Quest For Justice

CHAPTER 14: Iced latte

Mga lalaki ang alam lang ay magpakilig tapos hindi ka naman seseryosohin.

Nag-uumpisa na ang photo shoot para sa magiging cover ng magazine. Seryosong mukha ang ibinalandra ni Jarred sa harap ng camera, paminsan-minsan pa ay nahihiya ito at natatawa. First time kasi nito ang mapasabak sa bigating photo shoot. Of course, kailangan nitong galingan at ayusin dahil maraming nagbabasa ng magazine na Ico-cover nito.

Hindi namalayan ni Cassandra na napapangiti siya sa tuwing bigla na lang mahihiya si Jarred sa gitna ng photo shoot. Ngayon ay mataman naman niya itong tinitingnan habang seryoso ang mukha nito na nag-popose sa harap ng camera.

Ilang beses na nitong pinatunayan sa kanya ang angkin nitong kaguwapohan.

She shook her head because her mind was full of thoughts of Jarred’s handsomeness. She wasn’t there to admire a man’s beauty. She was there to find out more about him.

Nagpatuloy pa ang photoshoot ng iilan pang minuto. Habang mataman niyang pinapanood si Jarred ay bigla siyang nakaramdam ng gutom. Kaya nag-exit muna siya sa set at pumunta sa waiting room kung saan naroon ang mga lunch box na inihanda ng personal chef ng pamilya Guzman para kay Jarred. Hindi pa pala siya nakapag-umagahan. She checked the time and it was already 9 in the morning.

Hindi pa siya tuluyang nakapasok ng waiting room ay may narinig siyang bulungan.

"Oo, nga. ‘Yong P.A ni Mr. Guzman." Boses iyon ng isang lalaki na pamilyar sa kanyang pandinig.

"’Yong mukhang hindi marunong magsuklay? ‘Yong pangit?" Boses naman ng isang babae na hindi pamilyar sa kanyang pandinig.

"Oo, ‘yon nga."

"Hay naku, ‘wag ka ng magtaka if she was good at English, dahil baka medium na nila ‘yon sa mansiyon ng mga Guzman."

"Oo, nga no," sagot ng lalaki.

Ah, so siya pala ang topic ng usapan? Kaya pamilyar ‘yong boses ng lalaki dahil ito ‘yong pinagtanungan niya kanina na nasagot niya gamit ang wikang Ingles. Eh, tsismoso naman pala ang lalaking iyon.

She entered the room anyway, without making any noise. Napatalon naman sa gulat ang dalawa.

She scrutinized them from head to toe, and she couldn't help but notice how serious their expressions were.

"What?" The girl’s forehead creased.

It’s obvious that she was making them feel uncomfortable.

"Nakikita ko sa mga mata niyo na nagtatanong kayo. Oo, narinig ko kayo. Para mas malinawan kayo, sa bahay ng mga Guzman, may malaking library, na may maraming libro. Pwede kaming magbasa roon. That’s how I learned English. " Halos pabulong niyang sinabi ang huling pangungusap sabay kindat sa dalawa.

Napangiti ang lalaki sa kindat niya. Although she looked like that, her charisma was still there.

"Hindi naman kami nagtatanong, eh. Tara na nga." Tinulak ng babae ang lalaki palabas ng waiting room.

"Hay naku, tsismosa everywhere. " She shook her head, disappointingly.

Pagkatapos niyang kumain at mag-tooth brush ay agad na siyang bumalik sa set dahil baka kailanganin siya roon ni Jarred.

Pagdating niya ng set ay nagpapahinga si Jarred. Nang mapatingin ito sa kanya ay nakita niya ang pagbuntong hininga nito sabay tawag sa kanya.

Mabilis siyang lumapit rito.

"Saan ka pumunta? Ano bang pinag-gagagawa mo?"

She frowned. "Anong anong pinaggagagawa ko? Nag-umagahan lang ako, nagutom ako, sir. "

Seryoso siya nitong tiningnan sa mata.

She frowned upon a thought. "Sir, anong kailangan mo?"

"I need you to stay in my sight." His voice became louder.

Nanlaki ang mga mata niya, and she gulped. Nakita niya na maging ito ay nagulat din sa nasabi nito.

"Of course, because what if I need anything?" Nag-iwas ito ng tingin.

Although he was able to add words that might distort the meaning of that sentence, she knew that he meant something. That made her feel nervous.

"Okay, sir. Doon lang po ako. " Then she went back to her place within Jarred’s sight.

Paulit-ulit na nagpiplay sa utak niya ang sinabi ni Jarred na, "I need you to stay within my sight." na parang sirang plaka. Pinilig niya ang kanyang ulo. The truth was, Jarred was slowly disturbing her mind. She truly acknowledged that he was slowly making her fall for his charms, but even if that could happen, that couldn’t change anything. Her plans must not be interrupted by anything, even her feelings.

She noticed how many times Jarred glanced at her.

"What’s wrong with this guy?" she muttered to herself.

Maya maya pa ay nag-signal na ang director for Jarred’s magazine interview.

When the interviewer arrived, Jarred was already ready to do the interview.

Nagkumustahan muna ang interviewer at ang interviewee.

"It's a pleasure to meet you in person, Mr. Jarred Guzman," the interviewer said.

The interviewer looked young in her 40s. She has long, straight, silky hair. Bilugan ang hugis ng mukha nito at may matangos na ilong.

She bet Jarred could not stop himself from staring at her beauty. Her brow raised at that thought. Kung si Verno pa ‘yan ay hiningi na nito ang number ng interviewer.

Tuwid na naupo ang interviewer at si Jarred nang mag-signal na ang camera man.

Nag-umpisa na rin ang tanungan sa gitna ng interviewer at ni Jarred. Nguni ang nagpapakunot ng noo niya ay imbis na titig na titig ito sa magandang interviewer ay panay ang baling nito sa kanya. She frowned every moment he glanced at her. She couldn’t understand what was wrong with him. Napaka gandang babae ng nasa harapan nito ngayon ngunit hindi na niya bilang sa mga daliri kung ilang beses itong sumulyap sa kanya sa loob lamang ng sampung minuto. Ang ikinakainis pa niya ay hindi niya mapigilan ang kiligin sa bawat pagsulyap nito sa kanya. She liked the way he managed to steal a glance at her while listening attentively to the interviewer.

No way! Maling mali. Everything was wrong: His glances, his smiles when he looked away, his eyes saying something she didn’t understand, and her heart pounding.

Pagkatapos ng labinlimang minuto ay pinutol ang shoot for a break. Naka-dekuwatrong pinaypay siya ni Jarred upang lumapit dito.

"Yes, sir?" She forced herself to smile.

Jarred gestured for her to come closer. She frowned, but did it anyway. She bent to his level. Their cheeks almost touched.

"Bakit titig na titig ka sa akin kanina?" He giggled.

She immediately distanced herself from him and grimaced.

"Was it me or you? Napaka feeling! " That’s what she wanted to say but chose not to say.

"Yes, sir. Napaka guwapo mo po kasi." She sounded sarcastic.

"You said that. Even if that was just a joke, some jokes are true." He winked at her.

Mana-mana lang pala ang pagiging malande. Mula sa ama, hanggang sa mga anak. Pasa-pasa na lang generation by generation. Hindi na siya magtataka kung ang mga apo ay gano’n din. Sabagay, alangan namang mamumunga ng langka ang bayabas?

"Sir, may importante pa ba kayong sasabihin? Tubig or what? Ano pong kailangan niyo pa? " she said with her chin jutting out.

Jarred smirked and crossed his arms. "Para kang naghahamon ng away. Fine, just get me a glass of water. Baka kasi saan ka pa mapadpad kapag juice hiningi ko sa 'yo. " Panunuya nito.

She wanted to glare at him for teasing her, but could not. Baka masanay na siya na palaging iniirapan ang amo niya. She hurried to get a glass of water sa kusina ng building na ‘yon sa parehong floor. Pagkatapos niyang magsalin ng tubig sa babasaging baso ay dahan-dahan niya itong binitbit at dahan-dahan din siyang naglakad pabalik sa set.

Tanaw na niya si Jarred at ang interviewer na nagngingitian habang nag-uusap, hindi pa nag-uumpisa muli ang recording. Napairap siya sa kalandian ni Jarred.

Nang makalapit na siya rito at iaabot na niya sana ang baso ay bigla siyang natumba. She screwed up her face as she found herself kneeling on the floor at ang isa niyang kamay ay kumakapit sa soot na polo ni Jarred. She did stumble in front of some people, for the first time.

Nag-angat siya ng tingin kay Jarred upang makitang natatawa ito.

She gave Jarred an unrelenting stare. She was all ready to curse at him, even if he was her boss. Pinatid siya nito. She was sure it was intentional. How dare he bully her?

Saka niya na lang napansin na naghe-hesterical na ang interviewer sa galit dahil dito pala natapon ang tubig. Basang-basa ang off-shoulder nitong dress.

Jarred pulled her hand to stand. She quickly pushed his hand away.

Hindi na nagulat si Jarred sa ginawa niyang pagwasiwas sa kamay nito. Indeed, it was intentional. He was still holding onto his laugh.

"How dare you! Do you know how much this dress costs? " The interviewer scowled.

Tinapunan niya lang ito ng tingin at hindi pinansin ang kaartehan nito. She was all focused on Jarred.

Her fingers curled into fists.

Naglaho ang humor sa mukha ni Jarred nang makita nito kung gaano siya kagalit. Umigting ang panga nito at namaywang. "I didn’t mean it."

Mariin siyang lumunok as she listened to her conscience not to be overwhelmed with anger since she couldn’t do something to him or else all her efforts would be wasted.

She took a deep breath, upang unti-unting mapakalma ang sarili. It’s just that never in her entire life had she experienced being bullied like this.

Unti-unti na sana siyang kumakalma nang biglang may tumulak sa braso niya.

She turned around to see that it was the interviewer who had pushed her.

"Look what you did. You messed up my outfit. Hindi ka kasi nag-iingat. " She yelled at her.

She took a deep breath. "Sorry po, ma’am. Hindi ko po sinasadya. " She glanced down.

Wala na siyang choice kung hindi magpa-kumbaba na lamang dahil wala siya sa lugar para makipag debate. Pero sa loob loob niya ay nagngingitngit na siya sa galit.

"I am asking for your apology, miss, on behalf of my maid." Isang ngiti lang na labas ngipin ni Jarred sa interviewer ay lumamig na agad ang ulo nito. The girl even blushed.

The shoot had to be postponed for 20 minutes dahil nag-change outfit pa ang interviewer at nag-retouch. Mabuti na lang ay nasalo ng kandungan ng interviewer ang babasaging baso at hindi ito nahulog at nabasag.

Nang mag-resume ang shoot ay nag-umpisa na siyang mag-take note ng mga importanteng impormasyon tungkol kay Jarred that would be told.

"Mr. Jarred Guzman. Bilang isa sa mga batang CEO ng pinakamalaking kompanya sa bansa, we all know that you are loaded with works. May oras ka pa bang makipag-date? " The interviewer blushed.

She rolled her eyes when Jarred glanced at her again.

"As a matter of fact, I don’t have that plenty of time to date, but my answer to your question is yes. "I'd like to date, but I haven't met a woman who matches my vibe."

The interviewer tucked her hair behind her ear.

"Oh, wait. I think I have met that woman. " He winked at the interviewer.

Mas lalo tuloy pinamulahan ng pisngi ang umaasang interviewer.

Cassandra almost vomited at that smooth pick-up line. But she found it cringeworthy. Para sa kanya ay linyahan lamang iyon ng mga malalanding lalaki na hindi marunong magseryoso sa pag-ibig. It was disgusting. Mga lalaki ang alam lang ay magpakilig tapos hindi ka naman seseryosohin.

"Sir Jarred, another question. If you had a coffee with a lady, what coffee would you order? "

Cassandra facepalmed. Ano ba naman mga tanong ‘yan, walang kwenta para sa kanya. Magagamit niya ba ‘yang kape na ‘yan against Jarred? Parang gusto niya na lang agawin ang mikropono sa interviewer at siya na lang ang magtatanong ng may kwentang tanong kay Jarred. Puro lang naman kasi kalandian din ang alam nitong interviewer, eh. Akala siguro nito nakalimutan na niya ‘yong tanong nito kung magkano ang damit nitong natapunan niya ng tubig kanina. As if naman may fashion taste ito. Ang pangit kaya no’n. Kahit mura lang ‘yon ay hindi niya ‘yon bibilhin.

"Actually, just before we started the recording, I had an iced latte. It was the second time I had that. The first time was when I promised never to have that again. It just tastes awful." Bumaling ito sa direksiyon niya.

A deep frown furrowed her brows as she stared back at him. He was smiling at her.

No way! Then why would he drink that iced latte she got for him?