Sarang

Chapter 15

"Good morning!" Asher greeted me when I got down to the living room. I saw him preparing food on the table. "Come on, let's eat," he stood behind me and pushed me to sit down. "Did you sleep well?" he asked me again while putting food on my plate.

"What are you doing here?" I asked him. "Thank you."

"Wala lang. Gusto lang kitang lutuan ng almusal. May gagawin ka ba mamaya? Samahan mo 'ko sa Restaurant."

"Why would I go with you there?"

"That's my wish for today," he grinned before starting to eat. He's using his wish card again! "Come on, let's go! Wala ka namang gagawin, eh!" He said as he forced me into his car.

"Stop pushing me! I could ride your car without you pushing me!" I told him then rushed to get in his car before I slammed the door shut. I fastened my seatbelt right away before I let out a heavy sigh. "Don't you dare go somewhere alone. My sister might come to you again." I reminded him. He just nodded before driving.

"Ma'am Sia, good morning po!" Vince cheerfully greeted me as I enter the Restaurant. "Hi, Bossing! Magandang morning! Kape po?"

"You want coffee?" Asher asked me but I just shook my head. I'm already full. "Hindi na. Akala ko ba aabsent ka ngayong araw?" Asher asked him.

"Gusto niya raw makita kagwapuhan ko kaya siya pumasok, Boss!" Mashi came out from the kitchen that's why Vince frowned.

"Ang kapal ng mukha mo, Mashi. Para sabihin ko sa 'yo, pangalan mo palang mabantot na! Mashi? Parang mushroom! Mashira sana lalo 'yang mukha mo!" bulyaw ni Vince sa kaniya.

"Ang dami mong sinasabi, Vicente!"

"Aba! Tang---"

Asher suddenly pulled his collar so Vince couldn't catch Mashi.

"Teka naman, Bossing. Hayaan mo akong batukan ang pangit na empleyado mo!" He tried to remove asher's hand but Asher didn't let go. "Boss naman! Ako na nga ang binubully, ako pa ang pinipigilan mo! Bitiwan mo 'ko, makikita mo si San Goku!"

Asher slightly hit him so he frowned more. "Umayos ka, doon ka na sa kusina." Asher commanded him. He just nodded before scratching his head as he walked into the kitchen. Inambahan niya pa si Mashi but he jist stick out his tongue.

"Upo ka na." He pulled me to sit down.

"Will you please stop pulling and pushing me?" I irritably asked him but he just gave me a cute smile before talking again.

h"Push and pull?" He asked smirking. I gave him a smack which made him laugh. "Joke lang! Green-minded mo, inulit ko lang naman 'yong sinabi mo!" he said while laughing.

"Are you stupid or something? Stop laughing or else I'll leave you here," I warned him. He cleared his throat and his face immediately turned serious which made me rolled my eyes. "Do what you have to do. Accompany me later," I told him.

"Where are we going?"

"I'm buying a car," I smirked.

"Kotse? Dami mo ng kotse!" he complained but I ignored him. I took my phone out of the bag because I heard it ringing earlier. I rolled my eyes again when I saw Kaito's name on my screen. "What?" I asked him when I answered the call.

"Sino 'yan?" Asher asked curiously but I didn't give him an answer.

"Video call! Face time tayo!" Kaito shouted so I muttered a curse. He turned off the call. After a few seconds, he's calling me on face time.

"What the hell? Why are you shouting?" I irritably asked him when I answered the face time.

"Huy, sino 'yan?" Asher asked me again while poking me.

"No one," I told him. I saw him rolled his eyes before standing up to help Mashi.

"Tingnan mo kung nasaan ako!" Kaito said whie turning around with his phone on his hand. He's on the airport now. "Wala ka man lang sasabihin?" he asked before sitting down. "Delayed ang flight ko kaya sa susunod na araw pa ako makakapunta sa Japan. Sigurado kang wala kang ibang ipapagawa o ipapabisita rito sa Spain?"

"What are you going to visit there? You came there for work."

"Katulad ng bahay niyo! Bibisitahin ko bahay niyo para---"

"Kaito, our house burned down. What do you want to see there? Mga sunog na gamit?" I seriously told him. He has nothing else to see especially since my brothers and sisters are also here. "Just... go to the cemetery and locate my family's grave. Give them flowers," I said almost whispering.

"Tapos na. Nanghingi na rin ako ng tawad kasi hindi mo sila magawang bisitahin! Kailan mo ba sila balak bisitahin man lang? Nagtatampo na sila panigurado."

"I can't." I smiled at him weakly. "Are you going back here now?"

"Hindi. Pupunta pa ako sa Japan, hindi ba?"

"And then you'll resign na?" I asked him. He slowly nodded his head. "Look, I already told you, you don't have to go to Japan anymore. Just change your flight and go back here to the Philippines. Present me your resignation letter."

I glance at Asher when he places a slice of bread in front of me. I slowly move my phone away when he tried to take a look at it. Mas lalo lang siyang sumimangot bago padabog na umalis sa harapan ko. I just shook my head at him.

"Paano ang problema sa Japan? Ikaw na ang pupunta para ayusin? Ikaw? Bibisita sa kumpanya mo? Mamamatay ata muna ako bago mangyari 'yon!"

"I can send someone. I'm already looking for someone to replace you on your job."

"Hoy! Ako ang maghahanap ng papalit sa akin! Ako ang kikilatis!" he shouted.

"Bakit ikaw? Ikaw ba ang magpapa-sweldo?"

"Hindi, pero ako ang papalitan! Dapat makita ko para malaman ko kung kaya niya ba talagang gampanan 'yung trabaho ko!"

"Why are you shouting?" My brows furrowed. "Anong pinaglalaban mo? I need to go now, call me when it's urgent and when it's about a business only."

"Grabe, hindi ba pwedeng tawagan kita kasi kailangan ko ng kaibigan na makakausap---"

"I'm hanging up," I told him before hanging up for real. I cleared my throat when I saw Asher's face in front of me. "What's with your face?"

"Sino 'yong kausap mo?"

"It's nothing."

"Nothing? Meron kaya! Ano, kumausap ka ng hangin sa cellphone mo? Bakit ayaw mong sabihin? Narinig ko na nga 'yong boses. Lalake!"

"What are you talking about? Are you jealous?" I teased him.

"Oo."

"What?"

"Oo, nagseselos ako. Sino nga kasi?" he said like a kid.

"It was Kaito, my friend and also my manager. Stop acting like a kid. You look stupid." I rolled my eyes on him and he did the same. "Did you just... rolled your eyes on me?" I ask in disbelief.

"Tsk, halika na. Saan ba tayo pupunta? Pagkatapos mong bumili ng kotse, anong gusto mong gawin?"

"What's with you today? Pagkatapos kong bumili ng kotse, uuwi na ako." I answered.

"Uuwi? Sinong makakasama mo? Nandoon ba si Rose? Sige, wala naman na akong gagawin kaya sa bahay mo muna ako!"

"What are you doing? Is this because of what happened last night?" I asked him.

"Huh?"

"Why do you want to accompany me somewhere? Why don't you want me to be alone?"

"Wala lang. Paano kapag bigla akong balikan ng kapatid mo?" he reasoned out but I didn't buy that.

"Are you afraid that I might just be hiding how I feel? Are you afraid I might hurt myself because of what my sister told me last night? Are you afraid I might blame myself too?" I asked him seriously. "Are you afraid that I might cry alone? You're afraid of my sister? What are you afraid of?"

He could not speak immediately. He just kept staring at me. I sighed before giving him a small smile. "You don't have nothing to fear. I'm always here to protect you."

"Natatakot ako," he suddenly said. "Natatakot akong sarilihin mo lahat. Natatakot ako na baka naglilihim ka sa akin. Natatakot ako na baka isang araw, habang nasasaktan ka ay bigla ka nalang hindi magpakita sa akin."

"I won't do that. How can I protect you if I suddenly don't show up? A part of our deal is to meet every day, have you forgotten?"

"Natatakot akong masaktan ka ng hindi ko alam..."

"I'm stronger than you think." I reached out for his hand. "If I'm sad, hurt, or anything... I will tell you. Are we clear now?" I squeezed his hand so he nodded. "Let's go," I stood up. He just told something to Hannah before we finally left.

"Ano nga? Aanhin mo ang bagong kotse? Magagamit mo ba lahat 'yan? Nag-iisa ka lang!" he complained again when we arrived.

"Stop complaining! I'm just doing my job, okay? I'm saving them from bankruptcy."

"Tapos ano? Nasa garage lang at magiging display kasi hindi mo naman ginagamit ang mga kotse mo?" he said again.

"Will you just please shut up? If you want to buy a car, pumili ka na rin! I'll pay for it. And besides, your car is already old na! You have to buy a new one." I told him, probably trying to tease him so he can stop nagging.

"Too old? Gustong-gusto mo ngang sumakay sa kotse ko!" he fired back. I just rolled my eyes before entering.

"Good morning, Ma'am. May transaction ka na po ba o ngayon palang po kayo maghahanap ng kotseng bibilhin niyo?" she asked me. I looked around to find a good car that will suit my taste.

"I want this one," I immediately said and approached a honda civic car.

"Are you sure, Ma'am?"

"Yes."

"Okay po, we'll settle the payment and everything. This way, Ma'am," she said politely. asher just followed me quietly while looking around.

"Have made a choice yet? Do you want a car?" I smirked on him.

"Hindi na. May pinag-iipunan ako. Hindi rin luma ang kotse ko, last month ko lang binila 'yon," masungit na sabi niya sa akin. I was about to say something again but he cut me off. "Huwag ka ng magsalita. Ayusin mo na para makauwi na tayo."

"Marge, pa-assist naman dito for the payment. Aayusin ko lang ang papeles ng kotse na binila niya," I heard the girl said to the other employee. I sat on the couch while Asher sat beside me, trying to make a face like a kid

"Okay, po. Good morning, Ma'am, I would like to---" She was shocked to see me and so was I

"What are you doing here?" kunot-noong tanong ko while looking at her wearing a uniform. She's an employee here?

"Pake mo? Akin na ang pera, magbayad ka na para makaalis ka na sa harapan ko," she rolled her eyes on me.

"Aren't you gonna ask me how will I pay? You're rude!"

"Ano ba? Bank account? Cash? Bilisan mo."

"You're fluent in Tagalog. How long have you been living here? And why are you working?" I asked her.

"To earn money, duh?" she rolled her eyes again.

"Where do you live? Do you have a house? Condo? Apartment?"

"Ang dami mong tanong. Close ba tayo? Magbayad ka na!" she look so pissed now but that didn't stop me from asking.

"I'm asking you as your sister, Miss Marguerite Aeris," I seriously said. I saw her gulped before looking away.

"No, I don't have a house, condo, or even apartment. I'm staying at my friend's house. I'm paying for rent. Is my answer okay? Can you pay now?" she told me.

"I'm paying in cash," I suddenly said. She nodded before going back to her place to get something.

"Ano ulit pangalan? Margwe what?" He asked me while still trying to pronounce my sister's name

"Marguerite Aeris. Mar-gwe-rit," I told him.

"Marguerite. How does it spell?"

"M-A-R-G-U-E-R-I-T-E. Stop asking about her name," I glared at him so he shut his mouth .

"Akin na," she said rudely before handing me a pen and a paper. "Pumirma ka diyan. Bilisan mo."

"You're being rude. I'm still a customer!" I told her but she just ignored me. She excused herself when her boss personally gave me the papers on the car I bought. She even told me many things about my business and she said she's very thankful that I chose their branch to buy a new car.

"No worries. The car is nice," I smiled at her sweetly. "Sorry, but may I excuse Marguerite for a while?"

"You know her?" she looked so shock but immediately nodded and excuse herself. Nang makalabas siya ay agad na nawala ang ngiti sa mukha ng kapatid ko.

"Ano nanaman?"

"If you need a house to stay in, my house is open for you. This is my address," I gave him the address of my house.

"Bakit naman ako titira sa bahay mo? Sino ka ba?"

"Don't be so stubborn. Stay in my place, I'm not forcing you. I know you miss me too."

"Eww," she gave me a disgusted look. "Just go. Huwag na huwag ka ng magpapakita sa akin."

"Okay. Eat on time and don't tire yourself." I reminded her before finally going out. The owner thanks me again.

"Paano na? Convoy tayo?" Asher asked me.

"No. I asked my driver to pick up the car. I'll go home with you," I told him. I saw him smirking after that. "Why are you smirking?"

"Too old pala, ha. Gustong-gusto mo namang sakyan," pang-aasar niya.

"Excuse me?" I raised a brow at him.

"Yes, Ma'am. Sumakay ka na po para makauwi na tayo." He opened the door for me. I gave him a glare before going in. "Magkapatid nga talaga kayong dalawa," he suddenly said. "Pareho kayong masungit na ayaw magpatalo."

"What are you saying?"

"Wala. Magkahawig pa kayo. She's rude."

"She's always like that," I laughed a little. "That's part of her personality. She inherited from Mom but she's the sweetest."

"Anong nararamdaman mo? Galit ka rin ba sa kaniya? Sa mga sinabi niya sa 'yo noong gabing 'yon?"

"Galit? I can't be angry with her. My concern for her was more dominant. I want to... be a good sister to her this time... which I have never done before. I'll try my best to do that."