Bring It On, Detective

Q

"NO INTERVIEWS. AND your work experience in a restaurant won't matter. I only need you to do something for me to hire you. . ." his voice trailed off, giving his statement a threatening effect.

Sinadya niya iyon upang tingnan ang reaksyon nito, but the lady in front of him didn't even blink nor smile. Wala itong karea-reaksyon at tila hinihintay lang ang kanyang sasabihin. 

What the fuck? Doesn't she know how to react? O dapat niya pang gawing mas pa-thrilling ang boses niya para lang mag-react ito? Fuck!

Whenever people, especially suspects, hear him use that kind of voice, talagang makikitaan niya ng takot ang karamihan. And no matter how they try to hide their fear, he can always see and sense it. But this woman. . .

Mukhang nakakawala ng angas ang babaeng 'to. 'Di man lang tatablan.

Sighing, he licked his lower lip and brushed his hair to the right side. "Cook two dishes—Korean and Chinese." He stared at her intently, watching her reaction. Pero muntik na siyang mapamura no'ng tumagilid ang ulo nito at inosente siyang tiningnan. 

Her hair followed her movement, and he couldn't help but look at those strands brushing her shoulder. Lihim niyang sinita ang sarili at muling ibinalik ang titig sa mga mata nito. 

"Korean and Chinese foods. . ." mahinang bulong pa nito habang nakatingin nang mataman sa kanya.

Nahigit niya ang kanyang hininga. Fuck. Her stares made him feel like the ground beneath him shifted, like an invisible force that left him momentarily speechless. The weight of her stares felt. . . too heavy. And it's pinning him down. 

What the fuck? Mga mata lang 'yan! 

Nilabanan niya ang titig nito to show her that she doesn't have any effect on him. Hinintay niyang may sasabihin ito o tatanungin, gaya ng mga naunang aplikante, but she just nodded her head. 

"Okay." 

Muntik niya nang hindi naitago ang kanyang gulat sa sinagot nito. Okay? 'Yon lang? Hindi man lang ba ito magtatanong kung bakit gano'n ang ipapaluto niya?

The previous applicants fired questions before they cooked!

"I'll cook it. May ingredients na po ba?" tanong nito sa mahinhin na boses. 

Tinitigan niya pa ito nang ilang sandali, observing her reaction. But she didn't even flinch under his stare. Nilabanan nito ang titig niya.

And. . . he could feel how the air left his chest.

Tumikhim siya at nag-iwas ng tingin pagkatapos ay tinanguan ito. "Come with me. Let's go to the kitchen."

He stood up and fixed his black t-shirt without looking at her. Nauna na siyang maglakad, and he could feel her following him. Magagaan din ang bawat hakbang nito.

Mahinhin na mahinhin.

When he reached the door, he held the knob and twisted it, opening the door. Pumunta siya sa gilid at tiningnan ang babae. Nakatingin ito sa kanya at pansin niyang napahinto ito.

"Ladies first." He flashed her a charming smile, but it got frozen on his face when she immediately made her way out.

Tila napako siya sa kinatatayuan, at 'di niya mapigilang mapakurap.

Fuck. Okay. He needs to stop. Kahit anong gagawin niya, hinding-hindi tatablan sa kanya ang babaeng ito. Does she have a boyfriend, perhaps?

Itinagilid niya ang kanyang ulo at umiling. Pakiramdam niya, wala. She seems to have no interest in men.

Baka babae ang type nito?

O baka asexual ito?

Letting out a sigh, he stopped those thoughts and closed the door. Ayaw niya nang mag-isip. But because of her reactions, he badly wants to know her more and crack her walls.