𝐓𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐎𝐌 [Slow Updates]

𝑽𝑰. 𝑪𝒐𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒆

TASTE OF HER VENOM
Chapter 6: Coffee

"I, Cazzidy Vaughn M. Constello, is ought to serve, protect, and fall on my knees to you in good and in bad times. I will bow to you and honor you for the rest of this semester"

I know it didn't work as I received a slap from her. Mabuti na lang ay mabilis akong nakailag.

"Not again, professor" I said, grinning at her.

"Rude" she replied with her creased eyebrows.

Masama bang makaramdam ng saya sa pang-aasar sa kanya? Mukhang hindi naman magiging mahirap ang trabaho ko bilang student assistant niya kung ganto naman palagi ang magiging senaryo namin.

"I can be rude at times, too" sabi ko at muling hinawakan ang kamay niya. It's so hard to keep a straight face gayong diring-diri siya sa paghawak ko sa kanya.

"Constello" she sternly rebuked as I leaned over her. Her facial expression says it all, halatang ayaw niya sa'kin which doesn't surprise me.

"I'm serious though. I'm taking the offer, Professor Del Valle" seryoso kong saad habang unti-unti nanaman akong nilalamon ng kaba. Nakakagat ko tuloy ang ibabang labi ko sa magiging sagot niya.

Hindi pa rin nagbabago ang ekspresyon niya pero alam kong nag-iisip na siya sa mga oras na 'to. I hope it's a yes dahil wala na talaga akong choice. I need my money back.

After seconds of not speaking, she gave me a flat expression before retracting her hands in mine.

"What's with the sudden alteration?" she asked as she crossed her arms over the other, diretso lang ang tingin niya sa harapan habang ako ay parang maamong tutang nakatingin sa kanya rito sa gilid.

"First and foremost, I didn't know that this offer has its consequences. How come did you convince my parents in this one?" tanong ko sa kanya. Hindi ko na babanggitin sa kanya ang tungkol sa pagfreeze ni daddy sa mga bank accounts ko kahit na yun ang pinakamain reason bakit ko tinatanggap 'tong trabaho.

Tilting her head, I met her confused gaze.

"Convince? FYI lang, Constello. It wasn't me who talked to your parents, it was the president, herself" taas kilay niyang tugon.

"Ganon na rin yun. This rooted from you, professor. Hindi kakausapin ni Mrs. Milton sina daddy kung 'di mo ko nirekomenda sa kanya" diretsahan kong sabi rito.

"Oh my goodness! That's two different things. Hindi ako—"

"Stop, hindi na importante kung sino ang nangumbinsi sa parents ko. The thing is why, of all people, did you pick me as your student assistant? You could have choose Spencer or Moira? They're excelling in your class kaya bakit ako, ma'am?" siya na nga rin ang nagsabi na seven blocks ang tinuturuan niya pero ako pa rin ang pinili niya? I can't get the logic there.

I noticed how her eyes faltered but quickly regained her posture.

"Because I found you challenging and I have a thing for challenges" she responded that caught me off guard.

I couldn't find a word in return. She has a thing for challenges yet she found me challenging?

What she said didn't leave my head until the next day. Pagkatapos naming mag-usap kahapon ay hindi ko na siya naihatid dahil biglang may tumawag sa kanya. She left me na hindi malinaw kung tinatanggap na ba niya ako bilang assistant o hindi.

"Vaughn, try mo maglinis ng condo mo. I don't even know if this is still a house or a dumpsite? Kaya siguro hindi ka makapagfocus sa painting dahil ang gulo-gulo ng environment mo" sermon ni Devin sa'kin at inisa-isang pulutin yung lata ng beer at ilang labahan ko sa sahig.