TOUCHED (COMPLETE UNREVISED VERSION)

Seven

Thea Elise

I woke up the next morning with Nicky tugging the quilted duvet cover that was wrapped around me.

"Hey.." I mumbled under the sheets.

"Anong nangyari kay Biggie? Were you stoned last night and tied a bow around it?" She pulled away the covers on top of me so that she can see me. Her arms were on her waist with a questioning look.

Umagang umaga nagsusungit para na tuloy siyang si Miss Minchin kulang na lang may hawak na payong.

"What do you mean? My what? Biggie is here?" I was on my feet the second I uttered the word Biggie.

I sprinted towards the door like a child,hearing the music from the Icecream Truck approaching.

Humabol din siya sakin hanggang marating namin yung gate.

Up and down lang kasi tong maliit naming apartment at sakto lang ang garahe para kay Biggie.

"Ano bang nangyayari sayo Thea Elise? You're freakishly weird today. Did you by chance smoked the one I got from Ella? You know how it affects you right?" Patuloy pa din ang pagsasalita niya habang ako naman nanlaki ang mga mata sa nakikita ko.

There I saw Biggie wrapped in a ridiculously big pink bow.

"What the f**k did you do devil?" Kausap ko ang sarili ko.

I immediately removed it and took the card plastered on top of my helmet..

Wait this is not my helmet..

Oh nonono..

Bagong headlights..

Newly installed side mirror..noooo!!!

"Nooooo!!!" I screamed in frustration as I crumpled the note.

How could he do this?

Ang sama sama ng ugali niya!!!

He destroyed Biggie.

"b***h, what is wrong? What did the note say?" Nicky didn't wait for me to respond, she just took the piece of paper from me.

"I screwed up. Please let me make it up to you. Have dinner with me.-G.." she threw me an accusing look then somehow saw my now purple knuckles.

"You better tell me everything manang!" Her usual bitchy tone was a bit hyper than before.

Napailing na lang ako sa pagtawag niya sakin ng manang. Tawag ko kasi sakanya malandi, kasi nga kahit magsalita ang babaeng ito ay mahalay, at wala pa yung effort ah. Tinawag niya naman akong manang dahil ang prude ko daw--malandi din naman ako eh, mas malandi lang talaga siya.

Hinila niya ako papasok ng apartment at itinulak para makaupo sa couch.

"SPILL. NOW." Nakatayo pa din siya sa harap ko.

Sumandal ako sa couch at tumingala.

Pambihira.

Still happening.

I thought it all ended yesterday.

I straightened myself as I faced Nicky who is now sitting impatiently across from me with her need-to-know-every-f*****g--detail face on.

And I did tell her.

Everything.

"s**t! That is messed up Thea. You could have called me yesterday! I would have gladly left the gallery and gave you a hot bath. I actually wondered why you were asleep early when I came home last night. You must have been so exhausted with what happened." Tinabihan niya ako at niyakap.

"Talaga? Pagod na pagod talaga yata ako. I haven't slept like that ever before though. Now I got the rest of the week off no thanks to him. And my hand f*****g hurts." I blew on my knuckles to relieve the throbbing pain.

Hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala sa nangyari.

"Timplahan nga muna kita ng kape, may binili akong pandesal diyan, sawsaw natin. Gusto mo bang sumama mamaya sa studio? Gusto mo bang mag paint?" Suggest niya, ang sweet talaga nitong malandi kong bestfriend kahit kailan.

Tumayo siya at narinig kong nagbanggan yung mga tasa.

"And how hot was he? Bodyguards huh?"

Hindi ako sumagot, di pa din kasi ako nakakamove on sa mga nangyari, napansin ko na lang nasa tabi ko na ulit siya at naka latag na sa harap ko yung kape at pandesal.

"Hoy manang!" Kinurot niya yung pisngi ko kaya naman bumalik ako sa tamang huwisyo.

"Ha?"

"So your lady parts came alive?" Nginitian niya ako ng nakakaloko.

Sumagi nanaman tuloy sa isip ko yung nakaka inis niyang gwapong mukha.

"Shut up Niccola!" I didn't know why I was embarrassed, it's not like we don't talk about things like that all the time.

"Whoa, tinatawag mo lang ako ng Niccola pag natataranta ka..Oh my f*****g god Thea..ganun ka intense??" She even cupped my face para makita yung reaction ng mukha ko.

"I hate you!"

Binitawan niya ako at kumuha ng pandesal para isawsaw sa kape.

"Parang natutuwa ako sa mga nangyayari. Finally, may nakakaexcite ng nagaganap sa buhay mo.." Sabay subo ng tinapay.

"Anong nakakaexcite dun? Nakakatakot kamo."

"Exactly my dear prude of a best friend. Hindi lahat ng nakakatakot masama. Sometimes you just have to jump into the boiling water for you to experience the heat."

"Walang sense Nicky!" Inagaw ko yung isusubo niya sanang tinapay at kinain yun.

"Again. Exactly my point. It doesn't make sense, hence, it is f*****g exciting!" She even giggled.

"Bitch."

"I'm your biggest b***h, and you love me. Wag mong kakalimutan yan."

"I know.."

---

Grayson Fitzgerald

I couldn't help but smirk when I remember how sexily angry Thea was this morning. Her f*****g gorgeous dimples were so deeply set when she's mad.

She looked like she wanted to punch someone so bad.

Halatang bagong gising siya kanina dahil gulong gulo pa yung buhok niya--and it freaking made her more seductive.

Fuck, yun pa nga lang na galit siya, gandang ganda na ako sakanya, ano pa kaya kung ngitian niya na talaga ako.

But f**k, she should've not gone out of her apartment wearing that enticing baby doll lingerie.

And she was not even wearing a bra for f**k's sake!

"Mierda! You're not even listening to me Grayson!" I snapped back to reality when Vincent, my bestfriend shoved my shoulder.

Andito na kami ngayon sa office ko, nakatayo ako sa may bintana habang sumisimsim ng alak, habang si Vincent naman ay  bumalik sa pagkakaupo sa executive chair ko.

Sinundo kasi namin siya ni John sa airport after stalking Thea.

Fuck, even my subconcious cannot deny that I am stalking her.

Humarap ako sakanya at bumuntong hininga.

"Disculpas hermano..(Apologies brother..)" 

"What is wrong with you? And did I just f*****g hear you apologize? Kanina ko pa nipansin na wala ka sa sarili mo?" Napatawa ako sa tagalog niya. 

Ilang buwan na din kasi siyang nagpapaturo ng purong tagalog, pero marunong naman siya kahit kaunti, kailangan niya lang talaga pag aralan dahil balak nila mag tayo ng branch dito sa Pilipinas.

"f*****g hell, babae yan noh? Don't f*****g tell me you are inlove with your b***h of a fiancee?" Umiiling niyang sabi.

"Hell no!" Mabilis kong tanggi sabay lapag ng baso sa mesa.

"Ex fiancee."  Sabad naman ni John.

"Well, it's about f*****g time you opened your eyes." Vincent sounded relieved.

"See?Kahit pala tong si Vincent hindi rin gusto ang babaeng yon." Natatawang sabi ni John habang inabutan ng baso si Vincent.

"Shut the f**k up, both of you. Ayoko masira ang araw ko sa walang kwentang bagay." 

Sabay silang sumipol at nagtinginan.

"So, tell me about this mystery woman that got the devil's panties in a twist." Hindi talaga nagpaawat tong si Vincent.

"She is hot." Sabi ni John.

"Shut the f**k up John." Tiningnan ko siya ng masama.

"Ohhh..I never imagined you to be this..territorial." Nakangiti lang sakin ang tarantado kong mga kaibigan.

"He's f*****g stalking her, and she punched his face." dagdag ni John.

"Hay que saber apreciar Me estás jodiendo! (You've gotta be f*****g kidding me!)" Napatayo si Vincent at sinipat yung pasa ko sa mukha. "She did this? f*****g hell!" Hindi siya makapaniwala sa nalaman.

"Best punch I've ever received." I f*****g smiled like an idiot.

"f*****g hell, you are whipped..fuck.." Hindi pa din makapaniwala si Vincent, hell kahit ako natatawa sa mga pinag gaga gawa ko lately.

And all of that is because of a woman, who made me believe in love at first sight.

Fuck!!!!

"Don't look at me like that, fucker. Don't worry in about three, or four years from now, malay mo, maging ganito ka na din sakin.." Tinapik ko pa yung balikat niya sabay inom.

"Mierda..I won't allow that to happen. I can't imagine myself as whipped as you. You look like unicorns and rainbows are about to burst out of your ass." Umiling iling pa siya habang naupo ulit.

"You'll feel this too fucker. And I'll be the first one to tell you that I told you so.." 

"f*****g hell." Natawa ako sa facial expression nung gago.

Bata pa kasi to si Vincent, 24 years old pa lang yata while I am already 29. 

He's the heir to his uncle,Seb Castell's empire Imperio León, a spanish conglomerate and my mason brother. They make the finest  and rarest wine in the world. Aside from that, the empire has shipping lines, aircrafts and even chains of hypermarkets across the globe.

I met him about 4 years ago when Seb, my mentor and a good friend of my mom asked me to show him the ropes. 2 years din siyang namalagi sa New York to shadow me, then he went back to Spain para maging apprentice ni Seb.

And four years ago, konti pa lang yung tattoo niya, pero ngayon pansin kong full sleeves na ngayon.

The fucker and I became good friends since then.

He may look like a thug, pero sa naririnig ko ngayon, he is becoming more of a ruthless businessman lalo na't malapit ng itransfer sa pangalan niya ang Imperio León.

"Nakahanap ka na pala ng property for Imperio?" Tanong ko, alam ko kasi na business talaga ang pinunta niya dito.

"Yes. Actually nauna sakin papunta dito si Fred, last week pa diya dumating para makausap yung broker. It's a newly built building at BGC. Do you know where that is?"

Oo nga pala, first time niyang makauwi dito kahit half pinoy siya.

"Yes. Sasamahan ka namin ni John, that is if he is kind enough to tell my secretary to cancel all my appointments for today." 

"Done." Ibang klase tlaga to.

"Well then? Breakfast first?" John suggested.

Tumayo na kaming tatlo at nagsimulang maglakad palabas ng opisina ko.

"John, may nakaasign na bang security sa building ni Thea?" Tanong ko habang nasa elevator kami.

"f*****g hell, man. I still can't believe this.." Nahihiwagaan paring sabi ni Vincent.

Hindi ko na lang siya pinansin dahil sigurado akong buong araw niya akong aasarin.

May i-dinial si John at kinausap saglit bago ipasa sakin ang phone.

"Sir Maxwell, this is Ace of your alpha team."

"Talk." Mariin kong sabi.

"The perimeter is secured. Ms. Nicky has left while Ms. Thea is about to go to the bathroom."

Fuck!

"Don't f*****g stare at her, don't call her Thea and f*****g remove anyone on your team overlooking her f*****g window do you understand??" I could feel the veins on my head about to explode.

Just thinking about these fuckers seeing her on her lingerie makes me want to shoot their eyes off.

"Y-yes. Affirmative sir." Nauutal niya pang sabi.

Pinatay ko na yung tawag at padabog na binalik kay John.

"Man, you are obsessed." Comment nanaman ni Vince

"f**k you."

-----

Thea Elise

Hindi na ako nagtaka nung pagbukas ko ng pinto, ay meron nanamang delivery boy sa may gate, this time Indian food ang pinadala niya.

At hindi basta basta delivery boy ngayon ang nasa harap ko ngayon, he looked like someone who used to be around me when I was still young.

He was wearing all black, naka shades at may earpiece.

Fucking security detail.

"You're one of the devil's henchmen I presume?" I crossed my arms around my chest and raised an eyebrow at him.

"Yes mam. I apologize for the disturbance, but it is imperative that you eat your lunch already. We noticed that you have been watching television all morning and you haven't even move a bit. Mr. Maxwell will be pissed if you missed a meal."

Shit seryoso?

Napantig yung utak ko ng marealize kong minamatyagan nila yung apartment at bawat kilos ko.

This is f*****g insane!

Huminga ako ng malalim at kalmadong nagsalita.

"Call your f*****g boss right now."

Natakot yata sa titig ko kaya nataranta siyang nagdial ng phone.

"Sir..Ms. Thea wants to speak to you."

At talagang first name basis  kami?

Tang ina, pambihira!

Kinakabahan niyang inabot sakin yung phone.

"You f*****g lunatic!" Sigaw ko pagkalapat na pagkalapat ng phone sa tenga ko.

Wala na yung pasensiya ko, kaya sorry na lang dito sa kaharap ko kung madamay siya sa init ng ulo ko.

"Your voice sounds so sexy.." s**t, kahit ba naman pati sa phone ang sexy ng boses niya?

Wait, s**t bawi Thea!!

"Wala ka bang bounderies at pati panonood ko ng tv alam nitong mga bwisit mong alalay? Baka naman pati pag ligo ko pinapa picturan mo?"

"f**k!! No!!! f**k I'll f*****g kill them!" May narinig akong nabasag but I don't really care.

"Shut the f**k up, and listen to me! Kung hindi mo paaalisin within five minutes tong mga nakabantay sa apartment namin, maghuhubad ako sa harap nitong bwisit mong alalay!"

"f**k no!! I'm sorry, please give him back the phone please."

"f**k you. Wag na wag ka ng magpapakita sakin, bwisit ka!" Sabay balik ko ng phone.

"H-hello sir.."

Ilang segundo lang nagtagal yung pag uusap nila habang tumango tango lang yung bwisit saka ibinulsa niya yung phone.

"I apologize Ms. Elise. I didn't mean to call you by your first name. And pasensiya na din po kung sinilip ko yung cleavage niyo.Rest assured we will leave instantly, but please eat this..masisisante kasi ako pag hindi mo daw po kinain tong padala niya." Mahina niyang sabi sabay kamot sa ulo.

Shit.

Kung hindi lang talaga ako maawain.

Punyeta.

Kinuha ko yung pagkain at pinitik yung noo niya.

"Makita ko pa kayo dito, ako na mismo ang magtatawag ng mga tambay para bugbugin kayo. Layas!" Sigaw ko tapos padabog na sinara ang gate.

Tang ina kailangan ko ng madaming brownies!!!

Sinsasagad talaga ng Grayson na yun ang pasensiya ko.

............