Embers of Love

Chapter 04

"Umm. I can do it myself. Just tell me where I can get it," I said, still not moving from my spot. But he just turned to me and arched his brow.

"It's here," he said, opening a fridge door and taking out a pitcher of water. He then pulled out a drawer, took out a glass from it, and filled it with water. "Is this enough?" He asked when the glass was more than half filled.

I nodded and stepped forward, trying to get the glass before he could hand it to me. But I was too slow, or he was too fast, that he was already holding it and handing the glass to me before I could reach the kitchen island.

"Thank you," I said as I accepted the glass. I drink the water without tearing my eyes from him—he, on the other hand, watches me as I do.

"More?" He asked again after I emptied the glass. I shook my head. He nodded, took out the glass to put it on the sink, and returned the pitcher inside the fridge. "How about snacks?"

Again, I shook my head. I waited until he was done before I left. I don't want him to think of me as disrespectful.

"Thank you for..." I started, pointing at the fridge, but I couldn't complete my sentence.

"It's nothing. You can always ask me if you need anything," he said, and I couldn't help but feel embarrassed hearing that. Heat started to rise from my neck to my head. Flashbacks of what happened a few nights ago started to come rushing back into my head again. I immediately shook it away.

"Thank you," I said again, finding it hard to give a proper response other than thank yous.

"It's nice seeing you here, by the way," he said, and the heat I was feeling burned me.

Oh, Jesus Christ!

"Huh?" I said, trying to pretend that I didn't understand what he was saying.

He smirked—he f*****g smirked to suppress himself from smiling or laughing! "I hope you still remember me, because I still remember you clearly," he said, and I died.

I died of embarrassment.

Why does he have to say that as if what happened is a good memory to recall? Jesus, it was not even nice!

"Mr. De Jimenez," I said, trying to calm myself so my voice wouldn't shake. "I don't understand what you were saying." I denied. No way in hell will I admit that I remember it, too!

He looked at me with an arched brow. And the way he was looking at me, it seemed like he could see my soul. He let out a sigh and shook his head. "I'm sorry. I think I have mistaken you for someone I know," he said in the end.

I sighed deeply, relieved that he said that. "Umm. It's fine." I said, avoiding eye-contact with him, trying to hide my uneasiness. He nodded and I took that as a signal to leave. "Thank you for the help. I'm going back to our room now."

He nodded again without uttering a word. I offered a slight smile to him before I turned away. And the moment I was out of the kitchen--away from his sight--I hastened my pace and nearly sprinted upstairs.

Next day came and this is the day we will start working on the site. Nakahanda na ang lahat at nakasakay na sa pick-up na mag dadala sa amin sa site at nag iintay na lamang sa paglabas ni Mr. De Jimenez. Apparently, he will join us today.

Seconds later, he came out the mansion. He was sporting a typical haciendero heir outfit with that white plain shirt, faded jeans, and boots. Yeah boats. Hindi ko tuloy maiwasan punahin ang suot kong safety shoes.

Mukha talagang mag tatrabaho ako sa site, pero siya, mukhang mamamasyal lang sa lupain nila.

"Steel toe naman siguro yun, no?" I unconsciously said.

"Ang alin?" Errol asked. Katabi ko sya sa backseat.

"Huh?"

"Yung sinasabi mong steel toe?"

"Ah. Wala. Iyong boots ni Mr. De Jimenez," sagot ko sa huli.

"Siguro? Alam naman niyang construction site ang pupuntahan natin e," sagot nya, parehas na kaming nakatingin sa kanya, pinapanood ang bawat galaw nito. "He'll ride a horse?" Errol said.

“For sure,” I said. He effortlessly rode his horse and sat proudly on top of it. Hindi ko marinig kung anong sinasabi nya pero alam kung nagbibilin ito sa mga tauhan nya.

“Ano kayang pakiramdam ng ganyan kayaman, ano? Iyong mas sarili kang hacienda?” Errol asked.

I shrugged and said, “Stressful for sure.”

He nodded. “Pero at least, hindi ka nauubusan ng pera. Hindi mo na po-problemahin ‘yung pang araw-araw.”

“Namomroblema ka ba sa pera?” I asked him instead.

“Hindi naman. Example lang yun,” sagot niya.

I shrugged and said, “It must be hard to own and handle this kind of business. Imagine, you have to deal with the marketing, financial, production, and all the over technicalities. Tapos mag-isa ka lang.”

“Hindi naman siguro sya mag-isang nag ha-handle ng lahat. Narinig ko, may dalawa pa raw na kapatid ‘yan si Sir Emilio. Baka katulong nya ang mga iyon sa pamamalakad nito hacienda nila.”

“Baka,” sabi ko na lang. “Aalis na ata,” dagdag ko nang makitang sumenyas na ito sa mga tauhan at ipinagpag ang tali ng kanyang kabayo.

Isang senyas ay umusad na kami.

Akala ko ay mauuna siya at susunod lang kami pero mali ako dahil tumabi ito sa sinasakyan naming pick-up, sa tapat ko mismo at kitang-kita ko kung paano ito paulit-ulit na sumusulyap sa loob ng sasakyan.

“Type ka ata,” Sir Jun suddenly said.

“Imagination nyo lang yun, Sir,” mabilis kong sagot.

“Pansin ko rin yun, Sir. Simula nung dumating tayo, iba na tingin rito kay Adie,” gatong pa ni Errol.

Umirap naman ako. “Ang malisyoso niyo naman. Baka nagkataon lang na napatingin, tapos binigyan niya na naman agad ng meaning.”

Sir Jun chuckled and said “Lalaki kami Adrielle. Alam naman kung paano tumatakbo ang utak ng kapwa naman lalaki at sa nakikita namin, hindi kami pwedeng magkamali.”

“Guni-guni niyo lang yun,” sabi ko na lang.

Syempre hindi ko sasabihin ang totoong dahilan kung bakit ganun ang reaksyon niya sa akin. Sino bang hindi kung makita mo ulit iyong babaeng bigla na lang nag-ayang makipag-s*x sayo? At sa mismong hacienda mo pa?

Sigurado akong hindi niya iyong ini-expect pa at mas lalong hindi niya ini-expect kung anong klaseng propesyon ang meron ako dahil sa ginawa ko!

“Pustahan tayo, oh? Isang buwan. Pag sa loob ng isang buwan at nag confess yan, gagawin mo lahat ng trabaho ko sa loob ng isang buwan din?” Errol said.

“Sugarol,” ani ko at inirapan siya.

“Ano nga?” pilit niya.

“Pusta rin ako. Dalawang linggo, tatanggapin mo iyong project ng Prime Ways,” si Sir Jun at halos mag wala ako sa kundisyon niya.

Prime Ways is Karl’s company and the project he was talking about is Karl’s project.

“No way!” I said. Nag tawanan naman silang dalawa sa naging reaksyon. “Hindi ako makikipag pustahan sa inyo,” dagdag ko pa na mas lalong nakapagpatawa sa kanilang dalawa. Sa inis ko, sinapak ko na si Errol.

“Pinag ti-trip-an niyo na naman akong dalawa tapos mang dadamay pa kayo ng ibang–” I was cut off from my wards when Juan Emilio De Jimenez III knocked on the cars window.

“Mr. De Jimenez?” Sir Jun greeted him upon rolling down the window.

“Is there any problem there?” he asked in a cold tone.

Sir Jun chuckled and shook his head. “Wala naman, Mr. De Jimenez. Nag bibiruan lang itong dalawa. Ganyan na talaga ang dalawang yan, mahilig mag-inisan. Malapit ko na ngang isipin na baka sila na ang magkatuluyan sa huli,” he said.

“Sir Jun!” I called but this old man chuckled even more.

“Is that so?” Juan Emilio said, his voice so cold and his brows creased.

“Sabi sayo, e.” Errol murmured.

I turned to him and threw another punch on his arm. “Shut up.”

“See? Ganyan talaga ang dalawang yan, huwag mo na lang pansinin, Mr. De Jimenez.”

Juan Emilio nodded and said, “I see.”