The Art of Persuasion

Have Me

Have Me

"I told you Portia, it was nothing." Portia decided to pester me with questions I don't know where on Earth she got from. Tapos na ang shift naming dalawa and she invited me over for dinner at her crib. Portia cooks well so I was left with no other choice. Knowing Portia, alam kong kaya siya nagyaya ng dinner ay para mahot-seat ako at tanong-tanungin ako about the other night pero I never thought she could be this hard to convince.

"Anong nothing! No there's something between you two! Ano bumigay na ba? Do you finally made him believe you?" She asked and I just focused my attention on my tuna pesto and acted as if no one's talking. Portia then rolled her eyes and pinched me on the cheeks. It annoyed me kaya I gave up and decided to give her an answer.

"Nag-away kami. I told him I would tease him and make him fall for me until he comes crawling back to me." I plainly said and ate again. Halos hindi matagal ang kilig sa katawan ni Portia dahil sa sinabi ko at nagmakaawang ikwento pa ang ibang nangyare.

"Omg! Then? Then? Anong sabi? Gosh, ang fierce mo!" She was so eager that it made her look like a child requesting for a bedtime story. I chuckled as I took a gulp from my drink.

"Sorry to burst your bubble but that's all that happened. I kissed him on the cheek para manginig siya sa inis." I explained at doon na siya napapalakpak na para bang nagtanghal ako sa isang stage. I bowed my head at nakisakay sa palakpak niya.

"Ano nagwala ba siya pagkatapos? Omg did he sleep in his office last night?" She asked and was waiting for my answer.

"Yep but I'm pretty sure he slept on his office because of his paper works." I stated at nagkibit-balikat na lang. I don't want to assume anything. I'm not a teenager anymore na laging nagbibigay malisya sa mga kilos ng tao. I try not to be a teenager or act like it however; sometimes Caleb makes me feel like one.

It was a mediocre type of night for the two of us and it only spiced up because of my stories. I bid my goodbye to Portia since it's already past ten in the evening at kailangan ko ng umuwi sa condo ko. I want to sleep in her house but I wasn't in the mood dahil hindi ako papatulugin ng ayos ni Portia kakadaldal niya sakin.

It was not a long ride from her house down to my condominium. The building's a new one dahil kakatayo lang niya last year kaya I was grateful to pick the most convenient and broadest unit they have. I parked my car and I was about to walk papuntang elevator when a sudden beep of a car behind me caught my attention.

I faced the vehicle at tiningnan kung sinong driver kaso sobrang tinted siya but it's kind of familiar. The driver revealed himself by opening the window at napataas naman ang kilay ko. What is he doing here in the middle of the night?

"Hey there sexy." He greeted me and decided to go out of the car. Ginulo niya ang buhok ko and I annoyed the hell out of me so I shoved it away. He chuckled and gave me his boyish grin.

"What are you doing here, Johan?" He played with his car keys and touched my waist. I rolled my eyes and shoved his hand. He was really persistent in getting me pissed off.

"Masama na bang dalawin ang magiging asawa ng kapatid ko?" He paused and mapang-asar na ngumiti sakin. "Well only if he decided to believe you once more." He laughed and I was hysterical. This jerk is unbelievable! Really, really unbelievable.

"Mind you, Mister. He's going to bend soon and don't worry, ikaw unang sasabihan ko pag nagkataon." I stated and patted his shoulder at tumalikod na sa kaniya. He wasn't that convinced enough and I figured out that he followed me all the way up to my unit.

"Kapag naniwala na naman siya sayo-" He started, I glared at him signaling him to stop as the elevator opened up. He chuckled and then continued his sentence, ugh. "That will be a very fucked up story, don't you think?" He concluded as he jokingly placed his hand below his chin.

"Have faith in me, Johannes. Soon makikita mo kaming nasa altar at nagsasabihan ng vows. Patience, dear." I gave him a sarcastic smile and was about to open my door when he stopped me from doing so.

"How can you be so sure na ibibigay niya sayo ang apelyido niya?" He smirked and pinned me on the wall. Kahit kelan ay nakakabwisit talaga 'tong lalaking 'to. He is as appealing as Caleb but not that daunting. Mas gusto ko ang aura ni Caleb, filled with authority. Samantalang si Johan, Casanova by heart and mind. One thing na common sa kanilang magkapatid would probably be their love for games. Damn this Fuego brothers and their genes.

"I know him more than you do, Johan. I am one-hundred one percent sure." I said firmly and lightly pushed him before I went in my unit. Sumandal ako sa pintuan ko at napatulala. It got me thinking, what if hindi ko na talaga makuha ang tiwala ni Caleb? All this time, I've build up my hopes about me and Caleb getting back together. Thanks to Johan, it got me scared as shit.

Aalis na sana ako sa pagkakasandal ko sa pinto ng narinig kong nagsalita si Johan sa labas.

"Funny how you want to be a Fuego yet he can't trust you anymore." Alam kong pinaparinggan niya ako at napasimangot naman ako. This guy keeps on ruining everything I do.

"Kung gusto mong makuha ang apelyido namin—" He paused as I hold my breath waiting for him to continue.

"You can always have me."