Met Him Halfway (Better Place Series #4)

Chapter 15

"Who is that?" I couldn't help but ask the taxi driver. I am here to visit other branches of the Zaminican Hotels. I was hesitating, and I didn't want to do this sh*t.

This day is one of my unlucky days. My car's tire had been flat before I got here at the Tastotel City. So, I have no choice but to ride a taxi to my house here. My mother, Ning Angeles, gave me the house address that she has bought for me. That house cost a hundred million dollars.

All of the materials utilized are pretty expensive. I am aware. All of this was perfectly acceptable to my family.

Our family has been wealthy and successful since then.

"Hindi ko po alam, Sir," the taxi driver replied. I understand Tagalog, and I also know how to speak that language. My mother is a pure Filipina. Sometimes, we'd come here and visit this country.

"Oh, okay," I say, and I nod at him. I just saw this billboard, which actually caught my attention. That woman is beautiful and sexy. I took my phone out and searched for this billboard, seeing a source.

I immediately found out the name of the woman on the billboard. She looks mature, but she's still a teenager in this source.

Serratore, Mikai...

She's a model here in Tastotel. I also made a mental note to do a background check on this model.

I'm planning to contact her agency to see her in person. I wanted to work with that woman.

I finished my Bachelor of Arts in Photography. I have a lot of experience and photography.

I am now one of the well-known best and professional photographers. And I am so proud of myself.

When the taxi driver stopped the car at the front of the house that Mom bought me, I paid for my fare; I was looking at him.

I couldn't help myself but ask him. "Hi, would you mind if I ask you about your job?" I asked.

To be honest, this is my first time riding a taxi since we have a lot of cars and didn't need to ride in any of them.

"T-Trabaho ko po, Sir?"

I simply nod at him. I noticed that maybe I was making him uncomfortable. Perhaps I should also speak in his language.

"Opo," I said. I remember my mother telling me that 'Opo' is a 'magalang' or polite.

"Ah, ano po, Sir, n-nakakaintindi naman po kayo ng tagalog ‘di ba po?" he asked me. I nodded. "Sir, taxi driver po ang tawag sa amin. Marami po kaming routa, hindi lang po rito sa Tastotel kasi sa totoo lang po ay ang baba ng kita kapag dito lang po kami sa Tastotel namalagi," he said. I nod again. I understand that.

"Why did you choose that job?" I asked him.

"Sir, hindi naman po kasi ako nakapgtapos ng pag-aaral ko po. Hindi naman po ako natatanggap sa ibang trabaho. Itong pamamasada lang po talaga ang bumubuhay sa pamilya ko. Meron pa nga po akong mga anak, iyong isa malapit na mag-kolehiyo pero hindi ko pa rin po alam kung saan kami kukuha ng pan-tuition."

I suddenly felt sad for him. He worked hard for his family. "I understand," I said, smiling at him. I took my wallet out and gave him a business card.

"Call the number on th— T-tawagan mo ang number na nasa card. Tell them my name and your children’s name. Ako na p-po ang b-bahalang magp-paaral sa kanila."

I'm serious. I wanted to help this taxi driver—whoever his name was.

His eyes widened when he heard the words that I had said. He slowly gets the card into my hand. "S-Sir? N-Nagbibiro p-po ba kayo?" he asked me. I shook my head with a smile on my face.

Like I have said, I have a lot of experience as a photographer. There were times in Cambodia when the poor people captured my attention. I met a family. They were all skinny, as if they couldn't afford to eat food thrice a day. One of the family members told me that they're lucky if they eat at least once a day. I saw how miserable their lives were. I wanted to help them.

I am actually lucky that I came from a wealthy family, and there's no reason not to help someone financially.

I said, "I am not kidding." I put my ID and essential cards in my wallet. I just left my money there. I knew that I had ten to twenty thousand there. I also handed it to him. "Please, take this," I said. He took a look at that wallet. He gasped.

My eyes widened when I saw tears coming down from his eyes. I was astounded when he suddenly hugged me while thanking me. I just smiled.

"No problem," I said.

"Napakabuti niyo po," he cried. I nodded. "Sabihin niyo lang po kung ano ang maitutulong ko pabalik o babayaran ko na lang—"

"I am not asking you to pay me with that. That's my help to you—no need to pay me. I want to know where you are working because I wanted to apply. "

He looked shocked, but I knew what I was saying; instead of asking why he told me the company's name.

I wanted to try being a taxi driver.

Why?

I just want to get experience, and I will donate the money to earn to the individual in most need. I waved my hands goodbye to the taxi driver.

I enter my house and start seeking information about that girl. She's studying third-year college here at one of the famous schools.

Tastotel University.

Hours later. The internet satisfied me with knowing more about that model. I also saw many pictures of her, and she's really damn hot and beautiful. That made my, ugh, damn.

I wanted to see her.

The following day, I just did my job. That's why I am here. After that, I dropped by at the university where she was studying, but I became frustrated when they told me that she had dropped her studies. I was confused. I looked for her address, but I didn't see her. I also asked about her agency, but they just told me that she's gone.

Months have passed, yet she hasn't left my thoughts. I visit that city on a pretty regular basis with the hope of seeing her. Oh, I already bought the company where the taxi driver is working. Whenever I get to Tastotel City, I am a taxi driver.

Every night, I always look at her goddamn pictures—Mikai Serratore in her bikini, and I admit that I have to masturbate while looking at those.

I was unable to prevent myself. When I see Mikai in bikinis, my shaft is always up. I wished I could touch those skins. Even better, I created a photobook! I collected all of her photographs while doing an online search for her.

Years have passed since I saw that billboard. I saw Mikai on the news. The news is about her and Keith Armalana. They have a child, but they're not married. So, I wasn't really bothered about it. Why would I? I know that I am more handsome than that Armalana guy.

Actually, their company and Zaminican's are great partners. We both make a lot of money. We're rich, really wealthy.

Concerning their relationship, they do not have the same status as ex-lovers.

They say that it was just an accident. I returned to Tastotel and tried to find her again. Still, I was unsuccessful until Miss Evangeline Yulisses, one of the famous designers, walked past me on her way to DDMI Group, which our family also manages. Miss Evangeline accidentally dropped this paper on the floor. I took that, and I saw someone attractive.

Someone who caught my attention years ago. Someone who always makes me c*m every night while just looking at her damn hot body.

I have this dream of seeing her naked in front of me. I don't care if she already has a child. I just want her.

I want that woman!

I know that this is just lust. Is there any reason aside from desire? I don't think that it has. Nalaman ko rin na mayroong photoshoot, and that’s my opportunity to see her.

And it happened. I grinned.

Shitless. When I saw Mikai, she was more than a little hot. She was!

She's wearing that summer outfit. It was also revealing, and I saw her cleavage. But in my mind, I wanted to rip off that f**king dress. I wanted to f**k her.

"Hello," she greeted me. That was the first time I heard Mika’s voice in person. Shitless again. I imagined hearing those voices, moaning, screaming my name with so much pleasure.

And the next photoshoot, I took photos of her wearing a bikini. Damn. She's so hot and seductive. That day, I told myself that I badly wanted her. No’ng nagpaalam siya na pupunta sa restroom. Hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili ko. I f**ked her. Instead of hearing her screaming my name, she moaned Keith's name to my disappointment.

I wouldn't say I like it. That was when I realized that Mikai had a feeling for Keith.

Even I wanted to stay in Tastotel and see Mikai every day. I couldn't. My family has a lot of business to manage. They need me there. Pinilit ko na lang na bumaIik sa Tastotel kasi nalaman ko na it’s her graduation day. I now know why she suddenly disappeared before.

I wanted to give her the photobook that I had made. And, of course, my body. I mentally smirked. Naibigay ko naman sa kaniya, ang gusto kong ibigay. I gave her my body and… my soul. At that time, I realized that I was in love with her... so profoundly.

D*mn it. I missed Mikai a lot, and I got hurt when she started pushing me away and told me that she was marrying Keith.

I don't want her to marry that guy.

I'm ready to give anything to her. I love her.

I sighed.

"Hey."

I came back to reality when I heard Rina's voice. She's my friend. I met her in N.Y., and I discovered that she lived at Tastotel. So, she visited me here.

"Yes?"

"You spaced out."

"I'm sorry for that," I apologized.

She smiled at me. "It's okay. I have to go now. It's nice to see you here, Martines. " She even winked at me. I smiled at her too.

"It was nice seeing you too, Rin," I said to her. Kanina pa naman siya dito. Nagkuwentuhan pa nga kami at nagkatawanan.

Umalis na siya. I sighed again. I’m going back to N. Y. now. Kagabi pa rin ako tinatawagan ni Mom. I need to go back there, but I don’t want to.

May photoshoot sana ngayon but I backed out. There’s no reason to stay here. Mikai is in love with Keith. Habang iyong naramdaman niya sa akin ay libog lang.

I was about to go inside the house when I heard someone’s voice. "P*TANGINA KA! Hindi ka babalik dito? Napakagago mong hayop ka!"

I looked back. To my surprise, I saw Achilliance Montinelli laughing with a small but mature girl. I think so. I smiled. These past few months, pinipilit ako ni Miss Tharina Montinelli na mag-take ng DNA test since they're saying that I also have blood like them— or do they just want to share my family's wealth? I don't care. We aren't relatives, that's it.

"Kasalanan ko bang pandak ka?"

"Kasalanan ko bang matangkad ka?"

"Hindi, pero kasalanan mo talaga kung bakit ka pandak! Hindi ka raw kasi tumatalon kapag New Year sabi ng Lola ni Adam! Ha-ha!" He laughed. Achilliance seems to be enjoying it. The girl looks really annoyed, pero dahn-dahan itong kumalma.

"Alam mo ba, Achill, ang sabi rin sa akin ng Lola ni Adam, ipaglaban daw ang nararamdaman!" she screamed.

Nakita ko naman na napataas ang kilay ni Achill. Hindi nila ako napapansin and that’s okay.

"So?"

"So ipaglalaban ko kung ano man ang nararamdaman ko sa iyo!"

"Ano naman ang nararamdaman mo sa akin?" Nakita ko na nagulat si Achill. I guess he’s expecting something?

"Galit at inis!" she hissed! Binato niya ito ng tsinelas.

Nakita kong tumakbo na si Achill, hinabol naman siya kaagad ng maliit na babae na may hawak pang tsinelas.

I snorted. I decided to go inside. I need to fix my things and myself, mayroon pa akong flight hours from now.

But I was stunned when I suddenly heard those small girls' words in my mind.

‘… Ang sabi rin sa akin ng Lola ni Adam, ipaglaban daw ang nararamdaman!’

I slowly sat down at the edge of my bed—the bed where we made love.

Yes, I made love.

I love her, but she’ll never love me. Magpapakasal na nga rin sila ni Keith.

She loves Keith.

Ipaglaban ang nararamdaman…

I look at my reflection in the mirror. I suddenly remember the last kiss that we shared. She has the sweetest lips that I have ever tasted. Naalala ko rin kung paano sumunod ang mga labi niya sa labi nang dahan-dahan akong lumayo sa kaniya. "Sh*t," I cursed.

I took my phone out. I cancelled my flight.

Tumingin ako sa wrist watch ko. Hindi pa tapos ang photoshoot.

Higit naman na mas lamang ako kay Keith, sa itsura pa lang.

I want to fight my feelings for her. Naghintay ako ng ilang taon para lang makita siya. I love her, at hindi ko sasayangin iyon.