Chapter 7: The Magazine

HARUKA

"NAT, LET ME BORROW the magazine you were reading earlier," I said softly to my friend, who was now asleep.

Sophia and I are on a private plane going to Mindanao. First stop, Iligan City!

Natalia did not budge. I called her again, but she ignored me. Her head is leaning on the chair with eyes closed, but I know she's not asleep yet. I could clearly see her fingers tapping on the arm of the chair. That’s why I know she's still awake and we haven't traveled too far for her to fall asleep right away.

"Nat?" No answer.

But I just noticed that ever since we arrived at WH this morning, she has been ignoring me. What could be the problem?

"Do you need something, Miss Haruka?" Suddenly, a brave agent appears. I immediately smiled at her as I nodded and pointed to the magazine next to Natalia. "The magazine, Miss?" she asked politely again.

I nodded and then she took the magazine. I saw her mouth open. Maybe she asked for permission from Natalia as she would take the magazine. My friend is still pretending to be asleep.

"Here it is, Miss," said the kind female agent.

"Thank you, Agent," I said with a smile. I'm fascinated by what she did. She’s so kind and gorgeous.

"Call me July, Miss," she replied with a smile and returned to her seat at the front of the plane next to Natalia's other guards.

I was smiling as I flipped through the magazine. That woman is really nice, and she's a gentle lady. That's why I can't help but have a crush on her. Apart from her beauty, there are traces of kindness in her. Is she the one? Ayeee ...

"Such a flirt," Sofia whispered, but I didn't hear her.

"What did you say?" I asked.

These days, she’s always been grumpy with me. I do not know why. Natalia and Sofia have been experiencing rage-filled mood swings over the last few days.They absolutely are!

"Nothing…" was Sofia’s lazy answer and she turned away from me. Like Natalia, she’s pretending to sleep too.

I just let it go, as usual, and I did not talk to her again. Nothing can ruin my happy mood because, apart from this long travel journey, I’m sure I’ll enjoy flirting with that beautiful lady guard. *adorable pout*

~*~

SOFIA

WHAT A FLIRT! ERR!

I couldn't help but get angry at what Haruka was doing.

I'm jealous. Yes, I am jealous! I've been liking this flirty woman for a long time, but she is really super numb. Argh! I don't know if she was really born very numb so she doesn't feel my feelings for her or if she really only considers me as a friend and has no romantic feelings at all.

Ahh! She is so dense! God knows how much I restrained myself from loving her because I didn't want to ruin our friendship, but I couldn't. My feelings for her still exist. So every time she has a love interest, here I am now, quietly hurting. She is so numb! Ugh!

The lady agent, on the other hand, is also very flirty. Ugh! She’s so annoying. I’d like to dispatch her, but I'm sure Natalia will kill me if I do that. After all, the president's bitch daughter obviously has a 'thing' with the agent of St. Peter. Yeah, I am calling her an agent of St. Peter. I don’t care! Pft.

I just silently watched what Haruka was doing. I've always been like this. I always keep an eye on what she does. I am always the comforter if she is broken-hearted, always the wing-woman to those who she likes, and always do everything she wants.

I was Haruka’s slave that she wasn't even aware of because I also liked her, and because that's also the way I could show my love for her. But yeah, I'm a scared cat and a torpedo. I said before that I don't want to ruin our friendship, so even if it hurts me that I'm only in the friend zone, I'll accept it as long as I can always be with her without her having awkward moments with me.

Look at her. She’s even glancing at the female agent who’s not even paying attention to her. The guards are playing cards, and they seem to be having fun. This was the only time that I saw Piolo, Sam, Derek, and Zanjoe laughing and smiling while July was playing with them.

I'm really annoyed because it seems like everyone loves this St. Peter Agent. Ugh!

‘She’s better than you,’ someone said to my brain.

"No, she's not!" I hissed, causing Haruka to look at me again and make me look at her beautiful face.

Her eyes are looking at me with curiosity and questioning. I shrugged my shoulders and went to sleep again because if I didn't do that, I might have suddenly kissed her because of her super cute face with her eyebrows still raised and her eyes facing me asking questions.

Ugh! You’re so numb, Haruka!

~*~

NATALIA

"NAT, LET ME BORROW the magazine you were reading earlier," I heard Haruka call me.

I ignored her. I'm annoyed at her. I was ignoring her earlier, and if she's not that insensitive, she will feel that. I am pretending to be asleep. So far, that's all I can do because I'm still calming myself from feeling annoyed. How dare she flirt with July? And the flirty agent is also reciprocating!

‘Uhh.. are you jealous, Nat?’ Shut up, brain! Don't mess with it!

"Nat?" she called again.

As usual, I ignored her. It's up to her what she will do to get the magazine she wants. She has hands. She’s super lazy! And she’s ordering me? Fuck!

Me? To follow orders? Natalia Aquino? She will order the gorgeous daughter of the President? Bloody hell, no!

"Do you need something, Miss Haruka?" I was in a frenzy of my mind when I heard the agent's words.

Oh god! Just merely hearing her voice makes my heart jump and pump with this unknown, rainbow-colored feeling. I already met her. I already remember her. That's why her face sounds familiar, I mean, her voice seems familiar because she's the woman who caused me not to sleep well for a few days. That's her! The woman in the Chinese restaurant! Argh, of all people!

"The magazine, Miss?" I heard the agent ask Haruka again.

I never heard an answer from the flirty woman. I calmed myself and still pretended to sleep.

‘Relax, Nat. You are not like this. You should not be chasing women or men. They should be the ones chasing you, and you’re not the jealous loser b*tch!   You’re right, brain. You're right. Wooh! Calm down, girl. Just pretend you're in sleep mode. Chill. Chill.

I was still in such a state of mind when I was almost shocked because someone approached me and whispered, "Miss Natalia, Miss Haruka is just going to borrow the magazine."

That sexy voice! Shameless! All my defenses were destroyed, but I mentally congratulated myself because my self-control was strong. I still pretended to be asleep, but the hair on my neck was rising, and my heartbeat was beating uncontrollably just because of what July did. Oh shit, what is happening to me?

Then, when I didn't answer, I felt her move and take the magazine next to me. My heart stopped beating when I smelled the fragrant smell that I smelled this morning. And now I remember the scene with the "rat" in the kitchen. Ugh! She smells so good! Like the fragrance of roses. Damn her!

I sang to myself, ‘If ever you're in my arms again…’

If ever? If ever? Oh my god! Help me! What's happening to me? What is July doing to my quiet and flirty lifestyle? Oh no!

That incident was just a quick one. Just three seconds maybe, but seriously, I was tortured! This is not possible.

‘Counterpart alert. Counterpart alert,’ my mind warned.

Seriously? No, no, no, no way! No, no, no, no way! Natalia Aquino has no equal and she will never ever have one!

"Here it is, Miss." I heard the agent say to Haruka. I can't see them, but I just feel them based on my instinct. Uh-huh.

It was as if I could breathe easily as she moved away from me, but at the same time, I wanted her near me. I can't understand myself. God, this is not possible.

"Thank you, Agent," the flirtatious woman replied.

So obvious, Haruka! I clenched my fist without realizing it. July walked away and played cards with my other four guards. This time, I tried to really sleep, but I couldn’t!

And that's it, I never had peace again.

I thought deeply. It's not good for me to be so close to July. Extreme turmoil looms in my feelings when she is around. I remember how my mind alerted me that this was my counterpart. I was scared, honestly. This can not be. I do not want to. I will have no counterpart. Even my father can't control me. I really don't want anyone to control me, so while it's still early, I will stop feeling this way.

This is not right! Yes, this isn't. So I'm sticking with my plan. Yes, right! ‘Stick with the plan, Natalia, don’t let your feelings for her get into you. You are the one who's in control of everything; don't make anyone else step ahead of you. You should always be the first, the head, the number one!’  Yes, that’s right. Correct! Exactly!

So, with that thought, I did not realize that I was completely bound in darkness and I slept soundly.

‘Stick with the plan!’ My brain added. ‘Oh, I will!’ And I smiled as I fell asleep in the comfortable seat of Sofia’s private airplane.