PARADISE OF THE DEVIL (GONCALVES 1)

Chapter 9

I was holding my duffel bag as I walked out of my bedroom. Jair was waiting for me, and we were heading to go. I followed him out of the elevator and stopped in front of a maroon Montero.

"Are you really sure you don't have anything else to do?" I asked him when he opened the passenger seat for me.

"Yes, until tomorrow. So, I'm planning to stay there for the night. We can return here together the next day."

Getting in the car, I said, "Maybe your mom will need you with something important. How about work?"

"I've already carried out all my tasks for this weekend so there's nothing to worry about."

"Yung mom mo nga. Baka hanapin ka nalang bigla."

He leaned closer. "I'm already an adult. She can't order me around and she's with my brother's company."

"I see," sagot atsaka inatras ng konti ang ulo palayo sa kanya.

Sinarado na nya din ang pinto. Tumalikod ako atsaka itinapon ang bag ko sa backseat. "Sabi mo ay may lakad ka. May imemeet up ka, diba?"

"Wala. Free talaga ako dahil nga aalis ako ng Dubai," aniya.

"Ang gago mo talaga," bulong ko sa sarili na dinig nya naman.

"You should stop saying that," he suggested. "I'm still your client."

I laughed. "Don't use that card on me. Also, it's not like you order a lot, it's Madam Goncalves."

"Wag kang favoritism," paratang nya sa akin.

"Well... she's my favorite client. She's professional, unlike you."

Madam was always the first. I would always look up to her. Every time she opened her mouth, she she said the right thing. Also, she appreciated all of my work more than anyone. She was very modest and in fine fettle.

I could say that Jair didn't take after Madam. Jair was a vain and muddle. But I hoped he'd change once he's married. He should stop fooling around like this and be grave in life for once. He was 27, still young, and he had nothing to worry about but still, by now he should at least slowly see through life.

"What are you up to in Dubai? Are you extending your business there? Are you going there with your father?"

"No. I will accompany Lilia. She'll participate in an Expo and join an auction."

"I see. How long are you staying in Dubai?"

"Specifically for 6 days."

"I guess Lilia is busier than you," I said with a laugh.

He groaned in humor. "She's corrupting my time."

"I bet she doesn't," I disagreed.

I thought I and Lilia would be friends, but I guess she was really in a different world. She even grew more famous and busier. She eventually became our client, but we rarely meet. She was in the other branch so, unfortunately, I couldn't meet her.

"Here."

Napatingin ako sa inilahad na sandwich ni Jair. "It's yours. I have mine in my bag."

"I'm actually full so have mine," he offered.

"Hindi ako nagugutom."

"Can you hold it for me? It was in my coat pocket the whole time."

"Sure," sagot ko atsaka tinanggap ito.

"You can sleep," he said.

"Yeah, I probably should."

Nasa Tarlac na kami nang magising ako atsaka mataas na din ang araw. I moved my body to correct my position, I couldn't care less about how I looked when I was asleep, so I had the most well-heeled nap I had ever taken.