Heartless Love (Darlentina AU)

Chapter 11: "One Dot"

REGINA’S POV

“Sasama-sama ka sa akin tapos magta-tantrums ka. Dapat ini-enjoy mo lang.” Said Kuya Rudolf. “Mid 20s ka na pero punong-puno ka pa ng toyo. Magbago ka na, Regina.”

“Enjoy? Okay na e. Kung hindi lang panira `yong Custodio na `yon. Angkapal ng mukha na nag-haha sa picture ko. I posted my bestest best picture out of almost 1000 shots!”

It’s from a photoshoot last week for a magazine. Tapos makapal ang mukha niyang mag-react ng ganoon? To think, I’m her boss!

“Masyado kang affected. Hindi naman siguro siya nag-iisang nag-haha react? Angdami mo rin kayang haters. Let is Pass, Regina. Masyado mong pinapakaba ang bodyguard mo. Cute pa naman siya.”

I don’t like that smile on his face!

“God! Don’t date her! Tama na ang paglalandi mo, Kuya. Nakakahiya na sa pamilya.”

And as if wala siyang narinig. He showed me the picture of her date. Yep! Dumayo kami dito sa Japan para i-meet ang long distanced kalandian niya. She can’t come to the Philippines kaya itong hopeless romantic kong kuya nag-book agad ng flight.

“Huwag sanang sa`yo mainlove `to.” Biro pa niya. “Like ilang beses ka naming na-topic. She really admires you.”

“Not my problem if that happens.”

Kaya nga angbilis niyang pumayag nang sabi ko sasama ako. Gusto lang palang i-impress `yong babae. I should act like a nice sister daw. And if he’s like that? Hindi siya seryoso sa babaeng imi-meet niya.

---

We matched our outfits. We didn’t talk about it but my black off shoulder top matches his suit. He took some photo and uploaded it.

“Nice. Maiinggit si Reign nito.” He showed me the uploaded image. “Next time mas ngumiti ka. Grabe ka naman.”

“Tell your girl, hindi ako mabait. Baka mag-expect siya nang sobra.”

“Please, act nice. Don’t mess up, Regina. Angmahal ng pamasahe hanggang dito. And here’s your key. I got you your room.”

I rolled my eyes. Alam ko na ang susunod na mangyayari.

“Mauna ka nang umuwi ng Pilipinas, Regina.”

“I-extend ako ng ilang araw.”

“Tell Kuya, may meetings pa ako.”

And the likes.

“Use protection, Rudolf. Ayoko ng pamangkin na galing sa landi lang.”

He knows I’m serious with that.

---

He gives our two bodyguards some money to spend.

“Tatawagan na lang kayo ni Regina kung uuwi na siya. I’ll just rent a car later.”

“Copy sir.”

“You guys enjoy the night. Okay?”

Sumaludo pa ang dalawa sa kanya.

“Okay now. We’re a bit free.” Saad niya. “Kargo kita kay Kuya. Please, don’t make any trouble later.”

Of course, I didn’t say a word. Hindi ko maipapangako. Lalo kung hindi ko magustuhan ang ugali ng ka-date niya.

We’re about to enter the restaurant. Uminit ang ulo ko agad! Whatt the hell is she doing here? At kasama niya `yong ka-date ni kuya. Pinigilan ko siyang buksan ang pinto.

“You know about this? Don’t you?”

“Anong this?” he confusedly asked or is he just putting up an act? Nagmamaang-maangan ba tong kuya ko?

“`Yan!” I annoyingly pointed at her date. “Bakit kasama ng ka-date mo si Blair.”

Saka lang siya napatingin sa loob. “I didn’t know! Believe me. Kung alam ko lang talaga.”

Nahilot ko ang noo ko. “Of all people! Damn it!”

“Just this once.” He held on my hand. “Please, we’re here already. Magba-back out pa ba? Malaki na ang nagastos ko, Regina. Have mercy on me.”

Inirapan ko siya saka ako umatras para bigyan siya ng daan to open the door. I’ll just be as manhid as I can!

Nauna pang tumayo si Blair. Why do I get this feeling that siya ang may plan nitong date na `no? God! This overthinking is making me anxious.

“Hi.” Bati ni kuya sa kanila. “Nice to see you here, Blair. Long time, no see.”

“Yeah. It’s unexpected. Ka-work ko kasi si Rionjae.” Pagpapaliwanag niya and I don’t believe her of course.

Nevermind. This is not my date after all. Kuya seems enjoying his getting to know you moment with her date. I don’t want to call her by her name. Naiinis ako knowing na baka planado talaga ni Blair itong meet-up na ito.

“Kumusta ka?” asked Blair. “You okay, Regina?”

“Better.” Matipid kong sagot. “Why? Mukha ba akong may sakit?”

Mabilis siyang umiling. “No-no. I mean, angtahimik mo kasi.”

“Wala akong sasabihin, natural na tatahimik ako.”

Sinipa ni kuya ang paa ko. I promised not to ruin his date, but I didn’t say na magiging mabuti akong kausap. Magkaibang bagay `yon!

“So, Blair. Anong pinagkaabalahan mo? You’re gone for like five years.” Tanong pa ni kuya.

Five and six months to be exact.

“Your friend here is not the same Regina after you left.”

Napatingin sa akin si Blair but I didn’t show any emotion. I just continued eating. That was a long time ako. Things are not the same.

“Work. Kailangan ko ma-earn ang trust ng parents ko ulit e.”

“She’s so hardworking,” sabad pa noong date ni Kuya. “Sometimes kulang pa siya sa tulog. She manages some Jpop Idols now.”

“Talaga? Halos same pala kayo ng work ni Regina. She manages naman mga artists sa online entertainment. `Di ba Reg? Same line of work.”

I don’t give a damn. Kahti kay kuya hindi ako nag-react.

“I heard nga.” Blair uttered. “And I watch some of them. Very promising. You’re doing great, Regina.”

“She’s the reason bakit nakabangon ang pamilya namin. She’s a genius talaga.”

Too flattering itong si kuya. It wasn’t just me. We all did our share of sacrifices.

“Alam niyo? I think, best time to catch up ito.” sabi ulit n`ong babae. “Why don’t we give them time?”

That’s not a good idea! I glared at my brother. But I guess, ayaw niyang masayang ang perang ginastos niya at my expense! Damn it!

“You two are best friends. You better catch up. Baka mag-collab pa kayo sa work. That would be a nice idea.” He even kissed my head. “You know where and when to call me, Regina.”

Kiss of a traitor!

Nawalan na ako ng gana. Hinintay ko lang na umalis sina Kuya.

“I better get going.”

She’s to arrogant to attempt on holding my hand! The nerve! Kinuha ko ang phone ko instead. I messaged Cindy to call me pero ilang minuto na ay hindi niya sinasagot.

“Regina, sorry. I know angtagal na delayed ang paghingi ko ng tawad.”

“Good you know. And you have nothing to say sorry. Nakabuti pa nga na umalis ka. See? Nasa magandang disposisyon ako ngayon. Kalimutan mo na ang mga nangyari noon.”

“How? Walang araw na hindi ka nawala sa isip ko.”

My eyes furrowed with her lies. “Wow ha? Anong dapat kong maramdaman? Or what? Know what? Thank you sa pagsira ng friendship natin. I learned to be independent.”

“I was a coward back then. Pressured ako kay Dad at Mom. Alam mo naman. Unlike your parents—”

Custodio is calling? She must have already read my message. And how kapal naman her mukha to call me.

But wait, this is a best excuse para hindi kausap itong si Blair. I slide the answer icon.

“He—"

“Ma`am Regina, pasensya na po kanina. Hindi ko po sinasadya. Si Brian po kasi. Tinabig niya ako. Napindot ko tuloy ang haha-react. Pasensya na po talaga. Pero bago na po ang phone ko hindi na mauulit `yon. Talagang-talaga po. Huwag niyo po akong tanggalin sa trabaho. Iha-heart ko na po lahat ng pictures niyo.”

Did she even breath? This is a perfect timing to pissed Blair.

“It’s okay, Honey. I understand.”

“Po?”

“Don’t overthink, Hon. I miss you, okay?”

She seemed so shock. Well, who wouldn’t?

“Lasing po ba kayo Ma`am Regina. May kasama po ba kayong bodyguard diyan? Halla. Si Sir Rudolf po andiyan ba?”

Funny how she thinks. Might as well play it right.

“A bit. But I’m okay. Sleep ka na. I’ll call you later.”

“Si Ma`am parang tanga `pag lasing. Teka Ma`am. Tawagan ko si Sir Ali.”

She already cut the call.

“Honey? May boyfriend ka na?”

I never bothered to answer. “Sana hindi na tayo magkita. I need to leave. Nagwo-worry na `yong isa.”

Well, she looks hurt and that satisfies me a lot. I excused myself and grab a cab.

Sunod-sunod ang notifications sa phone ko. Pag-check ko ay puro heart reacts sa mga pictures ko from her, Jane Custodio. Oh god! Seriously? Is this her way to apologize? Anong tingin niya sa akin? Uhaw sa heart reacts? Famewhore?

Her chat-head popped up.

“Ma`am, Regina. Safe po ba kayong nakauwi sa hotel? Natawagan ko na si Sir Ali. Huwag daw akong kabahan Ma`am pero kabado bente pa rin ako kasi wala kayo sa Pilipinas. Baka iligaw kayo diyan. Nababasa niyo ba `to nang maayos kahit lasing kayo?”

No words are shortened or abbreviated way of texting, huh?

“One dot Ma`am kung nakauwi na po kayo sa hotel.”

“Question Mark Ma`am kung hindi ka makapagtype sa kalasingan.”

Parang siya yata ang lasing? Kung ano-ano ang pinagsasasabi. God! Baka hanggang madaling araw ay kulitin ako ng babaeng `to.

I typed a dot and clicked send. That should shut her up.