Sultry Scheme

02

"I assume you are, Artia?" He said calmly with a friendly smile on his face.

"And you are Conrad, my mama's new boyfriend?" I let out a small sarcasm in my tone.

Naramdaman ko ang paghawak sa akin ni mama sa braso. She's stopping me from saying more.

"Yes. Your mama's right." He said, stopped in front of us. Matayog ang tayo niya, I felt intimidated a bit. He's taller, and definitely older than me, it's natural I feel intimidated. Specially he's a man, old man.

"Right about what?" Pero hindi ko pinigilan ang magtaray. I get intimidated but I'm not afraid.

"You are indeed a beauty." He let out a small chuckle after that, along with my mom's.

"Of course! Nagmana ito sakin!" Said my mama energetically. Unalis siya sa tabi ko at kay Conrad siya ngayon kumapit.

Ngingitian ko na sana siya dahil sinabihan niya akong maganda pero ngayong nakakapit si mama sa kanya ay nainis ako. I felt bitter as I stared at their arms clinging to each other.

"That's not true, Ma! Nagmana ako kay Dad." I said boldly and flash a smile more like a smirk.

I saw mama gulped and looked away from me. While he chuckled awkwardly.

"Is that so? Whoever it is, you're truly beautiful." He said nicely.

I kept my face straight. Hindi mo ako madadaan sa bola. Hindi ko din sinagot. Mama let out a awkward laugh.

"Anyway, let's go to the kitchen. Baka magugutom na kayo." Ani Conrad.

"Right! Let's eat lunch. Nagugutom kana, Artia?" She asked sweetly to me pero pinandidilatan ako ng mata ngayong nakatalikod na samin si Conrad.

"Hindi pa." Tamad kong sagot kahit na ang totoo ay medyo gutom na. Wala pa akong nakain sa araw na ito. Hindi na ako nakapag-almusal.

"I asked them to prepare delicious food. Kahit na hindi kapa gutom iha, gugustuhin mong kumain na dahil sa sarap ng mga pagkain." Sambit ni Conrad habang naglalakad. Nakasunod naman si mama sa kanya and I have no choice but to follow them too. Lalo na't nakasunod din ang ilan maids at nang hindi ako gumalaw ay itinuro sa akin ang daan kung saan ang tinatahak namin ngayon.

"Ows?" Walang tono kong sagot. I saw mama shook her head and surely closed her eyes tightly. Ma-iistress na 'yan sakin.

One reason why she doesn't always introduce her boyfriends to me ay dahil tinatarayan ko. Sometimes binabastos pa, not in a sexual way, I just don't treat them like they're older than me. In short I treat them with no manners. In that way they'll know I don't like them, specially for my mama and most specially I don't want them to be my new Dad.

I don't want anyone. No one will be my new Dad again.

We walked for like a minute. Ang laki ng bahay na ito and also because I am walking slow. Nakakatamad lang.

"Come in!" Said Conrad.

The dining room has no door. Napataas ako ng isang kilay nang makita ang mahabang mesa with lots of food on top of it. Pumasok sa ilong ko ang amoy ng mga pagkain pero hindi parin ako nagugutom ng sobra to the point na makakalimutan ko ng magtaray at ang purpose ng pagpunta ko dito.

"I asked them to prepare your favourite. And also the whine." Nakangiting bulong ni mama sakin. Itinuro ang parte ng mesa na may bote ng whine and a plate with a steak.

Ngayon na ako nakaramdam ng gutom. Lalo na sa whine. Hindi ko pinahalata kay mama na lumunok ako bg laway. Pinanatili kong inip ang ekspresyon ko at nagsinungaling.

"That's not my favourite." I said low.

Hindi na yata narinig iyon ni mama dahil lumapit na siya sa mesa at kinalikot ang mga kubyertos.

"Where's Kingsley?" Conrad asked to one of the maids. Lumingon-lingon sila sa paligid.

Doon ko napansin na ang pader sa kabilang side ay clear glass wall. You can see what's outside and I think it's a garden. Parang gustong kong pumunta doon pero pinigilan ko.

I like staying outside, in gardens field with flowers or even just leaf plants. Breathing the fresh air and slightly getting hit by the sunlight with a glass of juice or even a whine kahit na mainit pa ang panahon.

"I didn't see him around. Is he here?" I heard Conrad.

"Nandito na po. Baka po nasa taas. Hanapin po namin, Sir." Sagot sa kanya nung maid. Kaagad na kumilos ang iba at mukhang may hahapin tao.

Maybe his son? Mama said he have a son.

"Dad."

Napapitlag ako ng bahagya nang makarinig ng boses mula sa kabilang dulo. The kind of voice first time you hear will automatically turn your head to see how good looking he is just like how good his voice is. And damn! I was right. Damn good lord he look so good.

My heart pounded, I don't know why I feel giddy? Or this is just my normal reaction when I see good looking guys.

Napalunok ako ng laway at napadila sa labi ko. My throat feels dry.

"I was in the pool area." He said to his father while walking to him. Alam na hinahanap siya ng ama.

I gritted my teeth. Ewan ko ba. Gustong gusto ko naririnig ang boses niya. I want him to talk more. His accent myghad. And he's not just good looking, he's tall! And fit! My type!

"Now you're here let's have our lunch." Matigas na sabi ni Conrad at ibinaling sa akin ang tingin. Kasabay noon ang paglingon din sa akin ng anak niya.

Nagsalubong ang nga mata namin. Ilang segundo kaming nagtitigan. Shit! That drowsy eyes! Chinitong mukhang inaantok. Napakagwapo!

Kinalma ko ang sarili ko at baka bigla nalang lumabas ang pagkalandi ko.

"But before that let me introduce you to each other." Said Conrad, I saw Mama nodding her head and run to my side. Conrad and his son walking to my direction and stopped in front of me. Hindi ko maalis ang tingin sa anak niya.

Wearing also a suit, parang aattend ng business meeting, at sa gwapo niyang ito papasa na ang porma niyang ito sa pag-attend ng kasal!

"Artia, this is Kingsley, my son." Said Conrad as he introduced his son to me.

He's definitely my type. He passed all of my standards. I stared back at his drowsy sharp eyes. Wasn't able to stop myself from examining his whole face. That lips, that jaw, that hair style, that height, that body. You. Damn you! You're my type.

Ilang sandaling titigan bago ako nakapagsalita.

"Hi! I'm Artia, nice to meet you." I said with a smirk then smiled sweetly at him. I need to give a good impression.

"Kingsley. Nice to meet you too." He said with his beautiful voice. I stopped my self from biting my lips. I can feel mama staring at me.

We shook our hand for a hand shake. Ayoko na yatang bitawan ang kamay niya. It feels warm, soft and surely will leave a trace of good smell on my hand.

Nagtitigan muna kami sandali. I don't know if he's not that interested in me unlike the way I am because he look sleepy, like he's bored or is it just because of his eyes?

Nauna siyang bumitaw. Napansin ko kaagad ang kagustuhan niyang bumitaw kaya parang nagsabay lang kaming bumitaw. Ayoko naman ipahalatang ayoko ng bitawan ang kamay niya.

"She's my daughter." Said my mama energetically. Sinulyapan lang niya si mama tapos sa akin tapos ay hindi na ulit tumingin.

"Let have lunch now." Singit ni Conrad. Sumangayon naman kaagad si Mama.

"Right! Let's eat first before we talk about things..."

Nagbago kaagad ang timpla ko. I'm back to my straight face.

Right! That reminded me why I am here, why I agree to be here. Nandito ako para tumutol sa kasal. Sandali kong nakalimutan iyon dahil sa gwapong anak ni Conrad.

Sige, kumain muna tayo. Bago ko sirain ang mood niyo.