III. Engagement

“Hey, Stanburghe! I need a word.”

My face suddenly turned emotionless as I looked at the guy who have some british-annoying accent. Also, who entered my office. 

He was Betranz Luxembourg... my father's reference of a successful man.

“What... What the— Why are you here? You fucker!” I asked annoyed and the fucker just smiled widely at me. Kinuha ko din ang cellphone ko sa sahig bago ko s'ya harapin ulit.

He shrugged his shoulders. “Why? Haha, I'm just here to visit my lovely cousin.” He winked at me. 

Hindi kami magkagalit dahil parehas kami ng situation. Ang totoo nga ay s'ya ang nakakaalam ng kaguluhan sa buhay ko. Tulad ng problema ko sa akin... My sexuality.

“Shut up. Wala akong marereto sa'yo, boy. Calm your freaking ass.” I rolled my eyes at him.

Sa totoo lang he is a bad influence to me. Sakanya ko natutunan ang pagiging maharot. Inshort he is a walking redflag in a relationship. Kulang nalang ay magdala s'ya ng pulang watawat habang naglalakad s'ya.

“Awts, paano tayo uunlad n'yan?” Dismaya n'ya pang sabi at napahawak pa sa noo n'ya.

I called my secretary to prepare some coffee for us. Mukhang mahaba-haba kasi ang sasabihin ng tanga kong pinsan.

“Bagay kayo ng secretary mo,” I heard he whispered.

“I don't see her as my future.” Mariin kong sabi habang nag-aantay. He just raised an eyebrow at binaba din. 

Minutes after ay dumating na si Nemesis at sinimulan naman ni Betranz magkwento. 

“So... My friend...” Duda ako sa 'My Friend' na 'yan. “My friend saw someone that made his heart fluttered. Tapos sabi n'ya sa akin hindi s'ya 'yung tulad ng mga babaeng nakilala n'ya na flirty type.” I raised an eyebrow at him asking who is that 'friend' “My bad. Kaibigan ng kaibigan ko pala.”

“I am the only person you considered as friend.” I smirked at him. Inlove na s'ya, dzai!

“Fucker! Zairon was my fri—” I cutted him off.

“Zairon was my brother's friend.” I cleared the word 'Brother' and he was annoyed.

He took a sip on his coffee maybe feeling embarrassed because he was blushing. Probably hiding his face from me.

“My friend's friend...” Cinareer na n'ya ang 'Friend' na 'yan! “Encountered a woman. He also got sad because that woman lose her license... I— He also knew that she didn't do it. W-What should I do?”

Ngumiwi ako at pinaningkitan s'ya ng mata. 'What should I do?' tama ba ang narinig ko? Or kung anong gagawin n'ya sa kaibigan n'ya?

“You should help her to cope up. Help her. Not financially but make her happy? Kasi... you should probably comfort her! Know the reason why she lose her license.” Hindi ko kilala ang nawalan ng lisensya. Sa sasakyan ba? I don't know! Ngayon lang s'ya nagkwento ng ganyan sa akin.

“And how is that?”

“Ikaw na ang bahala.” Kumindat ako sakanya at hinila s'ya patayo para paalisin. Mas matangkad ako sakanya ng onti kaya nahawakan ko pa ang ulo n'ya na ikinainis n'ya. Ayaw n'ya kasing hinahawakan ang ulo n'ya.

Hindi ko na pala nareplyan si Jaxtross. I should say yes? 'Wag masyadong halata. I was about to open my I*******m when a sudden call interrupted it. Binasa ko ang pangalan and I froze. It was dad.

“H-Hey dad,” I said making my voice lively.

[Nagpaalam ba si Estrades sa'yo? Wala nanaman s'ya eh. I can't reached his phone, too.]

Nasa Italy lang naman anak mo dad. May hinahanap kasi na babae. Hays, inlove season ba ngayon? 

“Yes. He's in Italy right now. May ka business daw s'ya.” I made an excuse.

[Okay. You should come here. Estrella and her... Fiancé was here, too.] I heard a cough.

Dad, may night date ako! 

“I will try. May schedule po kasi ako ngayon. Can't come...”

[Oh, but... Betranz will come! You should too. Isama mo na ang sekretarya mo!] Dad laughed.

“Why?” Naguguluhan kong tanong.

[Wala. Just want to meet her. Ask her now. Betranz will have an arrange marriage, though.] 

I just answered 'Okay' kaya pala balisa s'ya kanina. Ayaw n'ya kasing pinangungunahan s'ya sa desisyon. Parehas kami ng sitwasyon pero hindi ng pinagdadaanan. Ang sakanya ay dapat palagi akong tataasan. I was aware sinabi ko din sakanya ang nangyayari. Well... we didn't compete we stick together. Our parents was the one competing. 

Malungkot ko tuloy na tinype ang reply ko kay Jaxtross. I said 'No, may family dinner next time nalang' 

Next time...

“B-B-Bakit po Attorney? Hindi n'yo naman po ako se-sesantehin, d-diba?” Gulat na tanong ni Nemesis sa akin.

“Hindi pa,” sagot ko habang binibigay sakanya ang paper na binili ko sa isang designer brand kanina.

Nasa tapat ako ng bahay nila at nag-a-antay habang nakasandal sa sasakyan ko. Nakikiliti din ang noo ko dahil sa hangin. Natatamaan kasi ng gumagalaw na baby hair ang noo ko. I was wearing a blue longsleeve that fit my body and a jeans. Simple lang dahil alam ko naman ang mangyayari mamaya.

Sasabay nalang sana ako kay Betranz kaso kasama ko pala si Nemesis. I was hoping the dinner will go well. Binuksan ko ang mata ko nang marinig kong may tumawag sa akin. Nemesis was wearing a white longsleeve partnered with a jumper.

“You look great.” I complimented and she just smiled.

Sumakay na kami sa kotse and I also started driving. To make the atmosphere good I also talked to her. 

“Wow. You are a great daughter and a sister!” I said smiling. Napagraduate n'ya daw kasi ang mga kapatid n'ya. 

Tumawa lang s'ya. “Thanks to you, Attorney. Hiring kayo eh.” 

Napatawa lang ako at binuksan ang radio ng sasakyan ko. It was a podcast. Hindi ako masyadong nakikinig dito dahil minsan ay inaantok ako sa pagsasalita ng DJ. Gusto ko kasi lively ang pagsasalita.

“Hi mga listeners! Good Evening. May tanong na bumabagabag sa akin kanina pa. Anong gagawin mo pag nakasalubong mo ang dati mong Uyab? Comment down! Welcome new listeners.” The DJ said.

My forehead creased.

“What's an uyab?” I asked out of nowhere.

“S-shota po,” why is she stuttering?  

I turned off the radio. Hindi siguro s'ya komportable. Cinonnect ko nalang sa phone ko ang bluetooth. Also, naka-shuffle play din pala.

“Remember when we first met?You said 'Light my cigarette'....” I stiffened and blushed. Hindi ko nalang pinahalata ang just vibe to the song. “...but strawberries and cigarettes always taste like you...”

I told Nemesis that she can sleep while I'm driving. Hell, 3 hours driving was to tiring. I stretched my fingers and called Nemesis to wake up. May kinuha s'ya sa bag n'ya and it was a mint candy pala.

Manang Ofelia opened the gate wider para pati sasakyan ko ay makapasok din sa loob. Nemesis was the first girl I will introduced to my family. But not as my girl.

“Kuya nauna pa sa'yo 'yung galing Italy!” Estrella said while smiling widely. I just chuckled and led Nemesis to our house.

Naramdaman kong may kumalabit sa akin and there I saw the fucker with a wide smile, too.

“Can't see daw!” He mocked at ginawang telescope ang kamay. Like he's finding something.

“Ulol!” I just said. Ayaw ko s'yang asarin. To also respect his secrets. Damn this guy.

Pumunta na ako sa hapag habang si Nemesis ay katabi ko din. Kanina ko pa napapansin na ginagalaw n'ya ang mga binti n'ya. She's probably nervous? May kakilala naman s'ya dito. Si Trazer.

“What's your name, mademoiselle?” My mom asked Nemesis while cutting her steak.

Nemesis let out a big breath. “Nemesis Fortaleza po, Ma'am.”

Mom always had the 'bitch looking' face kaya matatakot ka talaga. Siguro kaya ako umiyak nung inilabas ako sakanya dahil sa mukha n'ya. Emzs, charot!

“Nemesis Fortaleza. What a nice name to a nice woman.” She smiled as she turned her sight at me. “Introduced her to your tito, Stan.” 

“Uh, Tito Brent, twins! Nemesis, my secretary at my Lawfirm.” I said boringly. Alam na 'yung pangalan tapos ipapakilala pa. Hays, tulog na ako sa oras na 'to eh. 

They just nodded and continued eating. Binilisan ko talagang kumain para pumunta sa kwarto ko sa bahay. Hindi sa gusto kong iwan ang sekretarya ko... Dinala kasi s'ya ni Mom. Inagaw sa akin kaya wala akong magagawa.

“Yeah I'm free. Ano bang meron sa araw na 'yan? You seemed happy, ah?” And there he was, Jaxtross. 

[Uh... malalaman mo din,] I chuckled on his tagalog accent. Ang cute.

“Psh, next month pa ang araw na 'yan. What do you expect? I should know!” Maarteng sambit ko sakanya.

[It's not special but I know it will be.]

I don't remember that I gave him my contact number. Personal 'yon ah? Ginamitan n'ya ata ako ng mahika eh. May plus-plus pa. Narinig kong may kumatok sa pintuan kaya agad kong pinatay ang tawag. 

It was my sister, Estrella.

“Hi kuya!”

Tumayo ako galing kama para salubungin s'ya ng yakap.

“What's up baby sis. We're not catching up lately, huh. Are you busy ba?” I asked concerned.

“Kinda...” she said before hugging me. “I have a new project and the script is kinda mahirap to memorize!” pag-rant n'ya.

Estrella was an artist at my mom's friend's company. She also struggled before she reached her dream. Mom refused to pulled strings nung inoffer s'ya nung kaibigan n'ya kasi gusto n'ya na maranasan namin ang paghihirap bago makuha ang bagay na gusto namin. 

That's what she said...

For cheering her up I said. “You can do it! Diba mahirap din ang script sa project mo dati? I believed on you since day 1, Estrella.” Ngumiti ako. “Now smile!” I teased her. I used to teased her when we were kids.

She looked at me annoyed. “Stop nga. Estrades was always out of the country! Alam ko naman na Airline ang business n'ya pero bakit palagi s'ya umaalis?”

Hala, bakit ako ang sinisisi n'ya?

“Kase gusto ko,” we both heard a voice.

Estrella rolled her eyes. “Mommy mo! I know where Kryptonite is Haha!” She laughed and stick out her tongue to Estrades. Napahawak nalang ako sa noo ko. Magbabangayan nanaman ang dalawa.

“So? Makikinabang pa ako kung i-sheshare mo.” Damn this guy and his sarcastic characteristic pero gusto din naman malaman kung nasaan.

She winked at him “Bratislava!” I looked at Estrades and smirked. Ngayon n'ya lang na-gets ang sinasabi kanina ni Estrella sa dining.

“I want to go to Bratislava and hide from the media!” Estrella said while laughing maniaclly. Mom and dad looked worriedly at her. Sinaway naman s'ya ni Trazer. 

“Love, stop...” he said as he looked at me asking for help. But I just looked at Nemesis and talked to her. 

We both wanted to helped Estrades kaso he is so slow. Palagi s'ya nag-i-isip at gagawin agad. Hindi s'ya nag sesearch like that. 

He was hard on himself.

“Tss, Estrella, I don't like your fiancé.” He changes the subject.

“And I don't need your permission for me not to like him!”

Gumitna na ako sakanila. I already know where this conversation is going.

Ungkatan na ng past!

“Both of you, stop! Estrades and Estrella apologize to each other.” I commanded. 

I crossed my arms while waiting for them. Someone gave up immediatly.

He smiled. “I just don't like my siblings getting hurt. You are not a cry baby you are a Luxembourg and you are supposed to be strong.” 

Estrella, our crybaby laugh with a puffy eyes. “Kaya ka iniwan eh! Ang sungit mo...” sinuntok pa n'ya ang d****b ni Estrades.

Estrades made a face. We just laughed after that ay lumabas na kami. We all saw a silent people. Wala kaming alam kung anong nangyari. My eyes was finding Nemesis knowing Mom alam ko ang sinasabi n'ya at sasabihin n'ya.

“W-W-What happen?” Estrella was trying not to laugh. Siniko naman namin s'ya at bago bumaba.

Maybe Betranz fiancé was here? Hindi naman kasi namin napaghandaan ang mga revelations. Tumingin ako kay Betranz, asking. He eyed at the girl.

“Andito na pala kayo... say hi to Ms. Grayson.” Uncle said. 

Hindi pa namin nakikita ang babae dahil malayo pa kami sa pwesto nila. But the Grayson sounds familiar to me.

“Bumalik ka na pala, Kry?” 

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

hello everyone! my first time writing here.. so i hope you'll like it. follow me on twitter for announcemets @_ariaangel

But the Grayson sounds familiar to me.

“Bumalik ka na pala, Kry?”