The Other Girl

Chapter 2

           It has been a crazy week and it's burning me out. Lots of meetings, lots of business deals. My head is throbbing painfully like I'm getting severe migraine. I stared at the large framed painting hanging just at the middle of my office room. It is the art of my beloved Chloe. Within our already one year relationship, I recently discovered that she also have passion for painting. How time flies so fast. In Chloe's painting is a little girl selling candies and cigarette on the street. The painting spoke volume and it represents hard work and enthusiasm. Anyone who would look closely at the painting would feel ashamed if he/she did not work hard enough for a living while the little girl in the painting is already working at the very young age.

I massaged my forehead while staring at the painting. Chloe have a brilliant mind to deliver what exactly she wanted the world to see from her masterpiece. I am more than proud of her. I just deeply wonder kung saan nanggaling ang emosyon ni Chloe habang ipinipinta ang larawang iyon. I suddenly miss her, It has been a week when we last go out together. Maybe, I should ask her how her childhood was. I wanted to hear Chloe's voice so I dialled my personal assistant's extension.

"Sir." It was Julianne's voice, my PA.

"Please cancel my next appointment."

"Noted sir."

I grabbed my cellphone from my pocket then dialed Chloe's number.

No answer.

I dialed it again.

"Hello Duke."

A breathy voice answered the phone and I knew it wasn't Chloe. It was her best friend. My nose flared in irritation. I didn't like the idea that Champie is holding Chloe's phone. The woman was like Chloe's shadow. She's just everywhere and I couldn't get rid of. I want to applause myself for remaining nice everytime I see her eventhough I really wanted to throw her out of Chloe's life like a bag of trash.

I composed myself so that nicer tone will come out of my mouth.

"Hi Champ...Where's Chloe?"

"Ah, natutulog e."

Natutulog. That means Chloe is with her bestfriend again at this very moment.

"You mean, she's sleeping in your place?"

Just thinking about it made my stomach lurch very bad. Chloe's bestfriend is living in a squatter's area. Not that I have issues with people living in those areas but it's a big deal for me if it involves Chloe. I'm very protective to her.

"H-hindi...I mean...Ahm wala bang nabanggit si Chloe sa'yo?"

Nag-alalangang ang tono nito. I do not intend to make her feel that I didn't like her as Chloe's bestfriend. I have accepted the idea na mas matagal pa ang pinagsamahan ni Chloe at Champ keysa sa relasyon naming dalawa.

"Wala e. Care to tell me?"

"Kumuha kasi siya ng apartment malapit sa tinitirhan ko e, inaayos namin ang mga gamit kaya nakatulog siya sa pagod---"

"Wait a minute, kumuha siya ng apartment?! Why? Did her parents know about this?"

My voice raised a little. Chloe is making decisions again without informing me. This must be the challenge of being in a relationship with a younger woman. I could already imagine Champie's face. She's biting her own lips for giving that detail.

"Siya na lang ang tanungin mo, I'll give you the address if you want to talk to her about it."

"Sige...just give me the address"

Idinikta naman ni Champ ang address. I immediately end the call after getting the information. I'm so frustrated. I knew Chloe too well now, hindi ito magdedesisyon ng mga bagay na walang kinalaman sa bestfriend nito. She always put Champie above her priorities. Just because Champie is a working student and cannot enroll in full load classes, she would also not enroll those classes para lang makasabay nito si Champie. She would always help her with her bills and tuition fees. She would use her allowance to help her bestfriend. Pero dahil tutol din si Mr. and Mrs. Pantallion sa pakikipagkaibigan nito kay Champie ay sinadya ng mga itong gipitin sa allowance si Chloe para lang wag na itong maglabas ng pera para gastusan ang kaibigan so Chloe would ask for my help to pay Champie's bills and tuition fees. I hated it. I couldn't help to think that the woman is a gold digger if only I had not witness in my own eyes how she insisted to pay Chloe back every chance she gets. I must admit na may paninindigan din naman ang babae. She's working very hard just to pay Chloe.

Napukaw ang malalim kong pag-iisip nang bumukas ang pinto at iniluwa doon si Tristan, ang magaling kong pinsan. Pabagsak itong naupo sa visitor's chair.

"Hey man! What's up?"

I clenched my fist. The last thing I wanted is to see is this asshole inside my office. What did I just say to Juliane?!

"Running out of money, again, Tristan?"

"Oh yes! I need my fifty million pesos."

My mouth curved in a sarcastic smile. My father already warned me about it. Tristan has been pressuring the old man to get the money. My cousin is fortunate enough to inherit the 10% share of Royals Internet Solutions Incorporated from my uncle--his dying father. My family is the major provider of telecommunication, IPTV and internet service in the country. This asshole has no plan of joining the business but instead he wanted to sell his share at fifty million pesos! Ayaw pagbigyan ng aking ama ang hinihingi ng pamangkin nito sa bunsong kapatid. My father predicted that Tristan will just waste the money. My father just wanted to protect the only 10% share that is left to his younger brother.

"As soon as your father sign a document that he approves to sell his 10% share, ako mismo ang magbibigay sa'yo ng 50 million..."

"Don't give me that s**t Duke! As if my father who's in coma is capable to sign a legal document? I need the money now!"

I shake my head. "You must be losing your mind Tristan, what would you do with the money? Uncle Tom worked so hard to earn his 10 percent share in the company, you think father will allow you to squander the only fortune he has left?"

"You talk exactly like your father Duke. You think you can fool me? It has come to my knowledge that as soon as you marry Fraud Pantallion's daughter, uncle will freely give half of his share of Monarchiv's businesses to the family, why taking me out from the picture? May karapatan din ako sa kumpanya!"

"This conversation is over cousin. I advise you to leave. I have lots of appointment today. Would you like me to call the guards to escort your way out?"

Pagalit na tumayo si Tristan. He pointed a finger at me. "There will be a day that you will step down to your mighty throne Dukian. I will get my fifty million in any way I can!" Banta nito bago lumabas sa opisina ko.

I felt like my head is burning like hell. I'm already stressed out since this morning and dealing with Tristan is just too devastating. 

CHAMPIE

I heard the sound of Dukian's car parking outside our new apartment. I'm currently mapping the floor while Chloe is sleeping. My billionaire best friend is not used to doing home stuffs like this, of course! I have to do the cleaning all by myself. My shirt is already so full of dust, I smelt really bad. Duke is already knocking at the door. Now I have to open the door to face Chloe's high and mighty boyfriend like his name itself. Not that he will scrutinize me just by staring at me with all the disgusted looks from his eyes. Not that he will blame me because Chloe rented this apartment for me. Despite of his intimidating aura, he is always polite to me. Kung hindi ko lang  kilalang matapoble ang mga Monavchiv iisipin ko talagang mabait na tao si Dukian. Gusto kong magpaliwanag sa kanya na ayaw na ni Chloe na tumira ako sa squatter's area. She wants a more comfortable place because she will be constantly visiting me and sleep in the apartment most of the time. I knew my best friend so much, she always has the final decision for both of us.

I put the map on the side so I could open the door for Dukian. He's standing at the foot of the door looking so arresting in his business suite. I silently held my breath. I always get nervous at the presence of Chloe's boyfriend because he is intimidating me. I cleared my throat and opened the door wider for his entry.

"Hi Duke! Come in!"

The way he looked at me made me feel like melting just like an ice cream. Mukha siguro talaga akong basura. I'm wearing an over sized white shirt which is already filled with all the dirt I got from cleaning the entire house.

"Tulog parin si Chloe, that's the room..." I pointed the room behind the sofa in the living room.

He smiled at me. Using his usual politeness. Dumiretso na ito sa kwarto ni Chloe. I sighed heavily. It really affects me when he treats me like that. He's Chloe's boyfriend and somehow it is important to me that Duke will at least accept the reality that my friendship with Chloe is unbreakable.

I closed the door. I finish mapping the floor. It's already 4 o'clock in the afternoon. I still have work in the coffee shop from 8 in the evening up to 12 in the morning. I need to take a rest for few hours before going to work. I will just sleep in the sofa because Duke is with Chloe inside the room. I refused to think beyond what they could be doing right now. I entered the bathroom to clean up myself before going to sleep. Then I remembered that I must cook for our dinner, we haven't eaten much since this morning. Chloe preferred to eat meals that are cooked by me instead of ordering ready-made meal outside. This apartment is already fully furnished with TV, Aircon, Ref and kitchen stuffs. Chloe already ask her maids to buy grocery for her. I just open the fridge to check what is available for cooking. I change clothes in the bathroom and headed to the kitchen to cook our dinner.

DUKE

"What's bothering you lover boy?

I smile at her. Feeling energized by the sweetness of my young girlfriend. I just made love to her but I still wanted more. We were still lying on the bed, I hug her closer to my body.

"Why did you rent this apartment?"

She played the hair in my chest.

"You know I always stay with Champ right? Hindi na'ko comfortable dun sa tinitirhan niya e, ako din ang nahihirapan, alam mo naman ayaw nina mommy at daddy na papuntahin ko sa bahay si Champ."

"Then why didn't you tell me first?"

"I'm sorry, I just thought you wouldn't agree..."

I kissed her head. "Oh baby, what am I gonna do with you? You always disobey your parents..."

She smiled so sweetly to me.

"But I'm always obedient with you right?"

Her hand moved downward. I groaned in pleasure. "Baby stop that already, or you'll really get what you want!"

Natawa ito. "Okay...why do we eat first? I'll ask Champ to cook for us!"

Napabangon ako. "We'll order na lang."

"No please!" She hugged me from the back. "Champie is a great cook, you'll see, isa pa, you have to genuinely like her, best friend ko siya at mahalaga siya sa buhay ko..."

I shook my head. "I don't get it Chloe."

"Why?"

"Yeah you're bestfriends I understand that but must you really have to spend money for her?"

Nagsalubong ang kilay ng nobya.

"Are we gonna quarrel about this again Duke?"

"Okay, forget about it..." I raised my hands to dismiss the topic

"May ipapakiusap sana ako sa'yo Duke..." Bigla itong sumeryoso at nahuhulaan na niya kung ano ang susunod na sasabihin nito. "You see, binabawas na ng parents ko kung allowance ko, pati credit cards ko bumaba na iyong credit limits. Champ told me na titigil daw siya sa pag-aaral next year."

"And?"

"Can you pay for her tuition fee in advance para wala na siyang dahilan para di mag-enroll next year? I promise babayaran kita."

Nasapo ko ang aking noo. "This is too much Chloe!"

"Please do this for me...." Pagsusumamo pa nito

"Do you think she will agree kung malaman niya na ako ang nagbayad ng tuition fee niya?"

"Don't even mention about it! She will hate me for that. Dapat ang alam niya ay ako ang nagbayad. Sa lahat ng nagastos ko sa kanya she almost paid half of it, ganyan siya ka maprinsipyong tao." 

Muli niya akong niyakap. "Please...."

Tumango lang ako. Chloe's face brightened up and she kissed me hard.

"C'mon let's go outside and ask Champ to cook for us..."