Programmed Wife

Chapter 35

"Hihihi"

"Laugh one more time and I will turn this freaking car around!"

Leyla pouted, shaking her head she sneaked another glance at the handsome man driving around in her car. Remembering what her father just told her earlier this morning.

"Ayasya honey, I see you have feelings for this man. You have been so worried for your Boss. Don't make any mistakes and do what your heart desires, do you get what I am saying?"

"But how- I mean, we just met recently-"

"Live in the moment my dear Ayasya. Your feelings should not be a disadvantage on your life, they are the highlights. The once that will spice things up, and remember... spices are what makes anything taste a little bit better."

"Leyla?"

She was brought back in reality by a soft tap on her knee, "Ay, sorry may naalala lang ako."

"About?"

"Spices," she stated.

"What a weirdo-"

"Shush your mouth you dummy!" panggagaya nito sa lalaki.

Halata sa mapuwersang paglingon ni Rui sa babae ang gulat at pagtataka sa kung ano ang nangyari sa babae. As if a switch was turned on in a sudden and she magically turned out to be more free and relaxed around him. Kung makipagbiruan nga ito sa kan'ya parang kaibigan na lang niyang nakilala sa kabilang kanto.

"Sir, I drive better than you."

His strong jaw clenched, "Are you copying me?" pigil siyang napapangiti.

"Well, it's hard to shake it off. I find it too cute."

"Cu-cute? Me? Rui Andrews?"

"Yup yup!"

He shook his head in disbelief, "You're really enjoying this huh?"

"If you want me to stop, just stop blushing."

"Wow, really going straight to the jugular!" Rui adjusted his fake glasses, "Also, we're here."

"Yay! Finally! Balak ko na aralin 'yong recipe nila para alam ko kung paano ang timpla kapag lulutuan na kita."

"You wanted to know the recipe?"

Secretly, Rui was touched with that simple gesture of hers. It was the sweetest yet. He had this pasta maybe three times his whole life, and he liked it a lot. Too bad that he couldn't get it himself. Not unless he was with his ever busy friend Shawn, or if he somehow wanted to waste a whole lot of fortune to reserve the place just for him to eat a couple hundred worth of spaghetti.

"Yup, I need to taste it once to understand how it should taste. Pero bago 'yon, we you should wear this like...that!" she pulled the hood of the jacket over his head. Ngayon ay bagsak rin ang buhok niyang kadalasan ay nakaayos pataas. Hinayaan lang niyang ayusin ni Leyla ang hood at buhok niya.

"You look like a young college kid," she commented on his look. "Buti nalang at ito ang napili kong suotin ngayon, hindi ako magmumukhang tita mo," she took a peak at the mirror to adjust her cute yellow ribbon.

"Dummy, you always look young, even when you're wearing your office attire. You should have dressed up to look older. Baka isipin pa nila anak kita."

Leyla giggled. Her eyes were almost gone, covering her mouth with her hand and constantly shaking her head. Something dumb has immediately appeared in her head and she did her best to conceal it. But Rui was sharp. He was quick enough to notice that her cute giggles are turning into uncontrollable laughter.

"Okay, what are you thinking about this time?" umaktong galit si Rui habang nakahawak pa sa baba niya. "Are you reminded of something or are you just making fun of how ridiculous I look right now?"

"No I'm not!" pigil pa rin ang tawa ng dalaga. "I just remembered what Roca was telling me the other day, it's stupid you know, just forget about it."

Rui removed his seat belt and sat back comfortably, "You can't just say it like that. Come on," usisa pa nito.

"Trust me, you don't want to know. And you're going to regret it, I swear!"

"Well when you're laughing that hard, it can't be that bad. I want in."

"Sure ka na ba talaga?" tumango ang lalaki sa tanong ni Leyla. She took off the belt on her as well and leaned a bit closer to whisper in his ear, "Sabi sa akin ni Roca may code name ka sa buong company."

"And? What is it?" he asked.

"Daddy," she answered and quickly got out of the vehicle, laughing as hard as she could.

"Ew. What the heck?" nandidiring usal ni Rui nang makalabas na rin ito. Pinanood niya pa ang pagtawa ni Leyla dahil sa naging ekspresyon nito. "Sino ang nagpauso no'n? I should fire them."

"Come on, don't be too harsh! Mabuti nga at ganoon lang, at least hindi ka tinatawag na monster or kahit ano man na negative diba? At least kahit papaano it was made because of how good you look. Doesn't it make you feel a bit more confident?"

"Confident? Should I feel better about it?" naguguluhang tanong ni Rui habang kinakamot ang kan'yang noo.

"Maybe?"

"What do they call me again?"

"Huh? Daddy!"

Rui bit his lower lip, "Don't make me like it."

Whatever he meant, Leyla was surely not getting it. But she knew that he was thinking of something else, based on how he suddenly turned red.

"Huh?" 'yon nalang ang nasagot nito bago pa siya lumapit sa lalaki para samahan papasok sa magarbong restaurant. "Tara na!"

She made sure to hold his hand tightly. To make sure that everything will go as planned, Leyla did a whole night's research on how territorial, protective and overly jealous girlfriends act. She even got the knowledge of a true master, Shawn.

This is just the start of their elaborate plan to slowly make Rui get used to being around people. With her, he has no problem. But with how he looks, Shawn made sure to stress out the part where girls will try to shoot every shot they can.

Kaya naman isang linya lang ang nasa utak ni Leyla sa mga oras na 'to. Ang pinakatumatak na bilin sa kan'ya ni Shawn...

"If someone started eyeing him and looking at him as if a hungry little kid is looking at a delicious cupcake, start barking, growl, mark your territory. Scare them away first."

Although she questioned the barking and growling part, pretty much she got the gist of it.

"Act tough, crazy and insanely possessive," bulong niya pa para paalalahanan ang sarili.

"You foolish croissant, what are you blabbering about?" tanong ng matangkad na lalaki sa tabi niya. Bahagya pa nitong pinisil ang malambot niyang kamay habang naglalakad sila patungo sa pintuan ng restaurant.

"Nothing, don't mind me," she said smiling brightly at his confused eyes looking down at her.

"Good morning Ma'am, Sir!" bati ng babaeng nagbukas ng pintuan para sa kanilang dalawa.

Rui's reflexes kicked in, he instantly moved a step away kahit na nasa pagitan nila si Leyla na masiglang bumati ng "Good morning!" pabalik sa babae.

He felt Leyla's warm hand holding him tightly, she's using her index finger to tap a rhythm at the back of his palm. As if reassuring him that everything will be alright. And he was right, the moment that he decided to look at her, she smiled.

The smile that gave him a clear message, "I'm here, don't worry."

"Dito po," sabi ng babae habang itinuturo ang daan patungo sa sarili nilang lamesa. Mabuti na lamang at hindi sila masyadong malapit sa dinadaanan. Nakahinga ng maayos si Rui nang makaupo na siya sa harapan ng sekretarya.

"That wasn't so bad, is it?" she optimistically asked.

Rui gave her a smile, "It wasn't. But still, I can't go any closer-"

"Shush, don't worry. I'm here!" putol niya sa bawat pangamba ng lalaki.

Her little pout together with her confident nod gave him something to hold on to. But he was too shy to quietly admit that she's right, "Sus! Paano kung may biglaang lumapit sa akin?" he tested her.

Leyla immediately looked at him with the meanest glaring eyes that she could pull off, "I bite. I can growl too!" The two laughed in unison.

Ilang sandali pa ay dumating ang mga pagkain na in-order nilang dalawa. Rui ordered his favorite spaghetti and meatballs together with a bunch of garlic bread. Leyla decided to order a slice of crepe cake too, which they shared.

She noticed how the staff that was supposed to give them their meal was stopped by a girl. A suspicious looking girl with a hidden desire written all over her eyes.

Nang malapit na ito sa lamesa nila, she did what she had to do. Leyla took a deep breath and leaned closer to Rui. She reached out, lumapit naman ang lalaki at doon inayos niya ang buhok nito kunwari. Nakangiti pa niyang tinapik ng daliri ang ilong nito. He looked extremely handsome, non of her plan to conceal his face worked.

Even Leyla herself would admit, he's dashing in every angle. Kahit yata takpan na ang buong mukha nito ay guwapo pa rin!

Kaya naman naiintindihan niya ang waitress kung hindi nito napigilan na magpa-cute sa harapan ng lalaki. Mabuti nalang noong napanood nito ang matamis na ngitian ng dalawa ay nahihiya na siyang lumapit. She lowered her head and quickly placed the plates on the table then left quickly.

"Hmm, what was that?" Rui whispered with a slight grin on his face. He could tell, Leyla's acting differently. A lot more territorial, and no, he doesn't mind. He's in fact amused by it.

"Wa-wala, may dumi ka sa mukha," dahilan ng dalaga.

"Dumi sa mukha," he mocked. "Why are you blushing?"

"Rui... I just wanted to protect you-"

"You called me Rui," he whispered.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Leyla. She planned on calling him that outdoors but she did not realize how shy she would feel saying it out loud, "Just let it go, just this once."

He clicked his tongue, unintentionally biting his lip, "I like it," his deep voice almost cracked trying to conceal the grin on his face.

"Please stop grinning," sabi ng babae habang inaabot ang iced tea palapit sa kan'ya. "They're still looking at you, if you keep showing how good you look I might become a murderer today."

Leyla's grumpy voice mixed with her pout just did it. Rui couldn't help but just hide under his hood covering her face as his shoulders moved up and down from laughing.

"I said stop being adorable, you're making this hard. I don't want to bark."