Sweetest Arrangement

Chapter Eight – First Fight

IF she could have one wish, she wished she’d vanished. Para matakasan niya ang lalaking kasama niya ngayon sa loob ng elevator.

Sa dinami-dami ng lalaki sa mundo, bakit ito pa ang napili ni Don Eduardo na maging tagapagturo niya?

“What are you doing here?” Narinig niyang tanong nito sa kanya.

She looked at the screen above the elevator door, sampung palapag pa bago mag-ground floor. Don Eduardo instructed them to start their briefing while eating breakfast.

She refused but Don Eduardo insisted. Kahit pa ng sinabi niya na kumain na siya ay ipinilit pa rin nito na samahan niya si Jaime na kumain ng agahan. What a demanding tyrant.

The guy beside him pressed the hold button and the elevator stopped.

“What are you doing?” She irritably faced him.

“I asked you first, anong ginagawa mo rito?"

“Diba sinabi na kanina ni Lolo Eduardo, ako na ang mamahala ng Imperial Group.” Pagalit na sagot niya. She needed to pretend that she’s brave and angry, baka sakaling masindak niya ito.

“Sa tingin mo ba ay maniniwala ako na sa’yo ibibigay ang pamamahala ng kompanya?”

“You’re not in the position to doubt my appointment.” Totoo na ang iritasyon sa boses niya. “Who are you to question Don Eduardo’s decision, isa ka lang empleyado rito.”

He chuckled. “You haven’t change. Marunong ka pa ring umuri ng tao.” He pressed another button and the elevator started moving.

“Oo, kaya kung mahal mo ang trabaho mo, mamimili ka ng babanggain.” She said and regretted. Her conscience told her she’s crossing the boundary of being good.

The elevator opened.

She’s about to step forward when she felt the chopstick was removed from her hair. Dahil doon ay bumagsak ang mahaba niyang buhok.

Nilingon niya ang lalaking kasama sa elevator. Hawak nito ang chop stick.

“Akin na yan,” pilit niyang inaabot ang hawak nitong chop stick.

Iniwas ni Jaime ang kamay. “Sa akin na muna ito.” Nauna na itong lumabas ng elevator.

“Ibalik mo ‘yan sa akin.” Habol niya.

Bigla itong humarap sa kanya at bumangga siya sa dibdib nito. Muntikan na siyang matumba mabuti’t maagap na pumulupot ang isang braso nito sa kanyang bewang. He pulled her close.

The familiarity of being this closed to him, gave her a pleasant feeling.

Gamit ang chop stick, he lifted her face. “Anong gusto mo? Pag-fiestahan ng mga tao ang katawan mo. Mabuti na iyang nakaladlad ang buhok mo para matakpan ang naka-expose mong likod. Bakit kasi ganyan ang suot mo?”

She heard dislike in his voice. The pleasant feeling ended.

“Bitawan mo ako,” she struggled to get free. “Wala kang pakialam sa gusto kong isuot-” Natigilan siya ng bigla itong yumuko at inilapit ang mukha sa kanyang leeg. She felt that he lifted her a little and his nose touched the left side of her neck.

She pushed him but he didn’t let her go.

“What are you doing? Bitiwan mo ako.”

“I knew that smell.” He said softly as if he’s talking to himself.

“What smell?” She asked while blushing. “Are you insinuating that I smelled?”

“Nandito ka ba kahapon?” He asked, totally ignoring her questions

“Oo, bakit ba? Hindi kita maintindihan?” She noticed they’ve been being stared at by the people entering the elevator. Nakaharang sila sa pasukan nito. “Please let me go, people are starting to stare,” bulong niya rito.

He too, looked around and saw people staring. He let her go but not totally. He held her right wrist and dragged her with him.

“Wait,” aniya habang sinusubukan niyang sabayan ang malalaki nitong hakbang.

But instead of going to cafeteria, they exited the building and they crossed the drive lane of the hotel.

“Where are we going?” Inis na tanong niya rito.

He still held her wrist and he kept dragging her as they walk towards hotel’s establishments.

“Please, bagalan mo namang maglakad.” She said in a pleading voice.

He complied and slowed down his pace. He stopped at one of the boutiques selling signature RTW’s. The glass door was still closed though the staffs were already inside.

He knocked. One of them opened the glass door.

“Good morning Sir Jaime.” The employee greeted him pleasantly.

“Good morning, Lucy,” ganting bati nito. “Kailangan ko ng pamalit sa suot niya.”

“Come in, Sir.” Niluwagan ni Lucy ang pagkakabukas ng pinto para papasukin sila. “Ma’am pili po kayo sa mga new arrivals namin.”

He let go of her wrist when they entered the boutique. But he held her again, this time on her elbow and guided her to the rack of long dresses.

“Mamili ka ng damit na dapat para sa isang madre,” bulong ni Jaime na nakatayo sa kanyang tabi.

“Madre!?” She uttered in disbelief.

“Oo, nakita kita kahapon na lumabas sa opisina ni Don Eduardo. Akala ko donation lang ang hinihingi ninyo.” He smirked. “You must belong to an exceptional religious organization for him to gave you the control of his hotel.”

“Hindi ko alam ang sinasabi mo.” Nakasimangot na sogot niya. “Pinapunta niya ako para alukin ng trabaho at hindi para humingi ng donation. For your information, I am not a nun and I will never be one. Stop putting your nose on somebody else’s business. Or else.”

“Or else what? Gagawin mo na naman ang ginawa mo five years ago?”

“Oo!” Matapang niyang sagot. “I will again scream for help.”

Naningkit ang mga mata nito. “May sungay ka pa rin pala. No wonder you’re wearing red.”