Mafia: Blood Lust

V - Are you okay?

He didn't respond and that made me laughed again. His eyebrows furrowed while still looking at me.

"How did you know my name?"

I stopped from laughing. Bobo ba 'to?

"'Cause your name tag is on your suit,"

Duh!

May biglang bumisina sa gawi namin kaya naman nasilawan ako sa ilaw ng sasakyan.

Wait... this car is familiar to me!

Pinarking niya yong sasakyan at hindi nag tagal lumabas din siya. As soon as he gets closer, the more I recognize him.

"What's going on?"

Bago ako sumagot, tinignan ko mula ulo hanggang paa si Huang, and I looked at Sir Zach again.

"They are harassing-"

"Sir, all her clothes and important things to her are already on our suit case-"

"What's all these fuss, bastard?" mahinahon niyang tanong kay Mr. Huang.

Ang angas niya talaga. Kahit nag mura na siya, ang kalmado niya pa rin pakinggan.

"You don't know anything. So will you excuse-"

He grabbed his collar and he punched him in the face without any hesitation. His body fell on the ground, struggling to get up.

Tinignan niya yong mga lalaki at binitawan nila agad yong mga gamit ko. Tinulungan nila si Mr. Huang patayuin at papasukin sa loob ng kotse. Hindi nag tagal umalis din sila.

"You're coming with me." Kiuha niya yong mga gamit at pinasok niya sa loob ng kotse.

"H-huh? Teka... bakit?" tanong ko habang ko siya hinabol-habol.

He walked closer to me and that made us stared for a second.

"Just f*****g follow me. And don't say anything while we're on a road, got it?"

Tumingin siya ulit sakin. "Y-yes..."

"Good,"

Bumisina siya sakin and that made me flinched. I got back to my senses kaya nag madali akong naglakad papunta sa kotse niya.

I spaced out because I couldn't comprehend about the situation right now.

I don't even know who Huang is! Even the property he was talking about. Tapos ngayon pinapasama ako ni Sir Zach sakaniya?!

"Saan ba tayo?" mahina kong tanong habang ko sinusuot 'yong seatbelt.

I didn't hear any response kaya huminga ako nang malalim. Oh yeah, I shouldn't talk. Gosh, I'm so dumb!

Hindi ko namalayan na nakatulog ako sa biyahe. I woke up when I heard a noise.

Lumabas ako ng kotse nang buksan niya yong pinto at napatigil ko nang makilala kong nasasaan kami.

"Follow me." he said.

Tapos niya na pala kunin yong mga gamit ko. Hinabol ko siya pag pasok sa isang malaking building at napatigil kami nang may sumalubong saming lalaki.

Oh my gosh! Siya yong lalaking iniwan ako sa loob ng office ni Sir ah!

"Uy, new hairstyle ah?!" tumawa ako.

"Oo naman, ako pa ba?" he laughed as well.

We went silent when we noticed the guy beside me was serious. His jaw clenched and he handed him my things.

"You know what to do."

"Masusunod!" agad niyang kinuha yong mga gamit ko at umalis agad.

"Pwede bang umuwi agad ako pagkatapos i-check yong mga gamit ko? Baka kasi hanapin ako ng Mama ko at ng kapatid ko." Mahina kong sabi habang kami naglalakad papunta sa elevator.

Once again, he didn't respond. Pakiramdam ko talaga hangin kausap ko minsan.

Pagkalabas namin ng elevator, pumunta kami sa loob ng office niya. Tinanggal niya yong coat niya sabay umupo. May kinuha siyang ballpen at makakapal na papel at binuksan niya yong pc.

So anong gagawin ko rito?!

I took a deep sigh and I sat down on his sofa. Nakakabored naman! Yong cellphone ko naroon pa ata sa bag na suit case nong lalaki kanina.

Humiga ako sa sofa at pinanood ko siyang mag trabaho. Ang gwapo niya pala talaga...

"May jowa ka ba?"

Napatakip ako ng bibig nang ma-realize ko na napalakas ko ang pag tanong ko sakaniya. Oh, my gosh, Faizah! Another day, another kahihiyan nanaman!!!

He looked at me, looking surprised. Please! Baka isipin niyang bet ko siya! Baka isipin niyang desperada ako! 'Di ko kasalanan na masyado ako madaldal pagdating sakaniya. Nakaka curious talaga kasi siya! Kadalasan hindi ko siya mabasa.

"Wala." he took his phone when his phone rang. He stood up and he held the doorknob. "Excuse me." he said before he went outside on his office.

Sino kaya 'yong babaeng lumandi sakaniya noong kita namin? Oh my gosh. Baka tinatago niya na jowa niya 'yon?! Red flaaag!!!

Pero Infairness! Kahit minsan hangin kausap ko napaka gentlemen niya talaga! Mostly mga nagiging kaibigan kong lalaki hindi ganoon.

Well I guess it's a bareminimum as a human being... but still! It feels weird to me being treated like that.

Mga ilang minuto pumasok siya ulit. "Let's eat. Let's go." aya niya.

Bigla ako napabangon at hinabol ko nanaman siya palabas ng office niya. "Saan tayo kakain?" tanong ko habang kami nag lalakad sa hallway.

Well, as I expected, wala siyang sagot. Grabe naman 'to. Kadalasan mga sagutan niya iisang word lang.

Nang makababa kami sa first floor, ramdam ko 'yong mga mata ng mga tao naka tingin samin. Okay, superrr awkward at nakakahiya! Ano meron?! Siguro iniisip nilang kabit niya ako!

Taas noo akong naglakad hanggang sa mauna ako. Alam ko naman ang punta namin sa parking lot, e. Okay, Fye, let's go! Hindi tayo kabit. Masyado akong maganda para maging kabit!

Nang makarating ako sa parking lot, hindi ko na nararamdaman presensya niya. Tumingin ako sa likuran ko at nanlaki mga mata ko nang makita ko na wala na siya.

What the f**k? Where is he?! Oh, gosh! Napaka desisyon ko naman kasi. Baka hindi talaga kami sa parking lot?!

Naglakad ako papaalis sa parking lot habang ko tinitignan ang mga bawat sulok, nagbabaka sakaling makita ko siya.

"Where the hell have you been, Vera?"

Halos mapatalon ako sa gulat nang marinig ko 'yong boses niya. I immediately turned around and I gave him an apologetic smile. "Akala ko kasi sa parking lot tayo," I forced my laugh.

He raised his eyebrow at me and that made me rolled my eyes. Attitude ah!

"Bilisan mo. Naubos na oras natin dito."

I took a deep sigh and followed him.

Tumigil kami sa isang maliit na restaurant pero halatang mamahalin. Pumasok kami sa loob at kokonti lang halos 'yong kumakain.

We picked out table seat and checked the menu for our meal. "Hmm..." I hummed while reading the menu.

Gosh, I'm seriously not familiar with these foods! Chicken lang 'yong alam ko rito at tubig! Ganoon na ba ako kahirap?!

"Have you decided?"

"Uh..." I pursed my lips. "Hindi ako familiar sa menu nila, e." I shyly smiled. "Ba't kasi hindi nalang sa karinderya?"

His eyebrow raised. "What? Karin... what?" he looked confused.

Pucha mayaman nga pala 'to. I cleared my throat. "Ka rin der ya. Karinderya. Kainan 'yon. Marami kang makikita sa daan. Masasarap pa ulam! Kaso hindi nga lang aicon... pero mura naman mga paninda nila."

He nodded. He checked his wrist watch and he looked at me again. "I don't see any karinderya here... and I have work to do later so we have to be quick. Let's just order the food I will order."

I smiled at him and I nodded. Tinawag niya 'yong waiter at sinabi niya 'yong o-orderin niya. "Okay. 20 minutes sir."

While we were waiting, I couldn't help not to stare at him. I couldn't believe I'm eating on a fancy restaurant with this man.

I mean, if I will describe him if I were a stranger, I would say he's a wealthy man and luxurious.

He's wearing a formal suit like what CEO does and a wrist gold watch. I can say he's workaholic. He's a type of man who would rather spend his time to work and earn money rather than cheating with other women.

He's also looks like the type of person who's unbothered, that's why I can't read him. And lastly, his aura will make me— as a stranger for example— curious about his life. Like... what's going on with his life behind his job.

The ordered finally arrived and that made me get back to my senses. I picked the fork and I took a bite on my food.

"Ang sarap!" I said exclaimed.

"Can stop raising your voice? The fuck." inis niyang sabi.

I rolled my eyes at him at hindi siya pinansin. Bahala siya! Nag e-enjoy ako, e.

Pagkatapos naming kumain, he paid for the bill at diretso kaming lumabas ng restaurant. His office and this restaurant wasn't that far that's why we walked instead.

Nang makarating kami sa office room niya, he sat down on his swivel chair again and I sat down on his sofa.

Ay, naalala ko pala na siya 'yong nag bayad ng kinain namin kanina! Gosh, bayaran ko nalang kaya siya? Nakakahiya naman. Hindi nga kami halos close tapos ililibre niya ako sa fancy restaurant?!

"Zachary, bayaran nalang kita, okay? Nakakahiya kasi ikaw nag bayad kanina. Or gusto mo bawi nalang ako pag kumain ulit tayo? Karinderya lang ha! Hindi ko afford 'yong tulad kanina, e." I chuckled.

My smile suddenly faded when I realized I didn't say 'Mr' before his name!!! My gosh! Please! Lagi nalang!

"I-i mean Mr...Zachary!" I forced my smile. "Ano? Gusto mo ba?"

"Yeah, sure," ibinalik niya 'yong tingin niya sa monitor. "If we will meet again."

May biglang kumatok sa pintuan kaya natigil kami sa pag uusap. I insisted to open the door for him dahil busy rin siya.

"Uy!" pang bungad niya. "Narito na mga gamit mo, oh." inabot niya sakin yong suit case. "Wala kana po-problemahin diyan, Miss."

"Salamat," ngiti kong sabi.

"Boss! Ay ano... Sir Axel! Tapos na 'yon-"

Boss? Eh, parang mag katrabaho nga lang sila, e.

"Alam ko. Hindi ako bingi. Pwede kanang lumabas, Sebastian."

Sebastian...

I see.

"Awts. Halatang bebe time habang nag ta-trabaho, ah? Uso na pala ipagsabay 'yon?" tumingin siya sakin habang ngiting nakakaasar.

"Bakit moko tinitignan? Malay ko!" mabilis kong pag bawi.

Pagkalabas ni Sebastian sa office, nag vibrate 'yong cellphone ko.

From Aria:

san mga damit mo ate bat wala? pahiram sana ako ng dress

Ano ba 'to! Ano idadahilan ko rito?!

To Aria:

pina laundry ko lahat

Bobo, amp!

From Aria:

ha? ang dami nun ah. nasaan k raw ngayon?

To Aria:

bahay ng kaibigan ko ulit. pakisabi uuwi na ako bukas haha malapit lang naman bahay nito

From Aria:

gegege ingat k raw

Phew! Shet, muntik na 'yon, ah. Mabuti nalang napaniwala ko sila.

"Uh... pwede na ba ako umuwi bukas?"

"You can go home anytime you want."

Lumiwanag ang ngiti ko sa tuwa. Sa wakas!

"However, you don't have the spare key yet. Kaya may dadaanan tayo mamaya."

My smile immediately faded. Huh? Anong spare key pinagsasabi nito?

"Teka... anong spare key? Hindi kami nag ga-ganyan sa bahay,"

He looked at me. "I mean, the mansion. OUR house," he emphasized.

Halos malaglag ang panga ako at hindi ma-proseso sa utak ko 'yong sinabi niya.

OUR?!

OUR MANSION?!

NANANAGINIP BA AKO?!

"Please... hampasin mo ako ng papel na hawak mo para ako magising," napasapo ako sa noo.

"For f**k's sake, let me focus here. I will talk to your Mother regarding this,"

So, kilala niya rin si Mama?! Tangina.

Hindi ako magtataka kung mas alam niya pa 'yong sarili ko kesa sakin. Pucha.

"Okay, last question..."

Napahilamos siya sa muka at ibinagsak niya 'yong papel.

"Bakit ang dami mong alam sa buhay ko? Ha? Pati si mama kilala mo?" kunot noo kong tanong.

He took a deep sigh. "Does it matter? The fuck."

"Seriously... who are you?" I whispered.

9 pm na kami naka labas ng office niya kaya naman nag drive thru kami sa McDonald's at nagpagawa ng spare key sa mansion n-a-m-i-n.

1 week has passed, Sir Zach already talked to my mom and I clarified things with Aria, Emma, and Liam.

Noong una ayaw nila maniwala at nainis pa si Emma dahil bakit hindi ako nag kwento sakaniya na may boyfriend na raw ako.

"Hindi ko 'yon jowa, okay?! We... uh... have some business to do! Kaya kailangan kong tumira roon temporarily." I lied.

"Ate, promise mo na papasyalin mo kami roon ah!"

"Oo naman 'no! Also... uuwi uwi naman din ako roon sa bahay pag wala kaming importanteng gagawin,"

"Like?" Emma asked while smirking.

My eyes widened when I realized what she meant. Hinampas ko siya sa trabaho kaya naman nag tawanan silang dalawa ni Liam pero si Aria hindi.

"Huh? Ano raw?" napakamot siya sa ulo. "Nevermind. Kailangan ko nang umalis, bye!" kinuha niya yong bagpack niya at umalis.

Nang makaalis si Aria, nagusap usap ulit kami kong paano ko nakilala siya.

"You should careful to that guy, Vera. You don't know him." pagpapayo ni Liam.

"Yeah, I will. And don't worry... if anything happens, I will call one of you." I smiled.

"Ano pala sabi ng mama mo, 'te?" tanong ni Emma.

"Nong una syempre nag dalawang isip siya pero wala raw siyang magagawa. Honestly... medyo nagaalala nga ako kasi paano kung umatake nanaman sakit niya tapos wala si Aria?" I took a sigh.

"I'm pretty sure Aria wouldn't let her alone there. She will make everything settled kapag siya aalis. Isipin mo rin sarili mo. Kaya naman ni Mama mo sarili niya, malakas pa nga 'yon, eh."

That somehow lessened my overthinking. Yeah, Emma was right. Kaya pa naman ni Mama ang sarili niya at hindi naman 'yon iiwan ni Aria nang basta basta.

"Good morning." pang babati ko sakaniya.

"Morning," he said while filling his cup.

"It's our semester break kaya baka narito lang ako sa bahay. May gusto ka bang ipagawa? Ipabili?"

'Yong trato namin sa isa't isa parang matagal nang magkakilala— pero hindi pang kaibigan. Kumbaga acquaintance lang kami.

"None,"

He went to work early dahil may emergency meeting na magaganap.

I feed Moon before I go to a*****e. This house gives me so much boredom that's why I decided to buy some foods for us.

"Let's go?" I said while smiling at moon. I held her leash at lumabas kami ng bahay.

Hindi ganoon kalayo yong store rito kaya hindi ko na kailangan mag tricycle.

Nang makarating kami, agad akong pinunta sa kada aisle.

I bought some bread, biscuits, junk foods, fruits, and some drinks.

And some ingredients kong mag ba-bake man ako pag na bored ako.

Nang matapos ako magpa counter, Hinila ko 'yong leash ni Moon at naglakad kami palabas.

While we were walking at the road, I was sensing someone's presence. It feels like someone is following me...

Pero nasa labas naman kami kaya baka parehas kami ng daan.

Binilisan ko ang paglalakad ko dahil hindi ko maiwasan hindi matakot at kabahan. Maliit lang kasi na aso si Moon. I would be brave if she's a pit bull.

Nang makarating ako sa street namin, ramdam ko pa rin yong presensya ng tao na iyon at yong tunog ng footsteps.

Napag pasyahan kong buhatin nalang si Moon para mabilis kaming makauwi.

I ran as fast as I could until I lost the person who was following me.

Nang makauwi kami, pumasok agad ako sa loob at linock ko yong mga pinto at sinara 'yong mga kurtina.

I didn't hesitate to text Sir Zach. I would rather risk my life to text him— knowing that he will get mad rather than ending my life because of someone.

To: Sir Zach

may naka sunod sakin kanina hanggang sa bungad ng street natin

Wala pang isang minuto nag popped out sa notification 'yong reply niya.

From: Sir Zach

What? Did you saw the face by any chance?

I pursed my lips. s**t, I didn't saw his face.

To: Sir Zach

hindi pero naka itim siya tapos matangkad at malaki ang katawan. naka mask siya kaya hindi ko nakilala

From: Sir Zach

On my way home now.

My eyes widened and that made me bite my finger.

Nakakahiya naman! Busy na busy suya sa trabaho tapos napauwi siya dahil lang dito?!

Tumunog 'yong doorbell kaya halos mabitawan ko 'yong dellphone ko sa gulat.

Dahan-dahan akong nag lakad sabay sumilip ako sa peephole.

Nakahinga ako nang maluwag nang makilala ko, si Zach pala.

I opened the door and he immediately went inside.

"I checked the CCTV and I know who that asshole is."

What?! Kilala niya?! Gosh, halos lahat nalang alam niya ah. Pero sino kaya 'yon?

"Sino 'yon? At bakit niya ako sinusundan?" I asked while my eyebrows are furrowed.

"...I don't know that yet." he removed his coat and looked at me.

He walked close to me. "Are you okay? Did you get hurt?"