Obsessive Men 1: Lucas Clemente

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

"Another pose!" the cameraman yelled for nth time.

This would be the last photoshoot for today. Bukas na bukas ay may bibisitahin silang bahay-ampunan at magdo-donate sila sa isang charity funds na tumutulong sa mga batang may cancer at sa mga orphan. One of the reason why she volunteered about modelling here in Philippines. Mabait ang may-ari ng TCL na naisipan pang tumulong sa mga nangangailangan. She heard that the owner of TCL is now residing in South Korea, but she's a Filipino.

"Job well done, Miss Xia!" the cameraman exclaimed and the staffs clapped their hands.

Napangiti naman si Xia at nagpasalamat. She maybe bitchy sometimes, but she's a kind woman. Minsan nga lang ay nagsusungit siya, it's either because of stress or she's in red tide.

"Those tops are really attractive to you." Nilapitan siya ng Manager niyang si Melody.

Humikab siya at ngumiti. "I want to sleep."

"Nah." Kumindat si Melody. "Boy hunting tonight?"

Nangunot ang noo ni Xia. "Where?"

"I know some place." Melody, her manager winked at her again and she laughed.

Naglakad si Xia patungo sa kanyang bag na pinagsidlan ng kanyang mga kagamitan. She searched for her phone and she unlocked it immediately after finding it. Hindi na siya nagulat nang maraming nagmensahe sa kanya sa w******p. Sino ba naman kasing hindi maghahanap sa kanya kung iniwan niya lang ang mga ito nang walang paalam. Ayaw niya lang kasi talaga sa mga lalaking puro kahalayan ang laman ng isip. Well, what do you expect from liberated people?

Natigilan ang dalaga nang sumagi sa kanyang isipan ang gwapong mukha ng kaibigan ng kanyang kapatid mula sa welcome party niya kagabi. What's his name again? Hinding-hindi mawala sa isip niya ang mukha ng lalaking iyon. Those tantalizing amber eyes keep her up all night. Darn this, ano bang pangalan ng lalaking 'yun?

"The mayor here is such a hottie," she heard Melody murmured. "But sadly, he's taken."

Xiana blinked several times to drag herself back to reality. Tumingin siya sa kanyang manager at mahinang natawa. "What the hell, Melody? As far as I know, mayors nowadays are old. And you're still into that? What do people call it again? Sugar daddy?"

Otomatikong may lumipad na pamaypay sa pwesto niya na agad niyang inilagan. "He’s still on his 28th age. But, yeah. He’s hot and damn handsome, perfect epitome of daddy.”

Napailing ang dalaga. “You should’ve come to my welcome party last night. You should’ve meet that handsome friend of my brother.”

“Whatever, Castro,” Melody retorted.

Ngumiti ng matamis ang dalagang si Xia, isang ngiting tagumpay. She badly want to speak greek and that’s what she did.

“Den écho ti diáthesi na kynigíso agória, aftí ti stigmí. Chreiazomai xekourasi.” Pagtatanggi ng dalaga. [ translation: I’m not in the mood to hunt boys, right now. I need to rest. ]

Sumimangot kaagad ang kausap nitong si Melody. “Please?”

She started packing her things. “Just after donating on the charity tomorrow.”

“Oh, right!” Melody clapped her hands. “I filanthropikí orgánosi kálese símera to proí.” [ translation: The charity called this morning. ]

Xia paused on packing her things and look at Melody. “Anong sabi?” biglang usal ni Xia na ikinakunot ng noo ng huli. She chuckled. “I mean, ti eipan?” [ translation: What did they said? ]

Ngumiti si Melody. “There will be a charity ball for battered children and those who has illness.”

The lady nodded. “That’s good to hear. After the ball, let’s proceed into the bar and look for...”

“Boys!” they both exclaimed and laughed together.

Melody brushed her fingers on her hair. “Anyway, I’ll just check on them outside to make things ready. You need to rest early.”

Tumango naman ang dalaga at ginawaran ng ngiti ang kanyang manager. She continue packing her things when suddenly her phone beeped. It was a call from messenger. Tinignan niya lang ito at nagpatuloy sa pag-aayos ng mga gamit. Matapos ay sinukbit niya ang kanyang handbag sa kanyang braso, sakto namang tinawag na siya ni Melody mula sa labas.

Inayos niya ang bahagya niyang nagusot na damit bago naglakad palabas ng studio. Halos maglakad-takbo na ang dalaga habang naglalakad palapit sa service van niya. She’s very excited to sleep, the bed is calling for her name. She wants to dive into the soft mattress and call everything that has happened a day.

“It’s not obvious that you want to rest,” naiiling na saad ni Melody nang makapasok si Xia sa loob ng van.

Xiana just answered it with a wide sweet smile. “Let’s go.”

Sumandal kaagad si Xiana sa kanyang kinauupuan at naghalungkat sa kanyang cellphone. She’s not in the mood to flirt though, she’s just checking if her brother or friends chatted her.

“I zoí eínai varetí chorís agória.” Melody exhaled. [ translation: Life is boring without boys. ]

Napangiti ang dalaga. The car started moving that’s why she turned off her phone, arranged her neck pillow, and closed her eyes; comfortably leaning against her seat.

“Xia!” Kinalabit ng dalagang si Melody ang nakapikit na Xiana. “Don’t you think just hunting boys were too boring?”

Napadilat ng mata ang dalaga at tinignan ang manager nito. “What do you mean?”

“Well,” the girl thrilled and smiled sweetly. “Let’s have a bet. I’m gonna bet my condo in Florida.”

Napangiti kaagad siya. Ganito silang dalawa palagi. Melody has been working for Xiana for almost seven years now. Magmula nung paangat pa lamang siya sa mundo ng shobiz, kaya hindi na nakakapagtaka kung alam na nila ang likaw ng bituka ng isa’t-isa.

“You might lose again.” Ngumisi si Melody na ikinailing ng dalaga.

She chuckled. “What deal is it so I can judge if I can do it.”

Melody held her chin as if guessing something and moments later, she smiled devilishly. “The first guy to ask your number...” she thrilled.

“And then?”

“You’ll make him your man.” Ngumiti ng malawak ang manager nito at pumalakpak pa. “Take note, he should be taken.”

Napaisip naman ang dalaga. Really? The condo in Florida sounds nice. Marami na akong lungga. Aside from breaking young man’s heart, her hobby also is to play with water, and that is surfing. Florida is where she first learned how to surf.

“Sure,” she replied and smiled. “Deal.”

“Deal— oh my gosh!” halos sabay silang mapatiling dalawa nang biglang huminto ang van na sinasakyan nila. “Why did you suddenly stamped on the brake?!”

Lumingon ang driver sa kanila. “Muntikan na po nating masalpok ang sasakyang nakasalubong na’tin.”

“What?” Mas lalo lamang naging iritado si Melody dahil hindi niya maunawaan ang sinabi ng driver.

“Bakit hindi pa rin tayo umaandar?” Xiana asks.

Napakamot naman ng batok ang driver. “Ayaw pong umalis, e.”

Ngumiti si Xiana. “I’ll handle this.” She held on the door to open and stepped out of the car.

HE MASSAGED his temple while holding his phone, listening to what his fiancée nagging about. Kanina pa ito tumatawag at nagrereklamo kung bakit wala puro raw trabaho ang inaatupag ni Lucas. Well, that’s true.

“Babawi ako mamaya,” Lucas said.

He heard her snort. “Palagi ka nalang nagsasabing babawi ka pero hindi naman pala. Pagkauwi mo sa bahay, mabubusy ka pa sa pagpipirma ng mga papeles. Ano ba talaga?!”

Lucas sighed, looking at the wall clock and checking what’s the time. It’s already five. Off duty na niya ngayon, pero marami pang papeles ang nasa kanyang harapan na kinakailangang basahin at pirmahan.

“Okay, pauwi na ako,” he said. “Just give me thirty minutes.”

“Okay,” bahagyang lumambot ang boses ng nobya niyang parang mangangain ng buhay kung kausap kanina.

He hummed before turning off the call. Lumapit naman si Edward, ang katiwala niyang sekretarya, hindi lang sa munisipyo ngunit pati na rin sa negosyo. In short, Edward is his right hand.

“Ready the car, I’ll be going home,” pag-uutos ng binata na agad namang tinalima ng huli.

Sinilid niya lahat ng kanyang importanteng kagamitan at dokumento sa loob ng isang itim na attaché case. Kinuha niya rin ang isang charcoal gray suit na nakasabit sa rak at sinuot ito. He brushed his hair using his fingers and took a deep breath.

“Handa na ang sasakyan, Mayor,” magalang na saad ni Edward na nakatayo ngayon sa hamba ng pinto.

Lucas nodded, picking up his case and proceeding out of his mayor’s office. Ramdam ng binata ang pagsunod ng kanyang sekretarya, ito rin mismo ang nagpindot ng ground floor button.

Nang bumukas ang pinto, pumasok kaagad ang dalawa. Edward turned to close the door while Lucas is in a deep thought. Wala siyang halos tulog dahil sa madaling araw na siyang nakauwi galing sa party.

Speaking of which, he remembered the woman from last night. Magsisinungaling lamang siya sa sarili niya kung sasabihin niyang hindi niya halos buong damag na iniisip ang babaeng ‘yun. He was thinking of that woman ever since he laid his eyes on her! And that is damn weird.

Lucas is not the type of person who would still fish for another recipe, he’s a one-woman man. Ayaw niya sa mga taong kagaya ng kaibigan niyang si Aries. Because he belives that woman should be valued and treasured, not played and fooled. Kaya kahit paiba-iba ang pag-uugali ng nobya niya sa kasalukuyan ay tinitiis pa rin niya.

Nang bumukas ang pinto ng elevator, bumungad ang tatlong natitirang sasakyan na nakaparke sa parking lot. One of it is his while the other two, hindi na niya alam kung kanino. Siguro pag-aari ito ng iba pang mga trababante ng munisipyo.

“I can take it from here, Edward. You go home. Just be early tomorrow and help me to arrange the stuffs inside my office,” he commanded.

Tumango ang lalaki bago pumasok si Lucas sa kanyang sasakyan. He placed his attaché case on the shot gun seat and fasten his seatbelt. He turned on the engine and maneuvered the car out of the place.

Habang tumatakbo ang sasakyan, binuksan ng binata ang radyo. The song that blasted on the song wasn’t familiar but he just listened to it anyway while driving.

His mind drifted back to the woman he was thinking a moment ago. Hindi niya maiwasang ismiran ang sarili. He should stop thinking about that woman. He has nothing to do with her.

“f**k!” he cursed out loud before stepping on the brake. Sa sobrang lalim ng iniisip niya ay hindi man lang niya napansin ang isang service van na nakasalubong niya.

Lucas massaged his temple before unbuckling his seatbelt. Bumaba siya ng kanyang sasakyan at kinatok ang bintana ng service van. There was a scratch, okay. But he wants to know who the hell is inside for driving recklessly. Nang-aagaw ng linya.

Few more knocks the door of the van opened...

“I sincerely apologize, sir,” hinging paumanhin ni Xia sa lalaking muntikan na nilang masalpok.

The man nodded. “Okay lang po, miss. Kasalanan ko rin naman dahil nagseselpon ako habang nag-bi-biyahe.”

“Please, don’t ever use of phones while driving again. That’s a reckless driving,” sambit ng dalaga. “Anyways, I have to go. Have a good evening, sir.”

Muling ngumiti ang dalaga bago pumasok sa loob ng kanyang service van. Mabuti na lang at nakapreno kaagad ang driver nila, kung hindi ay talagang masasalpok nila ang sasakyan na ‘yun.

“This country makes me feel so stress,” Melody blurted.

Natawa ng mahina si Xiana. “You felt stress because you can’t get to understand what they are talking about. This is not Greece, you know.”

Umismid lamang ang manager niya at naghihilot sa sariling batok. Tumingin na lang si Xiana  sa labas ng bintana at nagsimula nang umandar ang sasakyan. She was busy watching the street posts and people as they passes by.

Minsan iniisip niya, kung sa Pilipinas kaya siya lumaki, maabot niya kaya ang pangarap niya? Lalaki kaya siyang conservative at hindi playgirl? Sa pagkakaalam niya kasi, she was sent to Greece because it was their grandfather’s decisions.

Mabilis lamang silang nakarating sa hotel na pagmamay-ari ng pinsan niyang snobber at under-the-saya. Sa pagkakaalam niya, magpapakasal ulit ang pinsan niyang si Shaun at ang asawa nitong si Angel sa simbahan. She’s happy for them. Finally, her stupid cousin who is just focus on guns and bombs is now married and will soon have a child. The first born and another legacy of Amadeo.

“You’re spacing out, what the hell were you thinking now, Xia,” singit ng kanyang manager sa kanyang pag-iisip habang paakyat sila sa elevator kasama ang isang bellboy.

She glance at her manager and chuckled. “Nothing that involves you.”

Inirapan lang siya nito. Sakto namang bumukas ang pinto at naunang lumabas ang bellboy, guiding them towards their hotel suite.

“You should rest for tonight, Xia. We’ll still be attending a long night tomorrow.” Her manager winked.

She winked back before entering the luxurious room she’ve requested for. Nagpaalam na rin ang bellboy na aalis na at tawagin nalang siya kung sakaling may kakailanganin siya. Very hospitable.

Naglibot ng paningin si Xia. As her eyes landed on the king sized bed, she suddenly feel the need to lay on that very soft looking mattress.

And that was she did.

She throw herself on the bed and closed her eyes. This was a long day for her. Bukas ng umaga ay may pictorial siya sa tabing-dagat at sa gabi naman ay may lakad siya.

Let’s call it a day.