A Night with a Stranger

Chapter 7

Jamaica woke up when Bliss called her. She answered her phone.

"Hello" she answered on the other line.

"Jammy?" Bliss sobbed

"What happened? Why are you crying? What is wrong?" she asked worriedly

"Si Mama. isinugod sa Hospitall. Nandito kami ngayon sa Hospital." Bliss cried.

"What? Okay. I will go there. Hintayin mo ako diyan." she said. She hurried. Nagbihis siya agad wearing denim shorts and a white shirt paired with sneakers.

Pagkarating niya sa hospital, lumapit siya agad kay Bliss.

"Blissy, what happened? How is tita?"

"She is still unconscious, Jammy. I do not know what to do. The doctor said she needs to undergo an operation."

"Sssssssh, don't worry. Everything will be fine. Entrust everything to God. I am here. Nothing bad will happen to Tita. She is brave. You need to be strong as well."she said to calm Bliss. Niyakap niya ito ng sobrang mahigpit. Seeing her friend in that state made her heart clench. Wala siyang magawa kundi samahan ito hanggang sa maging okaya ng lahat.

She was busy doing her report when her phone rang.

"Ms. Cruz is speaking, how may I help you?"

"Proceed to my office, right now." A deep baritone voice spoke in the other line. And she knew very well who owns that voice. She rolled her eyes.

"Okay," she replied and hung up the call.

"Naka uwi na pala yong antipatiko naming amo."she said it to herself. Ayaw niya man itong makita pero wala siyang magagawa dahil amo niya ito at ang nag mamay-ari ng buong building na pinagtatrabahuan niya.

She knocked on the door before she entered.

"What did you call? What do you want?" pabalang niyang tanong sa amo niyang tunay.

"Is that how you treat your, boss? Don't you miss my handsome face?" he said teasingly.

"Duh, I'll be more than happy if you are not here. Nobody pesters me." she said.

"Owwws, you heart my ego Ms. Cruz. But you do not have a choice. I am your boss."nakangiting sagot nito sa kanya.

"Bwiset na smile yan. Kahit antipatiko ito , gwapo naman eeh." sbai niya sa sarili.

"Did you say something?" tanong ng binata sa kanya

"Wala. Ano na naman young iiutos mo sa akin? Biisan mo. Madami pa along gagawin." she said. She should not talk like that way because afterall boss niya pa rin ang kaharap niya. But, she can not control herself na maging mataray sa lalaking kaharap niya. Lalaking pinangakoan siya pero biglang lang palang nag laho parang isang bula at ito ngayon kaharap niya na parang walang nangyari at nag pretend na hindi siya kilala.

"Bakit ang init ng ulo mo sa akin Ms. Cruz?"

"Am I? Hindi naman ah. Bakit naman maiinis ako sayo, sir?Boss nga kita , diba?"sarkastiko niyang sabi.

"How is Amarie?" seryosong tanong into. Bakas sa mukha ang pag-alala ng mabanggit ang pangalan ng dalaga. She felt a small pain in her heart but she chose to disregatd it kasi masyadong mabait si Bliss and kaibigan niya ito. She admits may kunti pa siyang nararamdaman para sa binata but there is no point of letting it grow lalo na wala naman itong paki-alam sa kanya ngayon.

"Are you okay, Ms. Cruz?"tanong ng binata sa kanya

"Huh? Y-yeah, I am fine." nauutal niyang sabi.

"Are you sure? Kanina pa ako nagsasalita but you did not respond."

"Ah wala. may iniisp lang ako, boss."she said

"Like what? Is there something on my face kasi kanina ka pa nakatitig sa akin. Sobrang gwapo ba ako para matulala ka diyan?" he said to annoy her.

"Feeling mo. Pwede pa sapak para mata-uhan ka sa kayabangan mo? inis niyang sabi pero tinatawanan lang siya ng binata.

" Why are you so hot-tempered, Ms. Cruz?" tudyo ng binata kanya

"Kasi hot and sexy ako."

"Yeah right." he whispered.

"Did you say something, sir?"

"No. Anyway, I called you because for the main time you will be my acting secretary habang wala pa si Amarie." seryosong sabi ng binata sa kanya.

"What? Are you sure?" she said in shock.

"Yes. I am not kidding Atasha." he said

Her heart pounded when he calls her Atasha. It's been a long time since he called that name.

"Atasha." tawag pansin ng binata habang naglalakad siya sa pathway. Lumingon siya sa pinanggalingan ng boses and she saw the handsome face of Light who was smiling at her. Sumabay ito ng paglalakad sa kanya at kinuha ang mga bitbit niyang books. Pinagtitinginan sila ng ibang studyante at ang talim ng mga tingin ng babaeng studyante sa kanya

"Relax. Do not mind them." he said to her ng mapansin nito na hindi siya comfortable sa mga ipinapakita ng ibang studyante.

"Akin na yong gamit ko. Mag-aabang na ako ng Jeep." sabi niya

"What are you talking about? I'll be sending you at home." sabi nito

" Naku, huwag na. Nakakahiya."

"Come on. We are friends, right? Let's go." anito at hinawakan ang kanyang kaliwang kamay. Parang nakuryente siya ng magkalapat ang kanilang mga balat.

They rode in a Nissan Silver Sedan. Ibang model na naman ang sasakyan ginagamit nito.Sinampal na naman siya ng kahirapan. She is not aware of how rich he is.

"Is this your car?" she asked because of curiosity

"Hmmmmm, this is my family's car. I just used it now." he said casually.

"Sinampal naman ako ng kahirapan." pagbibiro niya.

Nang makarating sila sa apartment niya , hinayaan niya na lang si Light na pumasok. Feel at home ang loko. She just knew him pero parang ang tagal na nilang magkakilala.

"Do you want to drink coffee?" she asked

"Yes, please. I like the one that you prepared for me the last time I was here."

"Wait ka lang. Mag-iinit muna ako ng tubig."

As time passes by, they became closer and closer. Naging mainit rin ang mata ng ibang babae sa kaniya dahil sa closeness nila ni Light.

"Look who is here. The gold digger who tried to snatch our dear Light Tanner." Alice said ang cheer leader ng kanilang University kasama ang dalawa nitong mga kaibigan si Amanda at Shaina.

She tried to ignore them pero hindi pa rin nagpapigil ang mga haliparot.

"Where are you going?'" Amanda said while blocking her way.

"Ayaw ko ng gulo."

"'Ayaw mo ng gulo? Really? Eeeh bakit ka lapit ng lapit kay Light?" dagdag ni Alice. "I warn you , stay away from him kung ayaw mong maging miserable buhay mo." banta ni Alice sa kanya.

Pagkatapos non ay umalis ang grupo ni Alice. Naiwan siyang tulala at tahimik. She never expected na mas marami pa pala siyang makaaway si pagkikipag lapit niya kay Light. She did not do anything. Si Light ang unang lumapit at tumulong sa kanya. Ayaw niyang umiwas sa binata pero pag hindi niya iyon gagawin siguradong hindi siya titigilan sa mga babaeng nagkakarandapa kay Light.