Princess Series Two: The Bitter Bitch

7: The Desperate

JASMINE

It was 6PM when I finished my last draft for Ariel to check. Finally, tapos nadin ang designs para sa Reyes-Andres wedding at p'wede ko nang simulan ang ibang designs na kailangan kong tapusin. One of them is a new condo and another would be Derick Craig's Pheromone. Just the thought of him made my mind ache.

He's very persistent, I'll give him that. Kahit ilang beses kong sabihin sakanya na hindi ako nakikipag-date o nage-entertain ng mga lalaki pero hindi ata siya maka-intindi ng kahit na anong lenggwahe dahil pilit padin niya akong kinukulit. If he doesn't stop, I might just give in.

Nanlaki ang mata ko sa naisip ko at napangiwi ako. Ano ba 'tong sinasabi ko? I will never give in to anyone! Kahit gaano pa ka-gwapo at ka-entertaining kasama si Derick ay hindi ako p'wedeng manghina. Weakness, on my part, will only lead to pain. At ayoko nang masaktan. I am not my father's daughter for nothing.

Napakunot ang noo ko nang makarinig ako ng ingay sa labas and I stood up to look at the commotion. Pagbukas ko ng opisina ko ay si Keslow agad ang nakita ko. What the fuck, inis na isip ko. Derick's not the only persistent man in my life at the moment. Keslow has been equally persistent, the only difference is that my damned ex is freaking annoying! He ruins my mood. At least si Derick nampipikon lang ng sadya, pero ang demonyong nasa harapan ko ay effortless na bini-bwisit ako.

"Jasmine!" sigaw niya at tinulak si Diana kaya naman napatingin ako sa secretary ko. And Derick's sister.

I shook my head and glared. "Diana, are you okay?"

Tumango siya at kinakabahang tinignan si Keslow bago tumingin sa'kin. "O-okay lang, Miss."

"Now, what are you doing here?" I hissed at Keslow. Inirapan ko siya nang lumapit siya sa'kin and he made the right decision by staying a few meters away from me. Still too close, but I'll take it.

Ngumiti si Keslow, the smile that used to make me melt--but now it only made me shiver in disgust. In retrospect, I wonder what I ever saw in him. Kung tutuusin, matangos lang ilong niya at maganda lang ang buhok niya--other than that, wala na. Mas g'wapo pa ata si  Dennis Padilla kesa sa demonyong nasa harapan ko, e.

"I'm here to talk to you, babe."

"Kadiri," ani ko at napasimangot. "Don't call me that endearment! It makes me sick."

He laughed it off, which made me even madder. Siya lang talaga ang kaisa-isang lalaki na napaka-daling inisin ako. Bwisit siya. "Babe, your sense of humor changed drastically."

I rolled my eyes. "And your stupidity never altered," komento ko at pinag-krus ang mga braso ko. His eyes went to my chest at mas lalo akong nainis. Yes, my cleavage were on display--but he wasn't the reason why I wore this top! Si Derick ang--

I stopped myself. Kailangan ko na atang magpatingin sa Psychiatrist dahil nababaliw na ako. But deep inside, alam kong I went an extra mile today to dress up. I usually wear the common pencil skirt and modest top, or maybe a virgin's dress--but lately, dito na nagla-lunch si Derick at iba na ang pananamit ko. C'mon, who wears tight pencil skirts and cropped tops for work on a normal day? Masyado atang obvious na nagpapa-impress ako. I winced again.

"Jasmine?"

I blinked and stepped back when I saw Keslow right in front of me. Inisip ko kung kailan siya lumapit but my mind went blank. Tinulak ko siya and he stumbled back. "Don't you ever come near me," galit na asik ko sakanya at alam kong mukhang papatay na ako. The anger coursing through me because of the man in front of me mixed with the sexual frustration I felt with Derick. Never a good combination for a woman not sated.