Chapter 4

Lucian parked the car when we got inside the university. Lumabas kami mula sa kotse niya at sabay na naglakad papunta sa hallway..

"Wait, I'll call her." pigil nito sa akin at inilabas ang cellphone niya.

"Sunny, nasaan ka?" tanong nito sa kapatid niyang nasa kabilang linya.

"Okay, wait there. We're almost there." aniya at binaba ang tawag.

Binalik niya sa bulsa niya ang cellphone.. "Follow me." sabay hawak nito sa kamay ko.

Magkahawak ang kamay namin habang naglalakad patungo sa kinaroroonan ng kaptid niya. He's being clingy despite of the fact that we just met last night. Things are really going too fast.

Tinanggal ko sa mula sa pagkakahawak niya ang kamay ko. That made him stop..  Then he looked at me.

"Why?" he asked.

"Pasmado ako.. Don't worry, susundan naman kita." palusot ko rito.

He nodded and continued walking. Sumunod ako sa kanya hanggang sa makarating kami sa isang lugar na kaunti nalang ang mga estudyante.

Ilang minuto lang ay huminto kami sa harap ng isang CR. "Sunniva said she's in there. Ikaw nalang ang magbigay at baka may makakita kung ako ang papasok diyan."

Tumango ako bilang sagot..

Agad akong pumasok sa CR at tinawag siya.. "Sunniva? Nasaan ka? I'm your brother's secretary. I have your things."

"Sixth cubicle." she answered.

Agad akong pumunta sa harap no'n. "Ito oh." sabi ko habang inaabot sa kanya ang bag ko mula sa itaas ng pinto.

Kinuha niya naman 'yon but she asked.. "Kanino 'to? These aren't mine."

"Sa akin 'yan at malinis naman 'yan. Mas matatagalan kasi kami kung uuwi pa kami ng kuya mo sa inyo. Mas magtatagal ka rito. So there you go, sana ayos na 'yan." paliwanag ko rito.

"Okay, thank you." she said.. "Lalabas na muna ako. Hihintayin ka nalang namin." sabi ko at lumabas na.

Nakasalubong ko si Lucian na nakasandal sa pader.. When he saw me, he immediately came to me.

"Ano? Is she fine?" tanong nito.

Tumango ako.. "She will need time to fix herself."

Tulad ng pwesto niya kanina, sumandal din ako. He followed me and copied me.

"Swerte kayong mga lalaki at hindi niyo nararanasan 'to." natatawang sabi ko.

Ramdam kong tumingin siya sa akin.. "Sobrang sakit ba?" tanong nito.

"Yup, it's a hassle too. Imagine having menstrual cramps, mood swings and weird cravings for a whole week." then I sighed.. Paano pa kaya kung panganganak na? Sobrang sakit siguro no'n.

He didn't reply back. Maybe he was tired of talking already.

I checked my phone and saw a text message from his brother, Mr. Cloud Agoncillo..

Fr: Mr. Agoncillo

Any updates?

Agad akong nag-type ng message..

Me:

Hindi na po kami pumunta sa bahay niyo. Pinahiram ko nalang po siya ng mga gamit ko since it's much faster and I don't mind naman po. She's already taking care of herself right now.

"Sinong kausap mo?"

I was distracted when Lucian asked..

"Kapatid mo.. He asked for an update." sagot ko sa tanong nito.

He nodded and looked around. We're currently in a big and famous school. Hindi ko akalain na makakapasok pala ako sa ganitong klase ng paaralan kahit saglit lang.

"I graduated here." ani Lucian..

Napatingin ako sa kanya nang sinabi niya 'yon. "No wonder you're smart." puri ko sa kanya.

He just smiled..

Maya-maya lang ay may babaeng lumabas. It was Sunniva.

"Kuya.." she said, calling her brother.

Agad na humarap sa kanya si Lucian.. "Ano? Are you good? How do you feel?" sunod-sunod na tanong nito.

Sunniva chuckled. It was clearly because of how much he asked.

"I'm fine. I like the clothes.. Thank you, Ms.. Ano ngang pangalan mo?" naguguluhang tanong niya.

"Maxine Valencia, secretary ni Mr. Cloud.." pagpapakilala ko.

"Oh, I thought you're Kuya Lucian's secretary."

Ngumiti lang ako at umiling.. "Thank you rin pala kuya. I saw the Ibuprofen na nasa pocket."

"Thank her, siya ang nag-ayos niyan." turo ni Lucian sa akin..

He could've just took the credit.

"Really? Thank you, Ms. Maxine. Sadly, I have to go now. Isang class na ang hindi ko napasukan at malalagot ako kung hindi ako papasok sa susunod. Salamat sa inyo. See you next time." paalam nito at kumaripas ng takbo matapos magpaalam.

"We should go." aya ko.

He just nodded.. Just like before, sinundan ko siya. Tuloy-tuloy lang ang paglalakad namin at walang nagsasalita..

Kung kanina ay may mga estudyante na nasa hallway, ngayon naman ay napupuno ito ng katahimikan. Tinignan ko ang wrist watch ko at nakitang 10:58 A.M palang..

When we got out of the hallway, agad rin kaming pumunta sa parking lot at sumakay sa kotse ni Lucian.. Just like before, he opened the passenger seat's door for me then he went to the other side.

Nang makapasok siya ay bumungad sa akin ang tanong niya.. "Where do you want to eat? I'll tell Cloud we'll have lunch together."

"Huwag na. Doon nalang ako kakain sa cafeteria pagbalik natin." tanggi ko.

He started the car and drove.. "I don't mind, Maxine."

Inilabas nito ang cellphone niya sa bulsa habang nagmamaneho.. Kinuha ko 'yon sa kanya.

"Don't use your phone while driving. Jeez."

Sinulyapan niya ang cellphone niya na siyang nagpasulyap rin sa akin doon. Mr. Agoncillo was on the other line.. I immediately put it on loud speaker para makausap niya ang kapatid niya. Nabalot rin ako ng hiya dahil sigurado akong narinig 'yon ni Mr. Agoncillo sa kabilang linya.

"Cloud, I'll take Maxine out for lunch. Is that fine with you?" tanong nito..

Sumama ang mukha ko nang sabihin niya 'yon.

"Basta't siguraduhin mo na makakabalik ang secretary ko ng ala una." sagot nito sa kapatid sabay putol sa linya ng tawag.

Ibinaba ko ang cellphone niya sa arm rest at sumandal sa upuan ko.. I guess I have no choice.

"So.. Saan tayo?" he asked with a playful smile.

"Kahit saan." I answered.

"Fine."

Nag-iba ang direksiyon nito. Hindi ko alam kung saan kami papunta ngayon.

"Where are you taking me?"

"Sa hacienda ko. Bakit? Ang sabi mo kahit saan eh." aniya at nginitian ako.

I was confused.. "Hacienda? Meron bang hacienda sa mga city?"

"Hindi naman hacienda tulad sa mga probinsiya, but it is big enough to be called a hacienda." paliwanag nito.

I closed my eyes to rest.. Maya-maya ay naramdaman kong huminto 'yung kotse. I thought it's red light kaya siya huminto but I felt him lean on my seat.

I opened my eyes and I found him adjusting my seat.. Kusang bumaba 'yung sandalan ng inuupuan ko which made me much comfortable.

"Thank you.." I said while looking at him.

He gave me a peck of kiss in my lips then went back to his seat.

"Nakakarami ka na ah." suway ko sa kanya.

He just laughed at me and continued driving.. Muli kong isinara ang mata ko.

Instead of taking a rest, I was thinking of things. I just met him.. Kanina lang ay itinataboy ko siya sa tuwing hahawakan niya 'ko. Maxine, what happend to you?

Are we playing a game? Is this him making me confused? I just met this guy last night, yet we're exchanging kisses. That's not what I usually do.

It felt wrong, but in some unexplained reasons.. I liked it.

Lucian's Point Of View

After an hour of driving, nakatulog na rin si Maxine. I looked at her and stared for a while habang hindi pa umaandar.

The way we kissed last night was new to me. Sa ilang babae na n*******n ko ay sa kanya lang ako nakaramdam ng pagkaakit.

The way she teased me earlier made me mad. She's also driving me crazy just by the way she look and talk to me.

This feeling is unusual.. I want her mine kahit na kagabi ko lang nakita ang babaeng 'to.

Nang maging berde ang kulay ng traffic light ay pinaandar ko agad ang kotse ko.

Tanaw ko na ang mataas na pinto mula sa pinaroroonan namin. Agad na bumukas ang gate na nakaharang at sumaludo ang guard na nakabantay.

Ipinarada ko ang kotse ko malapit sa restaurant ng hacienda. This is one of my investments. This place is good for a vacation.

Tinignan ko si Maxine to see if she's already awake.

"Maxine.." I said.

Hindi man lang siya nagising o kahit gumalaw man lang.

I shook her hand lightly but she was still asleep. Pagod siguro.

Inilapit ko ang mukha ko sa kanya.. I saw her long lashes resting peacefully. I'm feeling it again. I want her so bad that I can't even handle myself with her.

I slowly planted kisses on her cheeks until I reached her ears and she moved.

"Max, gising na."

Lumayo ako nang kaunti sa kanya, only to find her deep brown eyes looking at me.

"Sorry, pagod lang ako." aniya at humingi ng paumanhin.

I just smiled at her. Agad akong bumaba ng kotse at pumunta sa side niya. I opened the door for her and helped her get out of my car.

I fixed her hair by putting it on her back. That made her neck and whole face visible.

"There. Much better." nakangiting sabi ko.

The both of us walked inside the restaurant.. I made her hold on my bicep while the workers looked at us.

"Good day, Mr. Agoncillo. Hindi niyo naman po kami na-inform na darating ka nang may kasama." bati ni Dency, she handles the restaurant.

"Biglaan eh. Table for two outside, please." saad ko.

"This way, sir." aniya at naglakad.

Sumunod kami ni Maxine sa kanya papunta sa veranda ng restaurant. We sat at the front where we could see the view.

Dency gave us both a menu book.

"Order anything you want, my treat." usap ko sa kanya..

Tumango lang siya. She seemed quiet.

"I'll have the Salisbury Steak." ani Maxine.

I looked at her for a while. She looks more beautiful kapag bagong gising lang.

"Steak Au Poivre and a bottle of white wine." I ordered..

After that, she left the both of us.

Nakita kong huminga nang malalim si Maxine.. Seeing her is very calming.

"Oh? Bakit?" natatawang tanong nito sa akin.

I pulled myself together to answer her. "Wala.. So, did you like the view?" I asked.

"Ang galing mag-iba ng topic." she said while smirking.

I chuckled with her reply.

"But, yes.. Ang ganda rito." she answered to my question.

"This is my first business. I built more than ten hacienda around the country." I said to her.

She smiled. "Nabasa ko nga 'yan sa files mo.. May ipinabasa na files yung kapatid mo sa akin at puro mga partners in business niya ang nakalagay doon. Including your sister." she said in amusement. "I can't believe how made such money at such young age." aniya pa.

She knows something about me.. That made me smile, even though I know that what she knows isn't enough.

"It's all hardwork.." simpleng sagot ko sa kanya. "Where's your family by the way? May kasama ka ba sa condo mo?" I asked curiously..

Umiling siya. "My mom died. My dad's in Chicago with his new partner. Wala rin akong kapatid.." paliwanag niya. "But it's fine. I'm fine." dagdag pa nito.

Hindi ko alam kung maniniwala ako sa huling sinabi niya.

"That shows how tough you are."

Tumingin ito sa akin nang sinabi ko 'yon. Nahihiyang ngumiti ito sa akin. There, it's better when she's smiling.

"Hindi kaya, you're tougher. You managed to live with your half-siblings." bawi nito.

"No, we're both tough for accepting things." I said.

Saktong dumating ang in-order ko na white wine. Sinalinan ko siya ng wine sa baso niya bago unahin ang sarili ko. She thanked me after that.

"So, where are we? Imposibleng sa Maynila pa rin ito." tanong nito.

"We're in Bulacan.." tugon ko. "Actually, pwede kang mangabayo rito. Gusto mo ba?" aya ko sa kanya.

She sipped on her wine before answering. "Marunong ka ba?"

I know where this is going.. Yet, I still asked. "Yes and what about it?"

Here it comes.. The teasing. It's easy to predict her and it was also for her to attract me.

She leaned forward resting her arms on the table. "Teach me how to ride." she said looking directly at me.

She's such a big flirt pero pag ako na ang kikilos, halos maramdaman ko rin ang dala-dala niyang kaba.

Katulad niya ay umabante ako. I also rested my arms at the table staring depper in her eyes. "Fine, I'll teach you how to ride.."

Bumilog ang mata nito nang marinig ang sinabi ko at lumayo.. I laughed at how she reacted. So that was unintentional?

"That.. I wasn't talking abou-"

"I wasn't talking about it either." putol ko sa kanya..

Wala sa sariling tinungga niya ang laman ng wine glass at umiwas ng tingin.. She really can't handle me.