Plan
It feels surreal to sit in his sleek car's front seat again. Noon pa man, pilit ko nang tinanggap sa sarili ko na maraming magbabago pagbalik galing Casa Fuego.
Tinatak ko na sa isipan ko na wala na kami. Na hindi na ulit kami magkikita. Ayaw na niya akong kausapin o tignan man lang. Hinding hindi na ako makakasakay sa front seat ng sasakyan niya na dati kong pagmamay-ari. At higit sa lahat... kamumuhian niya ako. Ipapakulong nila ako o sisirain ang buhay ko.
Nilingon ko si Russel na nagmamaneho. His actions since what happened in Casa Fuego bewilders me. How come he can still stomach talking to me after what I admitted? Did he really not believe me when I said I was Chantel Corbilla?
Or maybe he did believe it... he's just pretending now to keep me under his radar... so when they find evidence against me, they'll put me in jail. Or maybe they're buying their time... carefully planning out the most satisfying way to ruin my life.
I shouldn't let my guard down. I shouldn't trust anyone.
Hindi ko kakampi si Russel. Hinding hindi ko siya pagkakatiwalaan.
"You're staying in a hotel, right? Is it safe there?"
Hindi ako umimik, nanatiling nakatitig sa kaniya. I've always loved his clean look before. His features are rough and defined, so I liked that he keeps his hair in a clean cut and his stubble shaven. But now that I can see a thin carpet of stubble on his sharp jaw, his hair longer than usual, and his eyes more menacing than ever, I realized he looked tenfold hotter this way.
Ewan ko ba. Gwapong gwapo ako sa kaniya lalo na nitong mga nakaraan... noong wala na kami. Ang sarap niya sa mata kapag frustrated siya at seryoso. I sighed. Maybe I'm just ovulating.
"Just tell me, Imara. Or I will give in to Emerson wanting to track you instead."
Bumaling siya sa akin. Agad akong nag-iwas ng tingin.
"Mamaya na tayo mag-usap."
He sighed. Magtatanong na sana ako kung saan niya kami dadalhin pero natanaw ko ang establishment. From the looks of it, we're going to a jazz bar. Hindi na ako nagreklamo. May mga tao pero hindi kasing dami ng sa mga bar o restaurant kaya ayos na rito.
He glared at me when I got out of the car before he could open the door for me.
"Ano? Susunod ka ba? Pwede namang h'wag na nating ituloy 'tong deal?" sabi ko kahit pa ang totoo, kailangan ko naman talaga ng proteksyon niya.
He sighed and followed me. Umirap ako at naglakad na kami papasok. We didn't look out of place despite our attires. In fact, we look like we're out for a freaking date!
"Good evening, Sir, Ma'am..." bati sa amin ng staff.
Walang umimik sa amin ni Russel. We just silently went to a table beside the wall. Agad nag-order ng drinks si Russel para sa amin.
"I'll be right back with your orders. Excuse me..."
Naiwan na naman kami. Diretso ang titig niya sa akin at naiinis ako na kanina pa ako hindi makatingin sa kaniya. Kaya taas-noo ko siyang tinignan pabalik.
"Bakit mo naisipang alukin ako ng deal na 'to? Paano ka nakakasiguro na hindi kita tatraydurin?"
"They threatened your life. Admit it. You need protection and I'm offering you a reasonable deal."
Nag-isip ako. Hindi ba mas lalo akong mapapahamak kung tatanggapin ko ang alok niya? Kapag nalaman ni Donya Glorita na pinasok ko ang deal na ito, baka sa kalsada pa lang pinapatay na niya ako. After all, my mission here is to be the front of Chantel Corbilla. It doesn't make sense that of all people, Russel Hermedilla is the one protecting me.
