Red Flag Series #1: Hunter Drozdov (The Womanizer)

CHAPTER TWO: VEATRIZE

"God, Rosié!” Kuya Garson frustrated voice echoed in our living room.

“What?” I asked him with a questioning look.

“Are you in hurry to settle down? I thought you have no plan with that? And really? I am attending your engagement party!” he shouted as if I have no ears.

I rolled my eyes. “You are overacting, Kuya. Nasasayangan ka ba sa pera ba? For your information, wala akong ginastos. Kay Hunter lahat ‘yon—”

“Talaga?” now he sounds so happy.

I narrowed my eyes at him. I saw his wicked smile looking at me. Alam ko na ano ang nasa isip niya. Gawin niya namang perahan si Hunter at palagi nga siyang nagungulit na mag invest si Hunter sa kanyang kompanya pero hindi ko talaga siya pinalakad.

“Don’t ever spent some money during your wedding ceremony, Rosié. Let that man spent his money. No single penny will be spent on your big event.” he advised me.

As if naman gagastos ako? Hindi talaga! Huthutin ko talaga ang pera ni Hunter.

I maybe soft to his point of view but I am sly as a fox.

“I know that, Kuya. He’s gone crazy over me.” I laughed a bit and it faded.

“Aren’t you thinking critically? You two just met in just two months! Tapos engaged ka na sa kanya? Why in rush, Veatrize Rosié!? Make me understand!” he demanded.

Agad nag-switch ang mood niya. Mas hinigpitan ko ang hawak ng coat kaysa salubungin ang mga mata ni Kuya Garson. He is so scary when he demanded an answer. Gusto niyang fully detailed ang isasagot ko para walang follow up questions siyang ma formulate.

“Is that about money? We have so much money, Rosié.” he said softly and I swear I won’t lure to that voice.

I bit my lowerlip. I won’t expose my mission to him. I want a revenge to Hunter! Kahit ilang taong nakalipas na iyon ay maghihigante pa rin ako sa kanya. Hindi niya lang ako sinaktan! Kinuha niya ang virginity ko noong junior high school pa kami!

“How about… love?” he mocked. “Really? In just one month, you found already that word? It takes years—”

“Kuya, I am ready to settle down na. I am sure about Hunter—”

“Sana pala hindi ka nagbakasyon dito? Sana nasa UK ka ngayon at nagpupukos sa pagmomodelo mo! Your life there was good as what you said to me during I called you.”

“Hindi mo ba gusto si Hunter para sa akin?” maliit kong tanong sa kanya.

He was taken aback and sighed. Napalingon ako kung saan siya. Nasa tabi siya sa lumang piano namin at nakasandal. Kuya Garson is tall and masculine. Hindi ko gaano mapansin ang pagbabago niya dahil hindi ko siya nakikita araw-araw. At hindi ko rin alam kung saan siya naninirahan. Ayaw niyang ipaalam sa amin.

“He’s good but I don’t trust his face.” he replied.

The word handsome is not suitable for Hunter’s face, it beyond on it. One look of him— I know all women will flood on the floor and beg for his glances. I witnessed that during our junior high in Henrietta Barnett School in London. Hinakot niya lahat ng babae sa school na iyon at pati na rin ako.

I erased that in my mind because that was my first heartbreak. Kinamumuhian ko siya habang-buhay kaya ako nandito sa Pilipinas para ilalampaso ko siya.

I laughed. “What’s with Hunter’s face, Kuya?”

Tumayo siya ng maayos at naglalakad palapit sa akin. Nahagip ng mata ko ang peklat sa gilid ng kilay niya. Huminga ako ng malalim dahil muntikan na siyang mamatay dahil diyan.

“Well I know him that he is a womanizer. Maraming nali-link sa kanya. I bet you already know that?” he raised his cut eyebrow.

“Alam ko. Nagbabago siya. Halos dalawang buwan na at walang babae nali-link sa kanya kundi ako lang.”I smiled at him. “Kuya, huwag ka na mag-alala. I can handle him.”

Mariin siyang tumitig sa akin at umiling. “Call me if that Hunter made a damn bad move. I will kill him. Gamit ang mga kamay ko.” pagbabanta niya.

Sana narinig ito ni Hunter para umurong ‘yang bayag niya!

I smiled more. “Yes, Kuya.”I nodded.

Hinaplos niya ang buhok ko at tumango na rin. Kahit limang agwat ang pagitan namin, sobrang close kami sa isa’t-isa. He is so overprotective when it comes to me and also to my family. Lagi siyang naka-alerto kapag may nangyaring masama sa tahanan.

“You already plan the weeding?” he asked as he guide me to my room.

“Pag-uusapan pa namin ni Hunter.” sabi ko.

And I realized that Hunter didn’t call me. He said that he will call if he got home. Nakauwi na ba siya? Mukhang hindi pa kasi hindi siya tumawag. Ito ang unang pagkataon na hindi siya tumawag.

Nakapalit na ako ng pangtulog at walang tawag akong natanggap sa kanya. I checked my phone again baka may missed calls pero niloko ko lang ang sarili ko. Sa paghintay ng tawag ay nakatulog na lamang ako.

I woke up and checked my phone. May nakita akong mensahe galing sa kanya. It was sent at 2 am. At tanghali pa ako nagising!

Hunter:

Sorry I forgot to call you. I am home already.

Kumunot ang noo ko dahil ang tagal niyang nakauwi.

Me:

2 am? Seriously?

Napagdesisyonan ko na lang maligo kaysa maghintay sa kanyang reply. I want refresh my mind and focus on my damn mission. Medyo tumalbog ako kagabi bago matulog kasi siya ang iniisip ko. Dapat hindi ako nagpapa-apekto sa kanya. Dapat wala akong pake sa kanya.

I ate my brunch on our patio while eyeing some gardener cut the wild grasses. Tumunog ang cellphone ko at nakita ko ang pangalan sa tumawag. Pairap akong kumain at inignora iyon.

“Manigas ka riyan.” bulong ko at uminom ng apple juice.

Nag-ring ulit ang phone ko at si Hunter na naman. It’s a FaceTime. Kinuha ko na iyon at sinagot.

“Are you mad at me?” his husky voice welcome to my lazy afternoon.

Gusto ko na lang siyang murahin ng paulit-ulit dahil nasa kama pa siya. Pikit ang isang mata at magulo ang buhok. Kakagising lang niya ata at oo na, sobrang gwapo niya talaga.

“Sa tingin mo?” pairap kong sinagot.

“I’m sorry. Bruce invited me—”

“At hindi ka nag-text about diyan?” singhal ko sa kanya. “God, Hunter! Sobrang nag-alala ako sa’yo! Iyon ang first time na hindi ka tumawag sa pag-uwi mo! Gusto mo bang aatakehin ako sa pag-alala, ha?” sobrang oa kong acting sa kanya.

Nakita kong sumilat ang ngisi niya sa camera. Umirap ulot ako kaya humahalakhak siya.

“I’ll not do it again. Nawala kasi sa isip ko dahil si Bruce broken-hearted.” paliwanag niya at mariin ang titig sa camera.

“Okay. Next time, ha? Huwag mo na ulitin—”

“Are you having your brunch right now?” he asked.

Kumunot ang noo ko dahil bakit alam niya. Tumango lang ako at tumitig lang talaga siya sa akin. Gusto kong angasan siya pero out of character ko naman kapag ganyan.

“How’s your sleep last night?” tanong niya habang umalis sa kanyang kama.

Dinilat ko talaga ang aking mga mata kung sakaling may babaeng katabi siya sa kama. At dahil sa sobrang obvious kong kilos, nahuli niya ako!

“What are you looking at?” tanong niya at pinakita niya ang kabuohan ng kwarto niya. “I am at my room, Veatrize.”

Napainom lang ako ng apple juice habang siya ay umiiling. Iniwan niya ang cellphone niya na nakatayo at kita ko ang hubog ng kanyang likod habang naghahanap ng damit. Naka gray sweatpants siya at topless na natulog.

“You are not answering my first question. How’s your sleep, baby?”

“It was not good. You know the reason,” madrama kong sinabi.

Nakapagbihis na siya kaya lumapit siya sa camera. Tinapat niya iyon sa kanyang mukha at parang nanalamin dahil nagsusuklay sa magulo niyang buhok. I pouted a bit when he winked at me.

“Babawi ako. How’s that?”

“Huwag na. Parang hindi mo ako fiancé, eh. Nakalimutan mo talagang mag-update sa akin.” sobrang lungkot ng boses ko.

“Oh, God! No. I mean, yes I’m sorry if I didn’t update you. I’m sorry, Veatrize—”

“Rosié!” sigaw ni Kuya Garson.

I stood up. Nakita ko na may dalang bagahe na si Kuya Garson kaya kumunot ang noo ko. Naglakad ako palapit sa kanya at nakita kong yumakap si Mommy sa kanya.

“Uuwi na po kayo, Kuya?”

“Yes. Inuwi ko lang talaga ang engagement party mo.” sabi niya.

“Can you stay for one week, my son?” Mommy asked my brother.

Umiling si Kuya Garson. “I’ll go back here when Rosié will walk on the aisle.” sabay tingin niya sa akin.

“Saan ka ba namamalagi? Kami na bibisita sa’yo o kaya kaming dalawa ni Hunter ang magbigay ng invitation card sa’yo, Kuya.” sabi ko at nakita kong ngumisi siya.

Hindi siya sumagot at nagpaalam na talaga sa amin. My mommy is in tears because Kuya Garson went away again from us. I know that she misses my brother so much and also she is worried I mean us, we are worried about him.

Hindi namin alam kung nasaan siya sa lumalop ng mundo.

“Mommy, tahan na po.. Mag-iisang oras ka na pong umiyak,” alu ko sa aking ina.

“Hindi ko talaga naintindihan ‘yang kapatid mo, Rosié. Bakit ayaw niyang manatili rito sa Pilipinas? Bakit gusto niyang lumayo sa atin? Kawawa kami ng Daddy mo. Tapos ikaw,” baling niya sa akin. “Kukunin ka naman ni Hunter sa amin,” iling niya at lalong umiyak.

“Mom,” tawag ko.

I hugged my Mommy and she hugged me back. I caressed her back and kissed her hair.

“Masama po ba ang loob niyo kung doon ako kay Hunter titira? Kung masama po edi hindi na po ako tutuloy. Maiintindihan naman po ‘yon ni Hunter,”

Umiling siya at kumalas sa aming yakap. She held my jaw and stared at me dearly while her eyes are full of tears. I waited for her answer but she only shook her head.

“No, my daughter.” pa-accent niya pang sinabi and I almost laugh at that. “I am very happy that you found your love of your life. I am happy seeing you with Hunter and I am sure that your relationship with him will last forever. I am so excited to walk you in the aisle. I saw it in his eyes, my daughter. The way he stared. The way he showed his love? Hindi lang sa’yo kundi sa amin na rin. He can take good care of you.” she said sweetly like Hunter is her golden boy.

“Hatak na hatak ka kay Hunter, Mom! I’m so jealous!” pabiro akong nagalit kaya natawa na siya.

“Last night, I heard that you are the one chasing first, huh? Is that really true?” intriga niya.

Sumimangot ako at tumango. Ginawa ko talaga ‘yon dahil sa plano kong paghihigante. Hindi niya ako pinansin sa isang event kaya ako na ang unang lumapit sa kanya.

Imagine? The international model made a first damn move to him! And guess what? Hindi niya talaga ako natandaan sa daming babae niya!

“Rosié Wilson." I said and I handed my hand.

He looked at me for a moment and I am so nervous that he will recognized me. Pero laking gulat ko nang tinanggap niya ang aking kamay.

“Hunter Drozdov, Ms. Wilson.” he shook my hand and let go.

Kumunot ang noo ko. Ms. Wilson, huh? O baka

nagmaang-maangan siyang hindi niya ako kilala?

I laughed nervously. “You don’t know me?” I asked him.

His brow shot up and smiled. “I know you, of course. You introduced yourself to me.”

What?!

I laughed and eyed some people watching us. I bet they heard what Hunter said. Nakakainis!

“Excuse me. I have business to do, Ms. Wilson.” he excused himself and he didn’t wait for my reply.

Walang pinagbago man lang!

Isang buwan din akong naghabol sa kanya at napagod talaga ako. Sobrang uninterested siya sa akin pero laking gulat ko dahil bigla siyang nagpakita sa akin at naging interested tuloy sa akin.

Totoo nga ang kasabihan. Pakitaan mo na interesado ka sa isang tao at saka sila na ang bahala sa huli maghabol na parang ulol na aso. Gaya ni Hunter. Ulol na ulol kaya gusto niya akong maging asawa.

I removed my sunglasses and observed the every structure of Hunter’s mansion. The grand staircase and the big main doors. I glanced at my back and there’s a big front yard and there are five gardeners I seen. May pinaplano sa mga halaman at kanyang-kanyang ideya ang gusto ipahayag.

“Miss Wilson, tuloy na po tayo—”

“Why is Hunter not welcoming me?” I asked with my strict voice.

Kita ko ang takot sa kanyang mga mata at tumingin sa isang kagaya niya. Yumuko siya ng tiningnan ko.

“Sir is busy, Miss Wilson—”

“And he didn’t spare some minutes to welcome me here? This is my first time being here and gosh,” irap ko at lumakad na lang sa hagdanan.

Nakabukas na ang pintuan at nakita ko kaagad si Hunter na naglalakad palapit sa akin. I smiled because he is welcoming me for sure. But my smile faded when I saw his angry eyes directed at me.

“Who told you to be a b***h here in my home?” he asked me with clenched jaw.

Nagulat ako. Kumurap ako dahil hindi ganito si Hunter sa akin. My eyes searched of the two maids and they directly looked away. Pinasadahan ko sila ng tingin.

“Bring your eyes on me and answer my f*****g question” he demanded.

Lalo akong nagulat sa inasta niya. Hindi ganito ang nasa isip ko ang pagwe-welcome sa akin. Nairita ako dahil malaya niya akong sinigawan dahil nasa teritoryo niya ako.

“Masama bang magtanong sa kanila kung nasaan ka, Hunter—”

“Marie. Polly. Bring her things to her room.” he cut me off and my blood boils.

Sumunod kaagad ang mga kasambahay at nakita kong sumunod ang tingin niya roon sa kanila. I snapped my fingers and his eyes went back to me. I raised my brow and gestured him and the two maids.

“What’s that? You’re being a jerk infront of your fiancé?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Alam mo kung ano ang pinagsasabi ko, Hunter.” mariin kong sinabi. “Talagang nasa teritoryo mo ang mga babae mo? Seryoso ka ba?” tawa ko.

His brows furrowed and his eyes narrowed at me. I smirked more because I caught him. Bull’s eye!

“Are you saying that those maids are my women, Veatrize?” he asked darkly and he took a step.

Pinanood ko talaga siya kung paano niya kinain ang distansya namin. Tumigil lang siya ng ilang dangkal. Matangkad ako pero mas matangkad siya. I looked up at him and I want him to know that I am not intimidated at his 6’5 ft height.

He leaned his head in front of my face. His eyes traveled at my eyes down to my lips. My heart pounded when he licked his lips looking at my lips. And then slowly going back to my eyes, hypnotizing me by his sexy moves of his damn eyes.

“Ikaw lang ang babaeng nagtagumpay tumapak sa pamamahay ko.” sobrang klaro niyang sinabi sa akin.

“Saan mo sila dinala? Sa spare house mo?” I fired him a question.

He chuckled. No. He chuckles so sexily and poked my nose. I pouted at him.

“Selosa.” he remarked pointing at me.

“Ano naman kung selosa? Baka nakalimutan mo na mahal kita, Hunter? Normal magselos—”

He silenced me with his kiss. Gusto ko siyang suntukin dahil pabigla-bigla lang siya. Hindi pa rin ako sanay sa ganyang kilos. Parang hinihigop niya ang aking mission at balewalain ko lang iyon.

“Welcome to you new home, my little talkative chicken.” he whispered at my parted lips.