CHAPTER 10
1749 Words
IRIS chuckled when she saw Rose putting her things inside her bag in a hurry. Tinignan niya ang suot na wristwatch. “Bakit ka nagmamadali? Maaga pa naman.” Sabi niya sa kaibigan.
Nginitian ni Rose ang kaibigan. “My boyfriend is waiting. Of course, my date kaming dalawa.” Then she flipped her hair.
Napailing na lamang si Iris saka hinayaan ang kaibigan.
“Una na ako. Bye-bye.” Rose waved her hand and left in a hurry.
Natawa na lamang ng mahina si Iris saka inayos na rin ang gamit. Iba talaga kapag in love ang isang tao.
“Miss Iris, I’m leaving first.” Paalam ni Austin at isinukbit ang backpack nito sa balikat.
Ngumiti si Iris saka tumango. “Be careful on your way.”
Austin nodded and left.
“Now, I am the only one left.” Sabi ni Iris sa sarili. Inayos niya ang kaniyang lamesa at nagwalis siya saglit sa lab bago siya umalis.
“Iris!”
Mabilis na napatingin si Iris sa pinanggalingan ng boses na tumawag sa kaniya. Nagulat siya nang makita si Joseph na nasa gilid habang nakatayo ito sa harapan ng kotse nito. Kumaway ito sa kaniya. Napansin naman niya ang ilang estudyante na parang kinikilig habang nakatingin ang mga ito kay Joseph. Hindi naman niya masisisi ang mga ito dahil sino ba namang hindi mapapatingin sa angking kagwapuhan ng binata.
Iris walked towards Joseph. “You’re here again?”
Joseph smiled. “Of course, I’m here to pick you up.”
Kumunot ang nuo ni Iris. “Why?”
Ngumiti si Joseph. “What why? Hindi ba dapat sunduin kita kasi hinatid kita kaninang umaga.”
Umiling si Iris. “Hindi na kailangan.” Sabi niya. Pasimple siyang napahawak sa tapat ng kaniyang puso dahil mabilis ang t***k nito. Hindi niya alam kung kinakabahan ba siya o ano. Napahawak siya sa strap ng bag niya.
“I have told you. I will repay you for taking care of me.” Ngumiti si Joseph. “This is just a small favor compared to what you did. I might have died if you hadn't helped me that night.” Aniya.
Hindi naman alam ni Iris ang dapat niyang sabihin kaya ngumiti na lamang siya saka naglakad palapit kay Joseph.
Joseph opened the passenger’s door and let Iris inside. He gently closed the door and walked towards the driver's seat. “Kumain muna tayo bago kita ihatid sa apartment mo. I know a restaurant.”
“Okay.” Tumango si Iris. Niyakap niya ang bag na nakapatong sa kaniyang hita.
“Give me your bag to me. So, that you could be more comfortable,” Joseph said as he took the bag from Iris. “May masisira ba dito o mababasag?”
Umiling si Iris. “Wala naman.”
Tumango si Joseph saka inilagay ang bag ni Iris sa back seat. “Let’s go.”
Joseph maneuvered the car towards their destination.
“You looked free man, Mr. De Luca. Don’t you work?” hindi mapigilang maitanong ni Iris habang humaharurot ang kotse,
Joseph glanced at Iris. “I’m a businessman. And I’ve been residing in your country for almost two years now.” Lihim siyang napangiwi sa sarili niyang kasinungalingan.
Napatango si Iris. “Then why were you hurt that night? You must be doing something bad.” Aniya.
“Bad?” sambit ni Joseph. “Bakit mo naman naisip?” Though totoo naman ‘yon. He’s a bad man and he does illegal work.
Umiling si Iris saka nagkibit ng balikat. “I just remembered a movie I watched before. The male lead fought with a group of gangsters, and he was hurt.”
“Then the female lead arrived to help her?” Joseph asked.
“No.” Pag-iling ni Iris. “The female lead didn’t show up, and he died in the alley.”
“So, you helped me that night afraid that I might die?” tanong ni Joseph saka bahagyang natawa.
Ngumiti si Iris. “No. I helped you because I wanted to. It doesn’t matter if you’re a bad guy or a good guy. You needed help, so I helped you.”
“Hmm…” Sumulyap si Joseph kay Iris. You’re an innocent woman who hasn’t seen the cruelty of this world. And I hope you won’t see it because it doesn’t suit you. He thought.
Iris became silent for a moment until she remembered something. “Mr. De Luca, I’m curious what your business was? Don’t get me wrong. I just want to know.”
“Just Joseph.” Sabi ni Joseph.
“That would be awkward for me.” Sabi naman ni Iris. “You’re older than me.”
Umiling si Joseph. “I insist. Just call me by my name. Ang pormal masyado kapag Mr. De Luca ang tawag mo sa akin.” Aniya.
Tipid lang na ngumiti si Iris saka tumango. “Okay. Then can you tell me about what was your business? I’m curious.”
Binilisan ngunit maingat pa rin ang naging pagmamaneho ni Joseph. “My family owns a tech company where we developed modern technologies.” Aniya. The tech company he mentioned is one of Auclair’s businesses. “And a shipping line company that runs throughout the whole world." And that business belonged to the De Luca. One of the legal businesses that De Lucan owned, and he inherited from his father.
“Your family is rich.” Komento naman ni Iris.
Ngumiti lang si Joseph. Indeed. However, some of the business he was handling was illegal. And while looking at Iris, he suddenly felt guilty.
Joseph sighed and slowed down the car. Ipinarada niya ito sa parking lot ng restaurant. “We’re here.”
Tumingin naman si Iris sa labas saka tinanggal ang suot na seatbelt.
Sabay na bumaba si Iris at Joseph mula sa kotse. Pumasok sila sa restaurant. It’s a small restaurant and Iris loves the ambiance inside. Ngumiti siya saka umupo nang ipaghugot siya ni Joseph ng upuan.
“Thanks.”
Ngumiti lang si Joseph saka umupo sa tapat ng dalaga. Lumapit naman sa kanila ang may-ari ng restaurant at nagbigay ng menu. Inilapit niya ang menu sa dalaga upang ito ang paunahin niyang mag-order.
Iris politely declined. “You should do the ordering. I’m not familiar here.”
Natawa ng mahina si Joseph. “I’m not that familiar here either. This is only my second time here. Their food was great.”
“If the food was great, then that’s good.” Sabi naman ni Iris.
“So, three meat dishes and two vegetable dishes. And one chicken soup.” Wika ni Joseph habang nakatingin kay Iris.
“Ang dami naman. Two meat dishes and one vegetable dish are enough.”
Tumango si Joseph saka tumingin sa menu. “Okay. Beverage or tea?”
“Ahmm, beverage.”
“Coffee? Hot chocolate? Iced tea? Milk? Soft drink?” tanong ni Joseph.
“Ahmm, any kind, but not too sweet.”
Tumango si Joseph. “Okay. Wait a second.” Tumayo siya dala ang menu saka lumapit sa boss ng restaurant.
Huminga naman ng malalim si Iris saka tipid na ngumiti. Pagbalik ni Joseph, may dala itong dalawang baso ng tubig.
“Let’s wait for our order.”
Iris nodded and smiled.
Uminom ng tubig si Joseph. “I noticed that you liked to smile. You’re beautiful.”
Umiling si Iris. “When I’m in a bad mood, I don’t smile.” Aniya.
“Oh?”
“That’s true.” Sabi ni Iris saka inilabas ang cellphone nang tumunog nito. No one’s calling. It’s just her notification. Inilabas niya ang cellphone saka tinignan kung ano notification niya. It’s just her monthly bill.
Fortunately, she had savings. Hindi niya problema ang mga gagastusin niya.
Pagkatapos ng mahigit tatlumpung minuto, dumating rin ang order nila. Nagsimula na silang kumain at habang kumakain sila, nag-uusap sila tungkol sa mga bagay-bagay.
“So, you work as a Research Specialist?” Manghang tanong ni Joseph.
Nilunok muna ni Iris ang pagkaing nginunguya bago sumagot. “Yes. I’m working while studying for my Master’s degree. Nakuha ako sa scholarship, so, I grabbed the opportunity.”
“You’re excellent.” Puri ni Joseph.
Nahihiyang ngumiti si Iris. “It’s not that I’m excellent. I only work hard.”
“Being excellent comes from hard work, Iris. You’re too humble. Be proud of yourself.” Wika ni Joseph.
Tumango si Iris saka nagpatuloy sa pagkain.
When they finished eating, Joseph paid the bill and they left the restaurant.
“Get in. Ihahatid na kita sa apartment mo.”
“Okay. Thank you.”
Pagkahatid ni Joseph kay Iris, umuwi na siya at sinalubong siya ni Andrew at Austin. They bowed their heads as they greeted him. “Milord.”
“How’s your first day of work, Austin?” Joseph asked as he sat on the long sofa.
“Ahmm, boring?” patanong na sagot ni Austin.
“Boring?”
Tumango si Austin. “My work was to make and process the papers. Tomorrow, Miss Iris will explain to me about the project we are currently doing. Milord, there’s no killing. I couldn’t use my sword, so it was boring.”
Mahinang napabuntong hininga si Joseph. “Austin, don’t always think of killing, okay? Have fun while you are there.”
Umiling si Austin. “I can’t have fun, Milord. You ordered me to protect Miss Iris and I will protect her.”
Joseph looked at Andrew. Nag-iwas naman ng tingin si Andrew. There’s no way he can change his twin brother’s mind. Kung ano ang nasa isip nito ay ‘yon na ‘yon, hindi na nito babaguhin. It’s useless to explain.
“It’s up to you.” Sabi na lamang ni Joseph.
“By the way, Milord, your package has arrived.” Saad ni Andrew saka sandaling umalis.
Pagbalik nito ay may hawak itong itim na box. Maingat nitong inilapag ‘yon sa centertable.
Kinuha naman ni Joseph ang itim na box saka binuksan. Tumambad sa kaniya ang isang bracelet na pinagawa niya. It’s a silver cuff customized bracelet. Iris’s name was engraved on it. Kinuha niya ito mula sa box saka tinignan ng maigi. He smiled when he saw the small button beside Iris's name. The button is not obvious because it’s the same color as the bracelet.
How should I give this to her? Joseph asked himself. I couldn’t give this to her without any reason, right?
- Writer
