His Sexy Obsessions

Chapter 2

DRAKE called his secretary to his office upon seeing a pile of unworked papers. Mas lalong sumakit ang ulo niya nang malamang puro solicitation letters ang mga iyon.

“Cindy! In my office. Now!” he yelled using the microphone in his office.

Hindi na bago sa mga empleyado ni Drake ang makarinig ng kanyang sigaw. Nasanay na ang mga ito kaya hindi na nagulat nang bigla siyang sumigaw nang pagkalakas-lakas sa microphone. At lalo pang lumakas ang boses niya dahil sa malalaking speakers.

Cindy has been his secretary for almost two years now. Kahit na mas matanda ito sa kanya ng anim na taon, hindi pa rin ito nakakaligtas sa mga bulyaw at sigaw niya.

“Yes, Mr. Lombardi?” bungad ni Cindy nang makapasok na ito sa kanyang opisina.

Agad na kinuha ni Drake ang mga solicitation letter at ibinato sa secretary, dahilan kung bakit napaatras ito at natapilok sa suot na high-heeled shoes kaya bumagsak sa sahig.

“What are these? I already told you na hindi tayo tatanggap ng solicitation letters!” sigaw niya. Hindi maririnig sa labas ang boses niya dahil sound-proof ang kanyang opisina. “Hindi n’yo ba talaga maintindihan ang mga sinasabi ko o sadyang bobo lang kayo?!”

Tumayo si Cindy mula sa pagkakabagsak sa sahig at paika-ikang pinulot ang mga papel. “Pero, Mr. Lombardi, these are from the orphanage. They need our help for the orphans,” pangangatuwiran nito.

Nagpakawala siya ng marahas na buntong-hiniga at napahawak sa kanyang sentido. “I don’t f*****g care about where that bullshits are coming from! Kung hindi mo maintindihan ang simpleng batas ko, I will fire you!”

Napatawa nang bahagya si Cindy nang marinig ang kanyang banta. “You don’t have to, BOSS. Gagawa na lang ako ng resignation letter. Hindi ko na rin kaya ang pagmamalupit ninyo sa amin. We are your employees, but that doesn’t mean na puwede n’yo na kaming pagmalupitan. At sana, binasa n’yo muna ang mga sulat na ito. These letters are from Sweet Smile Orphanage. Kailangan nila ng tulong natin dahil may mga bata doon na may mga sakit.” She almost cried but Drake just stared at her with cold eyes.

“I said, I don’t f*****g care!” pagtataas niya ng boses at tumayo. “If you want to resign, do it as soon as possible. Maraming gustong makuha ang posisyon mo.”

“Iba talaga ang nagagawa ng yaman. It made people think that they’re above others. Kahit simpleng pagtulong, hindi pa magawa,” she said and then left the office.

Drake sighed when Cindy was gone. Pathetic drama. He knew he could get someone to replace her right away. Alam niyang marami ang gustong makuha ang posisyon ni Cindy dahil bukod sa malaking suweldo, karamihan sa mga babaeng nag-a-apply ay gusto siyang makita. And he knew he could use it to get more girls. Lahat ng mga nagdaang sekretarya niya ay nakuha na niya, maliban kay Cindy na mas matanda sa kanya. He was not in to older girls. And Cindy was already married with two children kaya siguro ganoon na lang ang kagustuhan nitong tumulong ang kompanya sa orphanage.

Drake sat in his swivel chair and massaged his nape to ease his anger. Tinawagan na niya ang head ng Human Resource Department para makapaghanap ng panibagong secretary. And he was expecting to have a new one tomorrow. He never heard someone said that to him. He knew deep inside that Cindy’s words hurted him and it made him think how bad he was. Alam niya na matagal nang nagtitiis ang kanyang sekretarya sa ugali niya, pero ngayon lang ito sumabog sa galit.

Drake was about to leave his office to go somewhere to unwind, pero natigilan siya nang tumawag ang kanyang ama. He took a deep breath and calmed himself before talking to his dad.

“Dad? What’s up?” Bumalik siya sa pagkakaupo.

“How’s my Italian boy? Is everything going well there, son?”

He sighed when he realized how difficult it was to run a company. When his father turned seventy, he took over the company and promised to his dad that he would make their business grow bigger. And he did, in just less than three years. But as years passed by, he noticed that everything got a little difficult. And he didn’t want his dad to know that he was having a hard time.

“Yeah, umm, everything’s doing fine, Dad.”

“How about you? Don’t be too hard on yourself, son. It’s okay to give yourself a little break.”

“Yes, Dad. Thanks.”

“Javier, let me talk to my son.”

Drake heard his mom’s voice and it made him smile a little bit.

“Anak, kumusta ka diyan? Huwag kang magpapalipas ng gutom, ha. Kumain ka ng masusustansiyang pagkain. Huwag kang maligo sa gabi. Huwag masyadong magpakalasing. Huwag magpa – ”

“Mom, I’m okay. Don’t worry about me. I can handle myself.” He liked it when his mom got worried about him. Hindi ito nawawalan ng mga pagbabawal. And he thought that was one of the perks of having a Filipina mom.

“Bye for now, Mom. I have something to do.” Agad niyang ibinaba ang tawag at tumayo na para lumabas. His phone beeped again. And when he looked at it, he saw a message from Trevor.

Drake, opening ng bagong bar ko mamayang gabi. Don’t forget to be there.

He smiled. This is good. I have to have a good time tonight.

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MATAPOS mag-make up, nag-vocalize si Misty para sa gig niya mamaya sa Acoustic Realm. She was trembling. First time niyang kakanta sa harap ng maraming tao. She discovered that she could sing when the children from the orphanage, which she promised to help, wanted her to sing in front of them. Naisip niya na ang kalahati sa kikitain niya sa trabaho ay ido-donate niya sa ampunan.

Her friend bought a dress for her para may maisuot siya sa unang gabi niya sa trabaho. Pero hindi niya iyon tinanggap dahil masyadong sexy. She took a simple dress and wore it. Pero kahit naman ano ang ipasuot sa kanya, she still looked stunning.

“`Wag mo masyadong galingan, sis, ha. Baka magkandarapa lahat ng lalaki sa `yo pagkatapos mong mag-perform.” Jestine laughed while fixing her hair. “Oh, these boobs.” Pinisil nito ang dibdib ni Misty, dahilan kung bakit siya napatingin sa kaibigan.

“Ang manyak mo, sis. Alam mo ba `yon?” Tumawa siya at hinawakan din ang dibdib ni Jestine. “Ughh, s**t,” pabiro niyang ungol.

It was normal for them to do that. Hindi iyon masagwa para sa kanila dahil they knew that it was just a friendly touch. Misty has never been in any relationship before because she was too driven by her priorities.

“Huy, bruha. Bakit ba hindi ka pa nagkakanobyo?” Jestine tapped her shoulder.

Napatingin si Misty sa salamin at nagpakawala ng marahas na buntong-hininga. “You know that it is not my main priority. Kailangan ko munang makapagtapos ng pag-aaral.”

“Pero given na nakapagtapos ka na, what would be your standards for a boyfriend?”

She stared at Jestine. She didn’t know how to answer that question. But she tried to.

“Siguro, sapat na sa akin `yong marunong rumespeto at hindi babaero.”

“Kahit hindi guwapo?” Jestine rolled her eyes.

“Oo naman. Hindi naman importante `yon,” matamlay niyang sagot.

“Yeah, and cows fly,” sarkastikong tugon ni Jestine. “Sis, sa ganda mong `yan? I don’t believe you. Baka nakakalimutan mong pareho tayong gustong mapangasawa si Lee Min Ho.”

Natawa na lang sila. Then she realized that she really wanted to have a handsome boyfriend.

Did you forget? Gusto mo ng guwapo at matipuno, `di ba? sabi ng maliit na boses sa kanyang utak.

Alam ni Misty sa sarili niya na gusto niya ng guwapo, pero hindi niya alam kung anong uri ng pagkaguwapo. Maraming guwapong nanligaw sa kanya noon pero ni isa ay wala siyang sinagot dahil pang-Lee Min Ho ang standards niya para sa isang lalaki. And she even knew that her standard was so high. Pero hindi na bale, dahil hindi naman iyon ang kanyang priority. She had something more than that. And she didn’t want someone, especially a guy, to block her way.

Finally, they were done with the makeup. And Misty was on her way to the bar. Hindi sumama sa kanya si Jestine dahil medyo masama ang pakiramdam nito dahil sa buwanang dalaw. Mag-isa siyang bumiyahe patungo sa bar habang bitbit ang kanyang gitara at ang maliit na shoulder bag na naglalaman ng ilan sa mga personal niyang gamit gaya ng cell phone, salamin, at pulbo.

Kinakabahan pa rin si Misty, pero naisip niya na walang idudulot na mabuti ang kaba. Kaya nang nasa harap na siya ng bar, huminga siya nang malalim and she confidently opened the door with nothing but the hopes to get through her first performance.