The vegetable shake that Devlin gave me actually tasted so good. I did wonder if he was the one who prepared it for me since that was what I asked him to do or if he asked the hotel's kitchen for one. But that thought didn't linger in my mind long, as it sounded ridiculous.
Devlin would not, right? I mean, it was Arty who usually prepared these things for me. Pero hindi ko na naisip iyon kanina at si Devlin na lang ang nasabihan ko. Maybe I got too caught up with our conversation as I did have fun talking with him earlier.
Pwede pala kaming mag-usap nang hindi ako naiirita sa kanya.
"This is really good." I sipped the drink. "This is a pumpkin smoothie, right?"
I looked at Devlin. I was sitting on the sofa, all prepared to go for the after-party dinner that was prepared for the whole team. I freshened up while he was getting me a smoothie to save time.
Devlin was standing in front of me. Kailangan ko pa talaga tuloy tumingala para mas makita ang mukha n'ya. He was so tall that even standing up, I had to crane my neck to look at him.
Hindi s'ya nagsalita. Bahagyang nakataas ang mga kilay na parang may hinihintay. I frowned at him.
"What?" Then I remembered I was supposed to speak in Tagalog with him. "Oh."
He chuckled. I tucked some strands of my hair behind my ears while trying to think kung anong Tagalog ng sinabi ko kanina. Pero nakalimutan ko na kung ano'ng Tagalog ng pumpkin.
"Can you let it go this time? I forgot kung anong Tagalog ng pumpkin. Pero susubukan ko to speak Tagalog. Hindi ko pa lkang kaya ng... full-blown."
"Alright. I'll do the same if that's what makes you comfortable." I could see that he was trying hard not to show any emotion on his face pero parang gustong mangiti naman. "Kalabasa ang Tagalog ng pumpkin."
"Oh..." I made a mental note.
"Iyan ang nakita kong mas magugustuhan mo," he said. "So, that's what I prepared."
My eyes widened.
"Are you kidding me? You prepared this yourself?" Napatingin pa ako sa baso ng smoothie na hawak ko. "Buti pinayagan ka sa kitchen?"
"Well... it's for you."
I waited for him to elaborate on that. Pero nawala sa isip kong hindi nga pala s'ya talkative. Inisip ko na lang na since alam ng hotel that I'd have a photoshoot today kaya pinayagan nila si Devlin na makialam sa kitchen.
I checked kung gaano pa karami ang drink ko. I didn't want to get full since this was my first meal ever after... a day and a half. Baka mabigla ang tyan ko. And I still have to attend that dinner, so for sure, kakain pa rin ako mamaya.
"Ubusin mo 'yan."
I scowled at him. Did he just read my mind?
"Ayokong mabusog."
"Finish that up, Yelizaveta."
My scowl deepened. I was about to retaliate, but Devlin looked so serious and intimidating—even more intimidating than before—that I felt all my hair stand up on my body. He looked at me like I was being disrespectful and disobedient, and it would just make his mood worse if I talked back to him. And it wouldn't be good for me dahil may gagawin s'yang hindi maganda kapag sumagot pa ako sa kanya.
So, I just continued sipping my drink. I heard Devlin make a humming sound in the back of his throat. As if he was satisfied that I was following what he wanted. That I understood what he wanted and quietly obeyed him.
Normally, I would get really annoyed because he was being arrogant when he was just my bodyguard. But... I couldn't really explain how I knew that this was the safest choice, to surrender to him.
