COVETOUS1:BRAIDEN DE LEON

CHAPTER 2

"Hale anak where have you been?." Bungad ng ina niya ng makauwi sya galing sa shanty.She's still surprise about what happen inside the resto.

Hale look at her mom and smiled. "I went out to eat ma,why? what's up?." Pagtatanong nito na para bang wala syang alam.

Hale's mom look at her in a questioning face. "What's up? Well anak." Her mom came to her and cleared her throat. "You just missed your date with Mr.Guerrero at the Deluxe cuisine and it is already past 10:00am so i canceled it" Her mother tap her back and looked at her. "And my dear,if your going to ask me,what is up?.Its the sky.Be practical hon.and oh you have a date tomorrow with Mr.Baltazar 10:00am sharp at the Grodon resto.please be there okay."Nginitian siya ng kanyang ina at Tinapik nito ang balikat niya,akmang aalis na ang ito nang bigla niya itong pigilan.

Hale grab her hand and look into her mom's eyes "I can't go ma." Her mom looked at her with confusion."Why hija?" Her mom asked."Because..ahm..B.." Hale was thinking of a reason ng biglang nagsalita ang kanyang ina. "Because what hale?." Pagtatanong ng ina niya na may bahid na kaseryosohan.

Huminga ng malalim si hale at nagsalita. "Because i already have a boyfriend ma."There she lied again.She had enough dates. Ayaw na nya.Its time to put a stop to it.

Yun lang ang paraang nasa isip nya para itigil na ng ina nya ang pagseset ng date para sakanya.Wala na syang oras mag-isip ng iba pang sulusyon.She's waiting for her mom to response but her mom didn't talk.

After a second of silence,Hale let go of her mother's hand and she Flick her fingers in front of her mother's face. "Ma? hey?. Earth to my mom?." She said while Flicking her finger.Tumigil lang siya ng nakita niyang natauhan na ang kanyang ina.

Her mom looked at her with a serious face. "May boyfriend kana ba talaga o gusto mo lang itigil ko ang pagseset ng date para sayo?." Her mom said with a deadly serious face that can make her knees shiver to the spine.

She cleared her throat and answered "May b..boyfriend napo talaga ako ma." Pagsisinungaling nya.

Goodness grace im dead if she find's out im lying.

Her mother's face turn's back to normal. "Well,I want to meet that boyfriend of yours." She said with a smile of her face.

She let out a relief breath and smiled. "Sure thing mom." Ani nya.Aalis na dapat nya ng biglang magsalita ang ama nya.

"Tomorrow night hale." She was shock and stood frozen in place. "Ho? Bukas po?." Pag tatanong neto.

Shit,Bukas? san naman ako kukuha ng lalakeng mag papanggap na boyfriend ko

"Yes.Im going to japan for some business issue the day after tomorrow.Is there any problem?." Her father said with a threatening voice.

"Problem? no,there's no problem.I'll tell him later." She said with a fake smile and wink at them.

"Well you should I want to meet him before i leave." Ani ng ama.

Nang matapos silang mag-usap ng ama ay nagpaalam na ito na magpapahinga na sya at pumayag naman ang mga magulang nito.Nang makapasok siya sa kwarto dali dali nyang kinuha ang cellphone at tinawagan ang pinakamatalik nyang kaibigan na si brikk.

Hinanap nya ang number ni brikk sa contacts niya at nang makita nya ito,Agad agad naman niyang pinindot iyon at tinawagan.After a number of rings she's glad that brikk answered.

"Hey pretty." Bungad na bati sakanya. "Pogi,I need your help.can you help me? i need a fake boyfriend tomorrow please brikk.help me!" She said with a worried voice." Whoa calm down,Explain it to me."Sabi sa kabilang linya.Kaya ipinaliwanag naman ni hale ng malinaw kay brikk ang lahat at naintindihan naman niya ito.

"So? Can you help me?." Hale asked. "Yeah." sagot ni brikk. " Really? Thank you! I love you! Thank you!" Sabi niya na may masayang boses."Pasalamat ka maganda ka kung hindi.." Sabi ni brikk. She immediately turned serious. "Kung hindi ano? Brikk tutulugan mo ba ako o hindi? Baka napipilitan ka lang." She said with a serious tone. Brikk remain silent and after a second she heard him laughed."Hahaha.Oo na tutulungan kita.Sige na bye pretty." He said and ended the call.

Hale was lucky to have brikk her bestfriend.Nakilala nya ito dahil sa business nila,Naging magkaibigan sila na nauwi sa pinakamatalik na kaibigan.

Pagkatapos nilang magusap ni brikk ay nagpumunta na siya sa banyo para maligo.She test the water temperature and when it turns warm she deep her whole body and relax in the tub.

Parang hinahabol ng pulis kung mag maneho si braiden ng kotse nya papunta sa bahay ni brikk.He need's help from that idiot.

Mas binilisan pa ni braiden ang pagdadrive hanggang sa makarating siya sa R&B village.Pinasok nya ang kotse nya at ipinarada ito sa katapat ng bahay ni brikk at dali dali siyang lumabas sa sasakyan nya.

Nang makapasok sya,hinanap kaagad ng mga mata nya si brikk at nakita niya naman etong kapit ang phone niya at may kausap.Lumapit ito sa may counter isle at pinagkrus ang braso habang nakatitig kay brikk

"Yeah." Pause "Pasalamat ka maganda , kung hindi.." long pause. "Hahaha.Oo na tutulungan kita. Sige na bye pretty." Brikk ended his call. He was about to leave when he saw braiden leaning on the counter isle.

"Yo,Bud! What are you doing here in my Casa." Pagtatanong nito habang kumukuha ng beer sa ref. at inihagis ang isa kay braiden na nasambot naman nito.

"Finished flirting?." Pagtatanong ni braiden kay brikk. "Flirting? Nah. That's not my thing." Sagot ni brikk.

They opened the can of beer and they both drank it.

"So? Answer my question." Ani ni brikk.

Braiden looked at brikk at drink his beer. "I need your help." Brikk looked at him in confusion. "Help? in what?." He drink his beer. Bumuntong hininga si braiden at ipinaliwanag kay brikk ang lahat.

"Ahm.My mom wants me to introduce someone to her tomorrow night and.." He stop talking when stoped him. " Wait.So your saying you need a girl to pretend that she's your girlfriend?. Am i right?." Pagpuputol ng salita ni brikk kay braiden."Yes,So my mom would invest in my company. Alam mo naman na nagsisimula palang ako diba." Ani ni braiden. "Well brad can you help me?" Pagtatanong niya kay braiden.

"hmm.I have a precious friend of mine na kaylangan ng boyfriend para maipakilala sa pamilya nya." Ani ni brikk at tumingin kay braiden. "Help each other instead." Sabi ni brikk na napaisip si braiden.

"She needs a fake boyfriend." Paglilinaw ni braiden. "Yes" Brikk said. "And i need a fake girlfriend."Tinignan niya si brikk na tumatango sa kanya.

"So,its a yes?" pagtatanong ni brikk sa kaibigan."Well i have no choice so,Deal." Braiden Shake his hands and finished his beer.

"So? What's her name?." Pagtatanong ni braiden.

"You'll meet at the starbucks 10:00am sharp." Ani ni brikk habang kinikuting ting ang cellphone nito "And bro.Don't try todo anything suspicious cause if you do your dead" Pananakot nito sa kaibigan.

Braiden just laugh at him."Why? is she special to you?." Pagtatanong niya."Very special bro,So don't you try todo something."Brikk said with a deadly glare on his face."I wont brad."Tumayo si braiden upang umalis na.Akmang isasara na nya ang pinto ng may sabihin ito kay brikk."Probably,I wont. Thanks Idiot" nakita niyang hahabulin sya ni brikk sa may pinto kaya nagmadali siyang sumakay sa sasakyan niya at minaneho ito.Tumingin sya sa side mirror at nakitang nagtaas ng middle finger si brikk at sumigaw ng f**k you.Braiden just smiled and Beep his horn two times and went home to set some things up.

"Time to get ready for my mom."

Hale Finished her bath after a minute. She dried and put on a pair of pajamas.Bago siya humiga ay narinig nya ang cellphone nya na tumunog at nakitang may mensahe ito galing kay brikk.

"Meet you up at the starbucks 10:00am sharp dont be late.-baby"Sabi nito.

Hale smiled and rolled her eyes.She put her phone on the table beside her bed and lay down.Kaylangan nyang magpahinga para bukas.

She closed her eyes and let her sleepiness eat her to sleep.

"Whoo.That was close. Are you ok? " He said

Hindi na tinignan ni Hale ang binata dahil nahihilo na ito.So she just stand up and she's about to leave when someone grab her arm and pulled her until they are only inches away from each other.

"What!." She said with a irritating voice.

"You dont how to say thank you?." He said.

Umirap sya sa ere at tinulak ang binata palayo sa kanya "Thank you." Binigyan nya ang lalake ng Ngiting aso."Are you happy now?." Naiines nyang Pagtatanong sa lalake.

Braiden look deep into her eyes with a hidden desire.Those Chocolate brown eyes,Thin kissable lips,and her sexy body making him tight down there.How can he resist this woman.

"Nope not yet" Ani nito na mas lalong hinigpitan pa ang pagkakakapit nito sa braso nya.Lupapit sya tenga nya at binulungan.

"I'll teach you some manners"He whispered.

Pag katapos nyang bulungan ang dalaga ay hinigit nya ito palabas ng club.Wala syang pake kung may makabungguan man sila.He hold her arms tightly like he didn't want to let her go.

Hale was dragged out of the club by a men who she didn't know.Naramdaman nya lang na tumigil na ito sa pagkakahila sakanyan ng bigla sya nitong halikan making her frozen in place.Her eyes widen,Di sya makagalaw dahil kapit parin sya ng binata sa braso.

Sa una di nya binabalik ang halik nito but she's too drunk to think kaya naman tinugon nya ang mga halik nito at inilagay ang isang braso nya sa leeg ng binata at mas pinalalim pa ang halikan nila and the next thing she knew,Its already morning at hubat hubad na syang may kasiping na lalake.

That was the terrible experience she wants to forget,pero pano nya makakalimutan yon kung nakita nanaman nya ang binata.

"Why the hell is he here?,does he already know me? oh god." she's already in panic ng bigla siyang tanungin ng cashier na nakapagpabalik sa katauhan nya.

"Dine in or take out ma'am?." tanong ng cashier sakanya na.

"Dine in." Sagot ng binata sa cashier na ikinagulat at ikinakaba nya.

"Ok then,were gonna Serve your sweet meal just minute,Please wait ma'am Thank you." Sabi ng cashier sa kanila.

Hinila sya ng binata sa table nito at pinaupo sya.

"Sit,Ms Pretty." Ani nito sakanya at iminuwestra ang kamay sa may katapat na upuan.

Dahan dahan syang umupo sa harapan ng binata at nagsimula na syang kabahan lalo,di sya makatingin ng maayos dito sa kadahilanang baka makilala sya neto.

"Hi,My name is Braiden Stavros De leon." Pag papakilala nya sa sarili nya,tinaas nya ang kanang kamay nya para makapagkamay sa dalaga.

She cleared her troat and respond to his handshake " Im Hale cortéza" her hands were ice cold,di nya alam kung napansin bayun ng binata.Matapos siyang makipagkilala,kinuha nya agad ang kamay nya sa binata at tinanong siya nito.

"Di mo pa sinasagot ang tanong ko sayo,so your answer please." Ani nya na may bahid na kaseryosohan sa muka nito.

Hindi sya nagsalita hanggang sa dumating ang order nya.Tinapos nya ang pagkain nya ng di kinakausap ang binata.Nang matapos siyang kumain,Tumayo ito at tumingin sakanya.

"So,Mr De leon,Its really nice to met you,Thank you for your time." Pag kasabi nya nito ay aalis na dapat sya ng bigla siyang pigilan ng binata.

"Your answer?." Sabi nya dito na may bahid na iritasyon sa muka.

"We haven't met." Simple as that she answered.Alam nyang nagsinungaling sya at alam nyang dala lang ng kalasingan ang nangyare.kaya mas minabuti nyang magsinungaling dahil yun ang alam nyang tama."So can i leave now,i have some business to do." Gusto na nyang umalis dahil baka tanungin pa sya nito.

Braiden let go of her hands as she look into her eyes. "Yeah,Thank you for your time,Ms Cortéza." Pagkasabi non ay hinayaan na nyang umalis ang dalaga at tinignan ang papalayong bulto nito palabas ng shanty resto.

Hale came out of the restaurant with her face painted with nervousness.Nagmadali syang pumunta sa sasakyan nya at pinaharurot nya na ito pauwi.

Braiden stands up and about to went home nang tumawag ang ina nya.Napabuntong hininga sya dahil kukulitin nanaman sya nitong magpakasal na.

He answered the call of his mom with a fake tone of a happy voice.

"Mom,You called?." Ani nya sa ina "Yes,at alam kong alam mo kung bakit braiden." May halong pagbabanta ang boses nito "Ma i dont want to get marr.." Magsasalita pa sana sya ng bigla itong putulin ng ina nya. "Braiden if you wont get married at the end of this month im gonna find you a fiancé even if you like it or not!." Ani ng ina nyang sumisigaw sa kabilang linya."I wont invest to your company braiden, no wife no investment that's the deal." dagdag ng ina nya.

Napahilamos si braiden sa muka nya,wala syang magagawa dahil kaylangan nya ang investment ng kumpanya ng ina nya para mas lumaki pa ito.His family owned a famous shipping lane all over the world and so is braiden.Kaya kaylangan nyang palaguin pa yon.

Huminga sya ng malalim at kumalma " Ok ma, I'll introduced her to you when you come home." Ani nito.

"I'll be home tomorrow night braiden.Gusto ko na syang makilala bukas." Pag katapos magsalita ng ina nya ay pinatayan sya nito at naiwan syang nakatulala.

"f**k!" Tumayo sya at nagmadaling lumabas sa Shanty.Sumakay sya sa cadillac nya at pinaharurot ito papunta sa bahay ni brikk.