Restraint Heart (Eligible Heiress #1)

Chapter 2

"Annnnd...." I hanged the picture frame in the living room making it a little homey. "...done." Pinagpag ko ang aking mga kamay at nakangiting tumitig sa larawan. It was a photo of Lolo Joaquin, Serene, Ace, and me sa mansyon sa Hacienda Hermosa.

"Perfect." I said softly.

Wala ng iba pang kailangang ayusin dito sa condo dahil fully furnished na. I just added a few personal items and re-arranged some of the furniture to make it look cozier. Para kasing dry at malungkot ng unang pasok ko sa condo na ito.

The building is secured with guards patrolling the area and cctv along the hallways. Hindi rin daw sila basta-basta nagpa-pa-pasok ng kung sinu-sino, they don't even let anyone in kapag wala ka sa list of allowed visitors ng unit owner, they also call the owner to ask if they allow guests before letting them up the building. Hinihingan din nila ng ID ang mga dumadalaw. So yes, It is really safe in here.

Ang sabi ng nag-assist sa akin kanina paakyat sa unit ko ay may gym, pool, dry cleaning at restaurant daw sila rito sa building. I can check those some other time. For now, I need to take a shower and rest. Madami pa naman akong oras sa ibang araw.

I took a quick shower and called Lolo and my sisters telling them everything is perfectly fine in here.

I expect na makakatulog ako agad dahil sa pagod sa biyahe at pag-aayos ng gamit, pero nakailang ikot na ako sa kama at hindi pa rin ako dinadatnan ng antok.

"Ugh!!" I groan in frustration at ibinaon ko nalang ang ulo sa aking malambot na unan and started counting sheeps.

After a few minutes that felt like hours, wala pa rin. Sin ba ang nagsabi na effective ang pagbibilang para makatulog?

"Coffee...." I murmured.

I want to drink coffee so bad para lang antukin na ako. But I don't have groceries yet. Others say na pampagising ang kape. Well, it is the other way around for me.

Having no choice, I decided to go to this nearest coffee shop here that the front desk told me about earlier. Malapit lang daw 'yun at walking distance lang.

I hastily got up from my bed while tying my hair in a messy bun and walked out of my condo, and out of the building, bringing only my phone and a few bills together with the book I longed to read.

Jenna, my friend back in Hacienda, told me this book is a must read. That reminds me to give her a call. Hindi na ako nakapag-paalam sa kanya ng personal noong umalis ako sa Hacienda Hermosa dahil sa busy niyang nagta-trabaho.

Wearing only a flip-flops, a black cotton shorts that has a white stripe on each side, and an oversized gray shirt with a "He heals the broken hearted. Psalm 147: 3" bible phrase printed on it, I treaded the way to the nearest coffee shop.

With confidence, I entered the shop and the smell of brewing coffee greeted me.

Mabilis na pinasadahan ko ng aking tingin ang kabuuan ng shop na ito, and I noticed na wala masyadong tao. Hindi ko nalang din pinansin ang tingin ng ibang customers at dumiretso sa cashier para mag-order ng kape.

"Good evening! How's your day, ma'am?" The cashier welcomed me with a big smile on her face.

"Uhh... tiring. But, coffee will definitely help." Tipid akong ngumiti and just ordered a hot cappuccino.

I found a place at the corner with a sofa. Mahinhin akong umupo roon at inilapag ang kapeng hawak sa maliit na coffee table sabay tingin sa librong hawak.

"Jane Austen..." Mahinang basa ko.

I like reading romance novels when I have a free time, and this book seems to be a classic one.

After a few sips on my coffee and finishing a few chapters of the book, naramdaman ko na ang pag pungay ng aking mga mata.

"Finally! Sleep be with me, Amen." Bulong ko sa aking sarili sabay lapag ng libro sa maliit na lamesa.

I checked my phone and saw that it is already 1:29 am. Puwede na akong bumalik ng condo at matulog peacefully. Sa makalawa pa naman ang first day ko sa De Veyra Industries kaya may time pa ako to adjust in my new place. Mentally noting that I also need to go to the supermarket to stock some foods and to buy some of my necessities.

Before leaving, I opted to browse my f*******: account and saw that Jenna tagged me in a post. I clicked it and saw that it is a picture with quote saying:

'Shoutout to all the single women that complain about being single but never go out. Just waiting on Mr. Right to break in to your house'

In the middle of reading, I heard a deep voice of a man asking if he can sit with me.

"Yeah, sure." Wala sa sarili kong sagot. Busy sa pagtapos ng pagbabasa ng quote.

I laughed a bit at that quote because it was partly true. Well, partly because it is true that I am still single, though I go out naman from time to time, hindi nga lang madalas like Serene. And yes, there was that time that I am just waiting for Mr. Right to break into our mansion like it's really going to happen, pero the time has come and I actually am kind of like trying to find him now. Maybe, he is here in Manila at nagpapayaman pa. I laughed internally thinking about that nagpapayaman part.

Jenna really knows me very well when it comes to love department. She knows that I am close to being desperate in finding THE ONE. I am not getting any younger, and ang sabi nila, women have a biological clock ticking.

I believe that I am ready to enter into a serious relationship. I am just waiting for the right guy. Or, I can also find him. Kaya kung nasaan man siya, can he break into my condo already?

Napa-angat ako ng ulo ng marinig na may tumikhim sa aking harapan.

I froze as I met a pair of piercing brown eyes.

I tried not to show any expression on my face as I stared at the gorgeous man sitting in front of me. Gumala ang aking mga mata and noticed that he also have a dark hair, olive toned skin, have a little scruff on the face, and with his light blue dress shirt that is folded unto his elbow, I can see that he has a toned body. His....

"I hope you don't mind that I share a seat with you." His low rough voice interrupted my thoughts.

Why do I find his voice sexy? Really, hope?? Hindi kaya antok lang 'to?

"Uh. Yeah, sure." I said. Unsure of what else to say. Antok na nga yata talaga ako.

He lightly laughed kaya napakunot ako ng noo. Did I said something funny? May dumi ba ako sa mukha or nakakatawa lang talaga ang itsura ko?

"I know I'm pretty so don't laugh." I said absent-mindedly in a low irritated tone. Even though I feel embarrassed.

"Pardon?" he asked at inilapit ng kaunti ang kanyang mukha habang nakapatong ang kanyang siko sa magkabilang hita.

Napaatras ako ng kaunti sa kinauupuan kahit na hindi naman kami sobrang magkalapit. I just felt like parang biglang sumikip ang paligid.

I think it is time to leave and go home. Kailangan ko lang ng tulog.

"If you want this space, you can have it. Paalis na rin naman ako." I said, readying to leave.

"No, no. Please stay." Pigil niya at saka marahang kinuha ang libro sa lamesa. "Hmmm.... Hearts and flowers kind of girl." Pabulong niyang sabi na halos hindi ko na narinig.

I looked at him blankly at pinagmasdan siyang maigi. He looks like he is in his mid-thirties. Napababa tuloy ang tingin ko sa kanyang palasingsingan. It's empty. No ring.

Ibinalik ko ulit ang tingin ko sa kanyang mukha. He lift his eyebrows and smirked.

"How old are you?" bigla niyang tanong at nakita ang pagka-seryoso sa kanyang mukha.

"Uh....." May pag aalinlangan kong tugon. Nag-iisip kung bakit bigla na lamang niyang naitanong iyon.

"Old enough I hope." He uttered.

"Uh-huh." Sagot ko saka tumango-tango. "Why? Do you want to be my father?" Mapang-asar kong tanong.

Nakita ko ang gulat sa kanyang mga mata pero agad din siyang nakabawi.

Matalim niya akong tinitigan. "Trust me lady, I do not intend to be your father or even wished to be one of your relatives."

What?? Ang pangit ko ba para ayaw niyang maging kamag-anak ko? Hindi man ako kasing tangkad at biniyayaan ng mahahabang legs katulad ni Serene ay kuntento na ako sa pagiging petite ko. Hindi man kasing kinis at kasing ganda ng katawan na mayroon si Ace ay masasabi kong hindi naman ako napaghuhulihan. We are equally pretty. We are sisters after all.

I scowl at him. "'E di wag mo! The feeling is mutual, mister." I rolled my eyes at him.

"You don't know what you're talking about, lady." Nakuha niya pang ngitian ako at parang nanghahamon ng kung ano.

I found myself finding my way back to my place. Walking a few meters away ay nasulyapan ko na ang mataas na building kung saan ang condo ko.

Tahimik na ang lugar at wala ng tao sa lobby, except for the guards and people at the front desk. They all smiled at me on my way up and I also did the same to them.

Dire-diretso ako sa aking kwarto at nahiga. Sleep comes easily to me this time, pero hindi naalis sa isipan ko na hindi ko man lang naitanong ang pangalan niya.