DAUNTLESS SERIES: II (BAD AND MESSY)

Chapter Two

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He frustratedly washed his hands over his face. He was having sleepless nights and it had been five days. Dammit!

The girl he saw in the coffee shop kept bothering his mind. He kept coming there like a total fucking idiot. Monday until Friday—tumambay siya ro'n mula umaga at minsan ay gabi at inaabot na siya do'n ng hanggang alas dose pero ni anino nito, hindi niya nakita. It wasn't his thing but there was a strange feeling that kept on telling him to go there.

Someone knocked on his door.

He took a deep breath. Pinilit niya ang sariling tumayo mula sa kama at nagbihis. Nasulyapan niya ang orasan sa bedside table—seven in the morning. Mula ng nakauwi siya limang araw na ang nakakaraan ay hindi niya pa naranasang makatulog ng maayos. So much for coming back to the Philippines. Muli siyang napabuntong-hininga. Binuksan niya ang pinto, naroon si Manang Tess.

"Sir, dumating na si Don Cedric kanina lang po. Gusto raw po kayong makausap sa study room."

Last Sunday, when he came back from Boston, his father was already asleep. Kinabukasan naman no'n ay maaga itong umalis para sa isang business trip sa Singapore at ngayon lang Sabado nakabalik.

"Susunod ako, Manang."

Tumango ito at umalis.

He took a quick shower and dressed in a casual shirt and black shorts. Agad niyang tinungo ang study room ng matapos.

"Dad..."

Mula sa binabasang newspaper ay nag angat ng tingin ang Don. His father was already fifty but he looked ten years younger. Matangkad ito at matikas pa rin ang katawan. His Spanish blood was visible on his face and skin. Mestizong-mestizo. Para silang pinagbiyak na bunga maliban lang sa kutis niyang moreno na nakuha niya sa inang half-Filipina at half-Brazilian.

"Sit down, Nikkos."

He silently took the chair in front of him. He crossed his legs.

"This is the time, Nik. You already earned your degree. It's high time to formally announce your relationship with Sofie. We'll be having a family dinner with the Gomezes tonight. Sa pamilya muna natin ito at kung may mga makakaalam man ay tanging mga close relatives lang. Mas importanteng malaman ng lahat ang pag take over mo sa negosyo."

The merging of two Spanish aristocratic families...finally.

Payak siyang ngumiti.

Sofia Ysabel Gomez, nag-iisang babaeng anak ni Don Fernando at Doña Isabella. He and Sofia both knew that this day would happen. Their families already planned their future since they were still babies. So, he had never really been into relationships. Sofia too. They were loyal to their family. They had been protecting their family names, the family legacy.

Mamaya ay pormal na niyang magiging kasintahan si Sofia.

Wala namang kaso 'yon sakaniya dati pero ngayon...

Muling naglaro sa isip niya ang imahe ng babae.

He knew what it was. Attraction.

Lumaki siyang napapalibutan ng mga nag gagandahan at nag seseksihang babae at lahat ay mula sa alta sosyedad. But it was the first time he felt instant attraction since high school and it was strong. Too strong for him to keep on coming back just to see her once again.