The Magnate's Holiest Sin (Cavanaugh #3)

Kabanata 6

Kabanata 6

Rumors

"I resigned from my work. 'Yong matandang bagong boss kasi ang bastos at manyak. In-offer-an ba naman ako ng pera para sa isang gabi. Pinilit pa ako. Wala akong balak pumatol sa mga naging boss ko. Malinis akong nagtatrabaho." Naiinis na pahayag ni Ate Balm at halata sa ekspresyon ng magandang mukha nito ang pandidiri. Nagkibitbalikat ito nang may pumasok sa isip na mas magandang balita. "Nag-apply ako ulit ng trabaho sa L&R Cavanaugh Company."

We were seating in one of the seats with table here in the food court of the SM City Manila. Eating rice meals for lunch.

My nose wrinkled when I heard the familiar name of a company.

"L&R Cavanaugh Company, Ate Balm?" Kumurap-kurap ako upang maalis sa aking isip ang mga nangyari kahapon. "Is that the. . ."

"Yes, manufacturer ng sikat na condom sa bansa." Ate Balm directly confirmed without hesitation of saying the name of a thing that I would never like to hear again. "Bilang accountant in-apply ko. Natanggap ako agad kasi mag-re-resign na raw 'yong nasa posisiyon no'n. 'Yong HR ng company inutusan 'yong isang babaeng makasama ko sa trabaho na ilibot ako sa buong building. Nang malaman ko kung saan pupunta kapag may kokolektahin akong mga data o financial record." Kuwento niya sa mababang tono ng boses nang may iilang nagagandahan at sexy na mga babae ang dumaan malapit sa amin.

She disliked young girls who overdress.

Ate Balm was a simple girl. A little conservative yet sexy in her own way, and very responsible. She was independent. Aside from that, she also had the looks. Her upturned eyes made her looked younger than her age with her delicate nose. She had those perfect cupid-bow lips that every woman would dream to have. And lastly was her natural hair, it has defined waves. For sure, some combs or brushes would be ashamed and would not even dare to touch it.

Anyways, how did I get here? Yesterday when Laki was about to expose his manhood. I abruptly ran to the bathroom.

Nagkulong ako roon ng ilang oras lamang. Nang lumabas ako para sa hapunan ay sinabi ko kay Laki na pinapalala niya ang takot ko kaya mas mabuting huwag na Lang muna siya'ng mag-isip ng kung ano ano.

Humingi siya ng tawad at nagtanong sa akin sa kung paano'ng paraan ko siya mapapatawad.

And here's my answer. I wanted to go to church with Ate Balm and have time with her since it was Sunday. Of course, without him.

Earlier in the morning, Ate Balm and I attended the third mass.

"Tapos, Ate? Anong nangyari?" I asked her when she got a little busy with her smartphone. I guessed she have received a message from someone according to the notification bell that I heard.

"Napadpad kami roon sa opisina ng Chief Operating Officer." Pagpapatuloy sa naudlot na kuwento nito habang nakatutok pa rin ang mga mata sa kanyang cellphone. "'Di ba nakatira ka ngayon sa puder ni Laki Cavanaugh? Kilala mo na rin siguro itong pinsan niya'ng si Ruin Cavanaugh."

Cousins? So they were cousins.

"Parang siya yata 'yong pumunta sa bahay ni Laki, Ate." Walang kasiguraduhan na wika ko. "Anong meron sa kanya?"

"Ang laswa makatingin sa'kin ng batang 'yon!" Padabog na binalik ni Ate Balm ang kanyang cellphone sa loob ng kanyang kulay itim na hobo bag. "Tinanong niya ano'ng pangalan ko at ilang taon na ako, bago ba raw ako roon sa kompanya."

Focusing my eyes on my food as I was holding the spoon, I asked. "Ano'ng sagot mo, Ate?"

"Sinabi ko pangalan ko tapos no'ng sinabi ko na twenty-nine na ako biglang naging seryuso ang mukha!" she blurted out of frustration. Distaste was etched on her innocent face. "Talaga lang at dapat niya akong respetuhin kahit na COO siya! Mas matanda ako sa kanya."