5. EYES 1

NAIA, Pasay City, Philippines

January 2018

TRACE

“Where’s my car?” tanong ko agad kay Franco, ang executive assistant ko sa lahat ng legal business na mayroon ako. Ang main office ng mga legal business ko ay nasa Makati. 

I owned an 88-storey building in Makati, naroon ang pinaka-main office ng real estate company na sinimulan ko pagkapasa ko pa lang ng board exam sa architecture. I am an architect in profession and I am well-known for my designs, at kahit ano pang pangit na image ang naikokonekta sa pagkatao ko dahil sa mga kalokohan ko sa Salvacion at sa kung saang panig man ako napunta dahil sa trip ko, ay balewala sa mga ka-business deals ko. I even designed one of Dubai’s commercial area. I am famous for my architectural designs but infamous for my sex* drive and angry issues.

“Nasa parking ang kotse mo, Sir Trace.” Franco gave me the car keys after informing me of the location of my car. 

“Go back to the office. I need to find Paige first.” Tumalikod na ako para iwan siya. Nakahakbang na ako nang humabol siya sa akin. I gave him a glance, what the fuck* he need? 

“But, Sir Trace…” alanganin ang boses na sabi niya na umagapay sa bawat hakbang ko. I didn’t stop walking. Kung may sasabihin siya ay sabihin lang niya agad. “Ipaabot ko lang sana ‘yong request ng board. Gusto ka nila makausap dahil marami ang pending na project. They need your signature.”

“Gaano kadami ang pipirmahan ko?” tanong ko habang itinatali ang may kahabaan kong buhok habang lumalakad. Tinatamad ako magpirma pero ano ba magagawa ko at ako ang CEO pa rin ng company.

“Kailangan niyo ng three to five days straight sa office.” 

I smirked to myself. What a load of papers I need to face. Fuck*! 

Mapapasabak naman pala ako sa corporate world ng tatlong araw. Kung hindi ko lang kailangan ng front na legal businesses para mapagtakpan mga illegal ko na pinagkakakitaan ay hindi ako mag-aabala pa sa real estate business ko. 

“No problem, susunduin ko lang si Paige. After that ay pupunta na ako sa office. Prepare all the documents that needed my signatures, and about business proposals ay siguraduhin mong nabasa mo nang maayos para okay tayo. Ayokong ginagago,” ani ko at tinalikuran na si Franco. 

I stepped forward at malayo-layo pa ako sa pinakamalapit na exit papunta sa parking area na sinabi ni Franco kung saan niya iniwan ang kotse ko. I was walking fast when a teenager holding her phone bumped into me. 

Tang ina! Hindi kasi tumitingin sa daan! Aga-aga ay binabadtrip na ako. 

“Sorry…” sabi nito. She has a sweet voice. 

I gave her a look as I wanna remind her not to use her phone while walking. I was about to start my beast mode but I was stunned when I saw her eyes. Damn! She has beautiful eyes. Cobalt blue that it was almost purple. The teenager possessed an interesting face too. Her eyelashes were long and looked natural. She didn’t have any makeup on her face but she has perfect pinkish-white skin. And her lips, damn…

Ipinilig ko ang aking ulo dahil sa kung ano-ano na ang nilakbay ng isip ko. Tang ina! She looks sixteen but she is tall at her age. And her eyes… she reminds me of someone from the past.

I just nod at her. Kinalma ko ang sarili sa kung ano ang nasa utak ko na tumatakbo. First, wala ako sa Agrianthropos kaya kapag naglibugan ako dahil sa teenager na  ito ay maghahanap pa ako ng babae para makaraos ako. Secoond and last, no matter how pretty her eyes are ay hindi ako pumapatol sa teenager. I am not into spring chicken. I am into mature women. Kung hindi kasing-edad ni Paige ang teenager na nasa harap ko ay baka mas bata pa sa kapatid ko. 

My eyes looked at her slender body and lingered on her skin. Tang ina… I remember her skin na dumikit lang sa akin ng saglit kanina at naging dahilan para umalerto agad ang alaga ko. Fucking* sex* drive! Hindi naman ako nagkukulang sa babae para makaisip ng sex* sa simpleng pagkadikit lang ng balat namin pero… Damn…

Tinalikuran ko na at iniwan ang magandang teenager at malayo na ang aking nahakbang nang hindi ko mapigilan ang sarili na lingunin ang dalagita. The teenage girl was with her parents as I cam seeing. I smiled bitterly at tumalikod na muli. Ang nakita ko ay nagpaalala lang sa akin ng masayang kabataan namin ni Paige… noong buhay pa si Mama at wala pang Louisianna na—-

Putangina ni Louisianna! Iyon na lang ang masasabi ko sa walang kwentang demonya na kagaya niya!

****

CHLOE

I was in awe. Wow! The man is so gorgeous. He looked like he was in his mid-20s, I think… yet he was a very striking man, even with his messy hair and bearded face. I followed him with my eyes while he was walking away from me. 

The man is now four meters away from me, but still, I can see him. Hoping he would turn to glance at me. OMG! Ang pogi talaga niya!

Yes, he was handsome, and his hazel-brown eyes had penetrated my soul. I was still waiting for him to look back at me, but he did not, and I pouted as I felt sad. I checked on my clothes, probably the man didn’t find me pretty because of my simple outfit. Maybe he assumed I was young because I only wore denim shorts, a black tank top, and pink sneakers. Oh yeah, right… I really look like fifteen and not nineteen.

I continued walking to look for my Aunt Carmela and Uncle Ronald. We had just arrived here in the Philippines. I left them when I got thirsty and looked for bottled water to buy. Yep, I was thirsty and already drank water to rehydrate myself, but the man's attractive way of staring at me earlier made me want to drink more. 

I looked at him again, but I think he was now heading exits. Oh… sayang at mukha akong bata sa eyes niya.

I am sexy, and I know it... but he didn't notice. Poor me! 

I just smiled at my last thought. I probably am pretty and young, but my looks were not enough for sure to be appealing to that attractive man. He looks so good that even supermodels would be nothing compared to him. I used to see beautiful people in the USA, especially in California, as Hollywood was just a drive away from Pasadena, only 26 to 27 kilometers from our house. But even though I always visit some friends living near Hollywood, no man had taken my breath away like how that handsome man earlier did to me. 

Yes, I know. I really do have a crush on him. How I wish I know his name.

But come to think of it, how come I am into that kind of guy, and why do I keep looking at his back?

I shook my head in disbelief of myself. I always prefer clean and nice-looking guys. That man's imposing aura exceeded my preference, although he’s not my type. And the way his long hair was tied above his head and showed his tattooed nape heeds a warning to me that I should not think of his face and yumminess. He is out of my league.

“Let’s go, Chloe…” The sweet voice of Aunt Carmela made me smile at her as I saw her two meters away from me.

“Yes, aunt.” I walked fast to follow her but couldn’t control my mind as I glanced at the exit area again, hoping I could still see the man. I sighed as he was no longer there. How sad.

I tried to look around the area with dreamy eyes while looking at the vast airport with scattered people, but I couldn’t see him at all… he had already left the area for sure. 

I breathed deep in and out... I wish I could see him again and get to know his name.

“Chloe…” Aunt Carmela called my name again sweetly. She is my mother’s twin sister, but she is very different from my mom. Aunt Carmela is so sweet, while my mother is a bit snob.

The planned vacation was supposed to be for me and my older sister Carly. Still, since my sister needs to go to New York then, I am the only one to enjoy a vacation in this country. I was smiling when I thought of Carly. How I wished that I would be like my sister too. Carly was still in college, but the offers for work were already on her feet. My sister is excellent, and I have idolized her since we were small. 

Indeed. Carly will always be the best, and I am always proud of her.