So It's You (Filipino)

CHAPTER 7

"Have you found her phone?"

"Not yet, sir. It seems to have sunk deep into the water… but we found this."

The man handed him a wallet. He opened it, glanced inside, and frowned.

"Fiona Dela Vega?" he muttered, examining the I.D. with a furrowed brow. His eyes glued on her picture. Her hair was short right just above her shoulder.

"What should we do next, Sir?"

Huminga muna siya ng malalim habang hindi pa rin inaalis ang kanyang paningin sa litrato nito. Humigpit ang pagkakahawak niya sa wallet habang nagtatagis ang kanyang mga bagang. Maya-maya pa ay inangat niya ang kanyang mukha upang tumingin sa kanyang kausap na noo'y naghihintay ng kanyang sagot.

"Bring her suitcase upstairs and leave it in the guest room," utos niya sa malamig na boses.

"Yes, Sir."

He cast one last glance at her picture, then slipped it carefully back into the wallet.

"Sir, she's awake," announced another man, dressed in a black suit and tie, as he strode into the room.

"Okay. You two may go now. Your jobs' done. I'll call you again when I need you. Also, make sure the public won't know about this."

The two men bowed as a sign of respect and left his study room.

===========

The moment I opened my eyes, I found myself surrounded by three maids, two nurses, and a doctor — all gathered around the bed. A sudden pain struck the top of my head when I attempted to sit up, my body weak and sluggish.

"Huwag mong pilitin ang sarili mong magkikilos at lalong sasakit ang ulo mo."

"Manang Esther?"

A warm smile spread across her lips.

"Buti na lang buhay at ligtas ka." Hinaplos nito ang aking pisngi.

Saglit akong natigilan sa sinabi nito. "Buhay? Bakit ho? Ano hong ibig niyong sabihin?"

"I saved you.......again."

A deep icy voice said that made my heart panicked. His words echoed throughout the room. And with a confident stride, he, now, towered over me beside the bed. His cold gaze was unblinking, almost frosty. The intensity of it made me feel small.

"Y-you?" I stuttered, squinting at him. I tried to move my body, but I couldn't. My left part of my rib ached when I tried to sit up.

"Manang, prepare her meal. Bring it up here, thank you," utos nito. Hindi man lang makikitaan ng kahit na anong emosyon ang mukha nito.

Agad namang tumalima si Manang Esther kasunod ang dalawa pang katulong. Sumunod na lumabas ang dalawang nurse at naiwan silang tatlo kasama ang doctor.

"How's her head Doc?"

"Let's be thankful she didn't lose much blood dahil hindi naman ganun kalaki ang sugat niya sa ulo. There's nothing wrong also sa function ng brain niya. Everything seems normal. She will just experience a mild headache, depending on whether she will stay in bed and avoid roaming around. At sa sprain sa ankle niya, continuous lang ang cold compress to lessen the swelling and it'll be fine. I will give prescriptions for the medicine she needs to take for her fast recovery and to avoid infections on her headwound."

"Thank you so much, Doc. I appreciate it," ani ng gwapong lalaki. Hindi man nito nagwang ngumiti sa doctor.

"No problem. Call me again when you need me."

After a brief handshake, they walked to the door. I could hear them speaking faintly, but not enough to understand. A few minutes later, the doctor finally stepped out and left.

I swallowed nervously when he walked back inside. His face betrayed nothing, unruffled and stern. I tried not to meet his piercing stare, forcing my eyes elsewhere. Then he cleared his throat, the sound sharp in the silence.

"So, Fiona Dela Vega, right?"

I felt my cheeks heat up when he mentioned my name. Why does my name sound sexy when he said it? Or maybe that was just my imagination.

Shut up!

"I want to tha--"

"Who's your father?"

I frowned and my head tilted at his question. "What?"

He scoffed. "I assumed you didn't lose your hearing from being drowned," he said, smirking.

"Why are you asking about my father?" I gave him a hoisted eyebrow.

He sighed heavily and gave me a stern look. "Never mind. I'll find my ways."

A suspicious look has drawn to my face. I don't understand why of all the questions he could ask me, why that?

His icy gaze landed on me. No expression or even single emotion on his face. He was just standing there so still. My suspicions grew even more. What's with him?

I was about to say something when someone entered the room.

"Señorito, handa na po ang guest room."

"Wait what? Guest room?" I asked then slowly looked around. Don't tell me I'm in.... "This isn't the guest room?"

"You're in my room.... again."

My mouth gaped and cheeks burned with the imagination that I'm lying on a mattress where he sleeps on. "I'm in your room? W-why here?"

He replied with a hiss then his sculpted jaw stiffened.

"Really? Is that what you're going to say?"

I made a curious stare. "What?"

He shot piercing gaze before turning around. "Brat."

"Wait! Where are you going?"

"Shut up," he said then marched out of the room. The three maids then walked in right after.

"Manang Esther."

Hinawakan niya ang kamay ko at pinisil. "Kamusta na ang pakiramdam mo?

I gave her a soft smile and try to sit up again.

"Dahan-dahan lang," anito at inalalayan akong makaupo ng maayos.

"Thank you po."

"Walang ano man, iha. Heto at kainin mong lahat ito. Wala ka pang kinakain simula kahapon."

My stomach suddenly grumbled as I saw the foods she had prepared. At walang sabi-sabi, agad kong nilantakan ang mga pagkain. Gutom na gutom na talaga ako.

"Hinay-hinay lang at mabulunan ka. Baka iyan pa ang makapatay sayo," natatawa nitong saad habang pinapanood ako sa pagkain.

"Ang sarap ho nang pagkaluto niyo, Manang Esther. Turuan niyo po ako kung paano gawin 'tong seafood soup. Buttered shrimp lang po alam ko."

Natawa ito sa sinabi ko. "Oo naman kaya dapat gumaling ka na."

"Kamusta ho pala si Mang Isko at yung kasama niyang binata?"

"Ayun sa awa ng Diyos ay ligtas rin sila. Buti nakatawag agad sila ng tulong kay Señorito."

I felt a surge of relief at her words.

"Siya ho ba ang nagligtas sakin?"

Napangiti ito. "Oo. Ang sabi sakin ni Isko eh di man lang daw ininda ni Señorito yung bali niya sa kamay mailigtas ka lang. Nawalan ka raw ng malay nun at dumudugo ang ulo mo. Buti na CPR ka ni Señorito kasi wala ka na raw pulso at hindi na tumitibok ang puso mo."

Napanganga ako sa kwento ni Manang Esther. Hindi ko akalain na talagang nawalan ako ng buhay ng ilang minuto.

"Ganun ho ba?"

Hindi ko lubos maisip na sa kabila ng pagkamuhi sa akin ng lalaking iyon, nagawa niya akong tulungan at muling patuluyin sa bahay at sa mismong kwarto pa nito.

"Oo kaya't dito ka na dinala sa villa dahil mas delikado pa kung pipilitin pa nila makapunta ng bayan dahil malayo-layo pa iyon."

"Bakit hindi po ako sa guest room dinala? Bakit dito pa sa kwarto niya?"

Nagkibit-balikat si Manang Esther. "Hindi ko rin alam, eh. Siguro dahil mas malaki itong kwarto at mas malambot ang kama. Para mas komportable ka."

Hindi ako nakuntento sa dahilang iyon. Nag a-assume ka ba na may espesyal na pagtingin sayo yung tao?

Napailing ako sa sariling kong imahinasyon.

Asa ka.

Pagkatapos kong kumain ay ininom ko ang gamot na iniabot sa akin ni Manang Esther. Diri-diretso kong sinaid ang tubig sa baso baka sakali mawala ang kaba ng dibdib ko dahil sa mga iniisip ko.

"Sige na at magpahinga ka na. Bukas na tayo magkwentuhan ulit. Kailangan mo mag ipon ng lakas," paalam nito.

"Opo, Manang Esther. Salamat po ulit."

Tumango ito at pinisil ang kamay ko.

"Manang Esther sandali..."

Akma na itong lalabas ng kwarto nang muli ko itong tawagin.

Agad itong lumapit sa akin. "Bakit may problema ba iha?"

"Gusto ko pong lumipat ng guest room."

"Ha? Pero--"

"NO."

A firm, deep voice comes through. There, a masculine figure was standing right by the door. I noticed he already changed clothes into something warm and comfy. His white t-shirt perfectly hugged his hard torso. I swallowed at the sight then looked away quickly before he could notice that I'm admiring his physical features.

"Señorito," gulat na sambit ni Manang Esther.

"Manang, you may go now and rest. Thank you for taking care of her."

"Opo, Señorito." Marahang tumango si Manang Esther at lumakad na palabas ng pinto.

"You know what, I can't stay here. This is n-"

A smug look formed his handsome face. "Don't assume that I will sleep here with you. I'm not that stupid. It's just that you're not supposed to be moving around. Lay there and rest, you hard-headed brat."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa huling sinabi nito. Lalo lang sumakit ang ulo ko sa lalaking ito. Pero ininda ko na lamang iyon dahil baka palayasin na naman ako na nito nang wala sa oras.

"You should have left me there to die. What's the point of me staying here and you giving me fake concern? I thought you hated me that much why did you save me then?"

"Don't confuse hatred with inhumanity. Saving you was meaningless. I just couldn't afford and accept the fact that someone died inside my territory. Who would want that on their conscience? Of course, no one would, right?"

I didn't reply.

"Once you're fine, you may leave right away. But right now, since you're still under my responsibility and you're here in my territory, you will do everything I want you to do," anito sa malamig at seryosong anyo.

Ngumisi ako ng mapakla sa sinabi nito at tiningnan ito direkta sa mga mata nito. "Then why didn't you just send me to the hospital right now so you-"

"Are you stupid?" putol nito sa sasabihin ko.

"What?" I frowned, giving him a puzzled look.

He sighed boringly and walked closer to the bed. He stood tall and he look so gorgeous in those simple outfits. My breath hastened as he was a few feet away from me.

"What do you think people would say if they saw me carrying a lifeless woman into a hospital? The rumors are already raging online about us having an affair, and the paparazzi swarm like vultures. I won’t give them the satisfaction of turning lies into headlines."

Now, I'm the next one to give a smug face. "Now it's your fault, you shouldn't have taken me the moment I passed out that time on the road that day."

He chuckled. "Then what? So, they would think of me as the bad guy? Leaving a stupid woman in the middle of the road? Look, Miss Troublemaker brat, I have a name and reputation to protect from silly tabloid stories because of some silly people like you. I'm doing these things for my own good and not for you."

My ears heat up because of such names he was calling me. I may be dumb sometimes but I'm not a troublemaker brat!

I was about to say something he raised a finger to silence me.

"You better shut your mouth and do everything I say as long you're in my territory. I'll be over you as soon as you recover," he said with gritted teeth.

He turned back on me, heading to the door when he suddenly stopped and spoke. "And lastly, stop fantasizing about everything that I did for you 'coz you will never be my type. Stop dreaming. Tomorrow morning you'll be in the guest room, so you better get up early."

"You're unbelievable! How dare you accuse me of that crazy idea of yours! Who told you I'm fantasizing you? You're not also my type! Keep that in mind!"

"Easy Miss Troublemaker. In that case, I guess we have no more problem about that, have we?"

He shut the door with a bit of force while I was left there burning up in anger. How could he think of me that I'm fantasizing him?! I was just appreciating his looks, but it didn't mean I was trying to flirt with him and imagining things that shouldn't be! That's all!

I want to kick him in the balls! Argh!

"You jerk! Why would I fantasize someone like you? You're just good-looking but have no manners! You're not going to be my type!" I shouted. I hope he could hear that too!

Napaisip ako bigla kung saan ko ba siya unang nakita dahil mukhang pamilyar sa kanya ang mukha nito at boses.

"Sh*t! It's him!" Ilang sandali akong natigalpo nang bigla kong maalala na siya ang lalaking biglang sumingit sa amin ni Layla para sumakay ng taxi pauwi. Lalaking ni hindi man lang humingi ng pasensya at napaka walang modo!

So, I guess I'll never going to have a nice sleep tonight because of that jerk!

=========

"Did you find her?"

"Her flight with his boyfriend to Canada will be tomorrow morning."

He sighed then his jaw tightened. He then poured another shot of whiskey and drank it straight.

"Do you want us to ---"

"No! Let her leave. I know she'll come back to me and beg for forgiveness," he said to the other line and hung up the phone.