Beyond the Billionaire's image

Chapter 5/1

NAIBUGA ko ang ininom kong tubig nang makita ang lalaking papalapit sa pwesto ko. Agad kong pinunasan ang labi ko habang matalim itong tinitigan. He is wearing a gray sando, white shoes, shorts and even wearing sunglasses. Bitbit niya pa ang dalawang aso.

He's waving his hands to the people who knew him. Para siyang tanga! Napahilamos nalang ako ng mukha at bumaling sa ibang direksiyon. I will pretend that I don't know him.

"Hi coach!" Sigaw niya sa likod ko.

Napapikit ako pero bumalik rin ako sa paglalakad. Kaya lang ay naabutan niya naman agad ako at inakbayan. Halos lahat ng mga tao ay nakatingin sa amin.

"Coach, hindi ko alam na dito ka pala nag jo-jogging! Same pala tayo!" Magiliw niyang anas.

I rolled my eyes at him trying to shrug off his arm. "I don't jog, Oliver. I run. There's a difference," I said, keeping my tone as cold as possible.

He laughed with his arm still around my shoulders. "Really? What's the difference then?"

I glared at him, trying to keep my annoyance in check. "The difference is, when you jog, you're just leisurely moving at a slow pace, enjoying the scenery. When you run, you're pushing your limits, focusing on your speed and endurance."

He looked at me with his eyes wide behind his sunglasses. "Wow, I didn't know you were so passionate about running, coach."

I huffed, finally managing to shrug off his arm. "I'm not your coach, Oliver. And I'm not passionate about running. It's just a way to keep fit."

He grinned at me, his teeth gleaming in the sunlight. "Well, you're doing a great job, coach. You're in great shape."

I rolled my eyes again, quickening my pace. "Stop calling me coach, Oliver. We're not working. Hindi rin nakakatawa. Tsk."

He jogged to keep up with me while his dogs trailing behind him. "Coach naman! Oh baka gusto niyo ibang tawag? Paano kung... aha!" May pa taas pa ng daliri niya. "Paano kung baby na lang tawag ko sayo? O E'di kaya ba-" hindi na niya natuloy ang sasabihin niya nang hinila ko ang tenga niya.

"Aw, aw! T-teka, j-joke lang naman!" Sabay tapik niya sa palad ko. Sumimangot siya nang nabitawan ko na ang tenga niya.

"Hindi ako natutuwa sa mga biro mo," I snapped, but I continue to jog but he followed me again.

He chuckled, unfazed by my irritation. "Relax, Meda baby. I'm just trying to lighten the mood. Besides, it's not every day I get to jog alongside someone as intriguing as you."

I scoffed, "Intriguing? Ano ka, siraulo? I'm just here to run, not to entertain your whims."

Tumaas ng bahagya ang kilay niya. "Who said anything about entertainment? Maybe I just enjoy good company."

I rolled my eyes once more, quickening my pace. "Well, you're not getting any company from me, so stop trying."

He matched my pace effortlessly, still grinning. "Come on, Coach. Loosen up a bit. Let's enjoy the jog. We can even talk about your favorite topic-running."

I shot him a glare, "Hindi ako nag-eenjoy sa kahit anong usapan mo, Oliver. Hindi mo ba naiintindihan 'yon?"

He feigned a hurt expression, placing a hand over his heart. "Ouch, Coach. That hurts. Maybe I should run faster to catch up to your heart."

I scoffed again, "Huwag mong subukan. Baka mas mapagod ka pa."

He laughed heartily, "Challenge accepted, Coach. I'll make sure to keep up and maybe even surpass you." Kumindat siya sa akin at nagkunwari naman akong nasuka at dahil siraulo siya, tinapik niya ang likod ko.

"Ano ba 'tong asawa ko at dito sumuka. Tara baby at uuwi na tayo baka masaktan ating little baby!" Sabay hawak niya pa sa tiyan ko pero agad ko siyang sinipa sa tiyan. Napaatras siya roon.

"Don't joke at me, Oliver. Baka hindi ka na makita kinabukasan. Tsk, asshóle!" Sabay talikod ko pero kahit nasasaktan na ang gunggong, tumatawa pa rin siya. Baliw na actor.

At bakit ba hinahayaan ko siyang hawakan ako? Wala pang mapangahas na hawakan ako ng ganito na parang close kami!

----

It's my first day of teaching today and yes, makikita ko na naman ang asungot mamaya. Bakit ba ako namo-mroblema sa lalaking 'yon? Tsk, I will just ignore him.

The producer announced a meeting. Kailangan niya rin kasing ibigay ang script sa mga actress at actors na gaganap. I just listening there and first scene palang, kailangan ko na agad na ituro ang stunt.

Habang nasa meeting palang, nakikita ko na si Oliver na parang bahay lang nakatambay. He was sitting across the room, his sunglasses now resting on top of his head as he listened intently to the producer. His dogs were lying quietly by his feet, their tails wagging occasionally. Napatingin pa ang isang asong sa akin na tinaasan ko lang ng kilay.

When the producer finally finished speaking, I stood up, ready to start the training. "Alright, everyone. Let's get started with the stunts. Remember, safety is our top priority. If you're not comfortable with a stunt, speak up. We can always adjust the scene to fit your abilities."

Habang nakatayo ako sa harap ng grupo, nilinaw ko ang aking lalamunan para makuha ang kanilang atensyon. "Sige na, simulan na natin," Sabi ko.

Hindi ko maiwasang tingnan ang asungot sa gilid. Nakasandal lang siya sa pader. Ang kanyang mga braso ay nakakrus sa kanyang dibdib. Ngumisi siya sa akin pero wala man lang akong binigay na reaksiyon at nag focus lang sa gagawin ko.

Sinimulan kong ipaliwanag ang unang stunt, ipinapakita ang mga kilos nang dahan-dahan para masundan nila. Ramdam kong nakatingin si Oliver sa akin buong oras, ngunit isang buong oras ko rin siyang hindi pinapansin.

Once I finished the demonstration, I looked at the group. "Now, I want each of you to try it. I'll be watching and correcting your movements if necessary."

Habang nagsisimula silang mag-practice, naglakad ako at sinusuri ang kanilang mga kilos at nagbibigay ng payo. Si Oliver, gayunpaman, ay nakatayo lang doon, pinapanood ako na may ngiti sa kanyang mukha.

"Are you going to practice or just stand there?" I asked him with my tone sharp.

He shrugged, "I thought I'd just watch you, Coach. You're quite captivating when you're in your element."

I rolled my eyes, "Stop flirting and start practicing, Oliver." He just laughed at me. Asshóle.

When it was Oliver's turn to practice the stunt, he stood up, stretching his arms above his head. "Alright, Coach. Let's see if I can impress you with my skills."

I rolled my eyes, crossing my arms over my chest. "Just focus on the stunt, Oliver. This isn't a competition."

He grinned at me. "Everything's a competition, Coach. You just have to know how to play the game."

With that, he launched into the stunt, his movements smooth and precise. I had to admit, he was a natural. He had a knack for making even the most difficult stunts look effortless. Hmm, not bad. May ikakabuga rin pala ang lalaking 'to. Akala ko puro salita lang.

Pagkatapos niyang magpraktis, tumingin agad siya sa akin at nginisian pa ako."So, Coach. What do you think?"

I shrugged, trying to hide my surprise. "Not bad, Oliver. But remember, this isn't about showing off. It's about making the scene believable."

Tumawa lang siya at sinuklay ang buhok niya. Doon ko rin nakita ang tattoo niya sa kaniyang braso. Oh? I didn't notice it, ngayon ko lang rin napansin na may mga tattoo pala siya.

"You like my tats?"

Umangat ang tingin ko sa kaniya. Ang tagal ko palang nakatingin. "Yeah, but the design only, not the one who owned it."

Tumawa na naman siya. "Pero bagay sa akin 'di ba? Astig akong tingnan."

Tumango ako. "Yes it is. Astig ka pero duwag nga lang." Ngisi ko at tumalikod.

"What the- hoy, coach! Hindi ako duwag!" Habol niya sa akin at sumunod pa talaga. Hindi ko siya pinansin at uminom lang ng tubig.

"Hindi ako duwag, okay? Ayoko lang may umaaligid sa akin na hindi ko naman type!" Dagdag niya pa at nakapamewang. Hinuhuli ang tingin ko dahil hindi ko siya tiningnan pabalik.

Napabuntong-hininga na lang ako sa mga sinabi niya at binalik ang tubig sa mesa. "Oliver, kahit anong rason mo, hindi pwedeng excuse ang magsalita ng masasakit na bagay sa isang babae. Kung ayaw mo, sabihin mo ng maayos. Walang palusot 'yan."

"Coach, hindi pa naman ako naging boyfriend ng kahit sino. Career muna bago landi."

Nagtaas ako ng kilay, "Talaga ah? Bakit yata may naririnig ako sayo?"

Nagbibingihan siya at agad kinuha ang phone niya. "Ay, may tumawag pala. Sige, coach. Mamaya ulit."

Hindi naman tumunog cellphone niya. Umiiwas ang loko. Takot palang masabihan ng babaero.

Bumalik ulit ako sa pagtuturo. Tinawag rin ng director si Oliver pero wala siya. Saan na naman kaya ang lalaking 'yon?

Isiniwalang bahala ko nalang iyon at tinuloy ang trabaho ko hanggang sa umabot na sa time ng out ko. I even saw Oliver's script. Hindi man lang niya dinala.

I bid goodbye to them and proceeded to walk outside when I suddenly caught something inside the dress room.

I raised an eyebrow when I saw Oliver kissing one of the actresses. Napaismid ako, ang laswa. Bakit sa dress room pa? Humilig lang ako sa b****a ng pintuan at hinintay silang matapos pero nang bumukas ang mata ni Oliver, agad niyang naitulak ang babae.

"Hmm, nice make out. Ang cheap ng location niyo, why don't you rent one of the rooms here?" I said casually.

Hindi siya agad makasagot at ang babae naman ay mukhang nahiya dahil may nakakita sa kanila. Lumapit ako sa kanila at binigay ang script niya. Wala sa sariling inabot niya iyon.

"Huwag mong iwanan ang script mo, Oliver at siguraduhin mong maaga ka bukas dahil ikaw na ang sasalang sa scene." Sabay talikod ko pero napahinto ako nang hinawakan niya ako sa pulso ko pero agad ko itong tinapik. Nagulat siya sa ginawa ko.

"I hate touching. That's my number rule, Oliver Lian Laurent. Anong gusto mong sabihin?" Walang expresyon kong tanong.