Run, Girl, Run

Chapter 5

CHAPTER 5

EUFI

Isang ngisi ang naging sagot niya sa tanong ko.

How on Earth did he find me?! What is he doing here? Anak ng...!

"Euphorbia..." Nalukot ang mukha ko.

Sumasakit ang ulo ko. I am not in the mood to pick a fight with him.

Nagpalinga linga ako sa paligid. I saw Calderon riding his motorcycle coming to my way so I wave my hand.

"Calderon!" Tawag ko.

He immediately saw me and stopped. Bago pa siya makapagsalita umangkas na ako.

"Hey!" The jerk called me. Kabababa niya lang sa kotse niya.

"Tara na." I said to Calderon. Nagugulohan man ay pinaandar na niya ang motor niya.

"Who was that?" Takang tanong ni Calderon.

"Pulubi. Nanlilimos ng gas." Sagot ko habang nililingon ang tarantado. I saw him went back to his car.

"Pwedeng pakibilisan?" Request ko, baka kasi humabol pa. Binilisan naman ni Calderon ang andar kaya na halo na kami sa mga sasakyan.

"Baba mo na lang ako diyan sa may intersection." Sabi ko sa kanya.

"Hatid na kita. Saan ka ba?" Offer niya.

"Huwag na. Diyan na lang. I'll be going out with someone."

"Boyfriend?"

"Nope. Girlfriend." I heard him gasp. Natawa naman ako. I know what he is thinking.

"Oh there." Turo ko sa kanya. He stopped the engine. Bumaba naman ako agad.

"Thank you ha." I winked. He is still look shock. Kinagat ko ang labi ko to stop myself from laughing. Kapag bukas may kumalat na balitang tomboy ako, alam na.

Tumalikod na ako at pumasok sa restaurant sa Japanese restaurant.

"Ang aga mo naman Beh." Sinalubong ako ni Shaunty naka chef uniform pa siya. This is her restaurant. She's been running this for three years.

"Dumiretso na kasi ako. Hindi na ako dumaan sa apartment."

We hug each other.

"Did you work yourself too much today?" Tanong ko.

"Oh no. Tumulong lang ako sa kitchen." Tumuloy na kami sa office niya doon na lang kami maghihintay sa iba.

"Can I leave you here? Babalik muna ako sa kitchen." Sabi niya. I nodded.

Naiwan akong mag-isa. Napabuntong hininga na lang ako.

Tarantado talaga ang lalaking iyon. Bakit ba siya sunod ng sunod?

I bring out my phone and click the search engine. Gusto ko sanang i-search ang siraulo kaya lang hindi ko naman tanda ang pangalan niya, then I remember pinsan niya nga pala si Luffer. I search Luffer instead. A few scroll and scanning I found the bastard's name on the recommended list.

Devereaux Felipe Montalba III

Architect, Businessman, Model, Endorser

Top three in the licensure examination for Architects Batch ****

Age:32

Height:6'0

Parents:Devereaux Felipe Montalba II and Philomina Montalba

"So he is really something huh?"

Kaya siguro sobrang laki ng ulo non. I scroll down. Hindi ko naman talaga masinsinang binabasa ang mga article tungkol sa kanya. Madalas ay exagerated ang mga content. Ang iba naman ay puro papuri tungkol sa kanya. My hands slipped kaya na click ko tuloy ang isang picture niya. When it loaded, nanlalaki ang mga mata ko. On that picture he is just wearing brief trunks while showing off his body. My eyes unconsciously focused on his bulge. Damn! Nanuyo ang lalamunan ko.

"Oh my eyes!" Dali-dali kong ini-exit ang larawan but my phone hang.

"Bwisit! Bwist! Bakit ayaw mong mag-exit?" I tried to turn it off instead pero ayaw naman magshut down. "Ugh!"

"Beh?" I didn't notice nakapasok na pala si Merky. "What's wrong? You look flushed."

"H-ha? A-ano..." I turned my gaze to her and to my phone again na ayaw ma-exit. Nagpa-panic ako kahit hindi naman dapat.

"Nothing." Agad kong ibinulsa ang phone ko.

Pinagpapawisan ako.

"Are you sure?" Panigurado niya.

"Yes. I am fine." I calm myself. Umayos ako ng upo. "Done with the shoot?" I change the topic.

"Yep." Umupo siya sa tabi ko.

"Kanina ka pa?" She asked me.

"Hindi naman masyado." Sagot ko.

She started telling me about her day, nakinig naman ako pero lumilipad talaga ang isip ko doon sa nakita ko. My gahd, it was... huge! Goodness, erase, erase!

Nang makompleto kami ay lumabas na kami sa office ni Shaunty. I settled in our usual spot. The food is served. Punong-puno ang lamesa. There's sushi, tempura, sashimi, yakitori, kaiseki and many more. Natatakam na tuloy ako. The perks of having a chef and resto owner friend. Insert evil laugh.

"Itadakimasu!" We all said in unison.

We grab our chop sticks and dig in. Gusto ko na lang matawa. We look like hungry beggars kung makakain. Nakakahiya naman kay Merky at Pin na may mini-maintain na figure.

"You're really the best Beh." Pin mumbled. Ngumisi lang si Shaunty.

"Yeah. Oishe" Merky agreed.

"Bola pa more." Sabi ko. "Galingan niyo talaga ang pambobola wala akong pambayad. Malayo pa ang sahuran." I added and we laughed out loud.

Masaya kaming kumakain habang nagkukwentohan ng kung anu ano.

We are in the middle of eating our dessert when Merky speak. "Diba si Deru iyon?" She's pointing someone on my back.

"Sinong Deru?" Tanong ko.

Dahil likas kaming chismosa ay sabay-sabay kaming napatingin sa tinuturo ni Merky. Nanliit ang mga mata ko. When the guy he is referring to,  turn his gaze he met mine.

Shit! I silently cursed. He flashed his annoying grin. Nasapo ko ang noo ko. Really, three times in a row? This is impossible!

"Oh my! He is looking at us." Tili ni Pin. I stiffened.

"He is looking at Eufi in particular." Merky said. Doon na ako nabulunan.

"Hala Beh." Their attention turned to me. Lete handed me a glass of water. Ininom ko agad ito at hinimashimas ang dibdib ko.

"Hinay-hinay lang kasi sa paglafang Beh" - Pin.

"Okay na ako." I lift my hand to stop them from worrying. I took a deep breath. "I am fine."

Why is he here? My mind screamed.

"Hala ka girl." Duet ni Pin at Merky. As we watch the new comer approach our table. I become uneasy.

Before I knew it nasa tapat na namin ang tarantadong may kasalanan bakit ako nabilaokan. He is with someone as tall as him. May itsura din. His companion glance at Letecia. Naka poker face si Lete habang nakatingin sa kanila. She nodded eventually tho. Okay what was that?

"Hey ladies." Dev-something greeted us in all smiles. Lantaran siyang nakatitig sa akin. I remained stoic.

Parang kanina lang inabangan niya ako sa daan. What is he even doing here aside sa kumain? Don't tell nakasunod pa din siya sa akin? The heck talaga. How on earth did even know my where abouts? Ano yon, nagkataon lang?

"Hi Deru." Shaunty greeted him. She surely know the man dahil pinsan ito ng tumarantado sa kanya. Magpinsan nga, parehas tarantadong fuckboy.

"I've heard what happened the last time Shaunts. I am sorry about my cousin." Sabi niya. Napaismid ako. Isang tipid na ngiti lang ang naging sagot ni Shaunty.

"Oh, my bad. Ladies this is my friend, Vlad Alcantara. Kilala niyo naman siguro siya." He introduced his company. Mukha din itong tarantado. Judger man pakinggan pero judger talaga ako. The guy smiled pero na kay Letecia ang atensyon.

Something is up between this two. I can sense it pero wala namang naikukwento si Lete.

"Of course." Magkapanabay na sabi nina Pin and Merky.

"Sorry nakakaabala na ako. Continue with your dinner ladies." Dev-something told us. Mabuti naman. Akala ko ay makikisalo pa siya.

"You know your way here Deru." Saad ni Shaunty. He nodded. Nakakainis ang ngiti at tingin niya sa akin.

When they finally left us Pin and Merky squealed but not too loud to caught the other customers atensyon. I frowned. What was that for?

"Oh my! Nakita mo yon Pin?" High pitch na sabi ni Merky. Exaheradang tumjango si Pin at nakangisi pa.

"Ang lagkit ng tingin ni Deru sayo Beh!" Sabi ni Merky. I cringed, muntik na maibuga ang iniinom.

"Ako?" Sabi ko kahit alam ko naman talaga ang ibig sabihin nila. I pointed myself after calming my nerves.

Napailing si Letecia.

"Sino pa ba? Have you seen the way he looks at you? Beh nakakakilig!" Pin and Merky giggled. They even clasped their hands. I rolled my eyes.

"Ang meaningful niyo." Pambabara ko sa kanila, dismissing whatever their hunch are. I don't even want to go there.

"Be careful with him Beh. Deru is more notorious playboy than Luffer." Sabi ni Shaunty.

Alam ko naman iyon. Sa hilatsa pa lang ng gagong iyon hindi na makapagtitiwalaan.

"He might up to something. Don't forget what you did to him. His kind is not someone who would let it pass kung involve ang ego niya." Dagdag ni Letecia.

"I know that." I said to assure them.

"Grabe naman kayo. Malay niyo, nakuha talaga ni Eufi ang atensyon niya. You know like in the books and movies." Napangiwi talaga ako sa sinabi ni Pin. Kinikilabotan ako.

"Anyway I trust you in handling the likes of him Beh." Turan ni Merky, "Pero aminin mo Beh, ang hot niya."

I hated how our conversation revolve to that asshole. Nasira na tuloy ang mood ko. They keep on telling me information about him which I don't think is necessary. I wanted to tell them how the bastard pestered me pero naisip ko na parang ginagatungan ko lang ang overated nilang imahinasyon. They will only be pushy. So, I shut my mouth up and remained my poker face. If they only knew, mas fishy pa iyong kasama ni tarantado at si Letecia. Na curious tuloy ako kung anong may roon sa kanila.

"Whatever." I said resigning from all their hypothesis.

I just wish this will be the last time I will see him. Like what I said I know his kind and I hate them. Period.