4

Auxerre Kailani Vixen

"He said that?" Cai asked me while raising his eyebrow at me. Why is he looking at me like that?! Bakit parang kasalanan ko pa, ako ba ang nagsabi?!

"Yes! I just wanted coffee!" I yelled before plopping myself on the chair in front of his table. I massaged the temple of my head when I got flashbacks about what happened between us that night. Stop thinking about it, Auxerre!

"Yan ang napapala kapag kung ano ano ginagawa." Cai scoffed while shaking his head.

"You're so bitter as if naman hindi ka nakipag make out with some random girl that night. Shut up ka nga, Cairo." I annoyingly said before flipping my hair.

"Oh, ba't nadamay ako? Ngayon sa'kin mo ilalabas inis mo d'yan sa Hubert na 'yan. Malakas ba tama mo?" He asked me before leaning on his back. I glared at him for at least 5 seconds before rolling my eyes.

"Epal ka kasi." I murmured under my breath. "Just give me the files so I can leave?" I reminded him and I heard him type something before handing me the folder.

"He's clean. Malinis 'yung business ng pamilya nya and they're also one of the richest, but they're good people. Akala ko may dirty background sila pero mukhang wala naman. But it's still not safe to say na hindi s'ya spy kaya mag-iingat ka padin."

I nodded my head while listening to him and at the same time I'm reading the files he sent me. They're old money rich, huh? Sabi na familiar ang last name n'ya eh.

"My dad will kill me if he finds out that someone like Haz got involved with my mess," I stated before closing the folder. Cai nodded his head in agreement.

"Not unless you won't tell him, tama?" He raised his brow while asking me.  "I won't snitch on you, that's for sure. Kaya tumahimik ka nalang din para wala nang masabi si tito."

"Yeah, I know. Anyways, thanks for this. I appreciate it." That's the last thing I said before leaving and driving to my office.

Why did a good guy like him got involved with someone like me? Habulin ka ba ng gulo, Hubert?

I shook my head when I realized that I'm thinking about him. Stop it, Auxerre. Dapat wala akong pakielam in the first place.

I quickly went back to work the moment I reached my office. Ayokong mabubgangaan nanaman ni daddy. I've had enough already. I just want peace and quiet. 'Yung walang gulo, walang nag-tatangka sa buhay ko, walang taong napapahamak dahil sa kagagawan ng pamilya ko. But I know that's impossible.

"Auxerre." My dad coldly called my name. I didn't bother standing up or giving him a kiss on the cheek. We're not that type of father and daughter duo. "Naayos mo na ba?" He asked me in his usual threatening tone. I nodded and proceeded to finish the documents regarding the company.

"Sino 'yung nasaktan? What's the full name?" He asked me and took out his phone. I know what he'll do. Isesend n'ya 'yung pangalan sa mga tauhan n'yang sunud sunuran sa kan'ya tapos iimbestigahan nila 'yung tao, at sa oras na malaman nilang normal na tao 'yung nadamay, ipapapatay n'ya. It's a never ending cycle and it's making me sick to the bones.

"Auxerre!" He suddenly yelled, making me flinch. "Whats...The...Name?" He repeated himself. He's getting annoyed now. Come on, Auxerre just tell him the name!

But there's a part of me na ayaw umamin. I don't want Hubert to get involved in my mess. He saved my life even if it's not his job to begin with. Tapos ang isusukli ko ay ipapahamak ko lang s'ya lalo?

"I didn't bother knowing the name. Pinaasikaso ko na agad kay Cai. The work's already done, dad. Wala ka na dapat ikabahala." Pagsisinungaling ko sa kan'ya. Bahala na.

I can feel my dad's stare piercing through me. Can he just leave already? Nakahinga lang ako nang maluwag nung narinig kong sumara 'yung pintuan ng office ko.

I instantly texted Cai.

To: Cai

hey, if my dad asks you abt what happened, sabihin mo u alr fixed it.

Nag-reply naman s'ya agad. Seriously? Wala bang trabaho 'to at ang bilis bilis mag-reply.

From: Cai

ok. pero wtf? why did u lie to tito?

Hindi na ako nag-reply after that. Knowing his mind, iisipin pa non na crush ko si Hubert or something like that. Napakamalisyoso kasi ng utak.

I went back to working and hours quickly passed without me noticing. It was already 8 pm when I left my office. Ang dami pading tao na nasa company, even my dad. I didn't bother to wave him goodbye, he doesn't even care anyways.

My blood instantly boiled when I saw Zeyn obviously waiting for me. I rolled my eyes and walked right past him before opening my car. Hinarang naman n'ya agad 'yung sarili n'ya sa driver's seat.

"Do you really want to get yourself killed tonight, Maclise? You're right in front of the company of your family's mortal enemy. Nag-iisip ka ba?" Naiirita kong sagot sa kan'ya. Kung mag-papakatanga s'ya sana sa ibang araw nalang. I'm stressed and I'm tired as hell.

"Masyado ka namang concerned sa'kin, darling," he boastfully said making me roll my eyes and cough out loud.

"Pwede ba? I don't like wasting my time so just get straight to the point."

"Let's have another date," he told me. I raised one eyebrow at him before laughing hysterically.

"You wish," I said before pushing him to the side and quickly going inside my car. He has the guts to ask me out on another date after what happened the last time? What the fuck is wrong with this guy?

I changed into my pajamas and made some smoothies before sitting on my bed. I'm so tired kanina sa office but now I'm feeling better. It's probably just the ambiance of the place. Nasasakal ako. At least here in my condo, I feel at peace.

I was enjoying my  "me" time when I heard a knock on the door. Chineck ko muna sa camera to see who it is and it's Hubert. What now?

I opened the door and raised my eyebrow at him while I'm holding my smoothie. I saw how his eyes traveled around my body. Para bang hinuhubaran na n'ya ako sa paraan ng pag-tingin n'ya.

"I cooked something, I figured na you should try it, neighbor." He made sure he stressed the word "neighbor" enough for me to realize.

My eyes went down to the Tupperware he was holding, and since I'm hungry at smoothie lang ang meron ako ngayon. I opened the door big enough for him to enter.

Hindi naman nakaalis sa paningin ko kung paano n'ya inobserbahan ang condo ko. What if he's checking to see if I'm with someone? Or what if he's trying to figure out his escape plan once he kills me? Or kung saan n'ya itatago ang katawan ko? And why the hell am I overthinking this?!

I snapped back to my senses when he pulled the chair and motioned me to sit. I squinted my eyes and sat down on the other chair. He chuckled because of that.

"What is this?" I asked out of curiosity while he was putting some food on my plate. Baka naman may lason 'to?

"Beef bourguignon, and no wala 'yang lason." He answered as if he was able to read my mind! I scoffed before leaning back. He chuckled before taking a bite of the food he made, proving na walang lason 'yung pagkain n'ya.

"Enough proof now?" He asked me while chewing his food. I gave him a slight nod before taking a bite of his food. It's good.

"Baka naman inorder mo lang 'to tapos nilipat mo ng lalagyan." I teased him while eating causing him to laugh out loud.

"You think differently, it's funny at the same time impressive." His smile was still visible on his face while saying that. Masyado naman s'yang natutuwa sa'kin.

"Do you like bananas?" I asked him and he nodded so I gave him the smoothie na natira sa blender ko. I was supposed to drink that tomorrow but since he brought me dinner, sa kan'ya nalang.

"Thank you for the food. I enjoyed it." Hinatid ko na din s'ya agad sa harap ng condo n'ya. It's a good thing he didn't insist to stay here sa condo ko.

"Don't worry, dadalhan kita ng pagkain gabi gabi para may kasabay ka mag-dinner,"

"At anong akala mo sa'kin? Lonely? Na wala akong kasama kumain ganon?" I asked him while acting like I'm offended. He chuckled before shaking his head.

"Of course not! Pero seryoso, ako na bahala sa dinner mo, I got you." He assured me.

Hindi naman ako aware na may hinire akong personal chef. I just nodded and pushed him towards his door.

"I'm tired, goodnight!" I yelled and walked back inside.

"Goodnight, beautiful!" I heard him yell back before I could even close the door.

"All set?" Cai asked me as I handed him my bag. "Yep, all good." He nodded and started the car. I sat down sa passenger seat and he started driving.

He drove for at least an hour before we reached my parent's house. They told me that I need to live there for at least a month to handle some business. Wala na din naman akong nagawa.

Cai was always curious kung bakit nag-condo pa ako when I could've stayed nalang sa bahay ng parents ko. Well, simply because nakakasakal ang vibe ng parents ko. 

That house never even felt like home... kaya I was so excited to move out and live on my own. It's a good thing that I did everything they asked me to do when I was still a kid, kaya ngayon, I'm kinda free. 

Cai escorted me and carried my bag for me. My parents want to talk to him as well. "Good luck." He whispered to me before patting my back and I just scoffed in return. 

 "I already want to leave," I stated while walking towards our gate. He wrapped his arm around my shoulder to comfort me. I've always hated this place and I don't think that'll ever change. 

"Cairo! It's nice to see you again!" My dad exclaimed when he saw Cai with me. See? Mas nauuna pa nilang batiin ang ibang tao kaysa sa nag-iisa nilang anak. But at this point, I'm used to it.

"Good afternoon tito." He casually said before squeezing my shoulder, signaling me to loosen up. I took a deep breath before giving them a fake smile.

"Parang nagkakamabutihan na kayo ng anak ko ah," my mom stated while glancing at Cai's arm wrapped around my shoulder. He didn't bother removing it and just chuckled. I don't want to explain my side as well because if they find out that Cai and I are just friends, ipipilit lang nila lalo.

They don't care who I date, as long as we have the same background, it's good with them... kaya ganon nalang nila kagusto si Cai for me.

I excused myself and fixed my things back in my old room. I still have a few clothes left here because I didn't take everything with me back then. I decided to just use them para hindi ko na alisin pa sa bag 'yung ibang damit ko.

I washed my face before laying down since I had already taken a bath earlier. I was busy staring at the ceiling when Cai suddenly entered my room. 

He sat down beside me and didn't talk. "Itakas mo 'ko," I said before looking at him and he laughed before nodding. "That's my original plan, Auxi"

Now we're at the nearest mall to our house. Tinakas nga n'ya ako talaga... he told my parents na lilibot lang daw kami and since my parents like him, napapayag n'ya agad, and thank God for that.

"Pano ka ngayon n'yan? Hindi naman pwede na araw araw kita itakas sa parents mo, Auxi... even if I want to stay with you here, I need to go back to my place tomorrow." He apologetically said before giving me my ice cream. 

"It's okay, I can manage ano ka ba? Don't worry about me, I'm Auxerre Kailani for a reason, right?" I assured him dahil halatang nag-woworry s'ya sa'kin. I don't want to be a burden to him because in the first place, hindi naman n'ya ako responsibility.

We strolled around the mall for a few hours then we decided to watch a movie. I suggested a horror movie but he wanted to watch minions, wala na din naman akong nagawa because he pulled me with him. Cairo adik sa minions.

"I liked it! It's a good movie!" He exclaimed like a kid the moment we left the cinema. I was just watching him the whole time before shaking my head, baliw.

He was busy telling me stories about all of the minion movies that he watched when I saw Haz from a restaurant. My brows furrowed while staring at him from afar. Is that really Haz? Don't tell me na hanggang dito makikita ko padin s'ya.

I got distracted when Cai held my arm before pulling me towards sa department store. "Pili ka," he asked me while showing me two plushies. One is like a cat na nakashoot sa milk tea while the other is a duckling with a detective hat. 

"What for?" I curiously asked him because he doesn't like plushies.

"Just choose." I pointed at the cat one because it's way softer and mas malaki s'ya. Binayaran na din n'ya agad and he handed me the paper bag right after. I stared at him with confusion visible in my eyes, ginawa pa n'ya akong taga buhat. 

"That's yours," he said before wrapping his arm around my shoulder again. 

"Thanks, pero aanhin ko 'to?" I seriously asked him while lifting the paper bag up. 

"Just take it and stop asking questions, Auxi." He stated, sounding annoyed before ruffling my hair.

We were about to leave the mall when I bumped into someone. "Ano ba?" I asked before looking up and I saw Haz.

"Oh? You're here." He sounded so sarcastic while staring at me and Cai. I heard Cai scoff before extending his hand for a handshake.

"Cairo," he kindly stated and Haz accepted it. "Hubert."

I gave him a head-to-toe look before looking at Cai. I nudged Cai's waist, signaling him to leave. As I expected, hindi naman 'yun nakatakas sa mata ni Haz. Lahat ba talaga nakikita netong lalaking 'to?

"Auxi's boyfriend, I suppose?" He suddenly asked Cai out of nowhere. Causing Cai to look at me.

"No, best friend." He answered while laughing. I was staring at Haz the whole time and I saw how his eyes changed. From being serious and intimidating, his eyes somehow sparkled after hearing that... or maybe I'm just imagining things.

"Best friend... well you've got to stop holding her like she's your property, bro."

I heard how Cai 'tsked' because of what Haz said. Honestly, is he trying to pick a fight with Cai? In the middle of the mall? 

"Bakit? Selos ka?" Cai teased him back and I rolled my eyes. Kaya nga ako nagaya lumabas because I hate the ambiance of the house... hanggang dito ba naman sa mall sama padin ng loob ang makukuha ko?

"Why would I be? You're holding her shoulder while I tasted her... if there's someone who should be jealous, it's you." He boastfully said while smirking, his eyes not leaving my gaze.

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