CHEERLEADER SERIES - JULIE

Chapter XXIX

As soon as the meeting was done, his family dragged him inside his father's office. Nayayamot na siya dahil na rin sa ayaw na ayaw niya na nakakausap ang pamilya niya sa loob ng opisina. 

He's managed to be a silent part of the board of directors. He knew of the company to be Julie's parents. 

She suddenly disappeared four years ago and he didn't even know what the reason was. 

Until one day his parents told him that they had shares they needed to divide amongst each other. 

He finally realized what she must have thought of him way back. 

Inisip ba nitong kasabwat siya sa mga ginawa ng  magulang niya? 

"Are you still with us Brad?" Anton was now standing in front of him with his hands tucked inside his pockets. 

"Of course."

"Ang sabi ni Mama, hindi ba pwede'ng kausapin mo siya about the removal of the board of directors? After all, she's your ex-girlfriend. Maybe you could bring light to her so we could still have control of all the assets we own in this company?"

"Well, she's the rightful heir to this company. Perhaps it's just right that she's now sitting on the seat that her father used to occupy."

"How dare you? Nakikinabang ka rin naman sa pagiging miyembro ng board ng kompanyang 'to. Ano'ng ipinagmamayabang mo?"

"Nothing. None at all. And all three of you should also think of the same way. Aminin nimyo sa mga sarili ninyo na minsan na kayong gumamit at nanloko ng tao. Oh, wait. Hindi nga pala minsan. Palagi nyo na nga palang ginagawa 'yun."

His father stared at him as though throwing a dagger at him. Kung nakakamatay lang ang titig, kanina pa siguro siyang bumulagta sa sahig. 

Her mother has gone back into hysterics. She's lost her composure over the woman they thought was never worthy of him. 

Honestly, he's just tired of hearing all their complaints, how he wishes he could just disappear and never come back again. Ngunit hindi iilang beses na binlack mail siya ng sariling pamilya. Of how he would be disinherited. 

It's not that he could not make it on his own, there are just a few things he needed to do before he could decide on totally disconnecting from this family. 

He sighed as he started to stand up and deliberately walked away from all of them. He's pretty sure they would not even notice him leaving. 

Sa oras na lumapat ang dahon ng pintuan, maliksi siyang lumakad palayo sa opisina ng sariling ama. 

Napakibit siya ng balikat ng tuluyan nang masigurong hindi na siya tatawagin ng mga ito. 

He was thinking of where he's going. Benson has not called him yet so it's still too early for lunch. 

Unknowingly, dinala siya ng sariling mga paa sa harap ng pintuan hinding-hindi niya gustong tahakin. 

Seeing her just a while ago made his heart wild. 

After four long years, he's seen her again. But this time around, she looked more mature, more snappy, and more vengeful. 

He could still remember the last night they talked before she totally disappeared. Iilang beses niyang sinubukang habulin ito pero hindi na niya magawa. Because at that time, he too did not know what to tell her. 

He was too much of a coward. 

In a quick sudden movement, he opened the door to her office and carefully closed it behind him.

"Did you forget anything?" napansin niyang natigilan ito nang makitang ibang tao ang bumungad sa kanya. 

He stood there leaning in front of the door staring straight towards her.

Nahalata niya ang paglunok nito na tila ba tinatanggal ang kakaibang hagod na narararamdaman sa lalamunan nito. 

He celebrated in silence as he saw that his effect on her has never changed. 

She still must be the same woman he adored so much from that old time.

"Hi." he boyishly smiled. 

Sandali itong napatitig sa kanya na tila ba hindi siya kilala. Muli ay tiningnan nito ang mga papeles na binabasa. And somehow, that disappointed him. 

"Ano'ng kailangan mo?"

Ni hindi man lang ba ito natinag sa presensiya niya?

"I just wanted to formally welcome you and maybe talk to you for a while."

"I'm too busy for silly chit-chats Brad."

His name still sounded so good when she says it. 

Dahan-dahan siyang lumapit sa tapat ng mesa nito, nag-aalangan ngunit nananatiya. 

"Have you eaten?"

"I'm not hungry."

"Well, Benson invited me for lunch today. Maybe you'd like to join us? Medyo matagal na rin since you've.... disappeared." he felt a searing pain shoot through his heart just thinking about that night when she bid him goodbye. 

"As I said, I'm not hungry."

"I see." he bowed down while playing with his shoes against the carpeted floor. Then suddenly, an idea came to his mind. 

Sa di inaasahan, bigla niyang hinablot ang mga dokumentong hawak nito at itinago ito sa likuran niya. BIgla ay tila kabayong nag-alburoto sa galit si Julie. 

She stood up and turned towards where he was standing. 

"Ano ba'ng problema--"

Her words were cut off all of a sudden as he wrapped his arms around her waist and cupped her face in a matter of seconds. Then, what followed was something even he didn't expect. 

He kissed her hungrily, tila bumabawi sa taong nawala. 

Ang labi niya una'y tinatantiya ang bawat galaw ng kaulayaw ay biglang naging masigla nang maramdaman niya ang marahan nitong pagpaparaya sa marupok niyang halik. 

He could hear her moaning softly, feeling the same intensity as he is feeling. 

Their lips started to dance with each other. Him taking the lead. 

Aminin man niya o hindi, iilang taon niyang inalala ang bawat halik nito. 

Iilang taon siyang nagdusa sa kakaisip kung nasaan ito at kung paano siya makakabawi dito. 

At iilang taon ang sinayang niya dahil ni minsan ay hindi siya nagkaroon ng lakas ng loob na magtiyagang habulin ito. 

He could feel himself losing his breath that as much as he didn't want to stop, he had to. 

Marahan niyang inilayo ang sariling mukha at inalis ang mga kamay sa mukha nito. 

Marahan siyang humakbang unti-unti palayo dito. 

With his head bowed down, he turned his back away from her. Teasing her. 

"Welcome again." napakagat-labi pa siya habang nakatitig dito at sa labi nitong kakahalik pa lang niya.

Habang lihim na napapangiti sa sensasyong ngayon niya lang uli naramdaman.