The Benefits of Lucas Montemayor

002

Irene's Point of View

I woke up because of the ray of sunshine peeking through my eyes. I opened my eyes and saw Lucas beside me. The pillow separating us was gone.

‘Wait, nothing happened to us, right?’ I said to myself. Lucas was half-naked and in a deep sleep. I can't look at his face for too long.

“Don't stare at my face, I can sense you,”

he whispered. I stood up. What happened last night?

“Then do whatever I say,” he said when our lips parted. I was able to answer. That was so fast. I don't want him to think that I'm an easy girl.

“For your security, you need to live in my apartment,” he said while staring at me.

I was about to protest when we started to walk. When we got there, Johnny smiled.

“Who said go home now, but still accepted the case? This is the first time that you brought a client at night,” Johnny said while looking at me. “Good evening, Ms. Irene, did Lucas force you?” he asked me. I slightly laughed.

“No, I willingly went with him. Maybe my safety is part of my consultation,” I said. He nodded.

“Yes, ensuring our client's safety is our priority. But clients don't live here. I smell something fishy,” Johnny said.

“You can sleep here on the sofa,” Lucas said while pointing at the sofa they always sit on.

I nodded when Johnny spoke, “No, you're the one who will sleep on the sofa. You're so ungentlemanly. Irene is a woman. You should act properly,” Johnny said. I only smiled at him and nodded.

“But you can use mine. I won't mind sleeping on the couch,” Johnny added. But I feel shy because I'm here. I shouldn't be too picky with where I should sleep. And I'm used to this whenever my cousins and aunt visit us from New York because they always use my bed.

“Fine, you can use my bed and I'll sleep on the couch.” Lucas stared at me for a while then sighed. Hours passed and I was comfortably lying on the bed wearing only a sando when someone barged into this room.

“Who's that?” I said. I prepared the pillow in case this is not Lucas.

“It's just me. I can't sleep on the couch. Can we share in the bed?” he asked. I didn't know what to answer when he suddenly took off his shirt. I turned my back at him.

What can I do? I placed a pillow in the middle and on the farthest part of the bed. I don't want him to see my face while I'm asleep. Especially when I drool.

I stood up to take a bath and fix myself. Sad to say, but I don't have any clothes besides my spare underwear I always bring in case I stay at my friend's house for a night, because most of the time, they only let me borrow some of their clothes.

I saw a closet that I think was Lucas’. I'll just inform him later when he's awake. I reached for a T-shirt and shorts and wore them. I went to the kitchen and luckily, there are still ingredients there. Maybe the landlady put these here so Lucas can cook.

I fried their leftover rice. There were also eggs and hotdogs. I used these to make a make-ahead egg and cheese sandwich. I also prepared black coffees and put them on the table in the living room.

I patted Lucas. He opened his eyes. He's still handsome even though he only woke up.

“Good morning, Mr. Lucas,” I greeted him while smiling.

He looked at me for a moment and answered, “you can call me Lucas, stop being formal.” He stood up and sat on the sofa.

I gave him a plate and spoon and we started eating. “By the way, I stole clothes from your closet. I don't have any spare clothes.” He only nodded at me.

I was shocked when someone shouted,

“What a nice breakfast! Let me guess, Irene cooked it,” Johnny said. He's with Sapphire.

“Lucas, what's that smell? Don't tell me you experimented again,” a voice shouted. Maybe this is Sapphire's mother, the landlady of this apartment.

“Oh, is she your girlfriend?” she asked while looking at me. “Wait, she's my favorite actress. You're good with choosing, huh,” she added. I lowered my head.

“Mom, she's not Tito Lucas’ girlfriend. For now, she's still his client,” Sapphire said.

“Sapphire,” Lucas shouted. She only hugged her mom that made me laugh.

“Let's eat?” I said. Johnny quickly sat on the chair and scooped some rice. The landlady sat beside me.

“Hija, I'm Celen. I'm Lucas's cousin. My daughter's Sapphire,” she introduced and reached for my hand which I gladly accepted.

“Irene Cassel. Nice to meet you.”

“Hija, I already know you. I always watch you whenever you have shown. And you're the first person whom Lucas let sleep here. I think he likes you,” she said and scooped some food.

“Something's good going on in here. It's a miracle that you're here. Looks like Lucas ate his words when he said that he won't accept your case,” Larry said. Everyone looked at him. Johnny invited him to join. He accepted it.

After a few minutes of conversing with each other, everything went back to normal. Lucas was smoking tobacco. He was holding a paper, I think he was solving something. Johnny was by my side, reading a book about medicine. While Larry, the inspector, was reading a newspaper.

Larry angrily threw the newspaper he was holding. “Jack the Ripper's case is leading among many other cases,” he said. Lucas was looking at him mockingly.

“Well, how can you catch Jack the Ripper if you're useless? Besides, I have a case to solve. Let's go, Irene,” Lucas said. He reached for the scarf and put it on me. The two coughed. I turned around and went down.

“Irene, wait,” Johnny stopped me while wearing their uniform.

“Larry and I will go with you, guys, too,” he said. I nodded. We're going to the theater where we do our rehearsals.

Everyone was there when I informed them that I'll just go to my room to investigate. “Director, we're just going to my dressing room to investigate the death threats I received.” We went inside the room and Lucas looked at the doorknob.

“Are you the only one who can enter here?” he asked that I answered yes. “I see, are there any people who have the key aside from you?”

“The janitress and the director, they have the key to this room,” I said. He nodded.

“Johnny, investigate the four, possible suspects. Sierra, Sera, janitress and the director,” Lucas commanded. Johnny nodded. He looked at the table where I usually see the threats. He looked around and stopped in front of me. I closed my eyes but no lips landed on mine. I quickly opened my eyes.

“Tell me, Irene. What's with you that caught my interest? Why am I so interested in you?” Lucas asked while looking at me.

“Really, at this time?” Larry said. I didn't notice that he was near the door checking the lockpicking marks.

I suddenly feel shy. “Are the flowers here always like this? Larry asked. I answered yes.

“Look, Lucas. It seemed like Manipulator X is interested in Irene, too,” he teased while showing the paper cut into letter M to Lucas.

Who is that Manipulator X?