Long Lusting Love

Chapter 2: Stupid Plans

Stupid Plans

"Catalina!" dad called sternly.

Taas noo akong lumapit sa kanya, ang mga ngiti ay pilit na itinatago. Bahagya akong yumuko upang marinig ang anunang sasabihin niya. Kahit hindi pa siya magsalita ay alam ko na kung anong gusto niyang iparating, o itanong.

"Where's your sister?" He is serious.

I waited for him to be worried about my missing dear sister but no. He's just all serious. Probably a bit worried, because of this exclusive project. S'yempre ay hindi naman nila alam kung ano na ang nangyayari ngayon sa Prinsesa ng aming pamilya.

Tuwid akong tumayo. That made his eyes widen, warning me. He wants my answer in a whisper. Pero hindi ako nagpapigil. I want everyone here in the room to know what I want to say. "I'm sorry dad. It's either she's not ready for the presentation or she's busy with her boyfriend."

I glanced at each of the board members. They are all frowning, often checking their watch. All losing their patience to my dear sister.

"What?!" one of the board angrily said. "We've wasted half an hour now. I thought she's on her way? We don't have all day here Mr. Ventura."

"We are a busy person. We need to see the presentation now before the client sees it." the other one added.

Nagtaas ako ng kilay at mas pinigil ang sariling matawa. They are all fuming mad! My poor dear sister. She's in danger now and all these people are stress of her.

"She's really on her way. She's so responsible to neglect this." my dad throw dagger looks up at me.

Umiwas ako ng tingin at taas noong hinarap ang board. Yeah, so responsible. Now, let's see how responsible she can be.

"What now Mr. Ventura?" one of the stakeholder asks. "Is this meeting already dismissed? Better be than wasting anymore minute."

Sinulyapan ko si Brent at pasimple s'yang tinanguan. Tumango s'ya sa akin at inayos ang kanyang necktie bago itinaas ang isang kamay.

"I think the presentation is already done right? Since Catalina is here, maybe she can present her part. Just so our time won't be totally wasted." he said with a deep voice. He's one of the respective bachelor and member of the board here in our company, kaya hindi na ako magtataka kung sumang-ayon sa kanya ang board.

Well, I wouldn't ask him for this if he isn't.

"I guess so. But what about Cassidy's part?" the board asks.

I clear my throat and walk in front wear the white board is. "We work for this togther. Maybe I can still share what I know about her part in the presentation?"

Everyone nodded satisfied. Even dad seems satisfied that I can handle this one. Napapansin lang naman talaga n'ya ang mga efforts ko kapag wala si Cassy. Kaya naman hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa ako nakokonsens'ya sa ginawa ko sa kanya. It's all her fault anyway.

"You deserve everything Cassy." Dad would say to her. Guess what dad? She really deserves everything.

"Then let's start this." Brent said and winked at me.

I confidently stood in front and looked at them. I'm really ready for this. Cassy haven't noticed it, pero sa tuwing ginagawa namin ang report na ito ay pinag-aaralan ko rin ang part. I deserve this project alone anyway. The board voted for me to manage this one. But dad is so proud of his Cassy, she insists her to be part of this. And she agrees of course because she wants to please dad. But hell! Kahit wala s'yang gawin, dad is so please of her! Ako lamang naman itong wala ng ginawang tama sa mga nila. Puro na lamang si Cassy. The good daughter of the blacksheep of the family? Kaylan ba naman ako mananalo?

I need to make a step myself. Kaya naman at ito, this is my first step. Let's see how the perfect life of my dear sister turns upside down. She deserves everything, right?

"You did it well." Brent said and leant forward to kiss me.

Umiwas ako bago pa man s'ya makalapit at tinalikuran. I crossed my arms over my shoulder and faced him with enough space between us. "Everything I do is perfectly well Brent."

He smirks at me but his brows are knitted. "I know. But what's wrong with a kiss? I do you a favor."

Umirap ako sa kanya bago kinuha ang bag na nasa desk ko. "Not here Brent. And besides, I need to go now."

He's not that important to me. He worships me so much na gagawin n'ya ang lahat ng inutos ko. Hindi ko lamang sa kanya pinagawa ang trabaho ni Rael dahil alam kong higit pa sa halik ang hihingin n'ya. And I don't trust him that much also. Ayaw kong i-blackmail pa n'ya ako.

I'm halfway on the door when he speaks. "Where is Cassy by the way? Bakit hindi s'ya dumating?"

Hindi ko s'ya nilingon ngunit ngumisi ako. "I don't know either. It seems like she's not that responsible." I said over my shoulder and walks out of my office.

Hindi ko na s'ya kaylangan pang intindi ngayon. I need to prepare for my biggest project coming tomorrow. And take note, I'm alone with this. Cassidy no more.

I'm on my car when my phone rings. Sinagot ko iyon ng makitang si Ysabel ang tumatawag.

"Congrats!" she started. "I know your plan succeed because your not calling me."

Umirap ako sa kawalan. Mabuti ng alam n'ya na tatawagan ko lamang s'ya kung may kaylangan ako. Iniwas ko ang cellphone sa tainga ko at ni-loudspeak iyon bago inilagay sa front seat. The music from the background of her call booms inside my car.

"Let's party and celebrate?" she sounds so tipsy. She's even moaning from the other line. I can imagine some random guy again with her.

"My plan isn't yet done, Bel. It will only start tomorrow." sabi ko at binuksan na ang engine ng sasakyan.

"Come on! Join me here just for a minutes! For Rael's success work!"

Muli ay umirap ako sa kawalan. Why am I wasting time with her anyway? "I still need to hear words from him. Send me his number, I'll meet him tomorrow. Saka na lamang tayo magkita pagkapos ko s'yang makausap.

Without a bye, I ended the call. I need a bar when everything's not going on my way. Ngayon na success ang naging plano ko ay hindi ko na iyon kaylangan. I'll make dad see me this time. He's going to be so disppointed to Cassy and be proud of me. Ganoon naman talaga ang gusto ko kahit noon pa man. Nagkataon lang na palaging nand'yan ang perfect na si Cassy. I should have thought about this before. My life shouldn't be this miserable thinking of ways of pleasing our parents.

Well, talking about my parents. They are so worried about my dear sister now. But they won't call me and nag for her lost. Alam naman nilang wala silang makukuhang magandang sagot sa akin. Especially when it's about the good daughter. Si mommy lang ang nag-aalalang tumawag sa akin kanina. But I didn't answer her call and just texted her I'm busy. Tatawagan lang naman nila ako kung sobrang importante na. But Cassy is not that important.

The next day, wearing my tailored corporate dress, I prepare myself for the meeting. This is it. Ginugol ko ang buong oras ko kaninang umaga para lamang sa presentation na ito. I'm so confident this is going to be the best day of my life. Ngayon ay papatunayan ko kay daddy kung anong malaking pinagkaiba namin ni Cassy.

But I still have an hour, kaya naman naisipan kong makipagkita ngayon kay Rael. I want to see my dear sister first for another confidence before the meeting.

My car is parked in the curb in front of a coffee shop near our company building. Hindi ko na kaylangang pumasok sa loob. Ayaw kong may ibang makakita sa aking kasama ang isang tulad ni Rael. Kahit si Brent ay kinakahiya kong kasama. I just don't want them dragging them dragging my name to nothing.

Diretso ang tingin ko sa kalsada hanggang sa pumasok si Rael sa front seat ng sasakyan ko. Nang naisara na n'ya ang pinto ay hinarap ko s'ya. I looked him from head to toe, tracing any dirt he might bring in my lovely car.

"Where is she?" I coldly asked him. It's so disgusting thinking his one of Ysabel's boy toy. He's so handsome he can do better than that.

"Ako na ang magd-drive." he said huskily.

Nagtaas ako ng kilay sa kanya. He really thinks I'll let him ride my car?

"Mas mabilis tayong makakarating doon kung ako na ang magd-drive."

"Look," natatawang sinabi ko. "I know you're a driver but that doesn't mean I'll let you with my car."

Ngayon ay tumingin na s'ya sa akin. Kanina pa s'ya seryosong nakatingin sa harap na ngayon ko lamang din napansin ang seryoso n'yang mga mata.

"What?" I asked annoyed when he just stared at me.

Umiling s'ya at tumango. Umirap ako sa kanya bago binuksan ang engine ng sasakyan. He gets something from his pocket, a handkerchief. Sinulyapan ko s'ya and before I knew it, his handkerchief is already covering my nose, suffocating me with a different smell.

Nagpumiglas ako ngunit mabilis kong nalanghap ang amoy. Nanlalaki ang mga mata ko sa kanya habang nanatili s'yang seryoso, tila ba wala lamang ang ginagawa.

Kumirot ang ulo ko ng sinubukan kong idilat ang mga mata ko. I'm in an unfamaliar room. I scrunched my nose up in disapprovement in the black and gray sorroundings. There's a touch of wide but the shady part us dominant. This is not my type of room. So old and boring.

Umirap ako sa kawalan at marahang bumangon sa malambot na kama. I take in everything around and I can tell na hindi na rin masama ang design nitong kwarto. A combination of classic and modern.

Huminga ako ng malalim upang pakalmahin ang sakit ng ulo ng pumasok sa isip ko ang dahilan kung bakit ako nandito.

That Rael!

Mabilis akong bumaba ng kama. The carpet feels soft beneath my feet. The room is big and wide pero wala na akong panahon ngayon para pansinin pa iyon.

Sa labas ng kwarto ay isang hallway. On both each side hangs a landscape paintings. The floor is now cold beneath my feet ngunit dumiretso pa rin ako sa sala. Walang kahit isang tao at sobrang tahimik. If this place is to Rael, surely not. It is obviously an exclusive penthouse of a hotel. Kita ko mula rito ang mga skyscraper. Sa gilid naman ay napansin ko ang outdopr swimming pool. This place doesn't seem the type of Rael's.

"Rael!" I angrily shouted, seeing him standing outside, near the pool and looking at landscape below him. His back is facing me pero sigurado ako na narinig n'ya ako.

"Rael!" I called him again. Mabilis ang hakbang ko palapit sa kanya, sandaling bumagal ng titigan ko ang malapad n'yang likod. He's upper body is naked and only wearing a pants. On his hand is glass of what seems like a wine.

Again, he didn't look back at me. Sa inis ko ay marahas kong hinila ang braso n'ya upang ipaharap s'ya sa akin. Sa sobrang lakas ng paghila ko ay natapon ang ilang alak sa damit ko. I gasp on the stain of the water on my dress. I looked up at Rael ngunit mas lalong nanlaki ang mga nanlalaki kong mga mata sa gulat ng makita s'ya. Binitawan ko ang braso n'ya at mataman s'yang tiningnan.

Umiwas ako ng tingin at pilit na inalala kung saan ko nakita ang lalaking ito. Nagsalubong ang kilay ko sa pag-iisip at muling nag-angat ng tingin sa kanya. That familiar perfect face.

"Where's Rael?" I asked him instead. At doon ko lamang naalala kung saan ko s'ya nakita. "You're his employer. Where is he? What am I doing here? What are you doing here?"

His eyes on me narrowed. Ipinatong n'ya ang hawak na baso sa tall table na nasa gilid, without breaking eye contact with me.

Masyado akong natagalan sa sagot n'ya kaya hindi ko na hinintay. I have important things to do and I'll handle that asshole Rael later. "Wait, what time is it?"

Again, he didn't answer. Sa inis ko ay itinulak ko na s'ya. Mas lalo pa akong nainis ng maalala ang tungkol sa meeting. Hindi ko alam kung ilang oras akong walang malay pero ang dilim sa kalangitan ay nagsasabing masyado ng huli. Or maybe I can still go there.

"The hell! Why don't you speak? Where am I? What time is it? I need to get out of here now!" I said as I continue on punching his so damn hard chest.

He moves and grabs both of my hand. Ngumiwi ako sa diin ng pagkakahawak n'ya. He looked down at me dangerously. His deep and firmed voice makes me cringe in my place. "How dare you..."

I stared up at him in disbelief. Not because of his words, or his looks but because the effect he has on me.

"...How dare you do that to your own sister? Hired a man to r**e her! Huh!"

I step back but his grip on me tighten. That Rael. His an employee of this man. Sigurado ako na s'ya ang nagsabi ng tungkol doon sa lalaking ito. Malalagot talaga s'ya sa akin!

"W-Where's Cassy? What did you do to her?" I asked a bit shaky. I'm trying to convince myself that I'm not scared of me pero iyon ang totoo.

He's dark eyes mirrored the dark sky above us.

"Where's my sister?!" I shouted just so to convince myself more that I'm not really scared of him.

He chuckled without humour. "Sister? You're calling her sister now? After of what you are planning to her?"

Planning. Which means, hindi natuloy ang plano ko. That f*****g Rael didn't make it!

"You don't care!" I shouted. "You don't f*****g care! Where is--"

"I cared!" he gritted out as his grip tightened even more. "I cared."

I firmly closed my lips but I can't keep myself from wincing in his grip. "N-Nasasaktan ako."

Hindi n'ya iyon namalayan. Nagtataka s'yang tumingin sa akin bago ako binitawan. Hinawakan ko ang braso kong namumula na ngayon.

"Let me go." mahinang sinabi ko. "I need to go. I don't care what you did to my her but I need to go now."

He smirks again. "And make another plan against your sister again? Don't you have any conscience at all?"

"I said you don't care! Who are you anyway? Surely you're not her boyfriend. She already has." I tell him. Ngayon ay muling nabubuhay ang inis ko. I need to go to the company now!

"I'm no one to her but surely an everything to you." he said which makes me confused. "I will ruin all your stupid plan, Miss Catalina Ventura."

I was dumbfounded. My fist turns into a ball ngunit wala akong nagawa. Hinayaan ko s'yang iwan akong nakatulala, still processing his words.

How dare him! And who the hell he is!?