng pangalan mo, mare?" he asked, his voice became cheerful, unlike earlier, it was cold.

This man is a two-faced asshole.

"You can act normal with me. You're too obvious... By the way, I'm Luisa," sinabi ko.

Cadence chuckled. "Was it too obvious? My friendly version works all the time though," natatawang sabi na lang niya.

I just shrugged and forced a smile. I don't want to be rude. He's still Caius' brother.

"Wala rito si Caius... kung siya ang pakay mo," sabi ko na lang.

He just nodded and sat on the couch again. Napatingin pa siya sa kumot na nakatiklop doon. He turned his gaze at me and raised his eyebrow. I don't like the playful smirk on his lips. Ano ba ang iniisip niya?

"So, since Caius is not here, I'll take my leave now." Tumayo si Cadence saka ngumisi sa akin.

"Okay," tipid na sinabi ko na lang. Hindi ko rin naman alam ang sasabihin sa kaniya.

Nagkibit-balikat na lang ako at akmang babalik na sa kusina. Natigilan lang ako nang tawagin ako ni Cadence.

"Luisa!"

I turned my gaze at him. "Bakit?"

Cadence chuckled and showed me his fist. "I'm rooting for you, mare!" pagkasabi no'n ay agad din ako nitong tinalikuran saka umalis.

Napakurap ako. Napasinghap na lang ako nang ma-realize ang sinabi niya saka nagmamadaling lumabas ng bahay para habulin siya. Kaso huli na ako, nakasakay na siya sa kotse niya.

"Cadence!"

Cadence just laughed and waved his hand then started the engine of his car. Napaawang na lang ang labi ko habang hinahabol ng tingin ang papalayo niyang sasakyan.

What the hell was that? Bakit pakiramdam ko may alam siya tungkol sa akin?

I JUST TRIED not to think about Caius' weird brother, Cadence. I don't know what he's thinking, but it feels like he knows something about me... or baka paranoid lang ako.

Nagtungo na lang ako sa campus nang subject na ni Caius. Napapangiti pa ako habang nakahawak sa paper bag na lunch ni Caius ang laman. I immediately went straight to the class, as usual, late ako. Caius, and everyone in the class turned their gazes at me. I just shrugged and looked at Caius. Siya lang naman ang palagi kong nakikita.

"Sorry po, Sir," sinabi ko na lang.

Agad na 'kong nagtungo sa upuan ko. Panay ang bulungan ng mga blockmates ko pero hindi ko na lang pinansin. Wala naman akong pake sa kanila.

"So, let's go back... To deeply understand a literary work, you have to focus on the author's intention behind the work. Why did the author write that? What is the author's purpose? What do you think is the author's opinion or perspective about a certain area or issue..."

I didn't give a s**t about Caius' discussion. I kept staring at him, and his every move... The way his lips moved, the gestures of his hands, the way he brushed his hair with his fingers, his serious eyes, his dominating voice, the way he put his hand in his pocket... His every move is just beyond perfect, I couldn't take my eyes off his perfection.

I bit my lower lip when our eyes suddenly met. I smiled at him and gestured a small finger heart. Pasimple pa akong tumingin sa paligid kung may nakatingin sa akin, buti na lang wala. Though I don't mind din naman kung may ibang nakakita.

Caius cleared his throat and proceeded to discuss as if nothing happened. I just giggled and shook my head. What the hell am I doing?

"Don't forget your assignment. Class dismissed."

Nagtayuan na ang mga kaklase ko at tila excited na lumabas ng room. My eyebrow arched because some of my girl blockmates flocked on Caius. They are pretending that they are asking about the assignment, but they are obviously just trying to flirt with him.

I gritted my teeth. Tumayo ako at lumapit din sa kanila.

"Eh, Sir... What if different version po ng book ang nabasa namin? Is it okay lang po?" one of my blockmates asked while curling the ends of her hair with her finger.

Eh kung hilahin ko kaya ang buhok niya?!

"Just attached the reference in your assignment, kapag nagpasa ka. Ako na ang bahala," professional na sagot naman ni Caius sa kaniya.

I was about to lose my patience. Sunod-sunod ang mga tanong sa kaniya kahit na na-discuss naman 'yon kanina! They are just obviously trying to flirt with him!

"Sir," pagsingit ko na lang para matapos na!

Caius glanced at me and raised his perfect eyebrow. "Yes, Ms. Dominguez?"

Next time it will be 'Yes, Mrs. Lettiere?'

"Uhm, we still have to talk about my special project." I cleared my throat.

Wala naman talaga akong special project, palusot lang para makaalis na si Caius sa mga babaeng 'to.

Caius removed his eyeglasses and nodded. He smiled at his students apologetically. "Sorry, I have to go now. You can ask your other blockmates if you still have questions," sabi na lang nito saka kinuha ang libro niya sa table. He looked at me. "Let's go, Ms. Dominguez."

Nauna nang maglakad si Caius, sumunod na lang ako. I glanced at my blockmates, they rolled their eyes on me. I just smirked and showed them my middle finger. Tangina niyo, malalandi.

Napatigil lang ako nang lingunin ako ni Caius, I immediately hid my hand and smiled at him. "Yes?"

"Stop that. Ano ka, bata?" tila sarkastikong tanong niya.

Umismid ako. "Nilalandi ka nila. Parang gustong gusto mo naman... I thought you love Lynne?" tanong ko kahit nasaktan din ako roon.

Inilapag ni Caius ang libro sa table ng office niya. He faced me and put his hand on his waist like a handsome male model.

"I'm telling you, Caius, hindi ka pwedeng makipaglandian sa iba... I'm serious," seryosong sinabi ko.

"Oh, so I'm not allowed, pero ikaw pwede?" tanong niya, tumaas pa ang kilay.

Natigilan ako. "I never flirted with anyone. Ikaw lang ang gusto ko," diretsang sinabi ko.

"You're obviously flirting with that guy you're always seeing," he scoffed.

"I'm not flirting with him. Sabi ko na, kaibigan ko lang 'yon," depensa ko pa.

Caius sneered. "Whatever. I don't give a s**t anyway."

I bit my lower lip and just showed him the paper bag in my hand. "I cooked chop seuy and pork steak for you," I smiled.

His perfect thick eyebrow arched. "I thought you don't know how to cook."

"Pinag-aralan ko, kanina. This is for you. Let's eat."

Inayos ni Caius ang mga gamit niya saka kinuha ang bag. "No, thanks. I have plans for today... and please, stop bothering me. Do whatever you want without concerning me," sabi na lang niya. Bumaba ang tingin niya sa paper bag saka ngumisi. "I bet it tastes like trash anyway."

Pagkasabi no'n, tinalikuran ako nito saka agad na lumabas ng office niya. I bit my lower lip and sighed. I ignored the weird feeling in my chest and shook my head. I just put the paper bag on his desk. I don't know if he'll eat it, but I cooked it for him.

Napailing na lang ako at lumabas ng campus. Hindi na rin naman ako a-attend ng klase dahil tapos na ang klase ni Caius sa amin.

I went to the nearest convenience store. Ngayon ko lang naramdaman na gutom pala ako. I bought one bread and iced coffee. Umupo muna ako roon at tumambay habang kumakain. Napapatingin sa akin ang ibang pumapasok, 'yung iba nagugulat, maybe because I'm wearing all black with my hair all over my face. I'm used to it.

I took my phone after I finished eating. Pakiramdam ko busog na agad ako, kahit hindi ko pa naubos ang bread. I just shook my head and drank my iced coffee. I was about to text Caius but I stopped when Neron texted me.

Neron: Have you eaten?

Me: Oo.

Neron: Stop drinking too much coffee. Kumain ka rin ng healthy food.

Me: Okay.

Neron: Whatever. This is futile anyway. Hindi ka naman nakikinig sa akin. Nasaan ka ngayon?

Me: Convenience store.

Neron: f*****g hell, Luisa. Saang convenience?

Me: Bakit?

Neron: Pupuntahan kita. Dadalhan ng pagkain.

Me: Kumain na ako.

Neron: I bet you just bought whatever you saw first in the convenience store. Kumain ka pa.

Me: No need.

Neron: Ikaw ang papatay sa akin, Luisa Mae.

Napakunot ang noo ko. Naiinis na tinawagan ko siya na agad niyang sinagot.

"Don't f*****g call me by my second name, Neron!" asik ko. Napatingin pa sa akin ang mga tao sa convenience store. Hindi ko sila pinansin dahil wala naman akong pake sa kanila.

I hate my second name! It's overused, common, and sounds like a child's name!

Neron just laughed at me on the other line. "Sorry na. Ikaw kasi. Nasaan ka na ba ngayon? Hindi naman ako busy."

"Huwag na, Neron. Uuwi na rin naman ako."

"Okay. Tawagan mo lang ako kapag may kailangan ka... o kahit kapag bored ka," sabi na lang niya.

"Okay. Thank you," sabi ko na lang saka agad na binaba ang tawag para ma-text ko na si Caius. Matagal ko ng alam ang number niya, pero ngayon ko lang siya maite-text.

Me: Where are you? This is Luisa.

Hindi agad nagreply si Caius. Kinagat-kagat ko na lang ang plastic cup ng iced coffee.

Caius: Just do your s**t and f*****g leave me alone.

I bit my lower lip and started typing.

Me: Iniwan ko ang lunch mo sa table mo. Eat it if you have time. Huwag ka rin masyado magpagod.

I bit my nail. Masyado bang OA ang text ko? Hindi naman kasi ako pala-text. Wala naman ibang nagte-text sa akin maliban kay Neron. Matipid lang akong mag-reply sa iba, kaya feeling ko over na itong reply ko kay Caius.

Napatalon ako nang magreply si Caius.

Caius: You're acting like a wife now, huh. Being weird and creepy suits you better. f**k off.

I sighed and tucked my hair behind my ear. The man sitting beside me glanced at me. My forehead creased when I saw him blushed when I glanced at him too. What the f**k is wrong with him?

I just shook my head and took my bag. Lumabas na ako ng convenience store. Akmang magte-text ulit ako kay Caius pero natigilan ako nang mapatingin sa restaurant na malapit lang din dito sa campus. Nanliit ang mga mata ko at napatingin sa lalaking nakaupo, may kasamang babae... Si Lynne.

Pakiramdam ko nag-akyatan ang dugo sa ulo ko nang makitang kumakain silang dalawa. Pangiti ngiti pa ang Lynne na 'yon kay Caius!

Anger and jealousy took over me. Tila kusang kumilos ang mga paa ko at pinuntahan sila roon. Hindi ko nakontrol ang sarili ko. Narinig ko na lang na napasinghap ang mga tao nang hilahin ko ang buhok ni Lynne at itinulak siya sa sahig, dahilan para matumba siya at sumubsob doon.