TOUCHED (COMPLETE UNREVISED VERSION)

Six

Thea Elise

I started walking towards the coffee place to order my usual.

Walking distance lang 'to sa trabaho & apartment namin, and since wala naman ako masyado ni lalayout pag umaga, okay lang na mahaba ang pila ngayon at ma late ako.

Hindi nanaman kasi nagpapigil kagabi si Nicky, inaya nanaman ako mag Valkyrie. 

Gusto daw niya sumayaw at magpakalasing dahil nag away sila ng kuya niya.

Naalala ko nanaman yung kawawang lalake na napag sandwich namin habang sumasayaw.

Fucking migrane, hinilot hilot ko yung ulo ko habang nakapila sa counter ng coffee shop.

Suddenly, as if I was feeling something move behind me, I turned around.

Holy f*****g s**t.

Ngayon lang ako na mesmerize sa isang pares ng kulay green na mata.

Shit, ang sexy.

"Wh--what are you doing??" I stuttered as I caught him sneaking something on my backpack. "It's you." Pinalo ko yung kamay niya na nakahawak ngayon sa bag ko at tininganan maigi yung isa niyang kamay na may hawak din.

A black velvet box with Cartier written on it.

"Fuck..Well..this is awkward...I'm sorry. I thought you weren't going to notice. I was sure I was stealth enough." Holy s**t, pati ang boses niya ang sexy.

He stepped back taking his hands from mine then stuffed it inside his pockets.

And yes I noticed his arms flexed making his dress shirt accentuate his obviously ripped body.

My lady parts that have been dormant for almost 9 years have suddenly been awaken.

Shit.

Hindi ito maganda.

"Awkward? That was creepy. Can you please stop doing it?" I somehow managed to raise my voice.

Inayos ko din yung bag ko at tinaasan siya ng kilay.

His eyes widened as if he wasn't expecting me to react that way.

"I thought you liked them." He muttered.

Sayang. 

Gwapo nga, pero creepy.

Teka, anong sayang? 

At kailan ka pa nanghinayang pagdating sa lalake Thea?

Shit.

"Stop stalking me." I turned around after getting the coffee I ordered and immediately went out of the coffee place.

Buti na lang kilala na ako nung barista dahil pagkapasok ko pa lang alam kong inuuna niya na akong gawan ng kape. 

Binibigyan ko kasi siya minsan ng brownies.

Speaking of, kailangan ko ngayon ng brownies, pronto!

I was trying to put my helmet on, while trying to hold my coffee and bagels at the same time, ng may umagaw sakin ng helmet ko.

Shit, kailan ba ako lulubayan ng demonyong to?

Yup--he's like the devil.

What a temptation.

He is indeed..a temptation.

"You're not riding that to work from now on." He said in a low but commanding tone.

Wow.

Just wow.

Ang kapal.

"Who the f**k do you think you are??What the hell? What do you want from me?" I tried to reach for my things, kinuha na din niya yung bag ko kaya inaabot ko din, but then failed as he was towering over me and suddenly I felt so small.

Hindi ko mapigilang mahagip ng ilong ko yung amoy niya.

I can smell his scent, a mixture of manliness with a hint of sandalwood. I took a step back and tried not to be intoxicated by his nearness.

"I want to take you out. I want you. Isn't it obvious?" His tone was still low.

"Are you crazy? What part of stop stalking me did you not f*****g understand? Akin na yang mga gamit ko, hindi ka na nakakatuwa." I crossed my arms, eyeing him from head to foot noting that his branded dress shirt and perhaps everything he's wearing was custom made. 

I also noticed two men a few feet away from his back.

Bodyguards?

Shit, mukhang tama si Nicky, my stalker is rich.

Who is this person?

"I am actually beginning to think that I'm going crazy..." The devil sighed ,as he placed my things on top of what I recognized as a black 1965 Chevrolet Impala Sport Coupe parked before Biggie.

Nice ride.

Shit, sa lahat ng kahinaan ko, isa na ang vintage cars.

Damn, I badly need some brownies. 

I can't let myself be drawn to this man.

Masyadong mabilis, masyadong maaga.

I don't want history to repeat itself.

"I never meant for you to find it out like this.." he ran his fingers through his hair as if frustrated. 

"I know what it looks like but I mean no harm, s**t you were right. I am a f*****g stalker.. f**k!" He looked at me with apologetic eyes.

Holy s**t nooo.

I am actually emphatizing with this stranger.

This devilishly handsome stranger.

"Seriously? You just realized that now? You've been stuffing my backpack with your creepiness for like, three months now.. You made me feel.. unsafe. " I tugged my hair towards my ear. 

" ..you could've just approach me like real man and talked to me. Not like this. A week of something like this might be perceived as sweet..but s**t,three months? That's borderline creepy and causes paranoia. Muntik na akong magpa blotter just so you know." I continued.

"So you think I'm sweet?" He grinned.

What the hell is wrong with this guy?

Nothing Thea, just look at those perfectly toned muscles and those huge shoulders..

I'd get lost on those green eyes.

Shit.

Maling mali ito.

"What? That's beyond my point.." I felt frustrated. 

"f**k. Wala naman tong patutunguhan. Aalis na ako. akin na yung helmet ko please lang." I tried to sound impassive dahil hindi ko na alam kung ano 'tong halo halong emosyon na kumakawala sa dibdib ko.

Hinablot ko yung bag ko sakanya at kinuha yung ziploc na laman nun at tinapon sakanya. Pinuno ko kasi yun ng mga bagay na galing sakanya, just incase matuklasan ko kung sino ang stalker ko para ibato talaga sa mukha niya.

"And make sure to tell your damn bodyguards to distance yourself from me. Because unlike you, whom I'm certain have never even experienced eating an expired sandwich because your refrigerator was always stocked with fresh food--or had never worked a day in his life-- I actually have to go to our so called office, and go through slavery that I call my job." I took the helmet on top of the Impala and turned my back from him.

Shit hindi ko na alam kung ano ang lumalabas sa bibig ko.

Hangover + Frustration makes Thea bigtime crazy.

"s**t. I'm sorry." It was almost a whisper coming from him.

Natigilan naman ako.

Oh my god, the devil knows how to apologize. 

I rolled my eyes.

I stopped then turned to face him while snapping my helmet's lock.

"Okay. Apology accepted. Now can we just forget this whole thing happened? Please.." I looked him straight in the eye...and then I saw him. 

A moment of vulnerability revealed loneliness,desire and frustration in his pair of jades.

I almost melted as I realized those gazes matched what I was feeling right then.

I felt desire.

I felt pain.

I felt anger.

I felt need.

I felt danger.

A different kind of danger.

"You can't leave.." I saw a mischievous grin form on lips. 

I reacted with a what-the hell-are-you-talking-about-face.

"I mean you can't literally leave. I had someone take out one of your tires." He c****d his eye on my Vespa's bottom.

My unassailable attraction towards him instantly went down the drain.

Tang ina! Noooo hindi si Bigggie!!!

"What the f**k did you just do?" Now I'm angry--hell furious.

How f*****g nice.

I don't give a s**t how drawn I am to this devil, he messed with Biggie.

"I'll take you to your office." He didn't even try to apologize.

The devil was getting into my nerves big time.

All I could do was walk towards his car as he ushered my arm to sit inside. I felt my knees wobble, probably because I was still in shock of what he did to my precious Biggie.

Pinatanggal niya yung mga gulong ng kawawa kong Vespa!!!

Breathe Thea..

My mind was trying to absorb everything that just happened while trying to calm myself down.. but the muscles on my right arm seemed to have a mind of its own when my fist decided to land on his left cheek.

Hard.

"You f*****g asshole!" I screamed as I rubbed my fists to ease the repercussions of what I just did. 

Shit ang sakit ng kamay ko.

What is he made of? 

Rock? 

Steel?

I noticed he was not moving and when I looked at him, he was just staring at me smiling, like what I did was...glorious or something.

Nakangiti lang siya saakin.

"You are so amazing.." He uttered as if he was in a daze. Then shifted his eyes on my throbbing hand. 

"Did I hurt you?"

Seriously?

He tried taking my hand to his but I managed to hold it back away, letting our skin touch for a brief second. Electricity hit me all the way down my core. 

Just like that, the insatiable pull was back again.. 

Hindi maganda ito.

Nope, not even the idea of Biggie getting violated could distract me long enough to forget his effect on me.

What the hell..

Get away Thea while you can.

His touch played with my hormones big time.

"Naramdaman mo din ba yun? That was f*****g intense, right?" He sounded like a teenager copping a feel on a cheerleader.

Yes.

NO!

"f**k you! Just drive and get me to work and stay the hell away from me." I tried to compose myself by facing the road ahead.

I heard him chuckle, as the Impala came to life and went on its way. 

Shit pati tawa niya ang sexy.

No no no no..

Hindi pwede Thea!

I could feel him steal glances from me the whole time he was driving--at hindi ko alam kung bakit ang sarap sa pakiramdaman ng mga titig niya.

Somehow I was not surprised when the car stopped in front my office building.

Stalker talaga.

I began collecting my things when the car door on my side opened and he was there. 

As amazed as I was on his gentlemanly gesture, I was feeling bitchy which I was entitled to, granting what just transpired.

Hindi pa rin ako natutunawan sa ginawa niya kay Biggie.

"Ninja ka ba? Jesus. I did not even notice you get out of the car. What is wrong with you?" I tried to push him from blocking my way, but then my hand trembled when I tried to stretch it.

Oo nga pala sinuntok ko kanina yung matigas pero gwapo niyang mukha.

Pambihira.

How f*****g nice. My right hand. My f*****g right hand. 

The one that I use to design things. 

The hand that generates income.. 

First ,my Vespa now my joke of a job?

Paano na ako ngayon gagamit ng mouse? 

It would at least take a week to heal it.

You know you don't have to.. right?

Fuck you, subconscious Thea.

I did not notice the tears running down my cheeks as I was so frustrated about what was happening. 

Nakaka asar na nakaka inis na nakaka pang galaiti--redundant pero combination ng tatlong yan ang nararamdaman ko ngayon.

Hell,I did not even know what those tears were for.

He tried to wipe my tears with a plaid Armani handkerchief he took from his pocket, but I was too quick to duck away from him. 

I rubbed my face with my left hand and kept my right one still, on the front of my belly.

I noticed a little discoloration on his left cheek. 

That probably hurt him,but not as much as my hand does right now.

Bakit ba ako concerned sa pasa niya?

Haaay s**t talaga!

"Please..this has to stop. You caused me enough. See this? " I slowly moved my right hand to his face."This is the hand that earns me money, now I have to go to the HR and explain why I can't work today because my hand is hurt. Now please..leave me the f**k alone." I pleaded.

Although madali ko lang naman mapapaikot si Jelly sa HR, kaso hindi ko alam bakit over sensitive ako sa moment na ito.

He did not say anything.

He just stood there for a while looking at me with the same intensity as before.

Picking out another version of the phone he placed on my bag weeks ago, he dialed then waited for the other end to answer, then turned his gaze back on me.

"Tracy, connect me to Phil." Nakatitig lang siya sakin habang nagsasalita.

"Yes hi Phil, si Grayson to. Yes, she's doing well. Now listen, I need you to locate the owner of this building.." Humiwalay siya saglit ng tingin saakin at inilibot ang mata sa kabuuan ng building.

"Chavez Building, looks old, malapit sa orange restaurant with a f*****g gay bee mascot. Yes. Great. That's it, now buy it. I don't care how much. Okay.Send me the proof via email."Binaba niya na yung phone niya at nakatingin na siya sakin ngayon ng marahan.

So the devil has a name.

Grayson.

"Ngayon, pwede ka na magbakasyon, magpaalam ka sa HR niyo. Sa akin na itong building, kaya kung hindi ka nila papayagan papalayasin ko sila. Gusto mo bang bilhin ko din tong tarpaulin shop?"Nakangisi niyang sabi.

Again I was not surprised how he did what he just did, it just made my frustration grew as I don't know how to get away from the situation anymore. 

Alam kong hindi siya titigil hanggang makuha niya ang gusto niya.

Men with ridiculous amount of money should be avoided.

All I wanted to do was sink inside my warm bathtub and drown myself with Shura or one of the oldies like Air Supply's songs.

Or drown myself in his big toned arms.

Ay hindi--no, hindi maari. Sa ginawa niya pa lang ngayon, sigurado na akong kailangan ko siyang iwasan.

Shut it down Thea.

I wanted to cry. 

Oh wait I did that already. 

Now what?

"So, do you want to grab an early lunch?" As if nothing happened he was smiling again.

Wow, iba din talaga ang lalakeng 'to.

"Tang ina mo, isaksak mo diyan sa baga mo yang pera mo at ang building na yan.Fuck you. I am going home, and I swear if you follow me again I am going to scream so loud." I motioned my left hand stopping him from coming near me.

Natigilan siya at mukhang nafrustrate.

Ang yabang kasi tang ina.

"Taxi!" I shouted.

--------

Pagakadating ko sa apartment, tinext ko kaagad si Nicky na umuwi na muna ako dahil masama ang pakiramdaman ko, baka kasi dumaan ulit siya doon sa trabaho ko.

Nagtext na din ako kay Jelly na hindi muna ako papasok ng isang linggo para mabilis mawala ang pamamaga ng kamay ko.

As usual simpleng 'ok' lang yung sagot niya.

While I waited for the tub to be filled I couldn't help but ask myself how I let those things happened a while ago. 

Kung tutuusin ang dali dali lang naman niyang takbuhan--ako pa ba? 

Sampong taon, sampung taon akong tahimik at walang bwisit na lalake na umaaligid sakin.

Sampung taon ng katahimikan.

Pero bakit ganun na lang yun kanina?

And the way he made me feel things? 

Shit.

How did a post it note I found on my bag made me end up almost losing my job.

And Biggie!

Kailangan ko talaga ng brownies, pambihira.

............