The Bachelor's Stripper

COFFEE

Denzel Garreth Vargaz

PUMASOK AKO sa conference room para dumalo sa meeting ni Papa. Naabutan ko roon ang kapatid ko na handa na at mukhang magpe-present ngayon ng meeting tungkol sa negosyo. I don’t have business here, but because my father wants my presence at every one of our business events and gatherings, I have no choice but to attend this meeting that I couldn’t relate to. Tingin niya siguro ay magkakainteres ako sa negosyo kung a-attend ako ng mga ganito.

“Good afternoon,” bati ko sa kanila at ngumisi. I bit my lower lip and sat on the left side. Sa likod ako pumuwesto malapit sa uupuan ni Papa mamaya.

“Good afternoon, Garreth!” bati ng iilang executives na maayos na nakaupo.

I was playfully smiling when it gradually disappeared after my father came inside, behind him was his assistant following him. Kaya nagtaka ako dahil dapat sekretarya niya ang narito.

Ang buhok niya ay naipon lahat sa kanang balikat, she is wearing a black shirt and pastel blouse that has buttons on the center line. Kumunot ang nuo ko at pinanuod silang dalawa na pumasok. Hindi lang ako ang nakatingin sa babae kundi halos lahat ng lalaki na nasa silid.

The girl is wearing a slight smile on her lips while her hands are clasped together in front of her. Nakayuko ng konti at tila nagbibigay galang sa mga naroon. She scanned the room and when she saw me watching her intently while her head was tilted a bit, her lips were shaking while trying to stretch for a smile.

“All are here?” Dad casually asked before he sat in the center. Ang babaeng kasama niya ay pumuwesto sa likod namin, malapit sa gawi ko. “Malcom, you may start the meeting.” He put his palm on the projector.

Dumilim ang paligid at nawalan ng ilaw. The light was enough to see what was in front and of course what we were supposed to see. Furniture and things that I don’t understand.

“Mr. Nicholas Vargaz…” narinig ko ang mahinang boses ng babae sa gilid ko, malambing at banayad iyun. Nilingon ko sila sa likod at kahit madilim ay naabutan ko ang nakayukong babae sa aking ama at may binubulong doon.

“Once the presentation is done,” narinig kong sagot ni Papa.

Napabuntong hininga ako ng malalim at nakita ang ngiti ng babae tsaka tumango. Binalik ko ang titig sa harapan at rumiin iyun. Damn this woman! I couldn’t be mistaken, I had seen her face before.

What a f*****g slut. Ano ‘to? Side chic ng ama ko?

I closed my eyes when the light was turned on and the room became bright. Saglit lang iyun at binalik ko ang tingin sa projector tsaka nanatiling tamad sa pagkakaupo. The meeting started and discussions about the designs.

I saw my father glance at the woman who remained in her position on the corner, this time she was sitting making her skirt a bit shorter. Tumango ito at tumayo tsaka tahimik na pumuslit.

“We can make some changes to the designs…” my brother was talking when I excused myself to go in the bathroom.

Sinundan ako ng tingin ni Papa dahilan para mas gumuhit ang paghihinala ko sa kanyang mga kilos. When I went out I tried to look for that girl. Hanggang sa sinabi sa aking nasa pantry ito.

Pumasok ako at naabutan ko siyang abala sa madaming baso na nasa harapan niya. Napahilig ako sa pintuan at pinapanuod siya sa ginagawa. She crouched and my eyes landed on her butt, umikli ang suot niya at mas nagpakita ng hita ito sa kanyang ginawa.

My eyes narrowed as I tilted my head and smirked, maganda ang hita at makinis. Her hair is still on her right shoulder. Kinagat ko ang pang-ibabang labi at nilapitan siya. She is searching for something in the cabinets, nakayuko pa rin nung sinadya kong idikit ang sarili ko sa puwet niya.

“Ay gago!” she blurted out, words you wouldn’t expect from her sweet lips and innocent smile. Napaayos siya ng tayo at humarap sa akin na gulat na gulat. She leaned on the counter and I found on her hands the sugar. “So-sorry po.” Yumuko siya at hindi ako matignan ng maayos. Tila iniiwasan ako ng tingin.

“What are you doing?” I asked her like caught in a crime. Sinulyapan niya ang mga baso sa likod nito. Hindi siya makagalaw dahil nakaharang ako sa kanya. I took a step closer when she moved trying to escape.

“Na-nagtitimpla ng kape?” takang sagot niya. I was so suspicious that I didn’t notice that she came here to make coffee.

My eyes landed on her neck and drawled slowly towards her chest. I put my hands on the edge of the counter and crouched a bit to capture her wandering eyes.

“Para kanino?” seryoso at malamig kong tanong.

Taka niya akong binalingan ng tingin at napanguso.

“Pa-para sa inyo, sa nasa meeting.” Salubong ang nuo niya at bumagsak ang titig sa aking dibdib. Hindi ako matignan sa mga mata. “Ayan yung mga baso, oh. Marami, para sa lahat yan.”

I swallowed a bit and glanced at the cups. Nakita kong iniwas niya ang mukha niya nung mapahilig ako sa kanyang balikat. She is relaxed and her movements are calculated, like this position doesn’t bother her. Tila ba sanay na sanay na.

Binalingan ko siya at ngumisi.

“That’s your job here? To make coffee?”

Sumalubong ang kilay niya.

“Hi-hindi lang yun. Marami pa.”

Napanguso ako at pinipigilan ang mapang-uyam na ngisi sa labi. Kaswal lang ang kanyang titig sa akin pero ramdam ko ang iritasyon na pilit nilalabanan.

“All-around assistant…” I uttered and tilted my head. My eyes dropped on her lips. It was tightly closed together. Suddenly I have the urge to part her lips but I know I should not do that. “Kung ganun pwedi rin ba kitang utusan at papuntahin sa condo ko?”

Now her eyebrows met and so offended by my statement.

“Tauhan ako ng ama mo, hindi ikaw ang boss ko.” Matapang niya akong tinignan.

At least she knows that I am the son of her boss.

“I’m just asking. Dadagdagan ko naman ang bayad ko sayo, dodoblehan ko pa ang sweldo ng aking ama sayo—”

“Mas natututo ho ako rito. Mas marami akong natutunan kay Mr. Nicholas Vargaz.” Pinilit niyang ngumiti.

I laughed in sarcasm and that made her look away.

“You will learn also a lot from me…” makahulugan kong usal.

Natawa siya at tila huli na para bawiin niya ang nagawang pagtawa sa sinabi ko.

“Pasensya na ho. Ano ho ba ang trabaho niyo sa negosyo rito? Parang saling pusa lang naman kayo rito,” malambing niyang sambit at nginitian ako na tila walang bahid na kadumihan.

Bumigat ang paghinga ko at rumiin ang titig sa kanya. She is f*****g annoying! Looking innocent but f*****g wicked!

“Excuse me po. Magtitimpla pa ako ng kape.” Nung mapansin niya ang irita ko sa mukha ay umiwas na ito at sinubukang umalis pero mabilis kong hinawakan ang braso niya at pinabalik sa pagkakahilig sa counter. I pressed my body to her and towered a cold gaze at the woman.

Napanguso siya at nasa dibdib ko lang ang tingin. Her fingers are in between, her only way to make a space between us. Kaya kahit naiipit iyun ay pinanatili niya sa gitna ng dibdib niya.

“Go and make a coffee. Sarapan mo dahil titikman ko,” I maliciously instructed. She paused and lifted her head at me. Ngayon ay seryoso na at masama na rin ang tingin sa akin. “Siguraduhin mong masarap at magigising ako. Let us see if you’re that good, kung pati sa baba ko magising mo.”

I was expecting her to hysterically burst out at my vulgarity. But the f*****g girl smirked at me and laughed in mockery.

“Gusto mo ba yung titigasan ka?” She equaled my words, more intense and explicit. My throat ran dry as my annoyance subsided to turn into amusement. “Hindi kape ang kailangan mo, Mr. Denzel Garreth Vargaz. Siguro yung hihimas at luluhod sayo yung kailangan mo.” Malambing niya akong nginitian at agad rin sumimangot tsaka tinulak ako sa dibdib.

She casually started making coffee while I was left behind her astonished.

“Ano ho ba? Kailangan niyo pa po ba ng kape o hindi na? Yung hinahanap niyo kasi sa kape ay mukhang wala rito. Kaya hindi ko na kayo isasali, sayang naman ang kape sa inyo.” She slowly put it on the tray as I watched casually went out and ended the conversation like it was nothing.