Shiver

Shiver 4

The warming rays of the sun slowly peeked through the window into where I am sitting right now.

Mabilis akong yumuko at tinabunan ang mukha ng sariling mga kamay nang makita ko si Margaret na dumaan sa gilid ko.

Hindi ko alam kung pinaglalaruan ako ng tadhana pero nandito ako ngayon sa restaurant na dati kong pinagtatrabahuhan.

Lucien, the guy last night gave me the address of the restaurant which I didn’t notice that it was the restaurant I’ve worked for.

Kanina ko lang iyon napagtanto at hindi na sana ako sisipot nang maalala ko ang offer niya. Well, siguro kung hindi ko naman magustuhan ang ‘rules’ na sinasabi niya ay aalis ako dito, agad-agad.

Lucien isn’t late.

I glanced at my watch. Maaga ako ng 10 minutes dahil hinabol ko pa ang papaalis na jeep sa kanto.

Nagugutom na ako. I was about to stand to buy food outside when I heard the bell chimes at the door.

Napalingon ako doon at nakita ko ang isang lalaki na naka white button-down shirt na nakatupi hanggang siko at naka black na dress pants. His black hair styled perfectly.

Is this him?

Agad niya akong nakita at lumapit sa akin. Inalis din niya ang soot na black shades at umupo na sa aking harap.

“You’re early,” he said looking at my neck.

Hindi agad ako nakapagsalita. Medyo natigilan ako kasi kakaiba pala ang histura niya ngayong maayos ang kaniyang mukha at kasuotan kumpara sa nakita ko kagabi. He looks manly… and fresh.

Naka-simpleng black v-neck shirt lang ako at shorts na itim. Hindi ko suot ang kwintas ko dahil kagabi ko pa itong hindi makita. Sinubukan kong hanapin iyon pero wala talaga akong mapagkitaan. Huli kong ala-ala dito ay noong pinasok ko ito sa loob ng bulsa.

“Ah wala kasi akong sasakyan. Kailangan kong sumabay sa pagdaan ng jeep.”

He nodded then suddenly raised his hand.

“You’re hungry. Let’s eat first.”

When I heard footsteps behind me, I moved my face to the side.

Nahihiya kasi ako sa makakakita sa akin dito. Ayaw kong isipin nila na may kasama ako ngayong lalaki dahil gipit ako sa pera kahit na ang totoo ay nandito nga ako para doon.

“What’s your order sir?”

Narinig kong sinabi ni Lucien ang order niya. He even glanced at me to ask for my order but I only said ‘likewise’.

Hindi ako lumilingon sa waitress na nasa gilid ko hanggang sa umalis na siya papalayo.

I sighed heavily.

“So, you’re hiding?”

I looked back at him as he moved his chair near me. Kung kanina ay katapat ko siya, ngayon ay katabi ko na!

“Well, dito ako nagtratrabaho.. pero hindi na ngayon. Tinanggal nila ako kagabi kasi may natapunan ako ng sabaw sa customer.”

He pressed a thin line for a moment and gazed back at the counter.

“Sino sa kanila?”

“Don’t ask. And kung hindi nila ako tinermenate kagabi, hindi mo ako makikita sa tulay na iyon at wala ako rito sa harapan mo,” I said as if he will be affected by that.

He didn’t say anything. He just stared at me and moved his hand on the side of my face to touch my hair.

Naramdaman ko pang lumapat ng kaunti ang daliri niya sa pisngi ko. Iniwas ko ang mukha ko.

Hindi nagtagal ay dumating na ang order at nagsimula na kaming kumain.

This is my first time to taste the food in this restaurant. Wala rin kasi akong pambili para matikman ito kahit na dito ako nagtatrabaho dati.

We continued eating. The food being served was really good! Now I get it why I got terminated after a mistake.

When I saw him wiping his lips with a table napkin, I finished my food with a last bite of Veal Marsala.

He then cleared his throat and looked down at my plate.

“Eat more,” he commanded.

I shook my head then drink my water.

“Busog na ako.”

He then turned to me and nodded.

“Do you have anything to say or ask before I tell you my rules in this arrangement?”

Tumango ako sa kaniya.

“Why do I need it? I mean, bakit kailangang may rules? And why do you want this? I know you have countless of women who will flock their feet to marry you, why me? Kagabi mo lang ako nakilala sa gilid ng tulay. Hindi mo ba naisip na baka… may sayad ako sa utak kaya ako tatalon?”

Tumawa siya ng bahagya at pagkatapos ay hinila ang upuan ko papalit sa kanya as if hindi pa kami magkalapit eh halos maramdaman ko na ang hita niya sa hita ko.

“Too many questions love. I guess I’ll talk first.”

Umirap ako sa kawalan at pumangalumbaba sa mesa.

“First rule: Always tell the truth. I don’t want you to lie on me especially you will be living with me-”

I cut him and added..

“-and my sister”

“And your sister,” he added while smirking. “So now, I want to know your full name love.”

“Ember Elisha Eliares”

“Uh huh. Do you have any boyfriend? Better break up with him or I’ll cut his head.”

I scrunched up my nose.

“Wala akong boyfriend,” ni wala nga akong manliligaw. I want to add more but I shut my mouth.

“Suitor?”

I move my head from side to side and make a face.

“Just making sure. I don’t want them to think that you’re available, ‘coz you’re not…anymore. As per your question earlier, I have to marry as I am the only bachelor among my friends and they’re irritating to always ask me when to marry. So, I have to marry now before I’ll break their nose.”

Wow! Simple as that? Samantalang ako ay napakalalim ng dahilan ko kung bakit ko ito gagawin, tapos sa kaniya dahil lang ng ego? I forced myself not to judge him. We both have different reasons.

“What do you do for a living? Naninigurado lang at baka wala ka palang pera tapos inaalok mo ako ng kasal.”

He chuckled sexily.

“I’m a hematologist in my own hospital. I owned hundred of buildings here in the country. One of it is the Levithan Twin Towers. You’re familiar of that?”

Literal na nalaglag ang panga ko pagkatapos niyang sabihin iyon. Of course I know that tower! Kilalang-kilala ang building na iyon at never pa ako nakapunta sa loob.

“So.. do you believe now? Or should I show you my cards?” mayabang niyang tanong

Umiling naman ako.

“Bakit ako? Kung ganoon ka pala kayaman, bakit ako ang napili mo?” hindi ako kagandahan at alam kong maraming nakapilang babae sa kaniya.

“You’re desperate and I am not. But I can be desperate for you because I want you, Ember.”

Bigla ay uminit ang pisngi ko sa kaniyang sinabi. Walang umimik sa amin ilang sandali bago niya binasag ang katahimikan.

“That’s my first rule. I hope there will be no more interruptions for the second,” he smirked but he continued “Second rule is follow my orders-”

I cut him off again. Umigting ang panga niya pero hindi siya nagsalita.

“So kapag naiihi ako sa gabi, kailangan ko munang kumatok ng kwarto mo para magpaalam kung pwede bang umihi?”

“You don’t need to. You’ll be sleeping beside me and you can wake me to ask by simply kissing me.”

“Whattttt?” napasigaw ako ng malakas sa loob ng restaurant.

Napatingin ako sa bandang counter para masilip kung nakita ba ako ng mga dati kong katrabaho. Buti naman at hindi pala, pero madaming lumingon sa banda ko.

“Do you expect me to let you sleep away from me? Never gonna happen Ember. Never,” he said with conviction.

I calmed myself down. Okayyy. Siguro naman hindi siya gagawa ng mga bagay na labag sa kalooban ko.

I nodded at him after few minutes then he continued his talk.

“Following my orders mean, when I ask you to eat, you’ll eat,” glancing at the food on the table then back at my face. “Don’t worry I won’t demand too much. You’ll know about it some other time.”

Sumandal ako sa chair kalaunan at tinagilid ang ulo. Napatingin siya sa aking leeg saglit at umiwas ng tingin. He cleared his throat then looked at me again.

“Third rule: Make me happy.”

I raised my eyebrow then crossed my arms.

“How about me? Will you make me happy? O one-sided lang ‘to?”

“Ember…” huminga siya ng malalim na para bang nauubos na ang pasensiya sa akin.

Marahan niyang hinawi ang takas na buhok na nakaharang sa aking mukha.

My heart beats so loud. Para akong tumakbo ng ilang milya sa bilis ng t***k nito.

“I told you last night, I’ll give you the world. You don’t need to worry on that part with me.”

Umiwas ako ng tingin sa kanya at naramdaman ang pag-iinit ng mukha. Am I blushing?

Tinigil niya ang paghaplos sa aking buhok at bumulong malapit sa aking tenga.

“The last rule is don’t leave me. Don’t ever leave me Ember or I’ll lose my mind again,” he said while slowly touching my neck.

Para akong nahipnotismo sa haplos niya kaya napatango ako. Sobrang lapit ng mukha niya na sa oras na lumingon ako ay baka mahalikan ko siya.

Tumikhim ako at umayos ng pagkakaupo. He moved too.

“Sige,” sabi ko.

”Do you agree?”

“Wala na akong choice. You’re my only choice Lucien.”

Uminit ang pisngi ko nang sinabi iyon. I saw him licked his lips and smiles at me.

“Well then, we’ll get married tomorrow. Pack your things after this. You’ll come to my house with me."

Agad akong nagpanic.

“Hindi ko iiwan ang kapatid ko Lucien,” tumitig siya ng ilang saglit sa akin. Hindi ako nagpatalo sa titig dahil gusto kong malaman niya na seryoso akong hindi ko iiwan ang kapatid ko.

Nag-iwas siya ng tingin at umigting ang panga.

Ilang sandali pa ay huminga siya ng malalim at nilingon ako nang nakakunot ang noo.

“Okay. Be ready at 6pm. I’ll pick you up together with your sister.”

Nakahinga ako nang malalim doon.

“And one more thing, wear a jacket please,” he said while staring at my neck.

Ano kaya ang problema niya sa leeg ko at kanina niya pa itong tinitignan. Nagkibit ako ng balikat at tumayo na.

He stood too and raised his hand to call a waitress.

Agaran kong nakita ang paglapit ni Margaret. Nagulat siya sa akin nang makita ako doon na nakatayo at nanlalaki ang mata sa kaniya.

“Can you call your manager please?”

Lucien asked her and she immediately obliged.

Nagtaka ako kung bakit at paraan saan iyon. Akala ko ay magbabayad lamang siya ng pagkain pero nagkamali ako nang makalapit ang manager ay dinig na dinig ko ang sinabi niya.

“From this day forward, you’ll see yourself as a trash, worthless and pathetic person for neglecting the value of your employees. I don’t want to see your face anymore. So lock yourself in your room and never come out. Leave.”

Lucien’s expression narrows. He looked angry while staring at the manager’s eyes.

Nagulantang ako ng makita kong halos walang ekspresyon ang dati kong manager habang nakatitig kay Lucien. Tumango lang ito at walang sabing lumakad papalayo.

“What was that Lucien?” tanong ko nang may pagtataka

He just raised his lips and said....

“Anything for you my love.”