He's My Naked Decision

He's My Naked Decision 08

CHAPTER 8

•••

That's how it should be

•••

Kaagad nakarating si Mitch sa company ni Lianne Agonia— her famous interior designer and one of her very dear friend.

Kaagad na nagtungo si Mitch sa elevator para makaakyat sa opisina ni Lianne. She smiled at everyone who greeted her. Kilala na siya ng mga nagtatrabaho ro'n dahil bukod kay Rexjene, si Lianne ang malimit niyang guluhin sa mga panahon na ganito— iyong may hindi pagkakaunawaan sa kanila ng ina niya.

Nginitian lamang ng secretary ni Lianne unang sumalubong kay Mitch nang marating niya ang top floor ng building kung nasaan ang opisina ni Lianne. Hindi na siya pinigilan nito nang magtuloy-tuloy siya papasok sa opisina ng CEO— the very famous Lianne Agonia. Kilala naman na rin kasi siya nito na isa sa malalapit na kaibigan ni Lianne.

"Lia! How are you my dear friend?"

Mitch smiled widely at Lianne who was a bit startled with her presence. Hindi rin naman masisi ni Mitch ang naging reaksyon ng kaibigan dahil biglaan din naman ang pagpunta niya.

"What's with the surprise visit? Take a seat," nakangiting sabi ni Lianne, pagkaraan.

Nagkibit balikat lang naman si Mitch at nagtuloy-tuloy sa papasok ng opisina ng kaibigan at naupo sa visitor's chair.

Mitch was about to say something when her eyes settled on a guy who was sleeping on the long sofa inside the office of Lianne.

"Kailan pa naging hotel 'tong opisina mo?" nakataas ang kilay na tanong ni Mitch.

"What are you talking about, Mitchie?" Inginuso ni Mitch ang lalaking tulog na tulog sa long sofa sa may receiving area ng opisina ni Lianne. "Bakit dito natutulog 'yan?"

Mas lalong tumaas ang kilay ni Mitch nang kiming napangiti si Lianne. Napansin niya rin ang pamumula ng mga pisngi ng kaibigan at tila nahihiya. Lianne was flustered and shy because of that guy.

"Ah... Eh... Something came up. He needs a rest." Lianne faked his laugh to hide her embarrassment. "At mapapagod lang siya kung uuwi pa siya kaya riyan ko na lang siya pinatulog."

Napatango-tango naman si Mitch sa sinabi ng kaibigan.

"He is the guy on the Lucky 9 game, right?" usisa ni Mitch bago kumportableng sumandal sa kinauupuan.

"Yeah. Why?"

Nagkibit balikat lang si Mitch pagkatapos ay matamang tiningnan si Lianne. She felt something was off with her friend. At bilang si Mitch na matabil ang dila at prangka, hindi niya napigilang sabihin ang napuna sa kaibigan.

"It's just that I remembered, you are the same person who told me that sofa is for visitors and meeting-like instances." Michelle shrugged before eyeing the sleeping guy with a questioning look. "Sabi mo, hindi dapat iyon tinutulugan kasi hindi naman 'yon kama. You also said back then, as an interior designer, you don't approve people who misuse the real purpose of a furniture." Mitch averted her gaze to Lianne. A mysterious smile appear on her lips when Lianne avoided her stare.

Lianne even bit her bottom lip as her cheeks became even deep red.

"What's with the sudden change, my dear Lia?" Napataas ang kilay ni Mitch nang hindi kaagad nakasagot ang kaibigan.

"A-ano bang pinagsasabi mo? I didn't change," Lianne answered in her soft voice

Mitch chuckled because of the defensive voice used by Lianne.

"Whatever, Lia. Just be sure that this guy will not hurt you." Mitch extended her hand to reach for Lia's arm. But she was taken aback when Lianne flinched from hee touch— like she was hurt.

Natigilan naman si Mitch.

"Oh! I'm sorry! What did I do?" nagtatakang tanong ni Mitch.

"Uhmn... Don't mind me." Ngumiti lang naman si Lianne pero halata sa mga mata nito ang sakit na iniinda sa kaniyang braso.

Hindi iyon nakaligtas sa mga mata ni Mitch— mas kumunot ang noo niya sa naging paghimas ni Lianne sa parte ng braso nito kung saan niya ito nahawakan na para bang may pinapawi na sakit.

Kaya naman inabot ni Mitch ang braso ng kaibigan. Her eyes widen when she saw a bruise.

"Who did this to you?" Mitch felt sudden anger.

Nag-init ang ulo ni Mitch nang nag-iwas lang ng tingin si Lianne at hindi siya sinagot.

"Lianne! I am asking you! Sinong may gawa niyang pasa mo?" Mitch insisted. "Alam mong hindi ako titigil kapag hindi mo sa akin sinabi," Mitch warned. She couldn't hide the anger and concern she felt for her friend.

Lianne is a very sweet woman. She didn't deserve any kind of pain.

"W-Wala. Tumama lang 'yan dun..." Lianned sighed before forcing another smile. "...Do'n sa table."

Mitch rolled her eyes and seriously held Lianne's gaze.

"Don't lie to me. I know it when you are lying. Now, tell me who did that to you?"

"Aksidente lang naman iyon. Hindi naman niya sinasadya." Mitch followed Lianne's gaze which landed on the sleeping figure of the guy on the sofa.

"So, sinaktan ka ng lalaking 'yan?" madiin ang bawat salita ni Mitch. Nararamdaman niya ang galit.

"No. No, Mitch! He didn't hurt me. Everything was just an accident."

Mitch knew that Lianne was lying to her. Paanong magiging aksidente ang gano'n kalaking pasa. She wanted to ask her friend why was she protecting the guy who hurt her. Pero, hindi rin nakaligtas sa mga mata niya ang pagmamakaawa nito na huwag niyang awayin ang lalaki.

Lianne was protecting the guy. From that, Mitch already knew that something was going on.

"Kapag sinaktan ka ulit ng lalaking 'yan, sabihin mo sa akin. I will let this go, for now. Just for now." Mitch heaved a sigh. Mas sumakit bigla ang ulo niya.

"Thank you, Mitchie!"

"Whatever!"

Sabay na lang na natawa si Mitch at Lianne. Mitch wanted to punch the face of the guy who hurt her friend but she didn't have the right. Her friend was even protecting him from her— she couldn't go overboard.

"So, what's with your visit?" Lianne sat on the chair behind her desk, across Mitch.

Nailing naman si Mitch nang maalala na naman ang dahilan kung bakit nga ba siya napadpad sa opisina ni Lianne.

"Nothing serious. Gusto ko lang mag-cool down sa pambubwisit sa akin ng nanay ko kaya pumunta ako rito. Remember the job as a choreographer you were giving to me? Is it still available?"

Sandaling nag-isip si Lianne 'tapos ay napangusong nagbalik ng tingin kay Mitch.

"I was offering that job to you last month! My God, Mitchie! They've already looked for another choreographer because I told them you were busy because you are not saying even a thing about that." Lianne rolled her eyes. "Tapos ngayon mo lang itatanong ang tungkol diyan."

"Oh. Last month mo pa pala inalok iyon sa akin? s**t! Ngayon ko lang naalala."

Napailing -iling naman si Lianne sa sinabi ni Mitch.

"Baliw ka talagang babae ka. By the way, mind if you tell me what is it now between you and your mom?"

As if on cue, biglang na-badtrip muli si Mitch. Napanguso siya bago napahilot sa sentido niya. Sunod-sunod ding pumasok sa utak niya ang ang masasamang pinagsasabi ng nanay niya tungkol kay Lee, noon hanggang ngayon.

"Ano pa nga ba ang palagi naming hindi napagkakasunduan ng nanay ko?"

"Her attitude?"

Mitch chuckled before nodding. "Her f*****g attitude," Mitch said with a matter-of-fact tone.

Natawa lang naman si Lianne sa sinabi niya. Batid din kasi ng kaibigan kung gaano sila hindi nagkakasundo na mag-ina.

"So what with her f attitude?" tanong ni Lianne as she leaned on her desk and intently stared at her friend.

"I will tell you what's with the thing between me and my mom if you will say f*cking." Mitch grinned when Lianne scrunched her face. "F*CKING ATTITUDE," she added before releasing soft laughs.

"Mitchie! I don't want to!" ungot naman ni Lianne.

"Sige na, Lianne. Dali na. My day will be good when I hear you cuss. I dreamed for this day, you know? Come on... Just say f*****g for once."

Mitch showed her puppy eyes to Lianne, making sure she would do what she asked for.

"If I say that f word, aayos iyong araw mo?"

Kaagad na tumango si Mitch.

Lianne heaved a deep sigh.

"Okay. I will do this because you are my friend and I want your day to be good."

"Yehey!" Napapalakpak pa si Mitch dahil sa excitement na maririnig niya na si Lianne na magmura sa unang pagkakataon.

"F-f**k—"

"Don't say it."

Kaagad napabaling ang magkaibigan sa biglang nagsalita na naging dahilan para maputol ang sasabihin ni Lianne.

Kaagad na napataas ang kilay ni Mitch nang bumaling ang tingin niya sa sumabat sa usapan nila ni Lianne— Walang iba kun'di ang lalaking kanina lang ay tulog na tulog sa sofa pero ngayon ay nakaupo na at matamang nakatingin sa kanila.

"You know that you do not cuss, Lia."

Mas tumaas ang kilay ni Mitch dahil sa sinabi ng lalaki. Kung makapagsalita kasi ito, para bang matagal na nitong kilala si Lianne. Samantalang halos wala pa ngang isang buwan na nagsimula ang Lucky 9. Ibig sabihin, he didn't know Lia that much like how Mitch knew her. Anong karapatan nitong utusan si Lianne?

"Stop meddling with other's business, Mister," mataray na sabi ni Mitch sa lalaki na ngayon ay bumaling naman sa kaniya.

"You are Lia's friend and you should know that she does not cuss. Bakit mo siya pinipilit?"

Mitch was appalled for a moment before she looked angrily at the man who's saying things about hers and Lianne's friendship.

"Oh? Alam mo pala iyon?" Sarkastikong natawa si Mitch bago sinamaan ng tingin ang lalaki na nakuha ni Lianne sa Lucky 9 game. "So alam mo rin bang hindi sinasaktan si Lianne?"

Mitch smirked when the guy was taken aback from what she said. Natigilan ito bago tumiim ang bagang.

"Lianne was treated as a princess by her parents and by the people around her. I can't accept the fact that a trash like you hurt her, by the way."

"Mitchie..." awat ni Lianne sa kaibigan. Alam niyang hindi si Michelle ang tipo ng tao na mananahimik na lang kapag may nakitang mali.

Mitch huffed a deep sigh before she rolled her eyes at the guy who's hair was disheveled, looking like a zombie because of his stressed out face and red eyes.

"I am sorry, Lianne. Siguro next time ko na lang ikukwento sa 'yo 'yung tungkol sa nanay ko dahil lalo lang nasira ang araw ko. Let's talk some other time. "

With that, Mitch raised from her seat and looked fiercely on the guy who made her day badder.

"Mister? I know Lianne doesn't curse. But flashnews, I suddenly want to teach her. Alam mo ba kung bakit?" Humalukipkip si Mitch bago hinahod ng tingin ang lalaking ngayon ay nakakuyom ang mga kamay sa magkabilang gilid nito. "Para hindi na siya masaktan ulit ng kung sinong Pontio Pilato. And another thing, this is for hurting my friend." Then Mitch showed the guy her middle finger and mouthed f**k you before leaving the Lianne's office.

Walang lingon siyang lumabas ng opisina ng kaibigan.

Mitch heaved a deep sigh when she was finally on her car. Now, she didn't know where to go. Ayaw niyang umuwi sa bahay dahil nando'n si Lee at alam niyang nagtatampo pa rin siya sa ginawa sa kaniya ni Lee kagabi.

Ayaw din naman ni Mitch na magpunta sa Sweet Haven dahil mas'yado pang maaga. It's just three o'clock in the afternoon— too early for going to a club.

Dahil naisip ni Mitch ang oras, awtomatikong kumulo ang sikmura niya at doon niya naisip na hindi pa pala siya nananghalian. Kaya naman, napagdesisyunan niyang kumain na lang muna.

So, she drove to the nearest restaurant.

Pagkarating doon, mas naramdaman ni Mitch ang gutom kaya kaagad siyang naghanap ng upuan at um-order. Maybe food could be a good diversion from the stresses around her.

While waiting for her order, Mitch was appreciating the interior design of the place. Very nice. Iba talaga kapag si Lianne ang gumawa. There was no doubt why Lianne was very famous in her craft.

Mitch was enjoying and appreciating the ambiance of the whole place when her gaze tuned to the farmost left corner of the restaurant— it was near the entrance.

Napakunot ang noo ni Mitch nang mapansin ang isang pamilyar na lalaki. May kasama itong babae na tingin ni Mitch ay nasa middle thirties ang edad.

Parang sinampal sa kaliwa't kanang pisngi si Mitch nang mapagsino ang lalaki. It's no other than, Lee Jared. Her jaw clenched with the fact that he was with another girl.

Hindi nakagalaw si Mitch nang inabot ng babae ang kamay ni Lee na nakapatong sa mesa. Pagkatapos no'n ay umangat ang kamay nito papunta sa dibdib ni Lee at marahang humaplos doon. Parang binibiyak ang puso ni Mitch sa nakikita.

Gusto niyang sugurin ang dalawa at hilahin patayo ro'n si Lee pero mas nanguna ang panginginig ng katawan niya dahil sa galit, inis at sakit. Hindi siya makagalaw.

Parang unti-unti siyang hindi makahinga dahil sa sobrang sakit. She wanted the pain to stop but she didn't know how.