Enemies With Benefits (Under Major Revision)

23rd

Seigraine

"Totoo pala talaga 'yong rumors?"

"Buti okay lang sa asawa niya ang trabaho niya."

"Maybe her husband is not tight, right? Hindi possessive. Saka being a model is just work."

They are talking about Danielle and her husband while we're heading to this resort's mini bar. And the whole time of their conversations, I remained silent with my brows closed.

"Six years, man! Ang tagal na nilang mag-asawa, tingin niyo may anak na kaya sila?" My jaw clenched upon hearing that.

Kanya-kanya kaming naupo sa stool sa harap ng bar counter at nauna na akong lumagok, bago mariing hinawakan ang shot glass.

"I heard she married Marcus Rivera, e'to 'yong wedding pictures nila o, akala ko talaga edited to e." nagsimula silang magkumpulan at nanatili ako sa pwesto ko. Bakit ba masyado silang interesado sa buhay ni Danielle?

"Look at her smile, mukhang masaya talaga siya sa piling ni Rivera. Iba pala 'yon mag-alaga akala ko puro mukha lang 'yon e."

"I miss that kind of smile that she always has." out of curiosity. Unti-unti akong nakisilip, they're looking at Gio's phone.

"Sayang 'no?" habol pa ang tingin ko sa screen ng phone ni Gio ng akmang itatago na niya iyon, I immediately took it away from him and stared back at their pictures.

Kunot ang noong pinakatitigan ko ang larawan at hindi ko maiwasang hindi makaramdam ng inis ng makita ang nakangiting mga labi ni Eras.

Mabilis akong lumagok sa baso ko, habang mariin pa rin na nakatitig doon.

"Bakit Seig?"

"The guy was familiar."

"Ah, one of our investors, hindi mo talaga nakikilala?"

"Tell him, he can pull out his investment."

"Are you serious, man? Ang laki ng investment niya sa 'tin."

"Mukha bang may pakialam ako?" tinapon ko sa kaniya ang phone niya na agad naman niyang sinalo ng may halo pang reklamo.

Ilang beses pa akong uminom bago nagpaalam sa kanilang sa labas lang muna ako at magpapahangin. I took out one stick of cigar, hawak-hawak ko 'yon hanggang sa makalabas ng hotel at dumeretso sa open area where I could light my smoke.

I don't know what's happening, but I am irritated. Halos panggigilan ko ang sigarilyo ko bago marahas na bumubuga ng hangin. I was busy staring at nowhere when it settled on someone. Hindi siya kalayuan sa akin, nasa chaise lounge siya sa poolside at nagbabasa ng magazine habang may hawak-hawak na baso ng juice na paminsan-minsan niyang sinisimsiman.

I surveyed her face down on her body, and I couldn't help but to watch her sip on the straw.

Ang akma kong paghithit sa sigarilyo ay natigil sa ere at naiwang nakaawang ang labi ng makita ko kung paano niya kagatin ang straw ng walang kamalay-malay. I bit my lip and settled my eyes on the straw when her lips let it go for a while. Hindi maalis ang titig ko sa straw na kinagat niya.

Damn, parang ang sarap na lang maging straw.

Hindi ko namalayan na nakalapit na pala ako sa kung nasaan siya. I chose to sit down on one of the lounges apart from her and stare at the pool. I was watching her using my side vision and she never looked at me. Hindi niya ako tinapunan ng kahit pahapyaw na tingin.

She acts as if she doesn't care and isn't interested in knowing who sits near her.

I remained silent, busy watching her. I don't know why I felt something I shouldn't feel right now. The cold treatment I am receiving from her is stressing me out.

After six years, I expected this... I've prepared myself. Pero kahit anong handa ko sa sarili ko, 'yong pakiramdam na parang kailan lang no'ng nasa akin pa ang kislap ng mga mata niya ang attention niya, ang mga ngiti niya tapos ngayon wala na and that was my fault.

Napaayos ako ng upo ng bigla siyang tumayo at iniwan ang magazine sa kinauupuan. Mabilis ko siyang sinundan hanggang sa makapasok kami sa hotel. I followed her silently as we both entered the elevator.

Ilang beses akong tumikhim, trying to get her attention but she remained silent, she treated me like dead air.

Nang huminto ang elevator at bumukas ito ay agad akong sumunod sa kaniya ng lumabas siya. Kontento na sana akong maihatid siya hanggang sa hotel room nila ng bigla siyang huminto, I thought she was going to face me, but she didn't.

"I don't like being followed by someone like a stalker, it's creeping me out." her cold voice caused my legs to freeze.

"Who says I am following you?" pagdedepensa ko sa sarili and I almost had a heart attack when she faced me—no—the one behind me?

Napanganga ako ng paglingon sa likuran ko ay may nakita akong lalaki na nakahood at may hawak na camera. Nilampasan lang ako ni Danielle at nilapitan niya ang lalaki,"Who says you're allowed to take pictures without my consent?"

"Sorry ma'am crush na crush po kasi talaga kita."

"Hindi pa ba sapat sa 'yo ang mga larawan ko sa magazine? Kulang pa ba?" her voice becomes poisonous. It wasn't like that before. She's not like this. She's not harsh.

"S-sorry po ma'am.""Delete all of my photos you took, if you don't want to say goodbye to that cheap camera of yours."

"M-ma'am?"

"Buburahin mo o ako ang magbubura!? Delete it right here right now!"

"O-opo." agad na binura no'ng lalaki, gaya ng utos ni Danielle. Nanatili ako roong nakatayo at pinapanood sila. The guy left after with a long face.

Humarap na ulit si Danielle direksyon na tinatahak kanina na tila wala ako sa gilid niya. Hindi niya ako pinansin o pinasadahan ng tingin at derederetsong naglakad palayo.

Kunot-noong pinaood ko siya at hindi makapaniwalang nilagay ang dalawang kamay sa bewang ko.

She's very different. Parang nakakatakot na siyang lapitan.

Kahit anong pigil ko sa sarili ay agad ko pa rin siyang sinundan. Until she stopped again, and walked towards one of the room's doors. Nakontento na akong huminto sa likuran niya at sa harapan ng room nila when she faced me, and now I am hell sure that she's staring at me.

"Hanggang kailan mo ako balak sundan, Mr. Harisson?" her eyes were emotionless. I remember how it speaks before, kung gaano karami ang mga sinasabi, kung gaano kabuhay na buhay, at kung gaano maihahalintulad sa mga bituin sa langit sa pagkinang.

Isa lang ang malinaw sa akin ngayon.

Galit siya, galit pa rin siya.

"I am just bored," Fuck it Seigraine, what's the hell?

"Bored, I see. Next time you're bored, kill yourself. Stop following someone, especially if she isn't your master. Dogs should follow their master, right?" dog?! Aso? Ikinumpara niya ako sa aso?!

"I am not a dog to follow my master, but if you're the master then I am willing to be a dog." her eyes narrowed, mukhang hindi niya nagustuhan ang sinabi ko at mabilis na akong tinalikuran.

Siguro kailangan ko pang magbasa ng corny jokes, 'yong magugustuhan niya.