CHAPTER 11
1842 Words
LUCAS’S POV.
“Good evening, Sir Lucas!” bati sa akin ng katulong ko.
I gave a simple nod in response and walked straight toward my room.
“Sir Lucas, nandiyan po pala si Sir Peter.”
I frowned. “What does he want?”
Nagkibit-balikat siya. “Wala pong sinabi kung anong kailangan niya. Nasa visitor’s room siya ngayon.”
I nodded. “Bring us some wine.”
“Okay, sir.”
I went to my room first to change clothes. When I came out, Peter greeted me.
“Lucas, I’ve been waiting for you,” Peter said.
I grabbed the wine bottle and poured a glass before handing it to Peter.
“I had something important to take care of earlier.”
He grinned mischievously. “Halley’s really important to you, huh?”
I frowned. “How did you know?”
He shrugged. “I went to your office. Your secretary said you went to see Halley.”
“Tsk! I told them not to say where I was going,” I muttered.
“So, do you have good news?”
I nodded. “Yeah, she had no choice but to agree with what I wanted.”
“You really did everything to get her.”
I glanced at him. “Just make sure you didn’t mention my name to her landlady.”
Inutusan ko si Peter na kausapin ang landlady nina Halley para paalisin sila sa inuupahan. Kapalit nito, babayaran ko siya ng fifty thousand.
“Don’t worry, I didn’t mention your name.”
“Good.”
“So, kailan ka makakatikim ng luto ng Diyos?” biro niya.
“This weekend, for sure.”
Tumawa si Peter. “Good luck, baka s**o na ang lumabas.”
“Ulol!”
He just laughed at me, and we continued chatting while drinking wine.
I lay down on the bed to sleep when my phone rang.
“It’s Halley.” I answered her call.
“Lucas, puwede ba tayong mag-usap?”
“We’re already talking.” “Sungit mo naman.”
“What’s the reason you called?”
Bumuntong-hininga siya. “Kanina kasi, kinausap si Nanay ng landlady namin. Kailangan na raw naming umalis sa Sabado sa bahay. Gusto ko sanang makita ang bahay na binili mo para sa akin?”
“Sure, when do you want to see it?”
“Bukas sana kung hindi ka busy.”
“Okay, see you tomorrow.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Good night,” sabay putol niya ng tawag.
“Alam kong tatawag ka sa akin,” sabi ko pagkatapos naming mag-usap.
The next morning, I woke up early to go jogging before meeting Halley.
“Hi, Lucas!”
Lumingon ako upang tingnan kung sino ang tumawag sa akin. “Oh, hello, Loisa!” I replied.
Si Loisa ay isa sa mga kapitbahay ko. Business owner siya ng isang lending company at may resort din sa Batangas.
Sinabayan niya ako sa pagtakbo. “First time I’ve seen you out for a jog.”
“I jog every day, but I started earlier today because I have something important to do later.”
Ngumiti siya. “Ang swerte ko pala dahil nakasabay kita ngayon.”
Tipid akong ngumiti.
“How’s your love life?” tanong niya.
“Good. I’m getting married.”
Nakita kong sumimangot siya. “Nahuli pala ako. Who’s the lucky girl you’re marrying? I don’t see you bringing any woman to your house.”
“I don’t need to show anyone who I’m marrying.”
“Do I know your future wife?”
“You don’t know her.”
“Alright, how about we grab some coffee after jogging?”
“Sorry, pero may importante akong gagawin, maybe some other time.”
"Okay.”
“Mauna na ako sa'yo.” Tumakbo ako nang mabilis para hindi niya ako maabutan. Kung sasabay siya sa akin, baka matagalan pa ako.
Dalawang oras akong nag-exercise, pagkatapos ay naligo at pinuntahan si Halley. Nasa biyahe pa lang ako nang tumawag siya.
“Lucas, sa ospital mo ako sunduin.”
“What happened?”
“Wala naman, doon mo lang ako sunduin.”
I sighed. “Which hospital?”
“Sa ospital kung saan mo dinala si Tatay.”
“Okay, see you later.”
“Sige, hintayin kita.”
Pagdating ko sa ospital, nakita ko si Halley sa tapat ng information desk, nakaupo. Lumapit ako sa kanya.
“Why are you here?”
Tumayo siya. “Maraming CCTV dito. Kapag may nangyari sa akin, alam nila na ikaw ang huling kasama ko.”
I frowned. “You still don’t trust me?”
“Gusto ko lang makasigurado.”
“Okay, let’s go!” She didn’t complain when I held her hand.
Tahimik si Halley habang binabaybay namin ang daan patungo sa bahay na bibilhin ko para sa kanya.
“Bakit ang tahimik mo?”
“Wala naman.”
“Are you still thinking I’m going to do something bad to you?”
Umiling siya. “Wala akong iniisip.”
“Oo nga pala, wala kang isip.”
Tiningnan niya ako nang masama. “May libro nga ako eh.”
I paid a lot to have your book edited. It’s too boring to read.”
“Binasa mo ang story ko?”
I nodded. “Just two pages, and I didn’t bother reading more. It’s probably the worst book I’ve ever read.”
“Ay, grabe siya!”
“If you’re going to write a story, think about your audience. The readers should learn something by the end.”
“May nakuha naman silang aral sa kuwento ko.”
“Oo, pero walang mag-asawa na hanggang kiss lang sa pisngi ang ginagawa.”
“Virgin kasi ang babae.”
“Like you?”
Tumango siya. “Hindi ko kayang gumawa ng bedscene.”
“Don’t worry, once we do it, you’ll learn how to write a bed scene.
I saw her cheeks turn red.
“Change topic na tayo.”
"Okay," tugon ko.
“We're here!” I said as my car stopped in front of the house I bought.
Sumilip siya sa bintana. “Saan dito ang bahay na binili mo para sa akin?”
“Lumabas na tayo at ituturo ko sa’yo.”
We got out of the car.
“Ang gaganda ng mga bahay dito! Wala akong makitang maliit na bahay. Sigurado ka bang dito ka bumili?”
I smiled. “This house in front of us is your new home.
Nanlaki ang mga mata niya. “Totoo ba?”
“Yes. Let’s go inside.”
I took the gate key, and we entered. In the backyard, there was a garden with plants and an outdoor seating area. There were also chairs for relaxation or family gatherings. The garage could fit two cars and a motorcycle. There was also an outdoor kitchen for BBQ and family events, connected to the kitchen.
“Ang ganda! Parang mayaman ang titira dito.”
Ngumiti ako. “Pumasok tayo sa loob.”
Kitang-kita ko sa mukha niya ang tuwa habang pinagmamasdan ang buong bahay.
“There are four rooms. One is downstairs, and three are on the second floor. The two rooms upstairs have balconies. This is the living area,” I said, pointing to it.
“Ang lawak ng sala. Mas magiging malawak pa ‘yan tingnan kapag tinanggal na ang mga gamit dito.”
“All the furniture inside your house is yours.”
“Pati itong malaking TV, sofa, at mga aircon?”
I nodded. “All the furniture here is new and branded.”
Nagulat ako nang bigla niya akong niyakap. “Lucas, thank you!”
I looked at her. “Are you crying?”
Pinunasan niya ang luha niya. “Hindi ko akalain na magkakaroon ako ng ganito kagandang bahay at mga gamit. Ang pangarap ko lang ay magkaroon kami ng sariling bahay, kahit maliit lang, basta hindi kami mangungupahan. Sobra-sobra ang binigay mo sa akin. Lahat ng mga gamit dito ay pangarap ko rin.”
“We're just in the living room. There’s still a lot you haven’t seen in the whole house.”
“Para akong nananaginip.”
“Let’s go!”
Pinisil ko ang kamay niya dahil naramdaman kong malamig ito. Pumunta kami sa kusina kung saan kumpleto ang mga gamit at higit sa lahat, puno ang laman ng refrigerator at pantry area.
“Siguradong iiyak sa tuwa ang pamilya ko.”
Pinuntahan namin ang mga kuwarto sa taas, at lahat iyon ay nagustuhan ni Halley. Ang sarap niyang sorpresahin dahil talagang kita mong nagustuhan niya ang binili ko para sa kanya.
“This is the master bedroom. This is where we’ll sleep when we visit them.”
The master bedroom was a spacious room with a king-sized bed, large windows, and a private balcony. It had a walk-in closet and an en suite bathroom with a bathtub, rain shower, and dual sinks. The finishes were modern, like marble or tiles with natural tones.
We lay down on the bed.
“Ang ganda. Itong kuwarto na ito, kasing laki na ng inuupahan naming bahay ngayon.”
“When do you want to move in?”
“Sa Sabado ng madaling araw.”
“Mga damit na lang ang dalhin niyo para hindi kayo mahirapan.”
Tumango siya. “Ang problema, malayo ito sa school ni Harry.”
“Don’t worry; I’ll ask my driver to pick up and drop off your brother until his classes finish this year. Next school year, you can just enroll him in a nearby school.”
Tumingin siya sa akin. “Thank you.” Dahan-dahan niyang nilapit ang mukha niya at hinalikan ako sa labi.
I closed my eyes and responded to her kiss, but I was surprised because she didn’t know how to kiss. I paused. “You still don’t know how to kiss?”
Namumula ang mukha niyang tumango. “Ikaw pa lang ang naka-first kiss sa akin.”
I smiled. “Okay, I’ll teach you how to kiss.”
“Paano?”
“Just follow what I do and enjoy it.”
“Okay.”
I held her chin and kissed her. My body warmed up when she kissed me back. Although she wasn’t used to it yet, I felt the sweetness of her kiss. Gradually, I began to feel desire for her. My hand crept inside her shirt as I searched for her bra. Halley didn’t resist when I took off her bra. When I lifted her shirt to kiss her chest, she suddenly pushed me away and stood up.
“S-sorry! P-puwede bang kapag kasal na tayo ko ibigay ang sarili ko?”
Nakaramdam ako ng inis sa ginawa niya, pero pinagbigyan ko siya.
“Okay, I’ll let you off this time, but next time you can’t refuse.”
Iniisip ko pa lang ang gagawin ko ay nag-iinit na ang katawan ko. Hindi na ako makapaghintay na makasama siya.
“Oo, pangako.”
I stood up. “I’ll order our food,” I said.
- Writer
