The Business Rivalry

Chapter 7

"What are you doing with my baby Blaine?!"

Rayni didn't even flinch and we're still in the same position, para siyang nasa ibabaw ko.

"We were just... talking." She said to Hannah, but her eyes were on me.

"Talking? In that position?" Kung tinutulungan mo na lang kaya ako dito Hannah, ano?

Blessie took Rayni from me and forced her to sit. As if she heard what I said a while ago.

"I'm sorry. This friend of mine is sure moves... hurriedly." At siniko niya si Rayni babe ko.

Are they arguing? Ano kayang pinag-uusapan nila, they look serious.

"According to my calculations..." She walks back and forth with her fingers on her chin na para bang nag-iisip. "... hindi pa kayo nakakapag first base." Aba'y lokong Hannah 'to ah.

"Let's eat. That sure makes me hungry." I suddenly stopped when I saw Hannah. "Wait a minute."

"Why??"

"Your lips."

"My lips? It's charming. I know." She said giggling.

"It looks like someone..." I glanced at Blessie. "... sucks it."

"This friend of mine is sure moves... hurriedly." Pinatong ni Rayni 'yung braso niya sa balikat ni Bless.

"I can't help it!" Oh, edi ikaw na ang masaya!

"No wonder it took you a thousand years to get the food." Ako naman 'yung may mapang asar na tingin. I gazed at Bless, again. "She didn't force you, right?"

"No, Ms. Kingsley." Sabi ni Bless na nag bla-blush pa.

Buti pa sila nag kiss na!

"We're not in the office. Just call me Blaine."

"No, Blaine. She didn't force me."

"Hay, okay. You're both adults anyway."

We sat across from Rayni and Bless, 'yung movie naka pause, parang gusto kong i-off sayang ang kuryente.

Pero ang gwapo ni Joshua ah, pero mas attracted ako kay Julia.

"I'm confused." I immediately stopped wondering and glanced at Rayni.

"About..?" Si Hannah na ang sumagot ng makita niya akong tulala.

"How did Blaine get the rumors about being cold-blooded and harsh?"

Bless starts chuckling. "I'm sorry. Please understand her. She doesn't know how to use gadgets and the internet."

"Bless!" Nahihiyang saway niya. Ang cute lang.

"She ignored the reporters when they called her." Hannah replied while laughing.

"She just passed by them like they were ghosts." Same as Hannah, tumatawang sabi din ni Bless.

"When she was at a press conference she didn't give them any answers regarding the dating scandals. You always say "Please ask questions related to our topic." at a conference. But not her. She just picked another reporter to ask a question."

"I know that's their job. But can they be more... sensitive? If I didn't give them any interest they should stop bothering me."

"Well, you can't help it. Because number one. They're interested in you. Number two. You're one of our country's youngest and biggest successful CEOs." Her smile is the sweetest and the most gorgeous thing I've ever seen in my whole life.

With my challenging tone.

"You mean. I'm number two because you're number one."

She shrugs and chuckles. "Well, it's not my fault that I'm brilliant."

"Can we talk about work? I want to see how the two of you work together."- Hannah

"It's no doubt the hottest scene we'll ever see."- Bless

Nag kiss lang sila tapos parang close na close na sila agad?

But wait. "I'm also confused. About your... miscarriage or abortion scandal?"

"I was at the convenience store. I'm curious about the pregnancy test, so, I read the instructions?" She replied without hesitation.

"Do you know what makes it strange?"- Bless

"My outfit!" She started laughing again. "I wore a loose shirt, cap, and eyeglasses." That was a cute outfit.

But, I want to hear those hearty laughs for a lifetime, parang ang saya niya compared kanina noong kinukwento niya 'yung sa family niya.

"Then three days later. I got a call from a friend. She wants me to meet her at her clinic."

"An abortion clinic?"

"Oh~ quick-witted." Bless gave me a thumbs up.

"I don't want to publicize our friendship because she has a family. I don't want to bother them." Out of all my choices in life, you. You are the right one.

"Hmm. That makes sense. Eh 'yung..." Hannah arched her brow. "... What about the... orgy?"

"Hans." I also pinched her thigh. But I want to know as well.

"Honestly, we don't know where it came from." Hmm, mukha namang nag sasabi ng totoo si Bless.

"Okay. Let's talk about work?" I smiled at Rayni and she smiled back. My gosh, she's so pretty!

"I'm waiting for your proposal... by tomorrow?" Tomorrow agad? Well, I can finish the designs in 2-3 hours so it's fine. "I want to talk to you about the designs but... we can't meet."

"FaceTime? Do you know how to use it?" Goodness, I just teased her! But all of us just laugh.

"It's your fault, Bless. Of course, I know that."

"I'm just making sure. Our next meeting will probably be at the event?" Gusto ko siyang isama bukas pero that place is one of my hiding spots.

"Oo nga pala. Can I ask what items you're going to auction?"- Hannah

"I have plenty of paintings, a gift certificate, and I'm auctioning a travel ticket." Here comes her stunning, shining eyes. "Do you want to see our... place?"

"Did you just... invite us?" Hannah and I have the same reaction.

Is she serious? Us? In her house? But wait, I don't want to be easy to get. I know her moves at alam kong ako ang target niya ngayon. I'm sorry babe but I need to give you a hard time.

"If you accept it. You're our first guests."- Bless

"Where's your place?" Hannah niyong marupok. Well, mukhang masasaktan 'tong si Bless sa aking sister slush BFF.

"Hans." Please, makuha ka sa kurot.

"I want to go there!"

"Surprisingly, we lived in building B." Rayni's stare is telling me something, bwakanangshit! Not now, babe.

Hannah gasped. "Fate is finally doing her job."

I don't think I'm safe there. I like her but, we just met this morning. I mean, she just met me. Ayoko pang isuko ang Bataan, perhaps I should wait for a month or two.

"I have an idea." And I know it's a nonsense idea of Hannah, again. "Why don't we switch housemates?"

"What?!" Seryoso ka?! Iiwan mo ako dito sa crush ko? "Hans, you're really leaving me... alone? With her?"

"I like it. But if Blaine doesn't, then it's a no." Rayni said smiling and Bless whispered again, but hindi sila nag tatalo, mukhang nang aasar siya.

Suddenly, someone's phone rang.

"That's mine. Excuse me." I know who the caller is. I stepped further away from them before answering the phone. "Blai—"

"BLAINE KINGSLEY!"

"Oh shoot!" I almost dropped my phone! "Ang vocal cords, bes. Why are you so loud?"

"I just saw the news! How was it? To link to your—"

"Hey, Remi!" Seriously, Rayni?! Right in front of me?

But wait, how did she know that it was Remi?

"All four of us are together."- Hannah

"You're on a loudspeaker as well."- Bless

They look close, but why did Remi said na close acquaintance lang sila?

"What the f**k? Where are you? So... the news.. it's true?"

"No. I forgot my phone in her conference room. I came back to—"

"They're here at our place!"

"What?! I'm being left out here. What the f**k is happening? You just met this morning. But out of all the news today, this is the most interesting one. The business world is shaking~!"

"Actually, we're doing a collaboration, exclusively for your event," Rayni said. Hindi naman 'to FaceTime why are you smiling?! Tch.

"Our bags and shoes," I added. I saw Rayni's surprised reaction? Bakit kaya? May mali ba sa nasabi ko?

"Not her bags and my shoes. But, our bags and shoes? Looks like you were getting along, huh? Can you thank me? I'm the one who introduced you to each other. And I can be the maid of honor at your wedding but you know I'm busy."

"Okay. This is getting strange and nowhere. Bye! See you at the event." I immediately ended the call baka madulas at ilaglag ako no'ng babaeng 'yun. "Don't mind her. I don't know why she's my friend. She's one weird woman."

"I don't mind." She winked at me. SHE WINKS! OH MY GOODNESS! "So tomorrow?" Tomorrow? Anong meron bukas?

"Ay! May pupuntahan kami bukas eh."

"Where are... you... going?"

"Um, the kids." I simply said.

"It's an isolated place but, you can't come with us."- Hannah

"Hmm, okay. I'll wait for you here." For what? I know I should be happy and excited but I rather feel... edgy?

"Uh... why?"

"I just... want... to..." She scratched the back of her ear. "Am I talking... nonsense?" She shyly said.

Hold on, ngayon ko lang siya nakitang ganito. There are several people who are afraid of her, ni wala ngang tumitingin sakanya sa mata kapag nag lalakad siya tapos ngayon...

"Yes. And I think that's our cue to leave before..." Before what Bless?! Ituloy mo! Ayoko ng nabibitin! Pero hindi na niya tinuloy at nag lakad na sila palabas kaya sumunod na kami ni Hannah.

"My offer to switch housemates still stands."

"Can you stop it?"

"Why? I'm just helping you."

"Hannah. You're not helping."

"The truth is..." She stopped walking and turned to face me. "I want to accept it but... Let's see what will happen after the event."

I don't know if that was an illusion, but I think I saw her smirk.