Quest For Justice

Chapter 43: Flirting

No matter how much she liked him, there was no way he would know.

Nahihirapan na si Jarred sa mga nangyayari. Gaano ba kagusto ni Olivia ang Kuya Verno niya at kahit buhay pa nito ang nasa panganib ay hindi pa rin nito gugustuhing bumalik sa totoong Olivia or whatever her name was.

His very important proposal that his father entrusted to him did not pass. His father would be disappointed to hear this. Pero ang mas mahalaga ay ang safety ni Olivia. A police officer from Lameria na nakausap niya roon noong nagbigay siya ng statement ay tumawag sa kanya kanina. Ipinaalam nito na nagbabanta ang pamilya ni Andrea na ipapapatay si Olivia. Ang buong akala kasi ng pamilya ni Andrea ay si Olivia ang nagturo sa mga pulis ng kinaroroonan ng kaanak.

Kaya pinahigpit niya ang seguridad sa loob at labas ng building at hindi nakakapasok ang mga hindi empleyado ng kompanya.

Kanina niya lang din napag-alaman na grandfather pala ni Andrea si Remos. Si Remos ang pinaka-pribado ang personal na buhay sa lahat ng mga board of directors. Noon ay wala siyang pakialam dito. Ngunit ngayon ay pinaiimbistigayan na niya ang pagkatao ni Remos. Maliban sa ama ito ng Governor ng Lameria at grandfather ng isang serial killer, ay wala na itong ibang alam pa tungkol dito.

Umalis na ang mga board of directors at silang dalawa na lang ni Olivia ang tao sa loob ng opisina niya. Ang mga security ay nakabantay pa rin sa labas ng pinto.

Olivia was sitting on the couch while he was pacing back and forth, his hands on his hips.

“Could you please sit down?” anito.

He stopped and turned to her. “I’m thinking, Oli.”

She folded her arms. “Hindi ka ba makakapag-isip ng naka upo? Please.”

Jarred sat beside her.

She moved a little.

He turned his body towards her. “Oli, please think about it. Nasa piligro ang buhay mo. Nagbabanta sila.”

She couldn’t even look at him this close.

“Hindi na ako lalabas ng bahay, okay? “ She wasn’t looking at him, diritso lang ang tingin niya.

“Matigas ang ulo mo. I cannot assure baka pumuslit ka.” His brows furrowed.

Olivia looked at him. “Why are you that worried about me?”

“Because I realize that I care for you. Oli, naiinis ako kapag sinasabi mong gusto mo si Kuya. Napipikon ako everytime Kuya brings up a topic about you. Siguro nga tama ka. That love at first sight was true.” Tinitigan niya ito sa mata.

Parang huminto sa pag-ikot ang mundo nito sa mga sinabi ni Jarred. Her heart was beating near out of her chest.

Nag-init ang mga pisngi nito, they are probably as red as tomatoes.

“So don’t ask me again why am I this worried about you.” Jarred rose to his feet at lumapit sa office table nito. He placed his hands on his table and looked down.

He was so shy. He was d*mn shy.

“WHAT IS going on? My daughter is not a thing na pwede niyong pagpasa-pasahan?” Mr. Daez scowled.

Mr. and Mrs. Daez, Jasmine, Victoria, Verno, and Jelo were gathered at the pool area of Guzman’s mansion. They were all sitting in front of a long oval table, served with delicious Filipino cuisines.

Galit na galit si Mr. Daez dahil si Verno na naman ulit ang fiancée ng anak nito. Hindi dahil sa hindi nito gusto si Verno, kundi dahil pinagpapasa-pasahan ng mga magkakapatid na Guzman ang anak.

“Sir, I am very sorry that I just realized that I am in love with Jasmine. Jarred has no feelings for her anymore.” Verno was lying.

Wala itong feelings para kay Jasmine, he was just doing it for Olivia’s sake. Alam din ito ni Jelo.

“How do you know that Jarred does not love me anymore? “ Jasmine’s face flushed.

“You don’t have to ask that, Ate Jasmine. Alam mo na hindi ka na mahal ni Kuya Jarred, “ Jelo said with a straight face.

Jasmine looked away. Alam nito na wala na talagang pagtingin si Jarred para rito but she kept trying her best.

Sa tingin ni Verno ay hindi nagtitiyaga si Jasmine kay Jarred dahil mahal niya pa ito, kundi dahil hindi lang nito matanggap na naka-move on na si jarred.

“I am very sorry about this.” Victoria shook her head.

Tinanggap ng mga Daez na si Verno na ulit ang pakakasalan ni Jasmine at wala na ring magagawa pa si Jasmine ngunit ipinangako ng mga Guzman na wala ng pagbabago na magaganap pa. Jasmine and Verno were getting married no matter what.

Nang makaalis na ang pamilya Daez ay naiwan sina Verno, Jelo, at Victoria roon.

“Are you really in love with Jasmine? Give me an honest answer, Verno.” Victoria’s brows furrowed.

Uminom si Verno ng wine. Pagkatapos ay hinarap nito ang ina. “Yes, Ma. When did I ever do something I didn’t like? “

“You are my son. I know you’re not telling the truth. I am disappointed.” Victoria rose to her feet and walked out of there.

Jelo went to him and tapped his shoulder. “I am proud of you, Kuya.”

What Jelo told him gave him relief.

He smiled.

Jelo sat beside him. “I know you, Kuya. Bakit mo ito ginagawa para kay Olivia? Do you like her?”

He smirked and looked at his brother. “How about you, Jel? Why are you doing this? Do you like her?”

“I actually do. Olivia is a simple girl. She has a good personality. She has the most beautiful smile. How can I not like her?” Jelo smiled.

Unti-unting nabura ang ngiti sa mga labi niya. All this time, he thought si Jarred lang ang karibal niya, pati rin pala si Jelo.

May umubo sa likod nila kaya sabay silang napalingon. It was Myka and two other maids.

“Excuse me po, mga sir. Magliligpit lang po kami ng mga pinagkainan, “ Myka said with a long face.

“Yeah, sure.” He nodded.

He caught Myka glanced at Jelo but her face looked sad.

Myka dropped a glass of wine at nabasag ito.

Namutla si Myka at mabilis na lumuhod para pulutin ang mga bubog.

“Sorry po, mga sir, “ she said.

Lumuhod din si Jelo para tulungan ito.

“Ano ba ‘yan, Myk? Bakit hindi ka nag-iingat?”

“Sir, kami na po,” ani ng isa sa mga kasambahay.

“Sir, ‘wag niyo pong hawakan baka po masugatan kayo? “ Myka pushed Jelo’s hands away.

He did not bother to help because he enjoyed watching Myka and Jelo. There must be something going on with them.

Jelo still helped.

Nang matapos sa ginagawa ay tumuloy na sina Myka at ang iba pang mga kasambahay sa kusina.

“Bro, alam mo bang pa-fall ka? “ He chuckled.

Jelo frowned. “What? “

Tumawa siya sa inosenteng reaction ng kapatid at iniwanan na ito roon.

Jelo was just a friendly person. Kung ito man ang dahilan ng pagkakahulog ng loob ng mga kababaihan dito ay hindi na nito kasalanan. He wasn’t doing that intentionally, he was just always friendly.

CASSANDRA was being uncomfortable after what Jarred told her. He just confessed to her right? Sa ilang beses na niyang naranasan na pinagtapatan ng nararamdaman ay sa pagtatapat lang ni Jarred siya nasiyahan. She was so happy that she wanted to say yes to hin kahit hindi pa siya nito nililigawan. But that was all in the back of her mind.

No matter how much she liked him, there was no way he would know.

Oh no! Ano ang gagawin niya ngayong nabuhayan ng pag-asa ang damdaming pinipilit niyang iwaksi?

Si Jarred ay abala sa mga paper work nito. Hanga siya kung paano hindi ito nawalan ng gana sa pagtatrabaho. Now that he could probably lose his position. Jarred did very well with his proposal.

Habang siya naman ay nagbabasa ng magazine na pinulot niya lang kung saang parte ng opisina nito so that she wouldn’t feel awkward doing nothing.

Hindi kasi siya pwedeng mauna sa pag-uwi dahil gusto ni Jarred ay hindi siya mag-isa kahit pa sinabi niya rito na pasamahan na lang siya sa mga security ay hindi pa rin siya nito pinayagang mauna sa pag-uwi.

She could see through her peripheral vision that Jarred kept glancing at her. Kailan kays ito matatapos sa tinatrabaho nito kung panay ang sulyap nito sa kanya.

She closed the magazine she was reading at pinatong sa center round table.

Lumapit siya sa lamesa nito.

Jarred looked up at her. “Oli, hindi pa ako tapos.” He sighed.

“I’m bored here. Your Kuya Verno is not here.”

Halos tumalon ang puso niya when Jarred scowled.

Her mouth twisted as she forced herself not to smile.

He ignored her and went back to what he was doing.

Hindi siya umalis sa harap nito. She just watched him.

He looked more handsome when he’s working.

“Go, I can’t focus, “ he said nang hindi nag-aangat ng tingin sa kanya.

She smiled. “I like your nose.”

Binitiwan nito ang hawak na ballpen at nag angat ng tingin sa kanya with a straight face. “Stop it! “

She chuckled. “Ano? Sinabi ko lang naman na maganda ang ilong mo.”

Hindi na nito napigilan ang ngumiti. He leaned his back on his seat and sighed. That sigh was telling her to stop flirting, or else he’d completely lose it.

Nagkatitigan silang dalawa. “You know what, Oli. The first time I saw you, bumagal ang ikot ng mundo ko. I thought you were the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. ‘Yon pa rin ang mukhang nakikita ko even though you hide it. Because I couldn’t forget your beautiful eyes.”

She lost. She thought she could flirt with him, and it turned out he was a flirt too. She just accepted defeat.

She put her hands up. “Okay. Binabawi ko na. Hindi maganda ang ilong mo. “

Jarred burst out in laughter. He stood and leaned across the table. Halos magdikit na ang mga tungki ng ilong nilang dalawa.

Hindi siya nakalagaw kaya hindi rin siya naka distansiya rito.

“You know what I like the most about you, Oli? You are one of a kind. I can give you a list consists of hundreds of bullets why I like you.” Umangat ang gilid ng labi nito.

Napalunok siya. “I said hindi nga maganda ang ilong mo. Tigilan mo na.”

Tinalikuran niya ito and threw herself at the couch. Humalukipkio siya at tumingin sa kawalan.

“’Wag mo akong unahan. Women don’t play my heart. Not because I confessed, it meant you could play with my heart. ” Jarred chuckled.

She turned to him. She was impressed with what he just said. Her heart was never calm since two hours ago.

“Hurry up. Inaantok na ako.” She rolled her eyes.