Planned Coincidence

Chapter 15

Lourd's POV

My thoughts thinking about that woman who I saw fourth times around me and I met thrice was interrupted by a knock in my office door.

“Sir.” It is Drac.

“Come in.”

“Sir, ito na po ang pinapahanap niyong impormasyon. Iyan lang po ang nakalap ko,” he said putting down the brown envelope on my table.

Binuksan ko iyon at binasa.

Zamora Villamor

26 years old

Brgy. Bayera, Sta. Luisita, Colossia City

High School Level

Unemployed

No criminal records

Her information in summary.

Unemployed? That's why she looked interested in that cashier vacancy at the coffee shop.

And high school graduate? I saw her in the condo building's lobby wearing a school uniform.

And she's residing just beside Patri Homes.

Hmm...so interesting.

Muli kong binasa ang pangalan niya.

“I'm Lourd by the way, you are?”

“Sam.”

Napangiti ako. Sam? Just a pseudonym?

I put back the documents inside the envelope and rested my back in the backrest.

“Sure, she's the woman outside that barber shop, right?”

“Yes po, sir.”

I glanced at the mirror for the last time of my new haircut. I just trimmed it short.

“Thank you,” sabi ko sa gumupit sa akin.

“Welcome sir, come again,” he said smiling.

Kasunod ko si Drac palabas ng barber shop nang may marinig kaming sigawan sa kaharap naming kalye.

May nagtatakbuhan.

“Ay uy!” Ang babeng umuunat lang na nakaupo sa harap ng ice cream parlor ay nasagi pa.

Her cap fell down with her long straight hair. It's as if this is the right timing for a slow moment, it did. Napahinto ako kung paanong mahinang bumagsak ang mahaba niyang buhok.

She's freaking gorgeous.

She did arm circling and picked her cap. All in a slow-mo pace in my eyes.

“Sir?” Everything went back to normal with Drac's voice.

“Ah, let's go.” Ako na ang nag-aya at dali-daling sumakay sa sasakyan.

Pagkaalis namin, I looked at her for the last time and she's looking straight at the barber shop as if looking for someone.

That was a weird moment. I hope I'll see her again.

It is as if destiny is with me. I saw her at the lobby of the condo building I am in.

Dito rin ba siya nakatira? Bakit hindi ko siya nakita? I mean, hindi ko kilala ang mga nakatira dito sa building lalo na't bago pa lang din ako rito, but the faces are already familiar. Nakakasabay pumasok, sa paglalakad, sa elevator, sa parking lot, its easy to memorize faces if you see them often.

But in her information, it says na taga-Sta. Luisita siya.

With her looks today, I'm not sure kung siya nga itong nakita ko sa harap ng barber shop but I'm on the 97% certainty. So, she's still a student?

Oh, god Lourd. Are you eyeing a student?

My attention was diverted when my phone vibrated inside my coat.

“Ate...”

Lourd, did you bring the docus I needed?

Napahinto ako nang maalala. “Wait, I forgot. Sorry...I need to go up again.”

Ow sorry brother for bothering you for this. You can send Drac back in your condo nalang.

“Oh, it's okay. I can go up again.”

Thank you, Lourd. You're the best brod. I hope I'm not too much.

She even chuckled. I gritted my teeth for a second and plastered my mask again.

“Okay...okay, no problem at all.”

Bago ako tumalikod para bumalik sa dinaanan. I glanced on her and...is she looking at me?

“Ano po ba 'yon, Sir? Ako nalang po ang kukuha,” sabi ni Drac.

I slightly raised my hand for a no. “No, it's fine.” I need to play this just- following-orders image for the sake of the eyes watching around me.

Binalik ko ang cellphone sa bulsa.

“Miss, excuse me, is that book yours? Naiwan ko kasi ang libro ko sa Accounting.”

The lobby is too quiet that I can hear them talking even in a distance.

She looked at the guy student and reads the cover page of the book.

“H-ha? Ay pasensya ka na, nakita ko lang ito riyan sa mesa. Binuklat ko nalang habang naghihintay sa kasama ko. Ito, pasensya na.”

“No worries, thank you.”

Tumalikod na ako at pumasok ulit ng elevator.

That woman, is she one of our enemies eyes? But, isn't she's too obvious?

Is this their crappy way or their new way?

Bumalik ako sa condo ko para kunin ang mga reports na pinagawa niya sa akin regarding the architectural changes of Patri Homes, with that woman in my mind.

Kung pagbaba namin mamaya at nandiyan pa rin siya. She's probably their eyes on me...and that would be so saddening. She's my style.

Napapailing akong napapangiti nang nandiyan pa rin siya pagbaba namin. Diretsong labas na kami at nakita kong tumayo na rin siya.

Tsk. This is so lame. Why is she so obvious? Can't she try harder for her moves to be unpredictable? I feel so insulted being eyed by this lousy woman.

That obvious spying didn't end there.

I jogged every morning. Nilulubos ko na ang mga oras na malaya pa akong makagalaw sa labas, dahil sa susunod, surely, I will be guarded as if I am a criminal.

She's reading the wanted cashier sign at the entrance.

Bigla tuloy akong naguluhan sa aksyon niya.

Is she really this lousy spy or I am wrong that she's an eye?

“Keep an eye on her, while she keeps an eye on me,” utos ko kay Drac at pinauna ko ng pumasok.

After a couple of minute, sumunod na ako sa loob. And on my peripheral vision, her body reacted on my presence.

Sinadya kong umupo na nakaharap sa labas at malayo sa kanya. I'm curious what will she do.

Maya-maya lang, Drac served me my coffee at tumabi sa akin.

“Sir, parang interesado bilang cashier dito. Nagtanong kanina kung magkanong sahod.”

Hindi ako umimik. Napapaisip ako sa galaw ng babaeng ito. I wanted to be here, malayo sa kanya para malaman talaga kung anong gagawin niya. Pero masyado ng mainit sa kinauupuan namin kaya tumayo na ako at lumipat.

We're two tables away. And she's not hiding it, that she's looking at me.

I took a sip in my coffee.

“Hindi rin siya um-order, Sir. Umupo lang siya riyan at kinuha ang naiwang cup.”

Napakunot ang noo ko sa sinabi niya.

This woman's getting me more curious about her. She doesn't look like a total poor at all. I mean her clothes, her shoes.

Social climber?

I cleared my throat.

“Drac, say something, look funny. So, I can smile, too,” bulong ko sa kanya.

“Sir, hindi ko alam ang sasabihin pero kailangan ba talaga 'to?” bulong niya rin pabalik at napililitang tumawa.

I just need to act but with Drac's way, I smiled genuinely.

Tinapik ko siya sa balikat.

“Yes, kailangan,” nakangiti ko pang sabi.

I look at her through my peripheral vision and...oh damn, she's looking at me intently.

Ah, how should I think of this?

“Palagay mo ba, mata siya ng isa sa mga kalaban ng pamilya?” bulong ko na naman kay Drac.

Umiling-iling siya. “You think so?”

“What the!” Napatayo ako sa mainit na kapeng nabuhos sa shorts ko.

Damn, it's freaking hot.

“Hala, sorry! Pasensya na, hindi ko sinasadya.”

Napalingon ako sa kung sino man ito and I am surprised to see her.

Bago pa ako makapagsalita, inagaw niya ang tissue na nakuha ni Drac. She slightly bend and wiped the coffee stain in my white shorts. As if it can be removed with that.

Yumuko ako at tiningnan siya na seryosong-seryoso sa pagpupunas.

Hmm...I don't like the view, the position, and where she's touching. She's almost touching my front.

“Ow ow it's okay Miss, let me wipe it.”

Tumayo na siya. “Pasensya na talaga. Kasalanan ko, 'di ako nag-iisip.”

“It's okay. It's just an accident,” I replied.

Hindi nakawala sa mata ko ang pagpigil niya ng ngiti.

My eyebrows met. And what's behind that smile?

“Pasensya na talaga. Ako nalang maglalaba ng shorts mo. Sorry, talaga.”

I smiled. “No, it's okay. No harm done.”

“No harm? Eh mainit 'yong nabuhos.”

Stupid. I don't know if I would smile or not.

Her actions. They do not just fit of being our enemies eyes. But I know, I couldn't just throw that assumptions. I should not let my guard down.

Dahil pwedeng oo, pwedeng hindi.

For the third time, on the same day, chances are so low but we meet again.

Okay, let me play another role.

“You're the woman in the coffee shop kaninang umaga. Am I right?” I turned to Drac. “Diba siya 'yon?” Telling him to be more attentive on her.

“Oo sir, siya nga.”

“Bago ka ba rito? Ngayon lang kita nakita rito.”

“Ah oo, ni-recommend sa akin 'to ng kaibigan ko eh.”

“What a coincidence. That's good. Did your friend recommend a trainer too?”

“Wala, wala. Subok pa lang naman itong akin, titingnan ko pa kung mapapangatawanan ko 'tong pagwo-work out.”

And yeah, ngayon mo pa talaga naisipang magsimulang magwork-out. I can't help but to scan her body.

She got a nice bod. She doesn't have the reason to work out.

Oh, maybe, for the reason of following me?

Okay, let's do this. Para malaman kung saang side ng buhay ko kita ilalagay.

“I assume you are alone. I can accompany you.”

“T-talaga?”

“Yes.”

Make your enemies closer.

“I'm Lourd by the way, you are?” Then I offered my hands.

“Sam.”

One thing concludes after trying to know her. She doesn't know what she's doing.

She's not that cautious.

Maybe, she's just one of the woman who wanted me?

Pag-uwi ng bahay ay hinabilin ko kay Drac na alamin ang background niya.

Gabi na at katatapos ko lang maligo. Sinuot ko muna ang roba at dumiretso sa kusina. Nilabas ko ang whiskey sa terrace.

It's been 3 weeks pero hindi pa rin naka-adjust ang body clock ko. UK and Philippines doesn't have that wide gap in time difference pero nahihirapan pa rin akong mag-adjust at matulog sa gabi.

Pumasok ako ng kwarto at nagbihis na muna.

And just when I'm about to go out, my phone on the bedside table vibrated.

BInalikan ko iyon at binasa ang text.

It's from Hara.

Are u free tonight? Painitin natin ang gabi mo.

I blew a loud breath. I didn't expect Hara would be like this.

Hindi naman siya ganito noong highschool kami. She was that sweet charming girl.

We lost communication when I went to UK at pagbalik ko rito, I was given a welcome back party of my friends.

I was shocked to see that she was one of the strippers. Even with her heavy make-up, I recognized her.

Hindi niya pa agad ako nakilala until she was pushed by my friends on me to make out.

Nagulat siya nang makilala ako at wala na siyang pagkakataon pa para itago ang sarili.

“Hara...” I called out.

“Let's go! What are you waiting for?” sabi niya at nauna ng naglakad patungo sa kwarto ko sa hotel kung saan ang party.

“Hara.” I pulled her back kaya nabangga siya sa dibdib ko.

Nagulat siya sa ginawa ko kaya napatingin siya sa akin. When she finally recognizes me her eyes widen.

“L-Lourd?”

“What is this? What happened to you?"

“Kakabalik mo lang?”

“I'm asking, what are you doing here?” Why are you doing this?”

She's almost naked. She's just wearing a bikini panty and a n****e tape.

She took a step away from me and shrugged her shoulders.

“Wala. Gan'to na buhay ko ngayon. Kailangan...para kumita.”

“You did not get any decent job?”

She smiled. “Aanhin ko naman 'yang disenteng trabaho kung ang baba ng sweldo?”

“You should've keep looking for a high-paying job.”

She nods slowly while still smiling.

“Nandito na ako oh,” she said jumping on me and kissed me on the lips.

F*ck. I was so busy studying in England that I didn't even get a time touching women.

Holding on to me, I opened the door of my hotel room. She kept kissing me down to my neck.

Damn, this feels so good and I miss this.

I threw her on the bed.

“Ahh!”

I just smirked and took my clothes off.

Now, I couldn't say yes to this text because of Sam.

It felt like I was bewitched of that slow-moment the first time I saw her.

I'm really looking forward in what way we will meet again.

“Still keep an eye on her, we can't be so sure about her.”

“Yes Sir.”

Napatayo ako nang bumukas ang pinto ng opisina at dire-diretsong pumasok si Dad.

“Dad.”

“Lourd, I'll be going down by next month.”

“Yes Dad.”

“Prepare yourself at...walang dapat makakaalam,” he said looking at me and Drac. “Drac, if anyone ask you about him, never give an information. Even about you that is connected to him.”

“Yes, Sir.”

“That's all.”

That's all and that's it, he stormed out of the room.

Nagkatinginan lang kami ni Drac.

Drac is already with our family since I'm in highschool but he only became my personal bodyguard when I came back here. And he knows the story how cold my Dad towards us.

I think he's 6 years older than me.

“'Wag mo na i-report kay Dad amg tungkol sa babaeng ito.”

He's reporting to Dad all that are suspected to be an eye around me.

“Bakit po, Sir?”

“I still need to know if she's really an eye or...” Napangiti ako. “Just interested in me.“

“Interested in her, Sir?”

“She's pretty, right?”

Ngumiti lang siya. Well, she can't say she's pretty in front of me. That would be a wrong move.

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