Chapter 07

Napatingin na lamang ang babae sa dalawa na tahimik na nagbubulungan sa harap niya. Bumaba rin ang tingin nito sa kamay ni Kaizer na nakahawak sa bewang ni Lauren. By looking at them you can see how well their chemistry with each other. They suit each other.

“Hindi kita kilala at isa pa ayokong maki-alam sa problema mo.” Mariin at pabulong na tugon ni Lauren.

Nagbakasyon siya para kahit sandali ay makalayo sa problema, subalit sinong mag-aakala na wala pang isang araw… halos ilang oras pa lang siyang nandoon, heto at may problema na agad na nakasunod sa kanya.

“Just this one miss. I promise I will pay you back. Anything you want in return for your help." Pabalik nitong bulong sa babae.

Hindi man gusto ni Kaizer ang humingi ng tulong sa iba, ngunit sa mga ganitong pagkakataon ay wala na siyang pagpipilian.

Nakikita niyang wala namang interes ang babae sa kanya at isa ‘yong sign para doon siya humingi ng tulong. Dahil kung ibang babae ‘yon, panigurado na iyon naman ang magiging problema niya pagkatapos. Napabuntong hininga na lamang siya sa sitwasyon niya ngayon.

“Love, please don’t be mad at me. Hmm…?”

Tanging pag-iling na lang ang nagawa ni Lauren. Ano pa nga ba ang magagawa niya? Baka kapag hindi niya sinunod ang hiling nito ay hindi na siya makauwi. 

Magulat na lang sila na palutang-lutang na ang katawan niya sa dagat. Kahit mahirap ang buhay niya sa ngayon... mas pipiliin niya pa rin ang mabuhay.

Huminga muna ng malalim si Lauren at tila naiirita itong tumingin kay Kaizer bago nagsalita.

“Where have you been? Kanina pa ako naghihintay dito.” Napataas na rin ang kilay niya nang tanungin niya ang lalaki. Sa huli ay nagdesisyon siyang tulungan na lang ang lalaki.

Matapos marinig ni Kaizer ang mga salitang iyon ay nakahinga siya ng maluwag. Mabuti naman at nakuha agad nito ang gusto niyang iparating.

“Sorry, I just need to meet some business partners. Hindi ko naman gustong iwan ka rito mag-isa.” Napangisi si Lauren sa excuse ng lalaki. Napakabilis mag-isip ng palusot. 

Well, she already started it, just as well play along with it. Lauren crossed her arms in front of her chest.

“You mean, she's one of your business partners?” Lauren asks, emphasizing the word business partner, then looks at the woman from head to toe.

Upon seeing Lauren's face up close, he was reminded of someone. But he has no time to remember that person.

Lauren smiles at Claudia. Her sweet smile makes Claudia shiver and feels like a cold sweat was dripping into her body. She didn't know but she felt intimidated by Lauren's presence.

“Ah... D-don't get me wrong. I didn't know that he really has a girlfriend. I thought it was a joke when he said that.”

Lauren wants to smash Kaizer's face for making Claudia looks so pitiful. And for making her an escape route. Nilipat ni Lauren ang tingin mula sa babae tapos ay kay Kaizer na hindi pa rin inaalis ang kamay sa bewang niya.

She's getting uncomfortable with how intimate they are. She's not used to that kind of gesture. She never had a dating life, to begin with!

By looking at his dominating presence, Lauren was sure that he was one of those bachelors that were wealthy and powerful. Plus, with the good looks, all in all… he was a complete package. No wonder this woman kept on chasing and clinging to him.

Sino nga naman ang tatanggi sa lalaking ito, ‘di ba? Bukod sa kanya, mukhang wala na yata.

“Unfortunately, it’s not a joke. Now that you know that he has a girlfriend, I’m pretty sure you will stop chasing him, right?” mataray na saad ni Lauren.

Hiling niya ay matapos na ang dramang ito. Sana pala ay dumiretso na lang siya sa food hall para kumain, kung bakit kasi naisipan niya pa ang manatili nang ilang sandali doon. Naging instant actress tuloy siya ng wala sa oras.

Hindi alam ni Claudia kung anong magiging reaksyon niya ng mga oras na ‘yon. Lauren might think that she’s so desperate on Kaizer right now. But, she’s far from that and if she knew their relationship from the very beginning, she wouldn’t cling to him like that. Yes, she’s somewhat attractive to him but learning that he had a girlfriend… She knows her limit. 

Ngunit, paano naman niya maipapangako na hindi niya na ito susundan kung si Kaizer ang dahilan kung bakit siya nasa cruise ship.

Naramdaman ni Kaizer ang pagtitig sa kanya ni Lauren. A sign that she was asking for some help. Instead of looking at Claudia, he looks at Lauren warmly and even smiles at her. “You must be hungry, let's go inside.” Before Claudia could react, he swiftly left by dragging Lauren and leaving Claudia alone.

Claudia gritted her teeth and cursed as she could only look at the couple walking away from her. She was extremely pissed off.

Kaya lang naman siya pumayag na pumunta sa cruise ship ay dahil naipit na siya sa problema ng kompanya nila at si Kaizer lang ang makakatulong dito. The CEO of Emerald Corporation, aside from that, he’s the vice president of Falcon Empire. One of the well-known multi-industry companies. It would be a great help in their company and family status.

.

.

.

Nang makita ni Lauren na malayo na sila at nasa loob na sila ng cruise ship, agad hinatak ni Lauren pabalik ang kamay niyang hawak-hawak ni Kaizer. Napa-haplos na lang si Lauren sa kamay niya.

"I'm Sorry." paghingi ng tawad ni Kaizer nang makita ang namumulang pala-pulsuhan ng dalaga. Dahil sa pagmamadali kanina na makaalis ay hindi napansin ni Kaizer na napa-higpit na pala ang pagkaka-hawak niya sa kamay ni Lauren.

Naka-tahimik lang si Lauren sa tabi. Walang ideya sa kung anong sasabihin at wala rin naman siyang balak magsalita.

The silence breaks, when a growling sound that came from Lauren's stomach was heard. Lauren wants to dig up a hole and bury herself because of embarrassment.

Kaizer let out a chuckle. At this moment he remembers the face of the girl who bumps into him at the club.

The light that night was enough for him to clearly see her face and remember it.  

Natawa muli ang lalaki. Pagkakataon nga naman. Sa tingin ni Lauren ay mas lalong namula ang mukha niya dahil sa inasal ng lalaki.

Jason, who is Kaizer's assistant, hurriedly walked to where his boss and Lauren were. He let out a sigh of relief knowing his boss was not in a foul mood. Instead, he seems happy.

"Shall we eat?" He warmly said then offered his hand. Lauren almost opens her mouth to say something when he cuts her off. "Please don't reject my offer and your stomach is already complaining, for you to refuse it." Kaizer teasingly stated.

Kahit nagmumukha na siyang kamatis dahil sa kahihiyan ay tinanggap niya ang alok nito.

Nang marinig ni Jason ang sinabi ng kanyang amo ay agad siyang nagsalita. “Sir, I already made arrangements for you.”

Tila walang narinig si Kaizer. Sa halip ay tumingin siya kay Lauren saka ini-angkla ang kamay ng babae sa kanyang braso.

Akala ni Jason ay makakaligtas na siya mula sa pang-iiwan niya kanina kay Kaizer.

Kaizer only looks at Jason. He didn’t say any words to him but it was like his eyes were telling him… ‘What are you waiting for? Move!'

Sa kabila ng kaba na nararamdaman niya ng mga oras na iyon ay nagawa niya pa ring ngumiti at kumilos ng maayos.

'Keep calm and don't mess up.' Jason repeatedly said to himself.

Jason leads the way to the suite where Kaizer was staying.

The place was so spacious that Lauren spaced out for a moment. It was bigger than her room in their house. Aside from being spacious, all the things you need are there.

Nang matapos libutin ni Lauren ng tingin sa kabuuan ng kwarto, nalipat ang tingin niya kay Kaizer. Pamilyar talaga sa kanya ang mukha ng lalaki. Hindi namalayan ni Lauren na nakatingin na pala sa kanya si Kaizer. Masyado siyang abala sa kakaisip kung saan niya nga ba nakita ang lalaki.

"Oh my gosh!" Pasigaw na saad ni Lauren sabay takip sa bibig.

Nagulat at napangunot-noo na lang si Kaizer sa ikinilos nito. 'Did she possess some spirits?'  He thought.

Nanlalaki ang mata ni Lauren nang ituro niya si Kaizer. "YOU!" wika nito.

"What about me?" takang tanong ni Kaizer. Mukhang gutom na gutom na talaga 'to kaya kung ano-ano ang ginagawa. Napailing na lang siya sa naisip.

"You're Kaizer Alvarez!" pasinghap na sabi ni Lauren. "Ibig sabihin, ikaw ang may ari ng sikat at kilalang Emerald Corporation. Ikaw din ‘yong Vice Chairman ng Falcon Empire! The young heir behind the success of Falcon Empire in just three years when it was in the brink of bankruptcy." dagdag nito. Puno ng pagkagulat ang mukha ni Lauren.

"You seem to know a lot about the business industry."

Gusto niya ng biyakin ang ulo niya para lang halungkatin sa isip kung sino ba ang lalaki. At nang maalala niya kung sino ito, hindi niya alam kung matutuwa ba siya lalo na’t kasama niya ito ngayon, o matatakot dahil kasama niya ito ngayon pero hindi niya agad nakilala.