Ruthless [Heartthrob Billionaires Series #1]

Chapter Six

LIKE

JADE

My head was throbbing when I opened my eyes. Inilibot ko ang paningin sa silid na kinalalagyan ko. The room was as big as my room in my condo unit. Iba lang ang disenyo and everything was in a monochromatic theme. All I can see were touch of white, black and grey. The bed I slept has clean white sheets pero ang comforter ay dark grey. I noticed din right away that the wall behind the bed was black habang ang ibang wall ay white.

The bedside table was pure white and the huge carpet was in a lighter shade of grey. The curtains inside the room were black pero dahil bahagya nang nakabukas ay nakasilip na ang liwanag mula sa araw. I tried to remember what happened and kung paano ako napunta rito pero hindi ko na maalala.

Did Philip actually take me to his place? Nang tulog?

What happened after I slapped that jerk River Villafuerte? Sinulyapan ko ang wrist ko na nakabalot pa rin ng bandage. I tried to rotate it a bit pero agad napangiwi nang maramdaman ang sakit roon. So it really did worsen nang sampalin ko siya kagabi. Damn that guy.

Napabalik ako sa pagkakahiga nang maramdaman ang matinding sakit ng ulo. It felt like my head was being hammered. Para ring umiikot ang lahat sa paligid ko. Damn it. I think nilalagnat ako. Ang init ng pakiramdam ko pero nilalamig ako.

I curled on the bed habang ibinabalot sa aking sarili ang comforter. Pinagpapawisan ako ng malamig. I glanced at the inverted above me pero nakitang mahina lang naman iyon at hindi sapat ang lamig para ginawin ako ng ganito.

I suddenly remember my very low pain tolerance. Everytime na may nararamdaman akong ganitong sakit ay nilalagnat ako. I figured dahil ito sa lumalang kondisyon ng wrist ko. I could remember how painful it was last night. Siguro binigyan lang ako ng pain killer kagabi para maibsan ang sakit mula roon.

Wala talagang magandang nangyayari kapag nagpapakita ang River na yon. God, I hate him! Sana hindi na siya magpakita kahit kalian! I wish he would just leave me alone! Hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit hindi pa niya ko tinigilan after noong nangyari sa mansyon. Malinaw ko naman nang sinabi na hindi ako interesado sa kanya at malinaw ko ring sinabi na hindi niya ako makukuha. Hindi ba siya marunong umintindi?

And for Christ’s sake, his brother is my ex! Kahit na gaano ako kagalit sa kapatid niya, hindi ko naman gugustuhing gumanti gamit siya! Damn! I’m not going to stoop that low!

Alam kong pinalabas kong may namamagitan sa amin pero hindi ko naman tototohanin yon! The hell! No f*****g way!

Napamulat ako nang marinig ang marahang pagbukas ng pinto. I think someone entered the room. Dahan- dahan akong bumangon upang makita kung sino iyon. It was Philip.

“Good morning. Did I wake you?” He said. He looked so fresh in his plain white v-neck shirt and grey sweat pants.

I shook my head lightly. “Nope. I woke up before you came in.”

“How are you feeling?” Naglakad siya palapit at saka umupo sa tabi ko. Inabot niya ang noo ko at pinakiramdaman iyon. “You’re still feverish. You’re very pale, and you’re sweating a lot.”

“It’s normal for me. I get fevers when I’m in too much pain.”

Agad na napakunot ang kanyang noo. He looked so worried all of a sudden. I didn’t mean to worry him. Hindi ko naman akalaing magiging ganito ang reaksyon niya sa sasabihin ko. “Are you still in pain? Do you need more pain killers?”

I shook my head. “The pain’s more tolerable now. I don’t want to rely on pain killers too much. Baka masanay ang katawan ko.”

He nodded. “But you’ll need to drink some fever medicine.”

“Okay.”  I answered meekly.

“But you need to eat first. You can’t take medicine with an empty stomach.” Lumabas siya ng silid. Bumangon ako at sumandal na lang sa malambot na headboard ng kama. Philip went back with a bed table in hand. “Sorry this is just asparagus soup. I figured you’d like a light meal in the morning. I’ll cook a proper meal for us later.”

I smiled at him. “I'm fine with soup. Hindi naman ako masyadong gutom. I doubt I can eat so much today. I usually just eat bread and noodles kapag may sakit ako.” Nagbago ang itsura niya sa sinabi ko. I just smiled sheepishly. Sinabi ko lang nakakahiya naman kasi parang feeling niya obligado siyang ipagluto ako dahil nasa poder niya ako. “Have you eaten your breakfast?”

He nodded. “I ate after my morning workout.”

I got a spoonful of the soup and put it in my mouth. Napangiti ako nang matikman iyon. It was really good. I wonder if he cooked this.

“Ikaw ang nagluto?” He nodded again. He looked expectant, as if hinihintay na i-approve ko ang luto niya. I chuckled and gave him a thumbs up. “Masarap.”

“It should be. The way to a woman’s heart is through her stomach after all.”

Naubo ako dahil sa biglaan niyang banat. Damn! Buti na lang at walang laman ang bibig ko. I looked at him disbelievingly. I don’t know if this guy is hitting on me or what pero konti na lang at iisipin ko nang ganoon nga ang ginagawa niya.

I looked at him with through slit eyes. “So you’re tryna get into my heart?” I said, tryna make what he said as a joke.

“Probably…” He answered vaguely. Ngumisi pa siya.

This guy… mixed signals ba to?

I exhaled through my nose and shook my head. Hindi ko napigilan ang pagngiti. Whatever this guy is trying to do, I must say it’s working a bit.

“Ganyan ka ba pumorma sa mga girls mo?” I asked, hindi na nakatingin sa kanya. I busied myself with my food.

“Not really. I don’t really have to do that, you see.” I could hear the hint of arrogance in his tone. Bahagya akong natawa roon. Although medyo nagyayabang siya, for some reason hindi iyon nakakainis. This guy really knows na gwapo siya at hindi niya kailangan pumorma dahil babae ang kusang lalapit sa kanya.

So that probably answers the question. Hindi nga siya pumoporma. Ano bang kaibahan ko sa ibang babae right?

“But I’m trying to get someone’s attention right now.” Hindi ko napigilan ang pagbaling sa kanya, at nang makita kong titig na titig siya sa akin habang nagpipigil ng ngiti ay nakagat ko na lang ang ibabang labi ko. I chuckled lightly. f*****g smooth, Karpov. “And I’m starting to think that I’m successfully doing so.”

RIVER

“The problem is not with the girl, obviously. The problem is with you, man.”

“I agree with Sky. Ikaw ang may problema, River.”

I glared at the two as I drank my shot. If only I could throw the glass at the both of them, I would. Hindi ko sila pinapunta rito para marinig ang mga yan mula sa kanila. I f*****g needed friends to agree with me, hindi kontrahin ako at sabihing ako ang problema. Damn it.

“Kabe-break lang nila ng boyfriend niya, siyempre nasasaktan pa yon. Tapos kapatid mo pa nanggago, natural aayawan ka non.” Patuya pang saad ni Sky. “And you’re not exactly the gentle type. I bet may nagawa ka nang nakapagpa- turn off don kaya mas lalong ayaw sayo.”

Fuck it.

“I just told you she went home with Philip Karpov. How do you explain that?”

“That’s a blatant rejection, man.” Sky answered. “She’s clearly telling you she’ll get on with any man but you.”

“You f*****g shut up, Sky.”  I was starting to get more pissed. Hindi nakakatulong ang mga isinasagot niya. You f*****g wait. May araw ka din saken. Tangina, mas malupit ganti ko sayo.

“Why are you so damn interested with her anyway? That’s so unlike you, River.” Shin raised a brow at me. I’m not f*****g answering that. Hindi na nila kailangan pang malaman. “You can always get another girl if you want. I don’t understand bakit ex pa ng kapatid mo ang hinahabol mo.”

“Nacha- challenge siguro.” Patuyang saad ni Sky.

“I highly doubt it.” Tila siguradong sabi pa ni Shin.

Nag-iwas na lamang ako ng tingin bago ibinalik ang tingin sa aking baso. I poured another shot and pinanuod ang pagkapuno niyon.

My jaw clenched when I remembered what happened at the hospital last night. f**k. She f*****g passed out after she slapped me. The pain from her broken wrist was too much that it made her pass out. I couldn’t do anything lalo na nang dumating ang mga nurse at doctor to take care of her. I was also f*****g speechless nang tanungin ng Philip Karpov na iyon tungkol sa nangyari.

I wanted to stop him from taking her with him but in the end wala akong nagawa. Dahil sa nangyari ay mas naging decided ang gagong iyon na tangayin siya. f**k! He also got the nerve to tell me to f*****g back off! I would’ve punched him!

“I don’t know what you’re planning, River. Pero kung hindi ka seryoso, wag mo nang ituloy.” Shin said in a more serious tone this time. I turned my attention to him. “That woman has suffered enough heartbreak from your brother, don’t add to it.”

“Right.” Sky seconded. “Just go f**k another p***y, man.”

I almost punched Sky. “Shut the f**k up.”

Nagtaas lang ng kamay si Sky bilang pagsuko. “Chill. Masyado kang high blood. Kung hindi lang kita kilala, iisipin kong in love ka na sa ex ng kapatid mo.”

Parehong bumaling ang dalawa sa akin matapos sabihin iyon ni Sky. They looked at me inquiringly. I rolled my eyes and gave them a middle finger. f**k love. Wala nang ganon sa panahon ngayon. Everything’s just about s*x now. Hot and wild s*x.

Your heart doesn’t f*****g throb when you f**k. Iba ang titibok sayo, and I’m willing to bet with anyone that it feels a whole lot better.

“I don’t do love. You know that.”

“Then it should be easy for you to find someone else.” Shin said.

“I’ve already set my eyes on her.”

Humagalpak sa tawa si Sky. “f*****g whipped!”

“The way I see it, your brother’s ex isn’t the type of girl to commit to a s*x only relationship. A girl like that would want a real relationship.” I know that. That’s why I need to be more convincing. I’ll have to level up my advances.

I can feel it. I can see it whenever we’re in the same room. She’s f*****g attracted and she doesn’t even know it. I can f*****g read her body language. She pushes me away but that’s just her defense mechanism. I can see the effect I have on her. I need to use it to my advantage. Be more f*****g aggressive that she’ll have no strength to deny me.

“Imagine staying a virgin while you’re in a five years long relationship.” Sky chuckled. “Ang hina ng kapatid mo!”

I smirked. Napailing naman si Shin. “That’s because you two are walking d***s. Lalo ka na.” He said, referring to Sky.

“At ikaw hindi?” Ani Sky.

I finally found a way to get back. “Changed man na daw siya. Bagong buhay para sa baby niya.”

“Yon ang totoong baby!” Pang-aasar pa ni Sky.

“You both f*****g shut up.” Pikon nang saad ni Shin.

There’s only one way to get to his nerves. And that’s his f*****g unrequited love.

I am not that harsh though. I don’t tease him much about it dahil sensitive topic yon. Medyo asar lang ako sa kanya dahil lahat ng sinasabi niya may sense, at hindi ko matanggap yon.

“Wag mong gagalawin yon, Shin. Diretso kulong ka sigurado.”

Hindi na ako nakisali sa pang-aasar ni Sky dahil kita kong nagsisimula nang mapikon si Sky. Nakaganti na ako kaya sapat na yon. Baka masuntok ako nito kapag nagsalita pa ko. Sky is a bit tactless though. Malakas mang-asar, masyadong madaldal para sa isang lalaki. Palibhasa easy go lucky at walang tulad naming pinoproblema.

One day this guy will have it the same and I will laugh at him. Let’s see kung makatawa pa siya.

JADE

“Hindi ka ba papasok sa trabaho? I know you’re a busy man and I don’t want to keep you from it dahil lang you’re worried about leaving me here alone. I’m okay now. My fever’s almost gone.”

Narito pa rin ako sa room na tinulugan ko sa condo unit ni Philip. I was still in bed  pero nakaligo naman na ako kanina after naming mag-lunch kaya medyo maayos na ang pakiramdam ko. Nahirapan ako sa pagligo dahil sa injuries ko pero I was just relieved to finally have my bath. Bukod sa I felt cleaner and fresher, nawala ring bahagya ang lagnat ko. I guess I was able to release some heat by taking a bath.

Nakaupo lamang si Philip sa couch habang nasa lap niya ang kanyang macbook. He was reading something there. Hindi ko alam kung ano yon pero mukhang importante dahil seryosong-seryoso siya. Probably something related to work?

“I’m already working…” Tipid niyang sagot sa napakahabang sinabi ko.

Napabuntong hininga na lang ako saka nag-decide na manahimik. Baka ayaw niya ng maingay while he’s working so I figured I should just shut up. Nakaabala na nga ako sa kanya kaya hindi siya pumasok ngayon sa trabaho tapos manggugulo pa ako.

Isinandal ko ang ulo ko sa headboard at tumitig na lang sa maliit na chandelier sa kisame.

“Why are you so quiet?”

Naibalik ko ang atensyon kay Philip nang bigla siyang magsalita. Naabutan kong nakatingin siya sa akin. Tipid lang akong ngumiti. “You said you’re working, I don’t want to disturb you with all the talking.”

“I like it better like that.” He smirked.

“Like what?” I asked, confused.

“I like it more when you’re talking. That’s why I’m here.”

Pabiro akong umirap sa kanya. “I don’t even have interesting things to say.”

“Everything about you is interesting to me.”

Shit. Pwede bang hinay-hinay sa pagbato ng mga pick up line? Hindi ako masyadong prepared. Damn.

“You always know the right words to say.” I shook my head.

He shook his head. Wala na talaga ang atensyon niya sa kanyang tinatrabaho.

“Only when it’s towards the right person.”

“Ang smooth ha.” Pabiro kong sabi, trying to ease the awkwardness I am feeling.

He grinned. “I hope I can smoothly get into that heart though.”

Gosh! Ang hirap magpigil ng kilig kapag kausap ang isang to! Ang lakas niyang magpakilig! As in literally everything he says, nakakakilig. Kung hindi lang ako galing sa break up baka I flirted back na. Pero I know better. It’s not good to enter a new one gayong fresh pa ang break up namin ni Quen.

“I don’t know if Jared told you about this but I just broke up with my boyfriend last week, Philip.”

He nodded, as if accepting what I said. “Is it River Villafuerte?”

My eyes widened immediately. “N- no. He’s not my ex. Actually, his brother is my ex.”

His head tilted to the right. He looked confused. “Why was he in your room last night then?”

“It’s… kinda complicated.” I answered. Hindi ko alam kung paano ipapaliwanag sa kanya ang relationship namin ni River. I can’t simply say na di kami close kahit na totoo dahil parang hindi naman iyon ang tamang definition sa relationship namin. With all his advances, I can’t just say na kapatid siya ng ex ko. Basta ang gulo. Hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit ipinapipilitan ng lalaking yon na tanggapin ko ang kung anumang ino- offer niya.

Obviously he wasn’t asking me to be his girlfriend. I’m sure as hell that guy doesn’t do girlfriends. He’s probably asking me to be his f**k buddy. Iyon ang tanging naiisip kong gusto niyang mangyari when he asked me to be his. Ano pa bang ibang dahilan? That man is the f*****g personification of s*x itself.

And puputi muna ang uwak bago niya ako mapapayag sa nakakabastos niyang offer. I’m not that kind of girl for f**k’s sake! Hindi ako ganun ka-uhaw para basta na lang pumayag na maging f**k buddy niya. Kaya ko pang magtiis at i-pleasure ang sarili ko mag-isa. I don’t f*****g need him.

“He likes you too huh?” I looked at Philip when he asked that.

Then I realized just what he said exactly. Too? So he’s finally admitting? s**t.

“Y- you like me?” I asked.

“I thought I already made it obvious with my smooth lines and asparagus soup.” s**t. So totoo nga? Yes, I knew he was kinda hitting on me pero hindi ko naman sigurado kung sineseryoso niya. And isn’t it too fast? We literally just met yesterday.

“That fast?” I asked again. Napalunok na ako sa kaba. Hindi ko to napaghandaan.

He smiled sheepishly. “You’re not exactly hard to like.”

Fuck.