Kabanata 12
1235 Words
Keeyan
"P-Pardon, Sir Keeyan?" My older brother's secretary asked after I told her what I wanted to happen.
I glanced at Rachel's room. "Please have the entire Anjo World completely empty by seven thirty. I want it open until Rachel and I are done exploring the park."
"Teka lang ho, Sir. Anong oras na ho kasi. I still have to negotiate with them--"
"Pull all the connections you can find, please CC?" I begged.
I heard him sigh. "Ginagamitan mo na naman ako niyang lambing mo, Sir Keeyan alam mo nang mahina ang tuhod ko sa ganyan mo. Bakit kasi hindi ka na lang sa sekretarya ni Sir Keegan nagpapa-mission impossible, eh. Trip na trip mo talagang gawing kumplikado ang buhay ko to the point na mamumuti na bulbol ko sa'yo."
I laughed. Napalakas pa dahil sa kalokohan niya. "You're really crazy, CC. I'm sure kuya Keeva will roll his eyes if he heard you."
"Naku, Sir kanina pa nakatitig sa akin ang kapatid mo. Kulang na lang mabasag ng matalim niyang tingin ang salaming naghihiwalay sa opisina namin."
I smirked. "He probably thinks you're flirting over the phone. Selos lang 'yan. Parang hindi mo naman kilala mga kapatid ko."
"Ay, naku Sir hindi ko type si Sir Keeva. Sa'yo na lang ako bubukangkang kung sakaling kayo lang ang choices ko."
I clicked my tongue. "I knew you love me more so I have faith that you'll be able to secure the park for me."
"May magagawa pa ba ako, Sir kun'di ang ipaubaya ka sa babaeng nagpapakilig sa kuyukot mo?" biro niya.
I laughed. "I know you won't let me down."
She faked a sigh. "Oo na. Dahil mahal na mahal kita, gagawan ko ng paraan. Pero kapag hindi pumayag, ipapabili ko kay Sir Keeva. Wala na 'yon magagawa. Mag-unli rides na lang kaming dalawa nang ma-relax naman ako."
"Good idea. He's not gonna fire you anyway. He loves you more than he loves his vintage cameras."
Tumawa siya. "Ay, oo naman, Sir. Ako yata ang baga at sikmura nitong kapatid mo. Hindi makahinga o makakain kapag wala ako rito sa opisina."
I smirked. Of course, he will not be at peace when CC isn't around. He's into her anyway.
Pareho lang sila ni Keegan na denial. Mga may lihim na pagtingin sa mga sekretarya nila. Parang mga hindi anak ni Daddy at hindi apo ni Lolo kung makapag-deny sa mga sarili nila.
I crossed my legs in a manly way when I remembered my brothers losing their minds when both of their secretary didn't report to work at the same day. Parehong dependent sa mga sekretarya nila.
I don't mind seeing them go gaga over their secretaries though. I just don't have a good feeling about Zaiah, Keegan's secretary. She's okay and nice but something is really off about her.
"Wait ka lang, Sir. Maghokus-pokus lang ako rito. Magnanakaw lang ako ng milyones ni Sir Keeva pambili ko ng park kapag hindi sila pumayag," aniya.
Kung iba siguro ang kausap ni CC ay pinag-isipan na siya ng masama sa pananalita niya, but I've known CC since she started working for kuya. She's a woman of honor and never had us question her integrity. After all, she has access to my brother's accounts but kuya never lost a single dime.
I waited for a few minutes while CC placed me on hold so she can start doing her magic, and just when Rachel finally went out of her room wearing a pair of jeans and a white shirt that matched her rubber shoes, CC gave me the go signal that the park has already been reserved.
I smirked. "Thanks, CC. What did you do, hmm?"
"A magician never reveals her secret, Sir. Basta enjoy ka na lang. Saka na natin isipin ang init ng ulo ni Sir Keeva kapag nalaman niyang nalagasan na naman siya ng twenty million."
I laughed, making Rachel glance at me while she brushes her hair in front of the mirror. Parang nag-oobserba at pasimpleng nakikinig sa akin.
"I'll wire the money to your account, don't worry. Ako ang bahala sa'yo, CC."
"Sige po para ilipat ko rin sa account ni Sir Keeva. Sige na, Sir at kung titigan ako ng kapatid mo kulang na lang isipin niyang nagpapakasal na ako sa telepono. Habambuhay pa naman akong gustong gawing majang nito para habambuhay ko rin siyang pagtiisan."
I chuckled softly. CC and her humor never gets old.
"Alright, love you, CC you're the best. I'll see you when I get back to Manila," I said before I ended the call.
My last words to CC made Rachel pause from brushing her hair. Napansin ko ring parang nag-iba ang ekspresyong nakaguhit sa maamo niyang mukha.
I stood up and smiled at her. "I didn't know you'll look even better in jeans."
Pinilit niyang ngumiti. "Hindi ba . . . magagalit ang kausap mo na aalis tayo? Kung magagalit at mapapahamak ka lang, huwag na, ah? Ayos lang naman, eh. Pwede ko naman puntahan 'yong Anjo World kapag may free time na ulit at may extra'ng pera na ako."
Nalukot ang noo ko. Magagalit? Bakit magagalit?
"Who? CC?" tanong ko.
She nodded. "O-Oo. Baka magalit sa'yo, eh. Inaalala lang din kita."
"No, she wouldn't mind. You don't have to worry about me."
Napansin kong bahagyang nalukot ang noo niya. "She? B-Babae 'yong kausap mo?"
"Uh, yeah. Why?"
"K-Kasi nag-ano, nag-I love you ka. G-Girlfriend mo ba 'yon?"
I noticed her cheeks slightly burned red yet her entire facial expression told me that she's jealous. Ewan. Maybe I'm being delusional at this point but I want to believe that her slightly pouting lips and sharper eyes are proofs that Rachel didn't like the idea of me saying I love you to CC.
The thought of her being jealous made my heart happy, no matter how weird that is.
God, the things this woman can do to me. Hindi naman ako mahilig mag-assume pero ewan. Iba yata ang tama ko rito.
Napangisi na lang ako saka ko tinawid ang distansya namin nang tuluyan kong pinaniwalaan ang sarili kong delusyon.
"CC is my brother's secretary. We're good friends and I am not interested in her," I said, giving the assurance she didn't even ask for.
Lalo siyang nahirapang salubungin ang tingin ko. It's hard to tell actually if she's really jealous or she's just plainly annoyed at this point, but I want to be delusional and think that we're making progress. That I'm on my last semester before I graduate as her friend.
Humugot siya ng hininga bago inilapag ang hair brush. "A-Ayos lang naman, eh. Friends lang din naman tayo."
I put my left hand in my pocket while I'm keeping my gaze on her, observing even the slightest movement of her furrowed brows. "We're the different kind of friends, love."
Her cute lips pouted a bit while she still struggles to meet my gaze. "Bakit . . . iba?"
I let out a sigh. "CC and I are the type of friends that will remain friends for life."
"And . . . what about us?" she asked.
I tucked her hair behind her ear. "Sasama ang loob ko kung hanggang dulo, kaibigan pa rin kita."
"Bakit naman? Hindi mo ba ako nakikita as long-term friend mo?" parang nagtatampo na niyang tanong.
"Long-term friend? No. Long-term girlfriend? I smirked. "Damn yes . . ."
- Writer
