“Stop staring me. I’m melting,” paasik na sabi ni Launcelle habang nakaupo sila sa couch na nasa living room, watching movies. Kanina pa nakaalis si Morsel na mukhang makikipagdate lang dahil halos ipaligo na ang pabango.
“I’m sorry. I couldn't resist,” he explain shortly. “Hindi pa rin kase nag-sink-in sa utak ko na dito lang pala kita makikita. Dapat matagal ko nang tinanggap ang cases na ito.”
“What?!” Si Cyla na biglang lingon pa sa binata.
“Huhh?” Si Loudon. Umurong bigla ang dila ng binata. Hindi siya makapaniwala na nasabi niya iyon.
“What did you say? Cases? So, you're a police? Detective?” sunod-sunod na tanong ni Launcelle na bumalik ulit ang alinlangan na nararamdaman niya.
“Y-yeah, a detective. Yes I am but you're not my subject.” Wala hindi na siya pwedi magdeny dahil alam niyang hindi basta-basta ang utak ng kaharap niya. She’s not just a mere woman who dancing in a pole. She's an average woman or more than that.
Loudon confided undoubtedly to Launcelle about an ongoing investigation into a group of clubs suspected of being a front for human trafficking.
“Stargazer Club was one of our target.” Pag-amin niya sa dalaga. “May mga naging client kayo na nag-tip sa police na mga bata pa raw ang pinupuslit galing Pilipinas para dalhin dito sa Hongkong at magtrabaho as prostitute,” paliwanag ni Loudon.
“I’m the one who managed the Stargazer Club, paano mangyayari na maging front ng human trafficking ito?” giit ni Launcelle na iiling-iling pa.
“Are you sure? You can handle it alone? Wala kang katulong?” tanong ni Loudon.
“My Mom, pero bihira naman siya makialam ng pagpapalakad ko ng club eh. Believe me, handle ko naman lahat ng pumapasok at lumalabas na tao sa building namin and Dermot. My cousin, I trust him he is my savior since kid. I personally knew him. He is a big help to me and to my Mom dahil ’yong anak ni Mommy na isa ay nag-aaral pa kaya ang pinsan ko ang nagmamanage sa pagpapaalis ng mga employee from Philippines.” Launcelle need to defend their business dahil wala naman talagang mali sa pagpapalakad nila e. May mga nawawala lang na accounts pero minsan nagkakamali lang naman sila at nagiging okay na ulit.
“Bakit pinaghihinalaan ninyo ang business namin? This isn't just a family business but we help fund some charity in the Philippines,” paliwanag pa ni Launcelle. Pero bigla niyang naalala ang nawawalang dalawang employees dapat nila, nakaalis ng Pilipinas pero walang dumating sa Hongkong airport. Hindi kaya iyon ang tinutukoy ni Loudon Riege?
“I’m sorry. Hindi ko naman sinasabi na pinaghihinalaan ko. Utos ito nang nakakataas pa sa akin and I have no idea how they found-out flaws. Pinadala nila ako dito para mag-imbestiga. And I hope you understand, baby,” mahabang saysay ni Loudon.
“I’m not your baby. You betrayed me,” giit naman ni Launcelle na nakahalukipkip pa sa gilid ng couch.
“I told you yesterday that I want to marry you.” Si Loudon.
“We are not in a relationship. Wala kang karapatan na magsalita sa akin nang mga matatamis na salita.” Pagtataray ni Cyla. Naiinis siya dahil sa pinaghihinalaan ang negosyo nila samantalang wala naman silang kahit anong anomalya sa simula’t simula pa lang.
“We shared love in bed yesterday. Consider it as a relationship.”
“What?!” Gulat si Cyla. “You are just my client!” sigaw pa nito na namumula na ang mukha. Hindi niya alam kung kilig ba ang nararamdaman niya o galit.
BINABASA MO ANG
My Typecast Midnight THE ENCHANTRESSES #5 Soon To Published
Romance'The Enchantresses' is an enchanting series that delves into the diverse stories of strippers. It is a masterpiece brought to life by a talented group of eight writers. Take a moment to inhale the magic, for this series promises to cast a spell on y...
