Montepalma Series 2: Trapped by His Game

Kabanata 10

“Tell me the details!”

I rolled my eyes. Baby is here in my room. We were both watching some series on Netflix. Usually parehas kami naka pj’s ngayon dahil linggo naman. I was busy munching the popcorn while I am trying so hard to focus on the flat screen.

Niyugyog niya iyong balikat ko. “How do his lips taste? Is it sweet? What?!”

I really regret telling him about the kiss I shared with Nik. Hindi ko alam kung ano meron sa amin pero alam kong may game kami. We are fake dating. At hindi ko sinasabi kay Baby na fake lang naman.

“It’s fine…” I said, still hesitant.

“Fine?! Are you serious? You kissed a Montepalma!” she responded. Pinaharap niya ako sa kaniya at halata ang gigil sa akin. “He smells money and power. You are so lucky!”

“I don’t feel that he is powerful and rich whenever he is with me. He is so simple and kind.”

“Kind?!” she snickered. Bumalik siya sa kaniyang pwesto sa gilid ko. “Oh, girl… if you only know that he is so ruthless and hot in the business world.”

Hindi ko talaga maramdaman na gano’n ang pagkatao niya. Pakiramdam ko ibang tao ang kasama ko. To be honest, hindi ko makalimutan kung paano nagdikit ang mga labi namin. I feel like I am in a cloud nine daydreaming of him kissing me on my lips.

It is so addicting to taste the minty in his saliva. How his tongue grazed against my lower lips made my legs wobbled. The intensity escalated through his eyes when our eyes met.

Damn it!

Is he trying to put a spell on me? I think it is working!

“Nakapunta ka na ba sa bahay niya? Have you met his parents?” she inquired.

Napanguso ako. “Not yet…”

“You should meet them!”

“Ang bilis naman, Baby…”

Why would I meet his parents? As if we are really together though. My only goal is not to fall in love with him. I am really determined to win this game. My heart is made in stone. He won’t be able to melt it, I guess.

“But you almost kissed him on your birthday as well.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Stop.”

“I bet he has eight pack abs! Holy s**t!”

“I don’t k—”

“Holy s**t!”

“Wha—”

“Holy s**t!”

Bumangon ako at binatukan siya. Nakakagigil din minsan si Baby. May mga times na ganiyan siya kaya binabatukan ko. Napanguso siya habang sinasapo iyong ulo niya. Pinagkrus ko na lang ang kamay sa dibdib.

“Ingay mo,” I hissed.

Naramdaman ko na nagbeeped ang phone ko. Napansin ko sa gilid ng mata ko ay nakanguso pa rin siya habang bumubulong-bulong. Hindi ko na lang siya pinansin at kumabog ang dibdib ko dahil may email na naman si Nik sa akin.

From: N.DMontepalma@email.com

I’m done with my work. What are you doing?

Dahil pumayag din ako sa laro namin dalawa, palagi siya nag-uupdate sa kung ano ginagawa niya kapag hindi kami magkasama. Kailangan na siya sa ospital kaya nagtrabaho muna siya. I was biting the inside of my cheeks while typing my reply.

To: N.DMontepalma@email.com

Watching a movie series with my cousin.

Hindi ko mapigilan hindi mapangiti dahil ang bilis niya magreply. Halatang hinihintay niya ang sagot ko.

From: N.DMontepalma@email.com

I wish I were there, mon amour.

Tinakip ko iyong bibig ko. “s**t!”

“Baki—”

“s**t!”

“Ano ba nangyaya—”

“s**t!”

Hinatak ni Baby iyong buhok ko kaya napangiwi ako sa sakit. Sinasamaan niya ako ng tingin. Napapamura kasi ako sa kilig tapos si Baby bigla ako sinabunutan!

“Gagong ‘to. Siya rin pala…” she murmured.

Naramdaman ko na nagbeeped iyong phone ko. Dahil kuryuso rin si Baby ay lumapit pa siya sa akin ng husto at sumilip sa screen ng phone ko. Hinayaan ko na lang siya habang pinipigilan ko hindi mapangiti.

From: N.DMontepalma@email.com

Your father told me that I should see your laboratory. Would you accompany me?

To: N.DMontepalma@email.com

Yeah. Sure.

From: ND.Montepalma@email.com

Am I too late if I ask for your number?

Parehas kami nagtilian ni Baby. Hinatak niya bahagya iyong buhok ko sa sobrang tuwa. Hinampas ko siya sa kaniyang braso. Huminga ako ng malalim kasi hindi maayos ang paghinga ko pati ang pagtibok ng puso ko.

“Pa hard to get ka muna,” she muttered. Nanatili ang mata niya sa screen ng phone ko. “Mas na a-attract ang mga lalaki kapag pa hard to get ang isang babae. Sabihin mo next time!”

My forehead creased. “Are you sure?”

“Trust me, Sianna. I’m good at it. I should have given you some tips!”

Matagal ako napatitig sa kaniya habang napapaisip na rin. Dapat matututo ako ako paano gumana ang charisma ko para mahulog siya sa akin. Kalaunan ay tumango rin ako hudyat na pumapayag sa suhestiyon ni Baby.

“Alright. I trust you,” I said. Napasandal ako sa headboard. “I want you to teach me how to seduce him or to make him fall for me really hard.”

“You know I got you, Sianna,” she replied. She was still grinning at me. “First you need to do… do not be obvious that you like him.”

Umuwang ang labi ko. “O-Okay. What else?”

“Keep saying no. But he asked for it three times, and just gave it to him. For now… don’t give him your number yet. You should stay mysterious.”

“Okay, I got it. I really need some of your advice.”

“Yeah. You really need my help. Never ka pa nagkaroon ng boyfriend!”

My cheeks burned in embarrassment. Well, I am not experienced when it comes to this. I really need her help to tame that billionaire. Kailangan ko rin magbasa ng libro tungkol sa charisma and seducing. Para alam ko ang gagawin kay Nik.

I wanna win our game. I shall not be defeated. I shall not be crying. Lastly, I shall not remove the bricks I’ve been building.

I huffed. “Alright. Kapag kailangan ko help mo… help me.”

“Why not! You are like my other sister, Sianna!”

Ningitian ko siya at nagsimula na ako magtype sa screen ng phone ko para replyan ko siya. Nik really knows how to flirt with me. He knows to make me crazy because I’ve been thinking about him.

To: N.DMontepalma@email.com

Next time.

Pinatay ko na iyong phone ko at pinagpatuloy na namin ang panonood sa Netflix. Magkatabi lang kami ni Baby habang kumakain ako ng popcorn. Pero may parte pa rin sa akin na kinakabahan.

Hay naku.

I was pacing back and forth inside of my room. Pagkagising ko ng umaga ay umuwi na ka agad si Baby sa kanilang bahay ni Craige. I am wearing a ruffled white blouse paired with a beige coat and trousers. I have to look beautiful in front of him!

I checked myself in the mirror again to see if my face looked perfect. Hays! Baby even left a note saying that I should put some sweet perfume to attract him even further.

Nagbeeped bigla iyong phone ko. Mabilis ako lumapit sa nightstand table ko para kunin. Kumakalabog ng malakas iyong puso ko. I have to calm down. It was just Nik. I have to lure him and make him fall in love with me.

From: N.DMontepalma@email.com

I’m already in front of your gate.

Kinuha ko iyong Louis Vuitton kong binili na bag at lumabas na ako ng bahay. Halos lakad takbo ako para lang masulyapan siya. Alam kong nandoon na si Dad sa apothecary factory namin. Lumabas na ako ng gate at nakita ko na iyong Mclaren 720S.

I tug my hair behind my ear when he went out of his car. He is wearing a black Polo Ralph Lauren. He slipped his right hand inside of his white trousers. Dahan-dahan ako napanganga sa kaniyang suot.

He smirked. “Hello, mon amour. Let me open the door for you.”

“S-Sure…”

Bigla ako nanggigil sa sarili ko. Porket hindi siya nakasuot ng corporate attire niya ay kailangan sa harapan niya talaga malaglag ang panga ko. My heart is beating erratically inside of my chest.

I gave him an awkward smile before I hopped inside of his luxury car. Sinarado niya na iyong pintuan. Pinanood ko lang siya na swabe na maglakad papunta sa driver side. I clutched my chest because the heartbeat was so painful.

Nang sumakay siya ay binigyan niya ako ng ngiti. That damn devil smile is making me melt. Panigurado na kukurutin ako ni Baby dahil mukhang ako pa ang talo sa laro namin. Halatang sanay na magpaibig ng babae.

“So…” he trailed off. “Are you gonna tour me in your apothecary factory?”

“Maybe.”

“Maybe?”

“Hindi ako masyado nagpupunta ro’n e. Let’s tour ourselves.”

He grinned playfully. “Hmm. Sounds like a plan.”

Iniwas ko iyong tingin ko para itago iyong ngiti na nakaukit sa labi ko. Kahit siya ay malaki ang ngisi habang nagmamaneho ang sasakyan. Siguro naman mag-iikot lang naman kami ro’n. Tsaka nandoon din naman si Dad e.

We arrived at my parent’s apothecary factory in forty-seven minutes. The usual traffic in Manila. Bumaba na kami sa parking lot at may mga nakakasalubong kami mga pharmaceutical scientist na may suot na white lab coat. Mga iilan ay nakakilala sa akin kaya mga bumati.

Hindi naman ako madalas dito kasi nagt-trabaho lang ako sa mismong drugstore namin. Malaki rin ang apothecary factory namin. Sinalubong kami ni Miss Rosario sa main entrance. Pinagsiklop ko iyong kamay sa dibdib habang tinitingnan siya. Ang laki kasi ng ngiti niya habang nakatingin kay Nik.

“Good morning, Miss Rodriguez and Sir Montepalma,” Miss Rosario greeted.

I gazed at her. “Lead us to my father’s laboratory, Miss Rosario.”

Naputol iyong pagtititig niya kay Nik dahil sa sinabi ko. Mukhang natauhan siya dahil ang sama ng tingin ko sa kaniya. Napansin ko na nakataas ang kilay ni Nik habang nakangisi.

Damn you, asshole.

Nik leaned in and whispered, “Mon amour, don’t be jealous. I’m all yours.”

Nakataas nuo kong nilagpasan si Nik na ningingisihan ako. Nakakainis. Sabi ng pinsan ko na dapat hindi ako masyadong halata kay Nik. Sinundan ko lang si Miss Rosario hanggang sa makarating na kami sa kaniyang laboratory. This is his second home.

Tinanggal ni Dad iyong salamin dahil nahuli ko siya na may sinisilip sa microscope. Lumawak ka agad ang ngiti niya nang makita kaming dalawa ni Nik. Lumapit si Dad para hagkan ang pisnge ko.

“I’m glad you are here, hija,” Dad said.

“Well, since he is our business partner in the medical field, we should show him that our products are good and also to gain their trust in us,” I responded.

Dad gently tapped my shoulder. “You are right…”

“Good afternoon, Sir,” si Nik na pormal na bumabati kay Dad. Nakipag kamayan siya kay Dad at pagkatapos nilagay ang dalawang kamay sa likuran. “I am amused by your factory.”

Humalakhak si Dad. “Hijo… you are just seeing the tip of the iceberg.”

I rolled my eyes. Alam kong proud din si Dad na malaki ang pabrika namin dahil in demand kami ng supply at products sa buong Pilipinas. Dinala ni Dad si Nik sa kaniyang lamesa. Ako ay tahimik na pinagmamasdan iyong kabuuan ng laboratory niya.

Hanggang sa mahagip ng mata ko ang picture frame. Napalunok ako nang mapatitig ako sa picture nila Dad at Mom nung nasa twentys palang sila. They look so remarkably happy and youthful. Mom was wearing a medical student uniform as well as my father.

Parang tumatawa si Mom habang nakapulupot ang kamay sa braso ni Dad na nakatingin sa kaniya habang nakangiti. I suddenly miss her presence. My mother is so genuine and transparent. Lalo na’t ang laki ng tiwala sa akin ni Mom na makakamit ko lahat ng goals ko sa buhay.

Kung tititigan ng mabuti ay baka akalain na ako iyong kasama ni Dad. Dahil kamukhang-kamukha ko si Mom pero nakuha ko lang iyong labi ni Dad. But the rest of her features I inherited from.

I am trying so hard not to cry in my father’s laboratory. Nandito iyong mga iba pa nilang pictures nung hindi pa sila kasal. Obviously kaya nandito si Dad dahil alam kong may alaala sila rito. When I stared at my mother’s face… I felt the rope tightening around my neck as if I couldn’t breathe.

Napansin ko na seryoso na nakatitig sa akin si Nik. Si Dad ay may kinukwento sa gilid niya pero iyong mga mata niya ay nanatili na nakatingin sa akin. I saw the concern flickered in his hawk eyes.

My mother is my weakness. I don’t want to get hurt anymore.

I lifted up my chin and wore the mask to hide the pain from the people, especially my father. The cold and ferocious woman is now on my face. Too cold, to even feel the pain. I walk in their direction in a sophisticated way.