ROMANTICO SERIES 1: His Only Plea (FILIPINO VERSION)

CHAPTER 7

___Ruby's POV___

"Ruby?......"

"Ruby?"

"Ruby!"

"Precious!"

Napa-igting na lamang ako sa napakalakas na pagtawag ni Daniel sa akin. I immediately look at him and confusion were all written on his face.

"Hey what's up Precious! Napano ka? Anong nangyari sayo diyan? I've been calling you multiple times a while ago". In a blink nasa harapan ko na pala ito. Hindi ko namalayan kanina pa ako kinakausap nito. He was even shouting at me like a frightened mad man. even though he isn't.

Eh pano nga! nagdi-daydream ka babayita!! Epal mo! kanina ka pa nakatunganga diyan sa kinatatayuan mo bruha!! Para kang tanga diyan eh!.

Luh.

Napailing na lamang ako sa ginagawa, hayst pa-mental na nga!! mukhang malubha na sta to!

I wasn't expecting naman na nakatunganga lang pala ako dito the whole moment, I was just thinking about the memories we had, a happy one. Thinking how we handled things before like masaya pa naman noon, Everything were completely okay kahit hidden yung relationship namin, okay naman kahit hindi lahat ng nasa campus ang may alam sa ka-sweetan namin.

Wala kaming pakialam sa iba as long as hindi namin sila nasasaktan, we both are living as free as thin air. We do not care as long as we are happy but they say walang secrets ang hindi mabubunyag and I prepared myself for that. But I was just a soft girl back then, a weak and a loser to be exact and I could say kung bakit naging ganito kami, dahil lang naman kasi sa pagiging bobo ko.

Malay ko bang hindi naman pala enough ang ginawa kong pader for protection sana, kaso mas malakas ang kalaban eh, nag-iisa lang naman ako dito and all I could say is that having and experiencing nightmares every night can ruin yourself, slowly but surely that the protecting walls I made inside broke, little by little.

Both of us made a mistake and this problems we're facing right now are the consequences in that mistake. Thunders can indeed harm a lot of things.

"Ruby?" Nag-aalalang tanong nito sakin kapag kuwan ng hindi ko ito pinansin.

"I'm okay Dan-just thinking something", Tumalikod nako dito pagkatapos pero hinawakan ni Daniel yung braso ko. I take a look on his hold then in his eyes, I'm confused. Bakit pako his hold was loose enough for me to escape but I choose not to.

"What?!", I acted like a mad woman making Daniel broke his hold and took a step backwards of a sudden dahil siguro sa pagsigaw ko dito, naging dahilan kasi iyon sa pag-alingawngaw ng buong parking lot, it made a loud bang though causing him to panicked, He's worried when I looked into his green eyes. Ayy oo nga pala madali lang tong magpanicked kapag ako ang kausap nito.

"What?", I asked slowly now, showing some respect since naalala kong his my boss now.

I'll accept being his secretary, for family, yes for family baka kasi kung ano na namang kababalaghan ang iisipin nitong kumag nato!.

Napaarko na lamang ang isang kilay ko ng hindi ito sumagot. Tsk. Tumalikod nako at nagpatuloy but Daniel call my name again.

"Yes?"

"Ca....can I drive you home?........ atleast.....just this night please promise I won't ask you again, promise..." He even do the promise thing, raising his arm in the air, just like the old days, the old Daniel I knew, and just like that, I was in daze again, he is ruining and entering my system. Again.

I just can't stop my heart from beating so fast and I just can't literally stop my feelings to overflow in my system. Stoping myself in falling for him is the least I would do though.

Bakit ba kasi ang hina-hina mo pagdating sa lalaking iyan huh Ruby?!

Ano bang kasalanan ko, hindi naman ako ang may kasalanan dahil Daniel being a cute little baby was really my weakness so kasalanan ni Daniel lahat ng to!.

Ang rupok lang babayita!!.

"Okay but just this night promise?" I asked, just making sure.

"Promise", He said assuring while going towards his ducati. I was smiling remembering what he did a while ago but hearing the promise part just made myself doubt again. As always.

I just don't believe in promises these days. They were just words but can actually broke a lot of heart. Those words are crazy, it really does, just like the old song, promises are meant to be broken. It hurts. Badly.

"Sakay na Precious", He gave me the helmet I was holding earlier.

Sumakay nako after kung sinuot ang helmet. I was holding Daniel's waist making him stilled a moment kaya hindi na lamang ako kumapit dito, instead I made both of my legs stick in the ducati's body.

Daniel started the engine kaya sinabi ko na dito ang address ko. The whole biyahe was kinda boring, hindi kasi ako sanay na hindi nakakausap si Daniel kapag nasa biyahe kaya I just make myself busy by viewing the beautiful scenery of the place. The streets with street foods' vendors is one of the beautiful sceneries I admire the most, marami lang naman kasi akong best memories na nagawa noon kapag kumakain lalo na kapag ang kasama mong kumakain ang yung taong mahal mo.

I saw two teenagers eating in a cart with lots of barbeque foods, they were eating happily and just like that, jealousy conquers my whole system but at the same time I was happy, watching how the boy cared for the girl while they're eating. Daniel and I were just like that years ago, eating the street foods with big smiles but everything changed, hindi nako kumakain ng street foods dahil wala naman akong kasama kapag kakain ako at isa pa kung mapapakain ako ng street foods ay si Daniel lang naman ang maiisip ko kaya mas minabuti kong hindi nalang kakain ng mga street foods. I don't mind kung hindi nako nakakain ng favorite food ko these days. May iba naman na akong problema na kinakaharap ngayon kaya okay lang. First priority ko lang naman sila Amang at Mama syaka si Yamyam, college student pa naman iyon.

"Diyan nalang Dan", Naghintay akong ihinto ni Daniel ang ducati sa kantong tinuro ko dito pero hindi nangyari bagkos ay pinagpatuloy nito ang pagmamaneho hanggang sa parking lot ng building ng condo.

Nagpasalamat muna ako dito bago bumaba at ibinigay ang helmet. I was waiting for him to start the engine and go pero hindi niya ginawa.

"Pasok kana" Daniel told me to take the elevator pero hindi ko ginawa.

"Start the engine and go boss", I told him professionally, like how bosses and secretaries talk to each other.

"Wait what? did I hear it right? Ruby? you called me your boss?", He was smiling this time but that happiness wasn't enough for him and he knew that teasing me was the one who could complete his night. Seeing me with red cheeks were already enough for him.

"Wait diba sabi mo hindi mo gusto maging secretary ko?", He said while his lips were forming a teasing smile, he couldn't contain it, as always, he's always happy when making fun of me though kaya pinabayaan ko na.

"Bakit bawal ba maging secretary mo? I mean secretary ng SHI?", I immediately changed my question and looked down afterwards. Mas lalo lamang namula ang pulang pisngi ko, kahit hindi ko nakikita ang sarili sa salamin ay paniguradong tomato nako dito eh pano I realized what I asked earlier when I saw his smile got even bigger this time. I heard him laughing a little, dahil siguro sa sitwasyon ko ngayon.

"Bahala ka nga diyan", Naiinis nako sa kakatawa nito kaya nagsimula nakong maglakad papuntang elevator. I heard him calling my name while entering the elevator pero hindi ko ito pinansin at pumunta na lamang sa bandang gilid ng elevator para hindi makita nito. Daniel kept on calling my name and I heard it clearly but it only stopped when the elevator closes. I sighed, a deep and long one.

I was busy scrolling in the i********: posts right now when a new notification appeared in my screen. It's a message from Daniel.

"Ano na naman kaya ang pakay ng lalaking to?", naitanong ko kapag kuwan.

Lumabas nako ng elevator ng bigla na naman nagvibrate ang selpon ko, I saw his new message again and instead of reading it, I opened Riri's condo using my own key. Wala pa kasi si Riri sa mga oras na ito, she's probably reviewing her upcoming projects this time. A workaholic b***h indeed.

I walked towards my room after entering the condo unit, I placed the folder I brought in my bed and went inside the bathroom to take a half bath. It was near seven in the evening when I finished. I decided to cook steak since yun lang ang available sa ref. Mukhang maggo-grocery na ata kami ngayong weekend.

I was finishing the steak I was cooking when my phone suddenly rang, I immediately got my phone inside my pocket and looked who was calling, It was Riri.

"Yes Riri babe?", bungad ko dito.

"Ruby babe I cannot make to have a dinner date with you this night, There's a lot of paper works today at hindi pako nakakahalf gosh!!!..... Ruby I'm already tired... kanina pako dito!! huhuhuhuhu.....", I didn't know what to do after what she said, hindi ko alam kong tatawa na ba ako o maaawa dito. Pano ba naman kasi eh kapag nagkakaganito si Riri babe, parating nagjojoke lang kaya no offense hindi nako naaawa dito but since steak food is her favorite then palagay kong uuwi talaga to.

She craves steak everyday for heaven's sake! Kahit pa nga kapag nagigising si Riri every midnight eh steak parin ang hinahanap, even sleeping!. Kay takaw-takaw na babae pero kahit kailan ay hindi tumataba, ang payat parin, hayst isang vonggang sanaol nga diyan!!.

"It's okay maybe sa next time nalang Riri babe, I'm still cooking pero patapos nato, ang sarap nga ng amoy nito eh, kumakalam na sikmura ko kahit hindi pa luto. Anyways I have to go baka mapano patong steak. Bye na babe have a nice night! love you!". I was about to press the end button when Riri shouted in the phone, agad kong inilayo ang cellphone ko sa tenga, ang sakit kaya ng pagkakasigaw ni Riri babe.

"Ruby!!!!!..... wait hold up babe! I was thinking a while ago if very needed na kaya ang pagrereview ng designs but I think it doesn't. I can finish this tomorrow so yeah... I'm going home! wait for me!....love you!", She ended the call before I could react.

I was laughing hard after that pero bigla na namang nagring ang cellphone ko. Unregistered number yun pero sinagot ko narin baka kasi si William to, malay mo nakikitawag lang to sa kakilala o kaya sa kapitbahay.

"Hello?", bungad ko sa tumatawag. Hindi ito kumibo kaya nag-hello na naman ako. The caller is still silent kaya inunahan ko na ito. "Kung sino kamang ponsyo pilato diyan, sumasaiyo sana ang langit". I ended the call afterwards.

"Sino kaya yun?", I asked placing the phone inside my pocket. "Baka wrong number ata yun".

Bumalik nako sa pagluluto at saktong kahahain ko lang sa ulam ng dumating si Riri sa condo. "Walang traffic Riri babe?", tanong ko dito while placing the steak in the table.

"Wala naman Ruby babe, I'll go take a half bath lang ah", she said before kissing my cheeks and went inside her room.

Katatapos ko lang maghanda sa hapag kainan nang lumabas si Riri sa silid nito. "Kain na tayo", anyaya ko agad dito. She immediately sat and we started eating the delicious food I prepared. Another blessed night na naman for me. Masarap ang ulam eh.

"Ang sarap talaga!", anas ni Riri matapos uminom ng tubig. May papikit-pikit pa itong nalalaman, hindi ko na sana ito iinisin pero hindi ko magawa, hindi ko kaya. Ang sarap lang kasi sa paningin kapag nagkakasalubong ang mga kilay ni Riri babe.

"Naman! masarap ang nagluto eh kaya masarap din yung luto", buong pagmamalaki kong sambit dito na naging dahilan ng pag-asim ng mukha ni Riri.

"Di na kita paglulutuin ng steaks, ewan ko sayo", may pagbabantang anas ko dito pero binalewala lang ng babayita iyon bagkos ay kumuha pa ito ng ice cream sa ref at ibinigay sakin.

"Oh hetong sayo madam!", pinagduldulan pa nito ang ice cream ng hindi ko ito tinanggap, She acted like an idiot adult baby making me laughed so hard, mas lalo lamang lumaki ang ngusong ginawa nito, kulang nalang ay patayin ako nito sa tingin. If looks could kill though baka kanina pa nagpipiyesta ang mata tao dito. Kasi naman eh parang mga bata parin kami katulad noon. Ang tatanda na namin pero ang babata parin ng mga isip.

"Ruby Monty!", sigaw nito habang hawak ang ice cream at pilit na pinapahawakan sakin. Ilag parin ako ng ilag pero hindi naman nagpatalo ang tita niyo kaya kinuha ko nalang ang ice cream.

"Sus..... gusto mo lang makakain ng steak next week eh", sambit ko habang binubuksan ang ice cream.

"Thank you anyways", Riri kissed my cheeks before hugging me so tight. I hugged her back. Ganito talaga kami sa isa't-isa after kumain, we never forget to hug each other before sleeping, it become a habit naman dahil sa too much cheesiness ni Riri babe. Nahawaan ka tuloy!

"Magtatrabaho ka pa ba?" I asked her after nitong paluwagin ang yakap na ginawa, her arms were still on my shoulder ng may naalala ako bigla. By watching her big wide smile, I smirked silently. Mukhang mas sasarap pa ata ang gabi ko ngayon ah! hindi lang dahil sa steak......

"Matutulog nako after this", She answered and hugged me again before leaving. Nasa may pintuan na si Riri ng bigla na namang lumuwag ang turnilyo ng aking isip, nasaniban na naman!.

"Anyways Riri babe!", I called her pero hindi ito lumingon sakin bagkos ay binuksan nito ang pinto ng silid at akmang papasok nang magsalita ako. "Riri babe I've got something to tell ya! Rodd and I met in the SHI building in my way back here, we had a little chitchat and I gave him our address", I informed her with a big smile, a teasing one. I saw how Riri stopped before facing me with a shocked face but eventually naging angry bird face ang mukha ni tita niyo, yung black bird of angry birds to he exact.

"What did you say?", akmang susugorin ako nito pero mabilis akong tumakbo papunta sa aking silid, dali dali kong binuksan ang pinto niyon at pumasok. Napatawa na lamang ako ng malakas sa kakarewind ng mukha ni Riri kanina sa aking isipan at mas lalo pakong tumawa ng marinig ko ang malakas na tili ni Riri sa labas.

"Ruby Monty!!!", she screamed loudlylike there's no tommorow. "Ruby!!".

"Sorry na!", I shouted back at her pero malalakas lang na padyak ni Riri ang aking naririnig at pagbabantang hindi ko alam.

"Bukas ka sakin Ruby babe!", she screamed again, akala koy okay na pero lalo lamang itong nagtili ng malakas. But it only ended when the telephone in the living room rang. Nahinto sa pagsisigaw si Riri kaya paniguradong sinasagot na nito ang tawag sa mga oras ngayon.

I decided to take a half bath and do my night routine before sleeping, I apply some coffee mixed with egg white for 15 minutes, rinse it off and dry my face after that I apply some ice cubes all over my face then wipe it with cloth to dry before putting the last ingredient- the organic soothing gel, let it set all night.

Nagpalit nako ng pajamas pagkatapos, I was lying in the bed habang nagso-scroll sa i********:, I took a picture of myself after, I add it on my story with a caption of 'for tomorrow!'.

Before placing my phone on the side table I received another message of Daniel, him telling me to be on time tomorrow or I'll get a punishment.

I smirked a bit after reading it, Nice try......

The next morning, 4:10 a.m. ay gising na ako, naghilamos ako at nagtoothbrush bago lumabas sa kwarto, Nagluto nako ng bacon, egg, and hotdog for breakfast. Nauna nakong kumain dahil hindi pa lumabas si Riri babe, naoverdose ata kakatrabaho yun kagabi. After eating naghugas nako ng pinggan at inilagay sa ref ang ulam ni Riri babe.

I took a bath after and wore a simple white blouse tucked in on a black mid-cut pencil skirt paired with a closed-toe shoes with a conservative heel. I apply some light make-up para mas mukhang presentable, polbo at lipstick lang naman ang ginamit ko at kunting eyeshadow.

I took a picture of myself at pinost iyon sa i********: with a caption of '1st day! wish me luck!?'. May nagcomment agad ng mga good luck from my friends sa Cebu. They miss me though.

Nakalabas nako ng building dala ang mga gamit na alam ko, hindi naman kasi nagbigay ng requirements si Daniel kaya big notebook at pen lang ang dinala ko. I booked a taxi afterwards, malapit lapit lang naman yung SHI pero dahil first day natin, hindi nako magpapakahaggard sa daan.

I was waiting for the taxi ng may nagpark na black Mercedes sa aking harapan, akala ko kung sinong maligno si Sebastian Rodd lang pala. Nakashades ito kaya nagmumukhang dayo pero hindi sakin, eh sa sakit sa ulo to. Sila ni Riri babe. Luh anong konek sa dayo at sakit sa ulo beh?

"Ay epal"

"Good morning sunshine!", sigaw nito sa akin. Nakakuha lang naman ng atensyon ang tito niyo. Ang lakas ba naman ng boses, kay agang-aga nangbobolabog sa kalsada.

I rolled my eyes, "Anong kailangan mo?".

"Luh sabi mo dadalaw ako kung kailan ko gusto so heto andito nako!", sabi nito ng bumaba ito sa sasakyan.

"Ang Monday na monday Rodd! bumalik ka nalang sa Friday, may work ako ngayon, first day".

"San ba punta mo? hatid na kita" I rolled my eyes again.

"Nagbook nako ng taxi sa SHI ang punta ko, dumating ka sana ng mas maaga eh!", ngumuso ako sa ideyang naisip. Nakasave na sana ako ng pera ngayong araw! malas naman!!.

"Wait SHI? do you mean Sandroe?", he was actually teasing me, alam talaga nito ang kahulugan nun kaya hindi ko ito pinansin at nagchange topic.

"Umalis kana nakapagbook nako ng taxi, malapit nayun dito"

"Sus parang yun lang, icancel muna!, ako na magbibigay ng tip sa driver pag nakarating na yun dito", sabi nito habang nakangisi, nang-iinis parin. He actually knew na ayaw kong maging topic si Daniel.

Pumasok na si Rodd sa loob ng kotse at may kinuhang bill. A minute after dumating na yung taxi kaya binigyan na ni Rodd iyong driver ng tip. I was shocked! eh sa isang libo ang ibinigay nito sa driver. Wala pakong sweldo ang laki na ng utang ko!

"Hoy ang laki nun, laking bawas yun sa sweldo ko!, isang daan nalang sana", nagmamaktol kong saad dito ng makapasok nako sa sasakyan nito.

"Sus libre ko na yun, basta ba gala tayo sa sabado at linggo", nagthumb-ups pa ito habang binubuhay ang sasakyan.

"Isasama ko si Riri babe", I announced with a smirk on my face, napahinto ang mukong kaya mas lalong lumaki ang ngisi ko. comeback ata to choy!!.

"Don't you dare Ruby!", may pagbabanta sa bawat salita nito pero wala akong pakialam.

"Maggo-grocery kami Rodd kaya talagang sasama si Riri babe isa pa andiyan ka naman na kaya may boy na kami sa mga dalahin", I teased him ever more pero sa totoo naman na isasama ko si Riri babe dahil nga wala na kaming pagkain sa ref. Matakaw pa naman yung bruhang yun.

"Kapag umayaw ka lagot ka sakin!", nagbabanta kong saad dito.

"Oo na, opo hindi na aayaw, umay nito". may pagmamaktol sa boses nito pero hindi ko yun binigyan ng pansin, eh sa gusto naman talaga nitong makita si Riri babe, nag-iinarte lang ang kumag eh.

Nasa 5:30 ng makarating ako sa SHI building, nagpasalamat ako kay Rodd bago lumabas at nagremind sa gala sa weekend. Nagmumukhang ako na yung manlilibre. I laughed evilly.

Anyways back to reality, nagmamadali nakong pumasok sa building, lumakad akong papuntang elevator at naghintay ng ilang minuto ng may lumapit sa akin, sinabi nitong aayusin daw yung elevator.

"Pero okay naman yan kahapon", I wonder kung bakit iyon nagkaganun.

"Aayusin lang po namin to ng madali ma'am, monthly inspection pa naman kasi ngayon, last monday of the month Kasi ma'am", imporma nito kaya tumango nalang ako bilang tugon. I had no choice but to use the stairs.

"s**t ang layo pa naman ng president's office", nasambit ko sa hangin habang nagsimula ng tahakin ang hagdan.

I was half running, half walking paakyat sa president's office ng biglang may tumawag sa phone ko. Si Daniel, boss ang name nito sa contacts ko kaya agad ko iyong sinagot kahit hinihingal pako.

"Ye...s boss?...", that was unprofessional Ruby!

" Nasaan kana?", I immediately take a look in my watch, 6:10 na!.

"s**t!", Out of my mind, I accidentally pressed the end button. "Doble s**t!", mas lalo akong nataranta kaya tumakbo nako ng tumakbo papuntang office ng president.

I was taking big and deep breaths ng makarating sa floor ng office ni Daniel ng may biglang tumunog sa gilid ng kinatatayuan ko, hudyat iyon ng pagbubukas ng elevator.

Wait did I heard it right? sa elevator? I thought aayusin iyon? putek naman oh! bwesit!!

Mas lalo akong pumula sa inis ng lumabas si Daniel sa elevator, he was wearing a white shirt underneath his black tuxedo paired with a sky blue neck tie, Nakashades pa ang kumag.

"Peste", mahinang sambit ko pero mukhang narinig ata nito iyon. Napatingin sakin eh!

"In my office, Now!.", saad nitong hindi nakatingin sa akin at diridiritsong pumasok sa office nito. Kahit hinihingal pa ay mas lalo lamang akong nanginig dahil dito.

Shit I'm dead na!!!

"Ang late mo Ruby!", galit kong kausap sa sarili.

I was walking quietly entering his office, I've never felt so frightened in my life until now. Hindi ko kasi alam kung ano ang gagawin ni Daniel, Unang araw na nga dehado naman!

Napayuko na lamang ako ng makapasok, sino ba namang hindi eh ang sakit sa paningin ang malahalimaw na titig ni Daniel. Nakayuko parin ako habang nakatayo sa harapan ng table nito. Ayaw kong tumungin dito dahil natatakot ako, even though kilala ko ito but boss ko siya eh!

"I'm sor—", hindi na natapos ang dapat sana na sasabihin ko dahil may inihagis na mga papeles si Daniel sa table nito na napakarami. Napatingin agad ako dito, hindi na ito nakasuot ng shades kaya klarong-klaro ko ang inis na lumulukob sa buong mukha nito.

"Collect it's data, its due tomorrow morning, dapat nasa table ko na ito bago pako pumasok", matigas nitong saad habang nakatingin sa laptop.

"Yes sir", sagot ko habang kinukuha ang mga papeles.

Papunta nakong secretary table ng magsalita ito na nagpahinto sa akin, sa buong sistema ko to be exact making me blushed very hard.

"Be late or I'll kiss you".

I don't know if its a death threat or what but I'm willing to do the bidding. kasi naman eh! ang rupok mo Daniel Mitch Sandroe!!!

—*MG*—