Beige Del Rio: Paid To Be A Mistress (R-18)

Chapter 4

Archer Lachlan Alejandro

“Mom, I’m okay,” pangungumbinse ko sa mother kong si Alena.

She just flew back to the Philippines three days ago from here in London. Binisita niya ako without my dad because he was busy running AA Group.

Dad named our company after mom’s initials, Alena Alejandro.

“Anak, are you sure? I’ll talk to your dad na bumisita kami ulit.” Mom said apologetically.

I’ll do anything for my mom. She’s been very supportive of me since the day I was born. On the other hand, baligtad naman sila ni dad. Grandpa says I was the second version of dad noong panahon niya.

Kinwento ni grandpa Menandro kung gaano ka-pilyo at katigas ang ulo ni dad when he was my age. Kung hindi dahil kay mom, hindi magbabago si dad. And I’m sick of his story.

Bakit niya ginagawa sa akin ang ginawa sa kanya ni grandpa noon? Hindi ba dapat ay huwag na niyang ulitin?

“It’s okay, mom. I don’t want to talk about dad.” Wala sa mood kong sabi. “I’ll hang up now, nandito na si Margo. Love you.” Hindi na natapos ang sinabi ni mom at pinatay ko na ang call.

“Hey, love,” tawag nito sa akin nang pumasok siya sa unit ko. Margo has her own key.

Nagpunta dito si mom to visit me and to buy me a small unit. Nahihiya na kasi ako kay Aunt Bridgette. She’s so good to me as well as my cousins, Simon and Straya, and her husband, Lincoln.

Hindi alam ni mom na nagpagawa ako ng duplicate key para sa girlfriend ko. She doesn’t know about Margo.

My mom is my bestfriend, my everything, pero nagawa kong maglihim sa kanya. I have reasons. Soon, malalaman rin naman nila.

“Hi, honey,” bati ko rin sa kanya. I was only wearing boxer shorts habang nagluluto ng bacon, scrambled egg, and sausage.

Niyakap ako ni Margo sa likuran ko at napangiti ako.

“You are known for being a player and yet nahulog ka sa akin,” ani Margo.

Hininaan ko ang stove sa minimum at humarap sa girlfriend ko. Hinawakan ko siya sa bewang at hinalikan siya sa labi ng mariin hanggang sa uminit ang pakiramdam naming dalawa. Huhubarin ko na sana ang strap ng blue dress niya nang pigilan niya ang kamay ko.

“What’s the matter, babe?” Kunot noo kong tanong.

Humiwalay siya sa akin at inayos ang sarili. Tinitigan kong mabuti ang kabuuan ni Margo. I still can’t believe that I will fall in love to a woman like Margo. Her aura is like Kate Middleton’s. Simple and with class, not to mention, smart.

Kinikwento noon sa akin ni grandpa na nagkaroon ng girlfriend noon si dad bago si mom pero hindi sila nagkatuluyan. Dinetalye ni grandpa sa akin ang babae na yon because I asked him. I looked for a woman like my dad’s ex.

Then, I found Margo.

We’ve been together for over a year now.

“Nothing,” sagot ni Margo. Humarap siya sa akin. “How’s the AA Group? Your dad must be doing well running it,” aniya.

I gave her a flat look.

“You’ve been asking me that same question these passed few weeks, Margo. I don’t want to talk about it.” Umupo ako sa high chair sa mini bar counter ko. Nilapitan ako ni Margo at hinimas ang likod ko.

“I’m sorry, babe. Nag-aalala lang ako sayo. You are going to inherit your shares soon at ayaw mong gampanan ang posisyon mo. Aren’t you scared that your siblings will get higher percentage than you dahil ayaw mo?” She asked.

“I don’t know. Ayoko pang isipin,” wala sa mood kong sabit.

I love Cc and Makki pero kapag si dad na ang involve, biglang nagbabago ang pakiramdam ko towards them. This is all dad’s fault.

Masisisi niya ba ako kung naging malamig ang pakikitungo ko sa kanya? It was all his fault.

Niyakap ako sa gilid ni Margo.

“What about our future? Don’t you wanna secure it? What about our future kids?” Margo asked. Napahawak ako sa sentido ko.

“Margo, please. Let’s not go there.”

Lumayo si Margo sa akin. Kinuha niya ang maliit niyang bag sa sofa at lumakad palapit sa pinto. She held the doorknob and looked at me.

“We’re both adults here, Archer. I want to be married and have kids soon, but you’re being immature. Mag-usap na lang tayo kapag may plano ka na,” nagdaramdam na sabi ni Margo and then she left.

“Argh!” Hinagis ko ang sandok na ipinatong ko sa bar counter dahil sa frustration. Napasabunot ako sa buhok ko dahil baka iwan ako ni Margo.

Si Margo ang dahilan kung bakit umayos ako. Siya ang nagpatino sa akin. I became well behaved and stopped screwing around. She supported me when I was feeling low and unappreciated kay dad.

I met her at a well known bar dito sa London with our mutual friends. She’s so beautiful and classy, a well-mannered woman.

Kabaligtaran ko. I guess opposites do really attract each other.

Naisipan kong lumabas ng unit ko dahil nawalan ako ng ganang kainin ang mga niluto ko para sa amin ni Margo.

Winter is here.

I decided to take a bus and walk on the sidewalk for the first time. I don’t like walking at kahit malapit na ang pinupuntahan ko ay ginagamit ko pa rin ang sports car ko.

And dad doesn’t know that mom bought me a sports car here dahil alam niyang magagalit siya.

Kakaisip ko ay hindi ko alam kung paano ako napadpad sa tapat ng isang café.

It’s called Kafféine.

My stomach growled. Okay, I feel hungry now.

I decided to enter the café. I haven’t seen this one before. Marahil ay madalang lamang akong mapadpad dito.

Nagpunta ako sa harapan ng cashier to buy a long black coffee nang mapatigil ako at mapatitig sa babaeng nasa harapan ko.

“Hi, what can I get for you?” Nakangiti niyang sabi.

She’s wearing an apron just like the Starbucks staff. She may be wearing uniform, but I have to say that her beauty is alluring the hell out of me.

“Are you gonna order or stare at me?” Hindi na ito nakangiti sa akin ngayon.

Damn, girl. Calm down.

Napangiti ako bigla at napakunot naman ang noo niya.

She’s feisty too.

Hindi ko alam pero nakaramdam ako ng thrill sa kanya. I stared at her with a smile almost a smirk on my face.

And I got more excited when she stared back at me as if she’s throwing daggers at me.

This girl is a challenge.