Hiding Secrets

Chapter 11

“Maite! I don’t know how much longer would I take to pretend in front of Azariah. He seems a good guy and is willing to help. Bakit hindi ko nalang sabihin sa’kanya ang problema ko?” bungad niya sa kaibigan.

Yes. She is pretending. Ang alam ng binata ay isa lamang siyang hamak na biktima sa ilalim ni Mr. Montano but she’s an agent. It’s true that Maite really did arrange her to someone but there’s still no assurance if she will be safe or not.

Hindi niya kilala ang taong sinet-up nito sa kanya. And she hope that she will not get into a big trouble.

Padalos-dalos sila sa desisyon pero mukhang hindi naman siya tutulungan ni Maite kung hindi magtatagumpay ang plano nila. After all, she has one of the biggest connection among them.

“Keep it that way, Sapphire. Sooner or later, magkaka-alaman rin naman kayo. I mean, Azariah is not bobo you know. Just give yourself time to relax and adjust. To add that, malaking tulong siya sa problema mo.”

“Fine, I trust you, Maite. At mukhang harmless naman si Mr. Vitaliano, pikonin nga lang at ubod ng sungit.” Narinig niyang mahina itong tumawa dahil sa sinabi niya tungkol kay Azariah.

“Ganiyan naman talaga siya noon pa. Just deal with it and you two will be okay. Todooo!” Agad niyang tinapos ang tawag at hinarap ang laptop niya.

Sa katunayan ay halos magkanda ugaga na siya sa pagpapasa ng mga reports sa organization kung saan siya nabibilang. Their head is giving her the hard time to cope up with their task. Maite is in the same organization as hers and she is the one who is covering her up.

Hindi naging madali sa kaniya ang pag-aadjust sa naturang sitwasyon. On her behalf, she wants to strangle the neck of their head because of their too much task.

Nakakainis.

Abala siya sa pagtitipa ng kung ano sa word document nang pumasok si Azariah. Sapphire was sitting in the sofa, putting the laptop on her lap. Sa ganoon siyang posisyon nadatnan ng binata.

Madilim ang mukha nito at seryosong tinungo ang bar counter. She just quietly observed him. Sumisimsim lang ito sa hawak na baso pero nang hindi magtagal ay kinuha na nito ang bote ng alak at tinungga iyon.

Kaagad niyang sinara ang laptop niya at hinarap ito. She got his attention and they stared with each other for seconds. Tinignan niya ito na parang ipinapahiwatig niya sa binata na hindi niya gustong makakita ng taong umiinom sa harapan niya.

Itinigil nito ang pag-inom ng alak at ibinalik ang bote sa rack, “Fine. No alcohol because Ms. Montecillo said so.” Matabang nitong aniya.

“There are more fun activities than drinking alcohol alone in that bar counter of yours, Mr. Vitaliano.” She replied.

“Like what?”

“Hmm, how about having a training? I don’t have that much knowledge when it comes to such, you know. Teach me to climb using a rope, throwing daggers or whatever you may like. But not too strenuous, okay? Baka ospital na ang daan ko n’yan.” She suggested.

Hand-to-hand combat is her expertise but other than that, she don’t know that much. Each of her siblings had their own special skills also. Her elderly brother is more on with guns, her elder sister is more on with knives and her younger sister is the brain of the group.

Hindi n’ya man masyadong napagtuunan ng pansin ang ensayo nila noon dahil na ‘rin sa mga bata pa sila, pero tahimik lang niya ang mga itong inoobserbahan. Her late grandfather was the one who trained them before.

Wala siyang kaalam-alam para saan, but she guess… she already have the answer.

“The start is always strenuous, Ms. Montecillo. Siempre lo es, hermosa.” It always is, beautiful. Umupo ito sa upuan na kaharap niya at inilagay ang magkabilang kamay sa mga binti at inihilig ang likod roon.

“What’s your suggestion, then?”

Nakita niyang umangat ang sulok ng binata at sinulyapan siya. He is planning something. She could sense it.

Ang mga mata nito’y tila naglalaro sa aliw at ang kaba sa dibdib niya ay umalpas. Will she be scared of it?

“I know that looked, Azariah. You’re planning something wicked. Don’t you even dare.” Tumayo ito papalapit sakan’ya at nabigla siya ng hinawakan nito ang mga kamay niya.

“Come, this is gonna be fun,” hinila siya ng binata at narinig niya pa ang halakhak nito.

Oh God, nababaliw na talaga ang lalaking ‘to.

**

“Seriously?! I hate you, Azariah!” maktol niya sa binata habang iniiwasang madala ng araro. Narinig niya ang halakhak nito na kulang nalang ay sumakop sa buong sakahan.

Ang pag-aararo pala ang sinasabi nitong ite-train nila.

“You’re the one who suggested it, Sapphire, not me. I’m just a good follower you know.” She glared at him while holding the plow. Meron ‘pang mga pagkakataon na halos mahila siya ng kalabaw dahil hindi niya tantiya ang galaw nito.

Her clothes were covered in mud and there’s the brute who’s following her like a dog, laughing. Wala siyang yapak at tanging ang mga malalaking sumbrero lamang ang prumuprotekta sa kaniya sa ilalim ng mainit na araw.

This is why we should thank our farmers for their hardwork!

“It’s part of the process, honey. The beginning is always the hardest. Why don’t you enjoy it?” Nirolyohan n’ya ito ng mata.

She’s enjoying in his farm, okay? But she didn’t expect that this kind of activity would be Azariah’s top pick. Ayos lang sana kung wala ito sa tabi niya, gusto niya nalang pasakan ng damo ang bibig nito at igulong-gulong sa putikan.

Enjoy pala ‘ha.

“Huwag kang mag-alala, nag-eenjoy naman ako. Sa sobrang enjoy ko, baka ikaw na yung gawin ‘kong kalabaw mamaya.” May sarkasmong aniya sa binata. “I guess that would be lovely, right?”

He shooked his head to meet her gaze, “Where’s the fun in that? C’mon, Sapphire, make this as a challenge. Besides, I’m offering my time for free. Minsan lang ako magka-oras, Montecillo. Many women would line up just to have time with me.” Yuck. He is so boastful!

“Good for me, I’m not that woman, Mr. Vitaliano. Tabi ‘nga!” pambubugaw niya sa lalaki dahil humaharang ito sa dinaraanan niya. Two more rows to go and she’s done.

This is actually fun, well except for the fact that Azariah is in the picture. Curse him.

“Hindi ko alam na ganito ka pala kapag nagsusungit, hmm, quite interesting.” Inilagay nito ang hintuturo sa baba nito na tila nag-iisip.

“Sinasabi ko sa’yo, Mr. Vitaliano. Kapag ako nainis sa’yo, ihahampas ko ‘tong pang-araro sa mukha mo.” Looks like the idiot enjoyed teasing her.

“You can’t even used it properly,” pambubuska pa ulit nito sa kaniya. “You have a point. But I surely can do this,” hinila niya sa kuwelyo ang binata at ibinagsak ang sarili sa putikan. Kasamang bumagsak ang binata at nabalot ng putik ang damit nito.

“Isn’t it fun, Mr. Vitaliano?!” natutuwa niyang aniya rito nang makitang hindi nito inaasahan ang pag-atake n’ya.