He's a Dangerous Man

Chapter Fourteen - Will you be my?

"Nakakapagod ang buong maghapon," bungad ni Anna pagpasok sa staffroom. End of shift na at nag aayos na kami ng gamit para makauwi.

Saturday kasi ngayon at maraming customers kaya pagod na pagod kaming lahat.

"True. Gusto ko na lang umuwi at humiga sa kama." segunda ni Mikaela habang inaayos ang bag niya.

Ngumiti ako, "May bukas pa kaya kailangan natin ng pahinga ngayong gabi."

Isinara ko na ang bag ko at isinabit sa balikat. Hinintay ko sina Mikaela at sabay sabay kaming lumabas ng staffroom.

"Bye bye!" paalam namin sa mga kasama namin sa trabaho. Kumaway naman ang mga ito at nagpaalam pabalik.

"Gusto ko pa sana pumunta sa mall ngayon kaso parang hindi na kaya ng paa ko." wika ni Mikaela. Nakaakla ang kamay nito sa braso ko.

"Sa cut off na lang tayo pumunta para may pera. Wednesday and payday natin. Sasamahan kita." presinta ni Anna at lumingon sa akin. Nauuna kasi itong maglakad. "Ikaw Leigh? Sasama ka?"

Napaisip ako "Hmm, titingnan ko"

I am not sure because I might be very busy for the next few days. My best friend, Ash, called me earlier telling me that we need to secure a very big project. A new hotel will be constructed in Makati and my team wanted to grab the project. They were asked to submit sample designs within one month. I think this will be a big break for my team so I need to get back to work. Though, I am only working with them online because I still can't meet up with them personally.

Binuksan ni Anna ang pintuan at lumabas na kami ng restaurant.

"Mommy!" Napalingon kami nina Anna sa unahan kung saan nanggaling ang boses at nakita doon si Devon na patakbong nagpunta sa direksyon ko.

Agad itong yumakap sa bewang ko.

"Devon," para pumantay sa kanya kaya niyakap nito ang leeg ko. "I miss you Mommy Leigh!"

I smiled. Even though we've only met for a few times, this boy already grabbed a foothold in my heart.

"I miss you too."

"Hi Devon!" bati nina Mikaela at Anna.

"Hello po," ganting bati ni Devon nang may masiglang boses. I heard Mikaela and Anna's squeal on the side.

"Ang gwapo talagang bata nyan Leigh!" puri ni Anna.

Ngumiti ako at binuhat si Devon. He's lighter than I thought.

"Are you with your kuya Rafael?" Nakita ko ang pag iling nito.

"I'm with---"

"Devon," napatingin kami sa gilid and saw Damon walking towards us.

"Daddy!" sigaw ni Devon. I heard some gasps coming from Mikaela and Anna. Surely, they didn't expect that this cute little boy is Damon's son.

I looked at Damon. He's wearing a fitted white polo na naka open ang dalawang butones, exposing the tattoo on his chest. Napalunok ako, why does this man look so sexy whatever he wears? Napatingin ito sa akin at napakunot noo.

"Get down Devon," utos nito kay Devon. His voice was cold as if he's talking to his servant. Man, he is really rude towards his son.

Agad namang hinigpitan ni Devon ang yakap sa leeg ko.

"No!" Angal nito.

"Devon" there's a hint of warning on Damon's voice.

"I don't want to!"

I sighed medyo nangangalay na din ang braso ko. "Devon, you need to get down na. Because big boys don't need to be carried. You're a big boy na right?"

He nodded and then looked at me. "Put me down mommy," he said in a low voice.

I smiled. He's really obedient and smart.

Nakarinig ako ng mahinang pag tikhim mula sa gilid ko. "Leigh, uuwi na kami. Mukha kaming hangin dito sa gi-Aray!" natawa ako dahil biglang siniko ni Mikaela si Anna.

"Leigh, mauuna na kami. Ingat ka pag uwi." Lumingon sila kay Damon. "Bye po sir Damon."

Tumango lang si Damon sa dalawa.

"Bye! See you tomorrow" wika ko at nagpaalam na din sila kay Devon bago naglakad papunta sa kabilang direksyon kung saan nandoon ang staffhouse.

Tumingin ako kay Damon.

"Uuwi na din ako."

Tinaasan naman nya ko ng kilay. "I'll bring you home."

"Hindi na--" napatingin ako kay Devon na hinila ang damit ko.

"Mommy, go with us please?" Ahh, he's looking at me with those puppy eyes. How could I resist it?

I sighed and pinched Devon's cheeks lightly.

"Okay"

Gosh. This kid is really my weakness.

Agad na nagliwanag ang mukha ni Devon at hinila na ako para maglakad. Tumalikod naman si Damon at sumunod sa amin.

"You don't want to sit here in front?" tanong ni Damon nang makita akong sumakay sa likod katabi ni Devon.

"Dito na lang ako para may katabi si Devon." sagot ko. He glanced at me longer through the rearview mirror bago niya pinaandar ang sasakyan.

"Have you been obedient Devon?" I asked him. He's playing with his tablet bu he seemed tired already. I think he's just making himself awake.

"Hmm" Tumango ito pero agad ding sumimangot "But I think my nanny's don't want to take care of me because sometimes I throw tantrums. So they are leaving the house immediately"

"So you don't have a nanny now?" Poor little boy. How could they leave this adorable kid?

Umiling ito. "Daddy is taking me with him at work and let kuya Rafael take care of me"

"You don't go to school?" I asked. Kids his age should be at school. So why did he have to go with Damon at work?

Umiling ito.

"I'm still looking for a tutor," Damon suddenly said. It seems like he's listening to our conversation.

Ahh, I remember. Devon only arrived here in the Philippines.

"Why tutor? Aren't you going to let him enter a normal school?"

"Devon, don't want to" Damon answered.

"Mommy! I didn't want to go to school before because I saw all the kids being accompanied by their mothers and I don't have one. But now that you are here, I think I'll consider going to school" he said enthusiastically.

I was taken aback. He seemed so excited, but I don't want to have his hopes go up.

I ruffled his hair and just smiled. I don't want to break Devon's heart by saying that I can't do what other mothers should do. Because I am not his real mother.

Napatingin ako sa rearview mirror dahil naramdaman ko na parang may nakatingin sa akin. But Damon is looking straight on the road. So maybe it's just my imagination.

"Thank you sa paghatid," I told Damon. Devon is already sleeping peacefully inside the car. Marahil sa pagod sa byahe ay hindi na kinaya ang antok.

Hindi ko nga maintindihan kung bakit pati si Damon ay bumaba ng sasakyan.

Tumingin lang sakin si Damon. Mukhang wala itong balak magsalita kaya tumalikod na ako at nagsimulang maglakad. But then, I heard Damon's voice.

"Leigh," I heard him call. His voice is cold at the same time, my name sounds so attractive kapag sa kanya nanggaling. I shook my head to erase the thought. Lumingon ako. "Yes?"

He looked me straight in the eye and I was surprised with his next words "Will you be my..."