Saving the Model

Chapter 4: Haru

"WHAT keeps you busy these days, Mikhs?" Ahia asked me while taking turns in sipping his favorite wine.

We're currently in a fancy restaurant. He booked for the both of us to share a 'bond' he kept suggesting. "My toys," It wasn't a lie, though.

After work sa company ni Lucky, lagi ako dumidirecho sa garage ko and tinitignan ang mga collection ko para sa susunod na race.

Ahia grimaced, "Still drag racing?" I didn't say anything and just let him conclude things since that's where he's good at.

"Can you be direct na, Ahia?" I stopped cutting the steak and looked at him in the eye. "I'll be late for an appointment," I badly want to visit the cat café and not be in here, I want to change into casual clothes, I want to be Mikhaela Jimenea and not a Lim.

It's so suffocating.

"Very sharp," Ahia chuckled, "I want you to give up your place as papa's heiress. Give it to me, Mikhs. Alam kong hindi ka naman talaga into business, so please give this to Ahia." He took my hand and caressed it softly, I looked at his eyes and it's not genuine.

He's about to manipulate me now when I took my hand and wiped my lips before shooking my head. "Kay papa mo na lang sabihin 'yan, Ahia. You heard me naman nung reunion diba? I said I don't want to be the heiress but here I am," I gave him a quick smirk which displeased him.

"Janna," He warned but I couldn't careless.

"I should be going, Ahia. Xiexie," I walked out of the restaurant and hopped on my rolls royce ghost which I'm very proud of. I decided to go back to my unit, so I could change clothes.

Bold of my brother to assume that I'm someone he could manipulate. He can't also ruin my precious day-off with his selfishness, I will not let that happen.

Gusto ko talaga maenjoy ang visit ko sa isang cat café. Kaya wag silang magulo ni dad diyan. They know me when I'm mad and that's one of the reasons why wala rin sila masyadong magawa talaga sa mga desisyon ni lolo.

They're afraid of me and I like it that way.

Nang makapagbihis na ako, dumirecho na talaga ako sa gusto kong puntahan, I parked my car neatly and hummed inside the café pero imbes na pinto ang mahawakan ko, nagulat ako na kamay ito ng kung sino. "Sorry. . huh, Maloi?" Kahit naka-shades ay naramdaman ko ang matalas na tingin nito dahil biglang may ibang tao na napaparaan ang naintriga.

I can't blame her, after just two weeks of my service, yung exposure niya lumelevel up, which is why she's already in complete disguise dahil marami ng taong nakakarecognize sa kanya.

"Get inside," pagsusungit nito kaya natawa ako.

The both of us were greeted by the clerk and also one of my friends, pumalakpak pa siya na parang engot at mag-aanounce pa sana na parang reporter nanaman, "Mikhaela L–"

"Ha.. ha, Jimenea." I gave the clerk a meaninful look and she laughed nervously.

"A-Ah yes, yes. Mikhaela Jimenea, the one and only." Bwisit talaga 'tong si Stacey pag ako talaga nabuking. "And you must be, Ms. Ricalde?"

"Ah, yes." Maloi smiled at Stacey at nawalan na ng mata ang kaibigan ko nang ngitian din niya ng pabalik si Lucky.

"Malas mo, Mikhs. Rineserve ni ma'am 'tong café last week pa," I was shocked and I was about to cry when Maloi chuckled.

"She can be with me," Maloi suggested which surprised Stacey.

"Ay kakilala mo po 'to?" Pinanlakihan ko si Stacey.

"She's my manager," Nagulat si Stacey and now ako ang pinandidilatan niya.

"Ahhh, okay po. Sige po, mauna na kayo ma'am, aasikasuhin po kayo ng staff namin na nasa loob. May need lang po ako ipasagot kay Ms. Jimenea," Diin pa niya sa surname kuno ko, bwisit talaga 'tong si Stacey. Tumango si Maloi and she just gestured na mauuna na siya, I just gave her a smile.

"Ms. Jimenea na manager ng isang aspiring model and artist na si Maloi, grabe baks, grabeng underground identity mong 'yan." Sinimangutan ko siya.

"Porke nageenjoy ka sa work mo kahit isa ka sa mga pinakamayaman sa mundo?" Balik ko sakanya kaya umirap siya sakin.

"So.. ano 'yon? Bat may ganon?"

"Long story short, para patunayan ko lang sa lahat na karapat-dapat ako maging tagapagmana ni lolo. Need ko isalba yung kompanya naming palugi na," Tumango-tangi si Stacey.

"Do you want me to fund it?" Iiling na sana ako nang makaisip ako ng ideya, ngumisi ako at hindi niya 'to nagustuhan. "Anong mukha 'yan, parang may balak ka sakin." Yinakap niya ang kanyang sarili at umastang nandidiri.

"Siraulo, pagusapan na lang natin 'yon sa susunod, day-off ko, I want to enjoy playing with cats." I smiled sheepishly at natawa siya.

"At dahil diyan may gift ako sayo." I was confused but I got excited. "Hindi siya kotche kaya tigil mo 'yang kahibangan mo." I frowned.

"If it's not a car, I don't want it."

"Let's see if you'll still say that after seeing my gift," Sinundan ko si Stacey na pumasok kung saan pumasok si Lucky, bumungad sa amin si Lucky na nakatanggal na ang shades at nakikipaglaro sa mga pusa, she's also feeding them and petting them pero may isang nakakandong sa kanya na tila ba'y nagpapahinga ito sa ulap dahil mukha talaga siyang kumportable kay Lucky.

It's a russian exotic persian, cream colored fur, healthy body, and very adorable. Maloi looked cute while petting the cat too.

"Haru," pagkasabi ni Stacey non ay tumayo ang nakakandong kay Lucky at pumunta kay Stacey, tumalon ito kay Stacey kaya natawa si Stacey. "Mikhs, this is the gift that I'm telling you. Next week ko pa sana ibibigay kaso nawala sa isip ko na sabihin sayo na na-ireserve ni ma'am Ricalde yung café but here you go, your very own cat."

"No, freaking way." I cried which surprised everyone including Maloi na nakatingin lang sa amin, I couldn't help it. Ang tagal ko ng gusto magka-cat pero I was too busy and occupied to even think about adopting one.

"Tumahan ka nga, para kang bata." Asar ni Stacey but she went closer to cup my cheeks and wipe my tears. Binaba niya si Haru kaya I took that opportunity to hug her.

"Thank you, Stacey. I love it, I love your gift,

I love you, Stacey."