When We Collide

Chapter 4

Jacky’s P.O.V

Hindi ko alam kung anong mukha ang ihaharap ko sa boss kong ‘yon. Kasi naman Jacky! Kung hindi ka nagmadali nung mga oras na ‘yon hindi mo matatapunan ng maduming tubig na pinaglinisan mo ang boss mo! Pasalamat na lang talaga ako at mabait ang boss kong ‘yon. Bibit ko ang mga damit ni Martin na pinapakuha ni Maya. Pero bakit kailangan pa na sa iba tumira si Martin? Hindi na niya ba gusto ‘yung condo na inupahan ko para sa kaniya? Masyado na bang maliit? Well, ‘yung isang kwarto kasi dun puro merchandise niya na talagang pinagkagastusan ko pa. Doon lahat napupunta yung ibang sweldo ko. Gusto kong suportahan si Martin. Hindi niya rin alam kung anong meron sa kwartong ‘yon dahil hindi ko pinapabuksan sa kaniya.

Napadaan ako sa isang local boutique at napatingin sa mga damit. Kailan ba ako huling bumili ng damit para sa sarili ko?

“Do you like that Dress?” Napalingon ako ng marinig na may nasalita sa tabi ko. Nakita ko ang boss ko na si sir Ralph na nakatingin sa dress na tinitignan ko at tumingin sakin. “Won’t you buy that?”

“Wala po akong pera pambili ng damit na ‘yan,” sagot ko at nagsimulang maglakad ulit palayo sa kaniya. Bakit nandito itong boss ko? Don’t tell me talagang stalker ko ‘to.

“Do I pay you so little that you can’t afford to buy yourself a dress?” Narinig kong sabi niya. Napatigil ako napatingin sa kaniya. Iyong tingin niya ay parang curious siya. Napabuntong hininga ako.

“Hindi naman po sa ganun. Madami lang po akong gastusin sa tinitirhan ko,” sagot ko. Nakita ko naman ang seryoso siyang itsura na agad na ikinaba ko. Bakit mukhang galit siya?

“Why do you keep on saying ‘po’? I feel so old right now,” sabi niya na parang medyo… irita? Kasalanan ko bang boss ko siya at kailangan ko siyang igalang?

“Sir, boss ko po kayo. Hindi po ba masyadong rude ‘yon?” Tanong ko sa kaniya. Napabuntong hininga siya.

“You don’t need to address me boss every time we see each other. Call me Ralph instead,” sabi niya at ngumiti ng malapad. Hindi ko alam kung anong nangyari pero biglang tumibok ng mabilis ang puso ko. Anong nangyayari! Kumalma ka nga Jacky! Masyado kang weak pagdating sa gwapo! Hindi mas gwapo si Martin! Tama mas gwapo ang boyfriend mo kesa sa kaniya! Isang magaling at gwapong artista ang boyfriend mo. Wait! Speaking of boyfriend! YUNG MALL TOUR NI MARTIN!

“Sir! Kailangan ko na pong umalis!” Agad akong naglakad palayo. Hah! Kailangan kong puntahan si Martin sa Convention area ng mall na ‘to. Pero hindi ba injured ang paa niya? Bakit hindi na lang muna siya magpahinga.

Wait… bakit parang gumaan ata yung dala ko.

“I’ll help you carry it. Where are you going by the way?” Agad akong napalingon at nakita ko na hawak ni Sir Ralph ang bag na dala ko. Napakurap ako. Bakit nandito pa ‘tong lalaking ‘to?

“Sir?” Hindi ko inaasahan na makita siya sa likod ko. Teka! Sinusundan talaga ako ng taong ‘to. Automatically, naging masama ang tingin ko sa kaniya. Of course, sino bang gusto na may stalker! Nakita ko ang pagtaas ng isang kilay niya.

“Don’t look at me like I was a stalker! I told you I am not! I was just helping you,” he said and sighed then he smiled. “Maybe I can assume that you want me to really stalk you.”

“Then you’re really a stalker!?” Napataas ang boses ko na ikinalingon ng iba. Napansin ko ang mga tingin nila at tingin nila kay sir Ralph. Nakita ko ang pagdilim ng mukha nito.

“Do you not know how to take a joke?” sabi niya sa malalim na boses. Mukhang masisisante pa ata ako ng wala sa oras!

“Ladies and gentlemen! Let’s all welcome, our pinoy pride, Martin!” agad akong napatingin sa malapit na convention area. Madaming tao ang nakapaligid sa stage. Tila nagningning ang mata ko ng makita ko si Martin na lumabas sa back stage. Napatingin ako ako kay Sir Ralph.

“Sir! Punta tayo doon!” Sabi ko at agad na hinawakan ang kamay niya at hinigit siya papunta sa mga taong na nakapaligid sa stage! Gusto kong picture-an si Martin, maidadag sa collection ko.

Ralph’s P.O.V

This girl! I can’t believe her! One minute she shouted like I am some stalker and now she was dragging me towards that bloody screaming fangirls over some person who is not worth for my eyes to see? I went to get the bag that is super heavy. F*ck! She travelled here while carrying this heavy bag?

“KYAAAAAAAAAAAH! MARTIN!” I nearly put both my hands on my ears when I heard this girl beside me to scream like a banshee! Damn! Why this girl took me here? He’s not even handsome to begin with.

“Ang gwapo talaga niya,” I heard another girl said. I sighed and looked at Ms. Domingo. Wait, what was her name again? Jacky? She was just looking or more like admiring that guy who is in the stage.

Sa iyong ngiti, ako’y nahuhumaling,

at sa tuwing ikaw ay gagalaw ang mundo ko’y tumitigil.

Para lang sayo, itong awit ng aking puso,

Sanay mapansin mo rin ang lihim kong pagtingin.

Again, they screamed his name so loudly that I think my ears are gonna bleed. I think following this girl is a bad idea. I pinched the bridge of my nose and looked at this girl beside me. She was smiling so brightly. Is she a fan of this guy? Really?

“Swerte talaga ng magiging girlfriend ni Martin! Sobrang sweet niya sa mga fans niya!” I heard the girl in-front of me said. I can’t stop my eyebrow to twitch. Really? I turned to Jacky and I saw her blushing and shyly. She seemed so embarrass. This girl is really weird. She then noticed my gaze on her and she smiled at me. Damn it! Why she’s so bright! And why is my damn heart trembling excitement! Damn it! Damn it!

“Let’s go, sir!” She said and hold my hand and we walked out the crowd. So now, where do this girl going to take me? We went to the back stage. I saw a woman who’s walking back and forth. She seems agitated.

“Maya!” I heard her called the woman. The woman turned around and looked at Jacky with a big smile on her face then she walked towards Jacky and hugged her.

“Salamat at nandito ka na! Nadala mo na ba kailangan na pamalit ni Martin?” She asked Jacky. I saw Jacky nodded and give the bag towards this person. She took the bag from Jacky with a big smile then she turned to me. I smiled at her sweetly and I saw her smile frozen with a blush on her face. Look at this woman, she really knows how to appreciate beauty. I looked at Jacky who is looking at the woman confused.

“Okay ka lang ba, Maya?” She asked the woman and looked at me too. Confusion is evident to her face. Why can’t I see other reactions from her? Like the woman I’m always with? She’s like a nut that is hard to crack.

“S-sino siya, Jacky! Ang gwapo!” The woman asked and point at me. I was about to answer when Jacky immediately answered her.

“Boss ko sa part-time ko! Hehe! Wag mong sabihin kay Martin ah!” Jacky said. My eyes squinted. That Martin? Wasn’t he that guy who is performing on the stage? Do Jacky know him? I saw the woman stiffened before smiling. But it didn’t escape from me that she is acting quite weird when Jacky asked not to tell him about me. Well, it doesn’t matter. It’s not like Jacky and I are doing something bad. I crossed my arms and looked around. They seemed know Jacky for so long since they aren’t kicking us out.

“Haha, hindi ko sasabihin.” I saw the woman looked at me and I smiled the same way I smile to the other woman I meet. She shyly smiled at me. “Salamat sa pagtulong mo kay Jacky.” I just nodded.

“I happened to bumped her here so I helped,” I said. She laugh and looked at Jacky.

“Ang bait naman ng boss mo, Jacky at tinulungan ka.” The woman pat Jacky’s shoulder. I smiled. Of course, she should be happy that I helped her. Me, Yiannis Ralph Andino, a famous jewelry designer and owner of the famous Jewelry store in the whole world helped her.

“Uhh, yes?” I looked at her quite displeased with her answer. Do you even know how great your boss is? She looks kind of awkward. Damn it! You’re not even convinced that I am kind to you! This is annoying me!

Then a second later the guy when down on the stage and went inside the backstage. I saw Jacky’s eyes sparkled when she saw that guy. So, he likes that type of guy? Her taste is so weird.

“Martin!” Jacky called and waved. The guy named Martin looked towards our direction and just squint his eyes to Jacky and then ignore her. He immediately went inside the closed room at the back stage. What an a**! I looked at Jacky. Her smile froze and held her both hands. That f*ck*ng bastard! My hands unconsciously clenched.

“Uhm… sige Jacky! Aasikasuhin ko na si Martin! Ingat ka sa paguwi!” The woman said and gave a small smile before she left and leave us. I looked at Jacky. Her head is bowed and just holding her both hands tightly. I looked away and scratched my head. This is too awkward. I don’t want to see a girl crying here. I might be suspected that I was the one who made her cry.

“I am kind of hungry, want to go somewhere else?” I said after 2 minutes. I heard her sniff so I looked at her. She was trying not to cry but there is a visible droplet of tears from her eyes. Damn it! Why is she so… dazzlingly beautiful while crying? Damn! Don’t be stupid Ralph! You’re not a sadist for goddess’s sake! I pulled my handkerchief and give it to her. She looked at me surprised.

“Crying won’t solve it, let’s go.” I hold her hand and walked away from that place. We went to an ice cream parlor. I ordered Mint Chocolate while I ordered a Banana Split for her.  I busied myself on eating my ice cream while avoiding looking at her. A woman doesn’t want to be seen crying.

“Sir, thank you po.” I looked at her and she was looking at me embarrassed. I smirked.

“It’s fine. Even though it seems that you have a weird taste in men,” I said. She pouted but sighed. Since she like that guy who doesn’t even appreciate this girl who is a fan of his. Also, that bag, who was it for? Was it that for that woman back there? But she said that it was for Martin. Were that Martin’s clothes? But how did she get his clothes?

“Boyfriend ko po si Martin,” she said. I was taken aback. So, she’s not just a fan but his boyfriend! That guy who ignores his girlfriend?! Damn! Martin was his name, right? I will make sure that he won’t sign a contract with my company.

But then… Why on earth the goddess doesn’t hear me?