Hindi ako nagsalita dahil hindi ko rin alam ang sasabihin. I just keep my eyes on him and secretly observe his every move, but he doesn't budge. Nakatayo lang siya. Diretso ang titig sa akin habang nakangisi. I can feel my cold sweats running down my neck. I shouldn't feel terrified but his presence is too powerful to not pay attention. And welcome to the game? Don't tell me na ang tinutukoy niya ay pareho sa invitation ng babaeng may pangalang Katerina.
I am busy thinking of their connections when he starts chuckling out of nowhere. Ipinatong niya ang dalawang kamay sa counter. Itinagilid din niya pa-kanan ang kaniyang ulo na parang masusing binabasa ang mukha ko. I blink my eyes and look around the shop hoping for other people aside us, but reality hits me after seeing no one. Nagsimula na naman umulan ng malakas na lalo ikinasama ng pakiramdam ko.
"Did I scare you?" he asks in a toneless manner. Bumalik ang tingin ko sa kaniya. Bumalik din ang seryoso niyang mukha at malamig na titig sa akin. "Stop the act. Wala akong ginagawang masama—unless you want me to. And speak. You're not a mute, aren't you?"
Tumango ako nang mas lalong nagpadilim sa mukha niya. I fake cough and slowly check the knife underneath the counter. If this person attacks me, I'll make sure to use this to my full strength. Yung tipong 'di siya makakalakad ng limang buwan.
I face him once again but with a stern expression this time. He's trying to pull the dominant card. Malas lang niya dahil wala akong balak magpatalo at magpa-under.
"What do you want? Magsasara na ako. I don't want to be rude, but you leave me no choice" kunot noo kong tanong.
He got surprised by my sudden attack. "I like that. I like girls with that attitude."
Sumimangot ako. "I am sorry to disappoint you but I am not a girl—" tiningnan ko siya mula ulo hanggang baywang bago muling nakipagpalitan ng tingin. "I am a woman."
Lumawak ang ngisi sa kaniyang labi. Umiling siya at inikutan ako ng mata. "Okay. If you say so, woman," he says pushing back to stand straight. "I am here to talk."
"Nag-uusap na tayo," bara ko.
Lumukot ang mukha niya sa isang iglap. He tilts his head and glares at me, as if it's flaming. Umigting ang panga niya kasabay nang pagkunot noo niya. Katulad ko, nawawalan na rin siya ng pasensiya. Ang problema lang ay 'di hamak na mas mayaman siya sa akin. He could kill me senseless without anyone knowing using his money and power. The hell!
"You're testing my patience. And I am at my limit, Eleanor," he raises his voice a little. Yumuko siya ng kaunti para pantayan ang mata ko. "I don't need something from you—you need something from me."
Bumaling ang atensyon ko sa mga nakakalat na papel sa counter at sinimulan ayusin ang mga 'to para iwasan ang mapanganib niyang mata.
"Tungkol sa laro?" tanong ko sa mababang boses.
"Nothing else."
"Kilala mo ba si Katerina?"
BINABASA MO ANG
The Hector's Game
RomanceEleanor Fernandez, a college dropout, was a barista in a small coffee shop near a wealthy subdivision. The place was quite old and far from the city center, but the wage was way higher than in her previous jobs, enough reason for her to stay. She wa...
