The Lady In The Red Dress

CHAPTER 4

Napahilot na lamang siya sakaniyang sintido. Kulang na naman siya sa tulog, idagdag mo pa ang biglang pag sulpot ng magulang niya sa bahay nila.

He feels like coming back to his condo unit if this still continues. Parang walang privacy, nakabukod nga sila ng so-called wife niya pero parati namang nasulpot ng walang pasabi ang magulang niya.

Aside from that, parang napasubo pa yata siya sa pag agree na naman sa isang agreement.

“Dude, ano bang nangyayari sa’yo? You look like a zombie,” nakangising saad ni Clarence. Wala si Gustav at may importante raw itong gagawin ngayong araw.

“f**k dude gusto ko na lamang bumalik sa condo ko. This crazy set up is killing me!”

He gave him a weird look then shook his head.

“Bakit ba hilig mong ilagay ang sarili mo sa sitwasyon na alanganin? You have your freedom to say no dude pero hindi ko rin ba malaman sa’yo bakit pinasok mo ’yan.”

He didn't answer. Tama naman ang kaibigan niya eh. Sa sobrang adventurous niyang tao at hilig sa thrill pati buhay niya inilagay niya sa ganong sitwasyon.

This is no fun!

Idadag mo pa na kasama niya sa opisina ang babae. Wala na rin siyang nagawa, hindi naman na niya mabawi ang sinabi niya kaya kinausap na lamang niya ang person in charge sa interior at ginawang assistant ni Letisha.

This is really stressing him out. Noong araw din na iyon ay bumalik siya sa opisina. Mas pinili niyang mag overtime kaysa umuwi ng maaga sa bahay nila o mag party. It was his first time declining an invite, kaya mas inalaska siya ng kaibigan. Nakakita na naman kasi ito ng lugar kung saan makakapag lustay ito ng pera, but he isn't in the mood right now para makipag socialize. Maraming tumatakbo sa isip niya.

It may sound funny, since he's burnt out with the stress from his work and currently what's happening with his life. Dapat talaga ay nag pa-party na siya pero ngayon parang ayaw niya, gusto niya ng katahimikan.

He leaned his back on the backrest of his swivel chair. Malaon ng nakauwi ang mga trabahador including Letisha. Nanatili sa isipan niya ang mga nangyari noong nakaraang linggo.How that woman managed to make him agreed in some terms.

“I wanted you to sign this agreement,” kauuwi lang niya galing opisan. Umuwi lang talaga siya to change his outfit, may party kasi siyang pupuntahan with Gustav and Clarence. Nainvite lang naman sila at nakakahiya namang tumanggi.

“What’s that?” tanong niya rito nang mauninagan ang papel na hawak nito. Ito ang naging bungad sakaniya ng babae, actually he wasn't expecting her here at this hour. Madalas kasi ay hindi sila nagkikita kahit na nasa iisang bubong lamang sila.

“It's an agreement,” nangunot ang noo niya. Agreement? Kailangan pa ba iyon gayung malaya itong nakakapagtrabaho sa kumpanya niya.

“Agreement? For what? If you want the assurance na hindi kita tatanggalin sa pagiging interior designer mo sa project na under ng Servente Empire I'm telling you, hindi ako ganong klase ng tao na bumabawi ng salita.”

At first, he didn't get why this woman is really pushing this topic. Not until he had some feeling that she wants to prove something to his father. Probably in regard to her profession na makailang beses minaliit ng ama niya.

Mataas at malaki ang ego ng babaeng ito lalo na ang pride. Usually, men do have the biggest ego and pride.

“It’s not about me being your interior designer, Kean.”

This is the first time she called him by his name. Hindi “hey” at mas lalong hindi “Monterey” and it sounds f*****g sexy in his ears damn.

“I can still get that position,” confident na sabi nito. Tinaasan niya ito ng kilay. Masyado talaga itong kumpyansa niya.

Nagpatuloy ito sa pag sasalita, “I want us to have an agreement, since we are living in one roof. Gusto ko maging peaceful ang pag sasama natin.”

Woah so she's really freaking serious?!

“Why do we need to sign an agreement? Pwede namang pagkasunduan na lang, napaka formal mo naman.”

Umikot ang mata nito at iniabot sakaniya ang papel na hawak dito. Wala siyang nagawa kundi basahin ang laman niyon.

1. Wash dishes

2. Do laundry

3. Pay bills

4. Groceries

Lastly, NO THIRD PARTY

Kumunot ang nuo niya sa huling nakalagay sa kondisyon nito. It makes him wonder why she even included it. Because for him it doesn't make sense at all. They are forced to marry each other. He gave her a confused look. Umupo naman ito sa tapat na upuan niya.

Tumikhim muna ito bago nag salita, "We'll do the dishes according to our agreed schedule. For example, for the whole week ay ako, ikaw naman sa susunod na week."

Sinimangutan niya ito. Why the hell he'll do the dishes? Never in his life na gumawa siya ng gawaing bahay for petes sake.

"Wait? Do dishes? Bakit kailangang naka schedule pa? Is doing the laundry also the same as doing the dishes? Common! Pwede naman tayo kumuha ng kasambahay. I'm very sure the last time I checked you and your family is that you're not broke."

Umismid ito at inirapan siya, "doing it by ourselves doens't signifies we're broke, Monterey."

So, they're back with the surname basis, eh?

"Then what's with this? I ain't gonna do gaddamn household chores, Letisha."

Hindi manlang ito nagpatinag sakaniya. Sinalubong nito ang kaniyang tingin, at nakataas pa ang kilay.

"I don't want any other person inside my house, Monterey."

"Hindi naman 'other' ang person na i-hire ko. Just be happy I'm making our lives comfortable and easy. Baka sabihin din ng Dad mo na inalila na kita," Umismid ito pagkasabi niyon.

Nagngingitngit na rin naman sa inis si Letisha. It was already expected of her; she already knew that this man was a spoiled one. But she didn't expect na ganito kalala. She wass left no choice but to tell Kean the real reason.

" I told you; I don't want any other person inside our house, Monterey. Ayokong may ibang makaalam ng estado natin sa bahay. I want privacy, and as much as possible I want to keep my life private. Alam na ng publiko na tayo at sapat na 'yon."

Ayaw na nito ng kung anong drama pa. Malamang sa malamng ay karamihan naman ng nasa industriya ay alam ang dahilan kung bakit sila nag pakasal, ayaw na nito na lalong makumpirma pa ang mga hinuha ng mga ito dahil lang sa chismisna manggaling sa kung sino mang papasukin ng lalaking iyon.

She hears him sighed in frustration. Kitang kita nito ang marahass na paghagod nito sa buhok nito kasabay ng pagsandal sa swivel chair nito.

"And... How about the third party?"

Bumukol ang pisnge nito sa bahagyang pagtulak nito ng kaniyang dila.

"I thought walang pakielaman? Don't tell me you want me all by yourself?"

Ngumisi ito ng makahulugan at bahagya pa itong dumukwang. She can't explain her feeling right now, tila naghalong inis at hiya iyon. Isip isip nito na talagang makapal pala talaga ang mukha nito para mag assume ng ganoon?

It took her a few seconds before she came back to her senses,"Uso pairalin ang utak bago ang pag assume, Monterey. Our family is well known in the business industry, and I don't want to give shame to my family."

He took a deep breath and still not dropping the topic, "Are you sure? Or are you falling for me?"

Napanganga ng bahagya ang babae dahil sa kahambugan nito. Ramdam din niya ang bahagyang pag-init ng kaniyang pisnge. She looked away to avoid his gaze. She felt really awkward.

"Just sign this gaddamn agreement, Monterey. I already explained the purpose of that."

Napakamot batok na lamang ang lalaki at napilitang pumirma. He is pretty sure na hindi naman siguro nito rin para totohanin ang mga nakalagay doon. Aside from that, the conditions are a bit basics.

Tumayo ito pagkuwan at walang lingon lingon na umalis sakaniyang opisina. He shooked his head on this belief, this woman is unpredictable. Hindi niya mabasa ang natakbo sa utak nito. Pero sa ngayon ay sasakyan na lang muna nito ang trip ng babae. Pihadong ito rin ang unang mananawa.

Sasakyan muna nito ang laro nito. Kung gusto nitong magbahay-bahayan, then go. He'll give it to her.