Taming The Billionaire

Kabanata 6

BUMALIK ako sa labas. Dala-dala ang dalawang bote ng alak na nakuha ko sa mini bar. I left the one I opened inside, sina Benjamin na siguro ang uubos noon. Pagkatapos ng usapang iyon ay umalis na rin agad ako. I was avoiding their questions. It’s enough that they know what I’m up to. I don’t think filling them up with more of my reasons and motives is necessary. If they plan to keep my secret, then it’s all well. Wala ng rason pa para pahabain pa iyon.

That was my only concern. Gulat ako nang malamang alam nila ang mga ginagawa ko sa Manila pero napawi rin iyon nang makumbinsi nila akong nasa iisang panig lang kami. I’ll trust Vack on this. Afterall, if Edrianne wasn’t scared by Vack she would’ve told it to everyone by now.

Naupo ako sa isang itim na upuan. Ipinatong ko ang isang bote sa maliit na lamesa habang ang isa naman ay iniwan ko sa kamay ko. I held the bottle opener from the small table before I gaze at the pool. Lahat sila ay naroon at basing-basa na. Si Sadie naman, nasa gilid ng pool, nagpapakuha ng litrato kay Shio.

Tumungga ako sa bibig ng bote. Agad kong nalasahan ang tamis at pait doon. Dapat pala ay nagpada ako ng pagkain kay Manang bago lumabas. Alcohol drinks like this usually tastes good with meat and spicy foods. Yumukod ako at pinagdikit ang mga tuhod nang maramdaman ang pag-ihip ng hangin. Now I’m craving for beer and spicy barbeque.

“Sad, did you bring your car?” Malakas na tanong ko.

Nawalan na ako ng ganang lumusong sa tubig. What I have in mind now is more fun, sakto’t magsisimula palang ang gabi. I want to see Isla Verde’s night vibe. I want to stroll around. Katulad ng madalas naming ginagawa ng banda pagkatapos tumugtog. If I can name something that’s better than night swimming it would be night drives. Although I know it wouldn’t be as fun as in the city.

“I did.” Sigaw nito pabalik bago tuluyang umahon.

Tumayo ako at muling uminom sa bote. I walked towards the edge of the pool. “What about a night drive? Let’s get some beer and food on our way.”

Nagkatinginan sila roon. Sordia smirked and went out of the pool. Ganoon din ang magkapatid na Shio at Hericane. There are five of us here. Kasya naman siguro kami sa isang pick up car. Iyon kasi ang kotse ni Sad. The four quickly picked up their towel to dry their body. Mukhang sang-ayon naman sa sinabi ko.

Isang tungga pa sa bote ay ibinaba ko iyon sa isang longue chair. When I turned around I saw Hericane coming my way, pinapatuyo ang buhok. She smiled apologetically. Nang tuluyang makalapit ay inalis niya ang towel sa ulo. I saw her breathed. That moment I already knew she was going to say sorry.

“I’m sorry. It wasn’t my intention to offend you. I just really feel bad for the two.” Hericane expressed genuinely.

I know. You’ve always been the compassionate one.

I tilted my head and smile faintly. “That’s fine. Sorry for taking it the wrong way, too.”

She raised her brows and inhaled. She looks relieved.

“Sinong magda-drive?” tanong ni Sadie na siyang nakakuha ng atensyon ko.

“Si Shio nalang! She just got her driver’s license a month ago!” Si Sordia.

Tumango-tango ako roon. “That’s okay. We’ll switch naman.”

“Isasama ba natin sina Kuya Benjamin?” ani ni Shio sabay tango sa likuran ko.

Napalingon ako roon. The two are walking through the outdoor staircase. Benjamin was smoking while Vack was holding the bottle of alcohol I opened a while ago. It was already empty. Nabagot na siguro sa loob kaya naisipang sumunod dito sa amin sa labas.

“If they agree to treat us, we’ll let them tag along.” Ngumisi ako.

“Huwag na kaya nating isama si Vack? He’s a kj!” Angal ni Sadie.

“You just hate him.” I heard Sordia countered.

Napataas ako ng kilay. I turned sidewards to look at the girls. “I’ll just get dressed. Let’s meet at the garage.”

Hindi ko na hinintay na makasagot ang mga ito at agad nang naglakad paalis. Nakasalubong ko sina Vack pero hindi ko na ito hinintuan. Mabilis akong naglakad papasok para makapagpalit na ng damit. Iyong puting robe lang kasi ang suot ko. Underneath was a pair of swimming wear I used when I swam an hour ago.

Nadaanan ko sina Tita Harper at Lola Catalina sa sala. They were eating salad while talking. Mukhang naaaliw yata ang mga ito sa pinag-uusapan kaya’t hindi na nila ako napansin na dumaan. Although I was waiting for Lola Catalina to gaze at me so I can let them know that we’ll go out.

Dumiretso ako sa kwarto. Hindi na ako humiga o umupo roon at agad nang nagtungo sa cr. I took a quick half bath and changed clothes. Ang damit na ipinalit ko ay simpleng croptop at cargo pants lang. I also put on some make up before I go out of the room. Purse at cellphone lang ang hawak ko nang bumaba. My long straight hair was down. Nagmamadali pa ako pababa. Nang maabot ang ika-ilang baitang ay napansin ko agad si Vack sa ibaba. Iba na ang suot na damit nito at parang naghihintay.

I guess they agreed to the condition of treating us food.

“You’re going out?”

Bago ko pa marating ang huling hakbang ay lumitaw si Tita Syre. She was hugging her laptop while wearing her glasses. Huminto siya sa harap ni Vack ‘saka ako nilingon. She must have noticed my outfit.

Magiliw akong tumango sakanya. “Yes, tita. We’re out for a night drive. Iyong kotse po ni Sadie ‘yung gagamitin.”

“Oh.” Her cheekbones went up when she smiled. “Sounds nice. Pero magsabi ka kay Papa para hindi kayo hanapin.”

Hindi na ako nagkaroon ng pagkakataong makapagsalita nang sumagot si Vack. “I already informed Lolo Asmodeous and Lola Catalina.”

I stood straight beside Vack. “We’ll be home before twelve.”

Ngumiti siya ‘saka tumango. She walked passed us and that was our cue to leave. Kasabay ko si Vack nang maglakad palabas. He was silent, as always. Amoy na amoy ko ang pabango nito dahil sa maliit na distansya. He’s wearing a plain white shirt and a black short. Mas matangkad ito sa akin nang ilang dangkal kaya’t kung mag-uusap ay siguradong titingalain ko pa siya.

But now that I’m walking with him alone. I realized I still haven’t catch up with him. Mula nang makarating yata rito sa Isla Verde ay si Benjamin lang ang kasa-kasama niya. He’s not one to approach and share stories, anyway. Definitely not the type of man to do the first move.

Vack Solivan Juarez is just like that. Sa aming magpipinsan na Solivan ay ito ang pinaka-tahimik kaya’t ang hirap basahin. He’s not into any sports because he’s lazy and too unsociable. If there is something he likes doing then it must be sleeping. And personally, I think that was his charm. Marami sa mga kaklase ko noong elementary ang humahanga sakanya. Hindi ko lang alam kung ganoon parin ngayon dahil hindi naman kami pareho ng pinapasukang skwelahan. He has a lot of followers on his social media pero hindi naman ito nagpopost doon. Iyong profile pa ay naka-private. He’s just.. lowkey.

And there are moments that I wonder what he feels at times likes this. Gathering ng mga Solivan ngunit wala ang Mommy niya. He never once talk about it. Kung ano ang nararamdaman niya tungkol sa alitan at kung paanong halos lahat kami ay malayo ang loob sa Mommy niya. Hindi rin siya nagsasalita tungkol sa palihim naming pag-aaway ni Edrianne. Kung paanong ayaw ko sa mga kapatid niya. Of course. I know he knew. Pero kahit kailan ay hindi siya nakialam roon. Except now that he’s protecting me against his own sister.

Hindi ko lang alam kung dahil ba iyon sa prinsipyo niya o’ may iba pang rason.

“Was it hard?”

Nilingon ko ito nang marinig siyang magsalita. Agad akong naguluhan sa bitin na tanong ni Vack. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang tinutukoy niya. “What is?”

It took him a few seconds to respond. “Playing guitar.”

I stopped walking. Nang mapansin niya iyon ay tumigil rin siya para lingunin ako. Hindi ito katulad ni Benjamin na mahilig magbiro kaya natutunugan kong seryoso ito sa tanong niya. But why does it seem like he’s interested?

“Not if you’re determined to learn.” Sagot ko nang may pag-aalinlangan. “Gusto mo ba?”

“Where do you practice?” Sunod na tanong nito, hindi pinapansin ang sinabi ko.

“Studio. We have our own.”

His lips purse. His eyes were now darted on me. “Studio.. as in, a room where you play together and record?”

My brows etched. “We don’t have a digital audio workstation like in a real studio but we keep our instruments there. That’s where we practice and rehearse.”

I saw him licked his lower lip before he looked away. Nang umayos ito nang tao ay namataan ko ang maliit na ngiti sa mga labi nito. His hand flew to his nape. “Where is it?”

“Huh?”

“The studio.”

“Why?” I gave him my puzzled look. “You wanna go?”

Mabilis niya akong sinulyapan. “Am I not allowed?”

I c****d my head. Nagsimula na ulit akong maglakad habang ang tingin ay nasa kanya parin. He’s really interested. Does he have a thing for music or does he only find it astounding? Masyado akong sanay sa bersyon ni Vack na palaging tumatanggi sa lahat kaya’t bago ito sa akin. It feels weird, but at the same time, I wanted to fill him up.

“It’s in Makati. When do you want to visit?”