Chapter 3

CHAPTER 3

“Ipapahatid ko nalang sa sekretarya ko ang kontrata sa condo mo.”  Iyon ang sinabi ni August sa kanya nang hingan niya ito ng kontrata kaya naman ay salubong ang kilay siyang lumabas sa kompanya ng lalaking iyon.

Tinawagan niya si Lacan dahil alam niya na hindi naman talaga ito busy, nagpapalusot lang yun.

After three rings, Lacan picked up and spoke. “Hey, baby. How’s your day?” Nanunudyong tanong nito kaya naman ay umirap nalang siya sa ere dahil wala naman ito sa harapan niya. Huminto muna siya sa may exit at pilit na ningitian ang guard.

“It was fun, babe.” Sarkastiko niyang sagot, “I’ll choke you until you can’t breath anymore, Lacan. How dare you do that to me?! I’m your beloved. You have to make it up to me. Come to my condo now.” Hindi parin maipinta ang mukha ni Hera habang kausap ang lalaki.

The man on the other line chuckled. “I won’t. I know you’re just going to yell at me, so no, baby, no.”

Nanliit ang mga mata niya sabay isinandal ang likod niya sa semento. “I’ll cook for you, babe. But if you really won’t come, I think I’ll just—“

“On a second thought, maybe I can manage to hear your violent reactions on me. Actually, I’m in my car right now and driving to your condo.”

Natatawang napailing nalang siya. When it comes to food, she know that Lacan can’t say no.

“Before that, can you pick me up? I’m still in this hell.” Walang buhay niyang sabi at nadinig niya naman ang mahinang pagtawa nito bago pumayag. Hera ended the call and sighed once again.

Napaigtad siya ng biglang may tumikhim mula sa kanyang likuran kaya naman ay nilingon niya ito. Halos mapugto ang hininga niya ng makita ang nakataas na kilay ni August na mukhang kanina pa nasa likuran niya.

Matapang na sinalubong ni Hera ang walang emosyon niyang tingin.

"What?" Tanong niya habang nakatingin sa kilay nitong naka-angat. She can't look him in the eye, parang naaalala niya ang ginawa nito kanina.

Ilang minuto lang silang nagkahiwalay dahil nagwalk-out siya, ni hindi man lang siya nito sinundan o pinigilan, tapos masasaksihan niyang may kahalikan ito sa opisina. Hindi niya alam kung bakit naiinis siya dahil una sa lahat, wala siyang pakealam at pangalawa, wala dapat siyang pakealam.

"Babe, huh?" She can sense the sarcasm in his voice but discarded that thought when an image of him and that employee, kissing and touching each other's body intimately.

She rolled her eyes at him. "Yes. Do you have any problem with that?"

August placed his hands on his pocket and smirked. "Do you know how vulnerable Lacan is? He may look strong but deep inside, he's broken. I have known him for so long and I can say that he doesn't love you. He's been in love to someone else. Oh— you didn't know that thing, don't you?"  Ningitian siya nito ng nakakainis.

"Of course I know that one—"

"Liar!" Inirapan niya ito.

Nang may bumusina mula sa likuran niya ay kaagad niya itong nilingon para alamin kung si Lacan na ba iyon. Laking pasasalamat niya at siya nga iyon. Ibinaba nito ang bintana ng kotse niya at kinawayan siya.

He's smiling genuinely but when his eyes looked to the man at her back, his smile immediately fades away. Napalitan ang ito ng seryosong mukha habang nakataas ang magkabilang kilay and his eyes laid on her.

She know that stares. Kaya naman ay kaagad niyang hinarap si Augustus at ningisihan, and that was a fake smile.

"Goodbye, Mr. Florin, and I'll be waiting for the contract to arrive. Continue your thing with your employee, you know what I mean." Kinindatan niya ito at nagsimulang maglakad palayo dito.

She stopped and turn her back on him. "And by the way, Lacan is my bestfriend. You don't need to worry about your friend. Ciao!" Pagkasabi ay pumasok na siya sa loob ng kotse ni Lacan.

NAKAHINGA ng maluwag si Hera at pagod na isinandal ang likod sa upuan. Nang umandar ang kotse ay tiningnan niya ang kompanya ni August at nakitang nakatayo parin ito sa kinatatayuan nila kanina.

Hindi maintindihan ni Hera ang sarili kung bakit naiinis siya sa nakita niya. Mukhang kailangan niya ng masasandalan at mapagbubuntunan ng inis. And that would be the one who is currently driving the car.

"Lacan." Pagtawag niya habang dito habang ang tingin ay nasa daan. She's sitting on a shotgun seat.

"Yes?" He answered.

"Let's go to your house." Suhetisyon niya kaya naman ay napalingon sa kanya ang lalaki.

"What— I mean, why?"

"You have a gym in your house, right?"

"Yes?" Patanong niyang sagot. He still can't get her point.

"I'm pissed, Arison." Maikli niyang sabi at mukhang naintindihan naman iyon ng lalaki dahil nakita niya sa peripheral vision niya na tumango-tango ito.

She heard him sigh and whisper something. "You're pissed and you want to beat someone to let your anger fade away. Great. What a great friend."

She frowned. "Anong binubulong-bulong mo d'yan?"

"Nothing!" Diretso nitong sagot.

AFTER TWO HOURS of sparring, both of them are panting and catching for air. Hera really beats Lacan up, she didn't hold up and so as he. They keep on fighting each other.

Puro atake ang ginawa ni Hera habang panay naman ang pagsalag ang ginawa ni Lacan. Paminsan-minsan lang ito umaatake pero si Hera, walang patid niyang sinuntok, siniko, sinipa ang lahat ng kahinaan ni Lacan sa katawan.

"Fuck! I can't believe you did this to me, babe! Look at my kissable and delicious lips... it's bleeding—and swollen!" He exclaimed while sitting on the floor.

Si Hera naman ay kasalukuyang umiinom ng tubig mula sa water bottle ni Lacan. This man has a really weird personality. His water bottle is not an ordinary bottle, it is printed with a cartoon character.

"Ben 10? Really, Lacan? What are you... a kid?" Natatawang sabi niya. They've been friends for so many years but she can't believe that Lacan is a fan of Ben 10. For a handsome and masculine man like him, hindi niya inaasahan ang bagay na yun.

"What? Ben 10 is a good character." Biglang despensa nito sa sarili kaya pabiro niyang itinaas ang magkabila niyang kamay, tila sumusuko sa mga police.

"Chill, I'm just asking."

In all fairness, nawala na ang inis na nararamdaman niya. Magaan na din ang pakiramdam niya, hindi katulad kanina. Fighting can really helps her calm in all stances. Salamat sa kaibigan niya, without Lacan, hindi niya alam kung saan at kanino niya ibubuntun ang galit.

She was about to say thank you to Lacan when the doorbell suddenly rang numerous times.

Lacan immediately stood up. "I'll check it." Tango nalang ang ginawa niyang tugon sa sinabi nito.

She look at him as he walks to the main door without wearing any shirt. Tanging shorts lang ang suot nito at pinagpapawisan pa ang katawan nito. Hindi alam ni Hera kung bakit walang epekto ang lalaki sa kanya. Gwapo naman ito, maskulado, mayaman, mabango. Pero bakit ni katiting, wala siyang maramdamang paghanga dito.

NAKAKUNOT ANG NOO ni August ng bumungad sa kanya ang walang suot na damit na si Lacan. Pinagpapawisan pa ito at hinihingal.

"Eyy, Aug. What's up?" Magiliw ngunit halata sa walang emosyon nitong mga mata na ayaw siya nitong makita.

"Why are you sweating?" Nakataas ang kilay na tanong ni August.

Lacan rolled his eyes on him. "Mind your own business, Florin, and state the reason why are you here?"

August shrug. "Okay. Break up with her."

Natatawang itinaas ni Lacan ang kanang kamay. "Hold on, hold on. What the fuck, man? What's up to you?"

"You know nothing about her." Nagtatagis ang bagang na sabi niya habang halata sa mukha ni Lacan ang pagkadismaya.

"And you do?"

"Just do what I said, bro. You will just use her as a rebound. You will just hurt her."

Lacan shakes his head in disappointment. He can't believe that this friend of his will says those things.

"Leave her alone, Florin. It's you who's going to hurt her, not me—"

"Lacan! Who is it?" Dinig ni Augustus ang pagsigaw ng isang pamilyar na boses ng isang babae mula sa loob ng bahay ni Lacan.

It's Hera!

Humakbang siya papasok para kumpirmahin kung totoo ba ang hinala niya pero humarang si Lacan. He glared at him. 

"Let me in," utos niya habang matalim na tinitingnan si Lacan. He doesn't know why he feels irritated of a sudden knowing that Lacan and Hera are on the same roof. And his friend is sweating… may ideyang pumapasok sa isipan niya but afraid to admit it.

“This is my house and I’ll decide if you will enter or not. Now, leave, Florin—“

“Lacan, who’s the— what the hell are you doing here?!” Hindi mapigilan ni Hera ang pagtaasan ng boses si Augustus ng makita ito sa labas.

HERA is glaring at Augustus. Her anger rose again. Kung kanina ay nawala ang inis na nararamdaman niya, ngayon ay bumalik na. Seeing his face makes her jaw clenches. Bakit ba kasi ito pumunta sa bahay ni Lacan.

“And what the hell you are doing in Lacan’s house?” Pabalik nitong tanong sa kanya kaya mas lalong nagsalubong ang magkabilang kilay niya.

She felt Lacan’s hand on her waist. Mahina nitong pinisil-pisil ang beywang niya kaya naman ay huminga siya ng malalim para pakalmahin ang sarili. And when she calm a bit, she flatly stares at August.

“Wag mong ibalik sa akin ang tanong ko, Mr. Florin. What are you doing here? You’re disturbing us.” Pigil na inis na sabi niya.

“Just wanna give my friend a piece of advice, and by the way, your aunt called me. Can you please check your phone from time to time? I hate it when someone is calling me for someone’s reason.”

Hindi niya pinansin ang sinabi nito kaya naman ay mabilis niya itong tinalikuran at nagtungo sa gym para kunin ang cellphone niya. And truth to his words, may ten missed calls at seventeen messages galing sa auntie niya. Ghad! I’m doomed.

She immediately dialed her aunt’s number and luckily, her aunt picked it up.

“Sorry, auntie. I haven’t noticed your calls.” Paghingi niya ng tawad. She’s hoping that her aunt won’t tell her dad about it.

“Don’t worry, dear. Mr. Florin already told me everything.” Biglang nanlaki ang mga mata niya kasabay ang pagbilis ng tibok ng puso niya dahil sa kaba.

Mahina siyang tumikhim para alisin ang nakabara sa lalamunan niya. “Ahm…I’m really sorry—“

“I know, dear. I know. Napagod ka sa trabaho mo that’s why you take a leave. I totally understand it, dear. You also need some rest. Just tell me, Hera, if you’re so drained. I can give you a break. Kung hindi pa sinabi ni Mr. Florin na inumaga ka na sa kompanya niya, hindi ko malalaman na nagpupuyat ka na naman.”

Hera’s eyebrows raised hearing her auntie said those words. Anong pinagsasabi nito? She didn’t go to work. Bukas pa siya magsisimula, ni hindi pa nga siya binibigyan ng kontrata eh.

But wait, did Augustus saved her ass? Sinabi niya ang mga iyon sa auntie niya, para ano? Para sa kanya—no! Stop assuming, Hera! He would never ever care for you.

“T-Thank you, Auntie.”

“Always welcome, dear. Rest, dear, okay?  I won’t disturb you for today. Just take a rest. Bye!” Pagkatapos siya nitong babaan ay tulala parin siya at wala sa sariling naglakad papunta sa sala kung saan nandoon si Lacan, kasalukuyang nanonood ng T.V.

“Hey, Hera. What did your aunt said?” Tanong nito nang makaupo siya sa tabi nito.

Nakatingin lang siya sa T.V at sinagot ang tanong ni Lacan. “She said that Augustus said everything to her—“

“That asshole!” He hissed.

“He told her that I worked my ass off that’s why I didn’t pick her calls.” She faced him and asked, “why? Why did he say those things? Why did he lie? Why—“

“Because he has something on you.” Pagputol nito sa sasabihin niya kaya naman nagtatanong na tiningnan niya ito.

“I don’t understand.” Mahinang sabi niya.

“For now, you don’t. But you will understand it when the time comes. So… do you now realize that my offer is good? Accept your father’s proposal for you to give your children a great future? And hide them from their own father as long as you want?” May pangungumbinsi sa boses nito.

She shakes her head. “No. And my answer is final, no one can change it, Lacan. I will only accept it if I can no longer do it on my own. But for now, I have to work hard to prove myself to my parents and also to my children.”

Yes. She has to work her as off starting tomorrow. Makikita na naman niya ang taong pinakaayaw niyang makita but for her twins, maybe she can bare it.