Sarang

Chapter 18

I was feeling lazy the next day. I was exhausted because I had to save someone this morning. I had taken a shower and all when I went down but I was still drowsy.

"Good morning, zombie."

I heard Asher's voice from the kitchen so I quickly rubbed my eyes to confirm if he was really the one I heard. I saw him wearing an apron and holding a spatula.

"What are you doing here?" I asked in astonishment. I walked over to the refrigerator to get some drinking water.

"I came here to cook breakfast. Wala kayong kakainin ng kapatid mo kung hindi ko gagawin 'to," he said.

"We can order, you know," I said artfully.

"Gastos nanaman," he whispers. "Tatawa talaga ako ng malakas kapag isang araw ubos na pera mo."

I raised my brow at him. "Excuse me? Are you saying something?"

"Wala, umupo ka na diyan," he said in monotone. I heard footsteps from the stair so I assumed that it was Aeris. And I was right. She's still in her pajamas while carrying her dog. Our eyes immediately met so she was a little surprised.

"I'm sorry, akala ko tulog ka pa. Ilalabas ko lang siya," she hurriedly ran out of the house.

"Kailan ka pa allergic sa aso?" Asher asked me out of nowhere.

"Since when I was a kid," I answered. I stood up to help him prepare the food. Aeris came back after a few minutes so we started eating. "You don't have work?" I asked him.

"Mamaya pa."

"How about you?" I turned my head to Aeris. "Do you have work?"

She swallowed her food first and then drank water. "I resigned," she responds.

"Really? Why?"

"Nagtanggal sila ng tauhan. Tinanggal nila 'yong isang kasama ko na mas nangangailangan ng pera kaya kinausap ko 'yong boss ko at sinabing ako nalang ang tanggaling niya," she explained. "Okay lang. Maghahanap nalang ako ng trabaho malapit dito para makapagbayad ako ng renta."

My brows creased. "Why do you have to pay rent?"

"Bayad ko sa 'yo."

"I didn't ask you to pay me though," I told her. "Your only concern now is to find a job so you can save money and do everything you want. Do you want to work at my company?"

"No," she quickly refused. "Susubukan ko munang mag-apply doon sa sinabi sa akin ng kaibigan ko. Maganda naman ang trabaho ron at okay na rin ang sahod."

"I can also give you a job at my Restaurant," Asher told her.

"Yes, thank you," she politely replied to her.

"Okay, then. Just tell me if you need anything. Don't be shy, okay?"

"I'll try," she hesitantly said. "Do you always speak in English?"sShe suddenly asked me.

"Yes. But I speak Tagalog sometimes."

"Pansin mo rin ba? Dudugo ilong mo sa kaka-english niya 'no?" singit ni Asher so I instantly glared at him.

"Yeah. You should practice speaking in Tagalog. Ang tagal mo na rito sa Pilipinas, ah? Dapat nga fluent ka na sa Tagalog."

"I always speak in English though. And isa pa, I'm only talking to Rose naman kasi. I don't have other friends kaya I can't practice speaking in Tagalog."

"Eso es bueno (That's good)," she said while nodding her head.

"Oh, you can still speak Spanish," I said in an amaze tone of voice.

Right after eating, Asher excused himself because he needs to do something in his Restaurant and visit some of his other branches. I want to go with him but he told me he'll bring Kooper with him.

"I'll build a house for him," I told Aeris when I saw her outside, playing with her dog. She giggles before turning her head to me.

"Hindi na. May kulungan naman siya tsaka tuwing gabi ko lang naman siya pinapasok sa kwarto. Bumili na rin ako ng vacuum para kapag wala ka at maglalaro siya sa loob ay malilinisan ko kaagad," she said.

"I'm sorry," I said in a sad voice. I was unable to approach her because of the dog. "You can't bring your dog inside because I was allergic to it."

"That's okay! Dapat nga hindi rin ako nagdala ng aso. Hindi ko alam na allergic ka pa rin hanggang ngayon."

"What's your dog's name again?" I asked her.

"It's Kerby," she answered.

"Why Kerby?" I asked out of nowhere. I saw her gulped before answering.

"It's... it was given by someone," she answered before looking away.

We stayed outside until lunch. I just sat near the door while watching them run together. We decided to just order our food since we don't have time to cook anymore. I ordered her favorite pizza and chicken. I also bought soup for her dog, I'm not sure if that was okay for a dog.

"What about Ami? Have you... seen him after what happened to his evil stepdad?"

"I haven't, I'm sorry," I answered while bitting mg lip.

"He's under the custody of DSWD now, with his step-siblings. I don't want to ask you this but do you... have a plan for him? Alam kong hindi niya na tayo kilala ngayon pero may plano ka ba?"

"I was... planning to adopt him, maybe, if he wants to come with us. I am willing to do that. Do you want to live with him?"

"Yes. I can... provide his needs."

"Silly. I can provide both of your needs. You don't have to work na rin naman. I am here to guide you. Do you want to study? I can enroll you. Do you want to have a business? I can give you."

"No, I will... try my best. Kapag hindi na talaga kaya, saka nalang ako hihingi ng tulong sa 'yo," she said before smiling at me. I also couldn't help but smile. "But are you sure you aren't together?" she asked me again.

"No. For real. Nothing is going on between us."

"Really? There's something in his eyes that I can't tell. Same sa 'yo," she said while trying to think. "I really can't explain it eh, pero your eyes can tell naman. I won't say anything nalang. But I can say na, you two look good for each other."

"Really?" I asked while smiling.

"But you should watch yourself. Don't fall for him," she warned me. "Someone told me this before. You met him on purpose."

"Huh?"

"That Kuya!" she was slightly taken aback by what she said. "Oh, I shouldn't be calling him Kuya kasi mas matanda ako sa kaniya," she laugh a little. "He can be your greatest downfall. You must do something to avoid him or get him out of your life."

I gave a small smile. "I know," I said in low voice. "But after everything that happened, my decision is final. He's not leaving, I'm not doing anything to get him out of my life. I'm keeping him by my side."

"But---"

"If there was really a reason why I met him then just chasing him out won't solve anything," I cut her off before eating again. After eating, I told her I had something to buy at the mall. I ask her if she wants to come with but she refused because she also needs to apply for work. I just let her borrow one of my cars to avoid the hassle.

While I was walking inside the mall, I have this feeling that someone is following me. I tried to act normal and enter my favorite store to buy some jewelry. Since I can't buy luxury bags because of Asher, I decided to buy jewelry instead.

I continue buying everything I want, ignoring that someone who's following me. After paying for the last item that I bought, I walk outside the mall acting like I wasn't feeling someone was following me. I started to walk fast to check if he's really following me and I saw that he was walking fast as well.

I quickly turned right when I reached the parking and immediately disappeared to go behind him. I saw him slightly panic when he lose me so I smirked before coming near him to whisper. "Are you looking for me?" I asked sweetly.

He quickly looks at me and was about to stab me with the iron he was holding but I quickly avoided it. "Oh, chill. I don't want to fight with someone today," I told him, still smiling.

Third Person's POV

After dropping Kooper at his house, Asher immediately drove to Sia's house. Malaki ang ngiti niya sa labi hanggang sa makapasok siya sa loob. Naabutan niya kaagad si Rose sa sala na parang may hinihintay. Nang makita niya ang lalaki ay agad itong tumayo.

"Where's Sia?" she asked him.

Agad na nagtaka si Asher dahil sa tanong nito sa kaniya. "She was here when I left."

"So you aren't with her?" medyo kinakabahan ng sabi ng babae sa kaniya. Nakarinig sila ng yapak pababasa hagdan at nakita nila si Aeris na mukhang kagigising lang. "Where's your sister?" agad na tanong sa kaniya.

"Sabi niya may bibilhin lang daw siya saglit sa mall. Wala pa ba siya?"

"Damn," Rose closed her eyes firmly before talking again. "Parking lot, the mall near your Restaurant. Someone is attacking her."

"What?" naguguluhang tanong ni Asher sa kaniya.

"Someone is trying to kill her!"

Agad na nanlaki ang mga mata ni Asher bago tumabko paalis. Susunod na sana si Aeris nang biglang hablutin ni Rose ang kamay nito at umiling. "Hindi mo na kailangang pumunta."

"What are you saying? Sabi mo may gustong pumatay sa kaniya. I need to help her!"

Mas lalong umiling lang ang babae sa kaniya. "He will save her. He has to."

Sa kabilang dako, dali-daling pinaharurot ni Asher ang kotse niya papunta sa sinabi ni Rose. Paulit-ulit ang pagmumura niya sa isip. Nang makarating sa tapat ng mall ay dali-dali siyang tumakbo papunta sa parking lot. Wala ng masyadong tao dahil gabi na at karamihan sa kanila ay nasa loob ng mall para kumain ng hapunan.

Inikot niya ang basement pero wala siyang makita kaya kahit hinihingal na ay tumakbo pa rin siya papunta sa second floor ng mall. Sinubukan niyang hagilapin ang kotse ni Sia pero hindi niya alam kung ano ang gamit nito ngayon o kung gumamit nga ba siya ng kotse.

Susuko na sana siya at handa ng tumakbo papunta sa third floor nang may marinig siyang nabasag sa pinakadulong bahagi ng parking lot. Dali-dali siyang tumakbo palapit don at pilit inaninag ang nangyayari.

Nakita siya ni Sia na sinasangga ang bawat atake ng lalaki sa kaniya. Hindi magawang makalapit kaagad ni Asher sa gulat. Hahakbang na sana siya palapit nang marinig niya ang sinabi ng lalaki.

"Asher Ace Samonte," mababa ang boses na sabi nito. Kinilabutan si Blade nang marinig niya iyon. Mula sa kinatatayuan niya ay nakita niya kung paanong ngumisi si Sia sa kaniya.

"Why? Are you trying to scare me using his name? Don't ever think of trying. You're just wasting your time," may halong ngiti sa labi nito habang sinasabi niya 'yon kaya hindi mawari ni Asher kung ano ang tumatakbo sa isip ng dalawa.

"Asher Ace Samonte," ulit nung lalaki kaya tuluyan ng tumawa si Sia.

"You have no idea how cowardly he is. No matter how many times you call him, he won't show up," sabi nito. Nagsimula na nanamang umatake ang lalaki kaya hindi na nito napigilan ang sarili niya sa paglapit.

"Sia!" sigaw nito. Agad na lumingon sa kaniya ang dalaga at nanlaki ang mga mata nito. Bago pa man siya makapagsalita ay nasaksak na siya no'ng lalaki.

Sia's POV

I just stared at the man until I leaned against the wall. His already smiling but that's the least of my concern now. "Don't come near us," I stopped Asher but this stupid human being ignored what I said.

He kicked the man hard which made him fell to the floor. His eyes widened as he tries to walk near me. "Are you... are you okay?" I can sense the worries in his voice.

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

"That's the least of your concern now! We need to go!" He tried to grab my hand but I shook my head. I can't just go like this. "Bakit ka umiiling? f**k, nasaksak ka na!"

"I'm fine," I told him. I stared at him because there was a trace of concern on his face. And he's sweating bullets for Pete's sake! Did he run just to find me?

The man disappeared from my mind for a while so I was surprised when Asher suddenly fell to the floor. He was about to walk near him when I grab his hand. He tried to grab his hand but I just tightened my grip before looking at him sharply.

"No one is allowed to hurt my man. Not in my watch," I told him. Using my other hand, I effortlessly pulled out the iron he stabbed me with. Without a warning, I stabbed him in the chest until he gradually steps backward. He vanished like a speck of dust so I cleaned my hand using the alcohol I have.

"Is he..."

"A soul," I cut him off. "Let's go," I told him.

"Anong ibig sabihin no'n? Teka, ayos ka lang ba?" he asked me before stopping me to walk. He immediately checked my whole body to see if I was really okay.

"I'm fine. What are you doing here?"

"Bakit ba kasi umaalis ka ng hindi sinasabi kung saan ka mismo pupunta?" pagalit na tanong nito.

"Excuse me? Why are you angry? I didn't ask you to go here. I had no idea some coward would muster the courage to run and call my name without thinking anything. What a fool."

"A coward? Are you calling me a coward?" he looks at me in disbelief. "Sinasabi mo bang duwag ako?"

My brows shut. "There's no one else here. You're such a fool," I tsked.

"A fool?" mas lalong hindi makapaniwalang tanong niya. "Nobody ever called me that in my whole life."

"So?" I asked him. He was about to say something again when I turned my back on him. "I'll kill you if you speak again. I'm serious," I warned him.