HUGS #5 Hermes John Klein (God Of Trade) -Completed

Chapter 5 -Mas Mapapasama

High & Untouchable Gods Society

Hermes John Klein

GOD OF TRADE

written by: Blackrose

Chapter 5 -Mas Mapapasama

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Hermes John

It's been a week already from the day na nangyari sa Fire Exit, 1 f*****g week already. But the incident is still fresh in my mind. It has haunted my mind several times and it that doesn't stop. One week narin akong may ka-s*x daily just to remove the thoughts and her image but to no avail, I just can't remove her from my f*****g mind. I think that witch had casted an evil spell on me.

Nahihirapan ako also because Almira is gone already. A day after the Fire Exit incident ay umalis narin siya. Although I still have 3 secretaries left, iba parin kapag may Head Secretary who knows everything kahit pa ang s*x life ko. At kung kailan kailangan ko ng papalit sa kanya ay saka naman ako walang makuha who is qualified for the position. I'm going nuts sa mga secretaries ko na limited lang ang knowledge and skills. I tried to bribe Almira para huwag na siyang umalis or to prolong her stay hanggang sa may makita lang kaming kapalit niya. I also told her that I'll raise her salary twice from its original rate pero, she was decided already. Hindi ko na siya napigilan pa to stay longer.

Kaya I am in a mess, just like now. I forgot that I have a meeting. Hindi ko naalalang tignan ang organizer ko na si Almira ang gumagawa when she was still here. The meeting that I've missed is an important one kaya ang sakit ng ulo ko. Ang hirap pa naman makakuha ng schedule sa kausap ko dapat. Masakit na ang ulo ko kanina pa.

'What's with the grumpy face, man?' nag-angat ako ng tingin only to see my friend Smith na kakapasok lang ng office ko.

Kaming magkakaibigan sa society ay malayang nakakalabas-masok sa mga private offices ng isa't-isa, even sa mga personal havens namin. Not unless na we have adviced our personnels na hindi pwedeng pumasok at istorbuhin.

'Hey dude. Have a seat.'

'Maaga pa to be all grumpy, man. Anong problema?'

'I have missed a very important meeting kanina, dude. Dammit!'

'Wala ka parin nakukuhang kapalit ni Almira?! What had happened to your brother's girl?! I thought sabi mo that she will replace Almira for the Head Secretary position?! Anong nangyari?!' I shake my head and lit a stick of cigar. 'Umayaw na ba? Or Hypnos came to his senses and backed out?' he lean back at the couch and lit his own cigar.

'He didn't backed out. Where in fact, he even brought that witch here with him a week ago.'

'So what happened?' I remained silent and just puff my cigar. He eyed me suspiciously. 'No way! Hell no f*****g way!!' tumingin ako sa kanya. 'f**k you Klein!! What have you done to her?! Don't tell me you raped her!!'

'f**k No dude!! Ano ba naman yan sinasabi mo?!! I didn't do such!! You knew me so well to force some chick!!'

'Then why didn't she stayed?!! Sabi mo sa'min na sure na papasok ang girlfriend ni Hypnos dito!!'

'She's always getting into my nerves!! That witch is so arrogant na akala mo ay may ipagmamalaki!! She is so full and sure of herself!!'

'And? Anong ginawa mo?! Because by the way you react now, I'm positive that you and her clashed again!' I fingercomb my hair.

I remember again what had happened at the Fire Exit. I vividly remember her and it made something in me stirs. Hindi ko alam kung ano yun at kung bakit ganon everytime I remember her. I feel something in me that I can't really grasp.

'She triggered me dude!! It was her fault! She walked out on me then slammed the door hard!! Hindi ko matanggap yun, man!! Sumosobra na ang witch na yun!!'

'So?! Anong ginawa mo?!'

'I followed her out and cornered her at the Fire Exit!'

'And?!' I took a deep breath before exhaling it even deeper.

'I kissed her.' I said underneath my breath.

'YOU WHAT?!!!' he stood up and hastily walk to me. 'ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND??!!! ARE YOU f*****g CRAZY KLEIN?!!!'

'Tss!! Don't f*****g shout at me Smith!!' he pound the top of my table.

'She is Veronica Novera, man!! She is your brother's girlfriend!! She is Hypnos Jason Klein's girl!!! The only sister of Hazel Lane Novera Li who happened to be our friend's wife!!'

'I KNEW WHO SHE IS, DUDE!!!'

'Then why the f**k did you have to kiss her?!! God Klein!! Gulo ba ang hanap mo talaga?!! Dahil malaking gulo ito once na malaman nila!! Your brother will hate you even more!! JESUS CHRIST!!!'

'Tss!!!'

'Where's your freaking senses, man?!! Ang sakit sa ulo ng ginawa mo!! Lalo lang kayong hindi magkakasundo ng kapatid mo dahil pati pag-aari niya, ginalaw mo!!'

'HEY!! IT'S NOT LIKE I f**k HER, DUDE!! I JUST KISSED HER!! NAGALIT LANG AKO KAYA KO NAGAWA YUN!!'

'Even if sinaktan ka niya physically man, hindi parin tama na basta ka na lang manghahalik ng babae lalo pa kung pag-aari ng kapatid mo!! Mali, man! Maling-mali!!'

'Oo na nga! Mali na nga ako!! I admit it, alright!! It's my fault na nga!!' I grip my hair and shut my eyes close. 'I shouldn't have kissed her. It was unintentional, dude. Hindi ko naman gustong halikan ang babaeng yun because you are aware that I hate her guts!! I was just triggered dahil ang angas niya! But I am sorry for what I have done! Hindi ko naman sinasadya yun, dude! Believe me!'

'Tell that to her instead! Huwag ka sa'kin mag-sorry dahil hindi ka sa'kin may kasalanan!' I shot a deadly glare at him. 'What?!'

'You know that I don't do that, dude! I don't apologize to anyone, especially not to women!'

'Kapag nalaman pa ito ni Li, lalo na ni Hazel... You're in deep s**t man! Mayayari ka kay Hazel!!'

'So?! For f**k sake, dude!! It's just a kiss! Hindi ko nga siya hinawakan sa boobs or at her slit!! I won't reconcile! I won't f*****g reconcile with that witch!!'

'You need her, man. For your Head Secretary right? Think of that! You just have to apologize to her and convince her to take the job.' napatingin ako kay Smith. What he is telling me is quite impossible. Merely because I don't apologize to anyone. Napahilamos ako ng kamay sa mukha ko.

'This is f*****g crazy, dude! There is hell no f*****g way that I will talk to that witch!! Or say sorry to her!! Over my dead body, dude!!'

I am here now at the doorstep of the witch's apartment. Hindi ako tinigilan ni Smith ng pangungulit hanggang sa napapayag na niya ako. He even accompany me here para daw may kasama ako at baka daw mag-back out ako. What the f**k lang diba?!

'Go on, man! Press the buzzer!' I glance at him who is just beside me. 'Kinakabahan ka ano?!'

'Damn you dude!!'

'Hahahahaha!!!' my eyes widens when he suddenly press the doorbell.

'What the f**k Smith?!!'

Sabay kaming napatingin sa doorknob ng gumalaw ito. I immediately straighten my composure and firmed my expression. When the door opens, the shock look in my brother's face ang sumalubong sa amin.

'Hermes! Poseidon! What are you two doing here?' none of us speak up. I am just staring at my brother na nakatingin rin sa akin.

'Sino yan, Panget?!' my vision surpasses my brother's at kitang-kita ko ang paghinto ni witch at ang silip nito sa way namin. Her eyes bulge upon meeting my gaze at bigla na lang nag-iba ang facial expression niya. Nung una na hindi pa niya ako nakikita ay maamo ang expression ng mukha niya, but it changes into a fierce look afterwards. I remove my stare at her saka binalik ang tingin sa kapatid ko.

'Your brother wanted to talk to your girlfriend, Hypnos.'

'About what?' Hypnos look at Smith then return his gaze at me.

'Can we enter please?' si Smith parin ang nagsalita.

Tinignan muna ulit kami ni Hypnos before opening the door wider for us to enter. Nakatayo at nakapamewang si witch as she looks at us. I can't f*****g explain this commotion inside of me. All I can name at the moment is that there is this unexplainable feeling that I am experiencing right now. Parang kaba na hindi naman na parang meron na parang ewan.

'Anong ginagawa mo rito?!' I know who is she pertaining to, alam kong ako ang sinasabihan niya.

'Klein just wanted to talk to you Veronica. That's why we are here now.' sabi ulit ni Smith.

'Tungkol saan?!' her eyebrow arch.

The moment of silence has come to us. All three of them are staring silently at me and perhaps are waiting for what I am about to say. I cleared my throat first then take a deep breath.

'I want to...' huminga ako ng malalim. This is really not me. This is out of my league. This is not who I am. 'Okay!! I want to apologize for what had happened the last time we have met. I am really sorry on the way I've acted that time.' Hypnos look at his girlfriend and so am I. Her cheeks flush into crimson red. Hindi ko alam if dahil ba yun sa inis or galit or kung ano pa.

'What happened?!' my brother look confuse. Nagkatinginan kami ni witch.

'We...' I was interrupted when she speak up.

'We had a little arguement nung iniwan mo ako sa office niya that time, Panget. Pero ayos na yun, nag-send siya sa'kin ng message that he was sorry.' tumaas ang kilay ko sa sinabi niya.

I don't know kung bakit hindi niya inamin ang totoong nangyari that day. I don't know why she have decided to keep everything untold especially sa kapatid ko.

'Bakit wala kang nabanggit sa'kin about that, Diyosa?' lumapit ang kapatid ko kay witch and rub her arms. He is touching her on the spot where I held her a week ago.

'Sus! Maliit na bagay lang yun, Panget. Hindi na kailangan pang palakihin. Saka maayos na kami. Diba?!' the witch look at me then fake a smile.

'Ahm... Yeah!! We have reconciled already! But I went here to personally apologize to her! I am deeply sorry... Veronica.' ngumiti siya ulit sa akin. It's not a sincere smile though. Halatang just for the role playing lang.

'Wala na yun. Kalimutan mo na yun. I already forgave you.'

Nalilito ako sa nararamdaman ko. This is really so unfamiliar to me. I despise her so much. Talagang naiinis ako sa kanya. Pero bakit ganon? Alam ko sa sarili kong may something na kakaiba sa akin. Parang something had soften or melted inside of me. Nalilito ako at naguguluhan.

'That's good. Report to me tomorrow morning. I'm in a mess without a Head Secretary. I... I need you please.'

Veronica

'I... I need you please.'

Napakurap ako sa narinig ko simula pa lang. Ano daw? Anong meron? Ang isang mapagmataas na tao na kagaya ng unggoy na ito, nag-sorry sa akin? Bakit? Isa pa! For the first time ay hindi niya ako tinawag ng kung anu-ano! Wow ha! Veronica talaga ang tawag niya sa'kin?! At ano daw yung huli niyang sinabi? He need me? Anong meron?! Anong nakain ng isang ito at naging mabait yata ngayon?! Or better yet, anong pinaplanong pakulo na naman ng isang ito?! Hmmm... I smell something fishy. May kakaiba. Siguro ay may kalokohan na naman itong binabalak kaya nagbabait-baitan ito ngayon sa akin.

'Yeah Diyosa! Why not work at the company! Malapit na ang semestral break then wala pang updates sa mga pinasahan mo ng resumés mo!' napahinga ako ng malalim.

Eto na naman ang boyfriend ko. He perfectly knew na mainit at kumukulo ang dugo ko sa hambog na kapatid niya. Alam na alam niyang inis na inis ako sa unggoy na ito. I just don't get it! Bakit niya ako pinipilit na mag-work sa kapatid niya even if he knew so well na hate na hate ko ang kapatid niya?!

'So... Will you report to my office tomorrow, Veronica? I forgot to tell you also before, I will be giving you a scholarship program as long as you are working for me. All expense paid, meaning... It's a full scholarship except for your daily allowances.'

Lahat kaming tatlo nila Poseidon at Jason ay napatanga sa kanya. Full scholarship?! Hanggang sa nagtatrabaho ako sa kanya at sa company niya ay may full scholarship ako?! OMG!!!

'Imposibleng totoo yan! How could you say that?! You can't do that!'

'I can do everything, Veronica. I am Hermes John Klein if you are forgetting.' may kinuha siya sa bulsa ng coat niya. Cellphone pala niya saka may pinindot dito.

'Nagbibiro ba ang kapatid mo, panget?' bulong ko kay Jason pero bago pa siya makasagot ay nagsalita na si unggoy.

'Yes! I want you to make a contract, 2 copies! Right away! That KLEIN INDUSTRIES will grant a full scholarship program to Veronica Novera! No expirations of whatsoever! As long as she is with the company then her scholarship is valid! Date it tomorrow, I will sign it tomorrow!' sumulyap siya sa amin ni Jason and smile.

Kumunot ang noo ko. I know that there is something sa ginagawa ngayon ng unggoy na ito. He can't be kind all of a sudden dahil sa simula pa lang ay nakilala ko na siya. Na masama ang ugali niya at maitim ang budhi niya. Anong nakain niya at basta na lang siyang pupunta dito at hihingi ng tawad? Tapos ay agad-agad akong bibigyan ng scholarship ng ganon-ganon lang. Mind you... It is a full scholarship pa.

Sabagay ay hindi na masama dahil malaking tulong ito sa akin. Malaking tulong ito sa tuition fee ko na hindi na kailangan pang problemahin ang pera para sa pag-aaral ko. For sure pati ay matutuwa si Ate at Kuya Timothy kapag nalaman nilang nakakuha ako ng scholarship dahil sure na ang pag-graduate ko.

'Diyosa?' I numbly glance at my boyfriend.

'Hmm?'

'My brother is waiting for your response.'

Agad akong napatingin sa kinatatayuan ni unggoy na katabi si Poseidon. Both are looking at me. Tama ba ang umoo ako? Or baka naman mapahamak ako if ever na o-Oo ako sa offer ng unggoy na ito.

'I don't have all day, Veronica.' tumingin pa ito sa relo saka tinignan ang katabi. 'Ganito na lang so you can still think about it further... Call me or message me kung ano man ang maging decision mo. My brother has my number. I'll wait for your response until later this evening.' pagkatapos ay muli itong ngumiti sa akin. 'I just hope that you choose the right and appropriate decision that will benefit the both of us. We got to go, brother.' nakatingin parin siya sa akin. 'I'll wait for your response... Veronica.'

Kanina pa ako nandito sa harapan ng TV sa may sala. Kanina parin wala ang attention ko sa pelikula. Pagkaalis nila Poseidon at unggoy kanina, that was more than 6 hours ago ay nag-usap kami ni Jason. Sinabi ko sa kanya ang mga concerns ko at sa mga pumasok sa isip ko regarding sa offer ng kapatid niya. All my doubts and inhibitions ay nilatag ko rin sa kanya. He also reasoned out. Pinakita niya sa'kin ang mga pros and cons ng situation. At tama siya, sayang ang scholarship. Hindi na nga yung sweldo kahit pa 2x ito ng kinikita ko noon sa bar. But the priveledge to study ng free ang higit na important.

Although umoo na ako kay Jason, hindi ko parin magawa na mag-message kay unggoy. Parang nagdadalawang-isip parin ako if dapat ba na i-grab ko ang opportunity na ito, kung opportunity nga ba itong matatawag? Or not?

Lumipas pa ang dalawang oras na nakatulala lang ako sa kawalan. Nasa tabi ko kanina pa ang cellphone ko saka ang calling card ni unggoy.

'Make up your mind, Nica! Almost 8 na! Gabi na!! Hay naku!!'

Huminga ako ng malalim bago ko kinuha ang cellphone ko pati ang calling card. Binasa ko muna ang calling card bago ako nagsimulang mag-type ng message. May load naman ako na pwedeng ipang-tawag pero ayokong siyang tawagan. Baka kung ano pang i-assume ng lalaking yun. Napaka-yabang pa naman niya. Matapos kong mag-compose ng message ay huminga ulit ako ng malalim at nagbilang ng sampu bago ko pinindot ang SEND button. Kakababa ko pa lang ng cellphone ko ng tumunog ito. May tumatawag sa akin at number lang ito. Pero dahil sa kaka-text ko lang sa number na ito ay more or less ay alam ko na kung sino ang tumatawag sa akin now. It took me 5 rings bago ko sagutin ang tawag.

'Hello?'

'Woah!! Nice voice!!' I hear a noisy background sa kabilang linya. 'I received your response. Although I was hoping you would call me. Hahahaha!! Anyway... I'll see you tomorrow at my office. 7 sharp. I just hope that you are a professional.'

'Ofcourse I am!'

'Good! Very good then!! Sana nga hindi sumakit ang ulo ko sa'yo, Hypnos' girl!'

Hindi na ako nakasagot dahil kaagad na niyang pinatay ang call. Napaka-bastos talaga ng isang yun! Napaka-walang modo!!

'Diyos ko... Tama po ba ang naging decision ko? Mas magiging maganda po ba ang buhay ko sa ginawa kong decision or, mas mapapasama pa po ako? Tulungan niyo po ako Lord. Sana hindi ako nagkamali ng hakbang, sana po nasa tamang landas ako.'

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