Mister Villain

CHAPTER FIVE

Napatayo si Ruru mula sa pagkaka-upo. "You're back bro!"

"Yes" the icy coldness in his voice became tenfold "at hindi mo sinagot ang tanong ko. Bakit kayo magka-usap?"

"Kilala niya ako!" Maine's mind screamed, even as she kept her lips pursed together and her back turned against the other guy.

She could not even move an inch as dread gripped her. Hindi niya inasahan na makikita niya ito ngayon.

Gab assured her that he was currently out of the country and he was going to stay abroad for a while. There was at least two more weeks in his schedule to go around the US!

Supposedly, Maine's coast was clear for TWO WEEKS!

Hindi niya naihanda ang puso at isip niya na makita nang harapan ngayon ang lalaki na isinulat niyang kontrabida nang pag-iibigan nina Louise at Enzo.

She felt hear palms start to sweat.

"Ms. Maine is going to write our story" Ruru calmly answered as she remained seated, her head almost bowing to the level of her knees.

"SHE'S WHAT?!?!?!" Tumaas ang boses ni RJ at nakita niya na napatingin na sa kanila ang iilang customers sa coffee shop.

Her head rose a little sa pagkabigla.

"RJ, I think we should talk about this outside" Gab's fiancé offered.

Hindi alam ni Maine if Ruru signaled anything to make RJ realize they were in a public area but RJ's voice sounded lower than the last. "Hindi ko alam kung anong kalokohan ang sinasabi mo Ruru pero this woman won't write your or Gab's story. Hindi yan mangyayari hangga't buhay ako."

Bumuntung-hininga si Ruru at na-confirm ni Maine sa utak niya na mukhang inilihim nga talaga ni Gab mula sa kapatid ang tungkol sa hiniling nito sa kanya. "RJ, sa labas tayo mag-usap. Please."

"We can talk here" the other man responded.

He pulled a chair beside Maine and she almost jumped away from him.

"RJ..." Ruru's tone was half pleading, half fuming pero walang ibang maramdaman si Menggay kundi ang halos sabay na pag-init nang paligid habang lumalamig ang balat niya sa nerbyos sa nangyayari.

Silence followed and without even looking at him, she could feel that RJ was looking right at her, waiting for her to acknowledge his presence.

Hindi niya alam bakit takot na takot siya dito pero what was happening now was not helping her get over that fear.

It was almost like an eternity passed before Maine could take a hold of herself, lift her head, and face THE VILLAIN head on.

"So we finally meet Ms. Mendoza..."

Mahihiya ang North Pole sa lamig nang boses nito. The way he greeted her was like when Hannibal Lecter said "Hello Clarisse.."

Her heart wanted to jump out of her chest and she realized that he was everything Louise described and more.

Richard Faulkerson Jr. or "RJ" or her "Mister Villain" was a study in physical perfection.

He looked so much like an angel – strong brows, chiseled nose and thin lips that had this cheeky little quirk na kayang kaya sigurong magpa-oo nang kahit na sino.

He was beautiful.

He was ethereal.

But his eyes smoldered in rage.

And if they could burn through a person, Maine was sure she'd have a hole in her face now.

Napalunok siya. "Yes Mr. Vill – Faulkerson."

Muntik pa niya itong matawag na Mister Villain!

OH DEAR LORD!

Tumaas ang kilay nito. "You seem scared of me..."

"I AM scared of you."

What use was there in denying that? Malamang obvious na obvious na takot na takot siya dito hindi ba?

"Well, you're honest" he commented as though he found it surprising that she was.

Maine fought the strong urge to bolt for a run.

"RJ, you're making her uncomfortable" Ruru's voice cut in the very thin air dividing her and the Faulkerson Heir.

"Good then. At least she'd know how it feels being uncomfortable. Though I doubt if her discomfort now would compare to the discomfort of knowing someone unscrupulously wrote down a part of your life in a book for public consumption and everyone else around you thinks they know you just because of what's written there."

Napalunok siya nang laway sa tensyon.

RJ was like a pro-boxer, jabbing with precision, accuracy, and great timing.

Kung suntok ang mga salita niya e knocked out na si Maine ngayon.

"RJ, this is hardly the place or the time to –"

"KUYA!" Gabrielle's voice cut in on what Ruru was about to say.

Humahangos pa ito at naghahabol nang hininga.

RJ raised a brow at the image his sister presented but did not stand up from where he was seated.

"Hon, tumakbo ka ba?!?"

"Mommy Ten went to the shop to hand over Kuya's gift and then told me na dumiretso si Kuya dito pagbaba na pagbaba nila nang sasakyan" Gab explained and the turned to her brother "Kuya, by the looks of things e nasabi mo na ang gusto mo sabihin but to be very clear I asked Ms. Maine to write our story – actually, I pleaded with her. She is doing me and Ruru a favor."

"Oh is she?"

Ipinaglihi yata sa sarcasm ang lalaking ito.

"SHE IS" Gab responded, deflecting the disdain in her brother's voice. Maine was not used to having other people defend her because she has always been perfectly capable of handling things but right now, ni hindi niya magawang makakilos – paralyzed in fear.

"Pwedeng pwede naman na hindian ka na lang niya. I am sure she's earned enough money from the last book she wrote. She doesn't need to milk our family for more."

Naramdaman niya na umakyat ang dugo sa ulo niya lalong lalo sa huling sentence na sinabi nito.

Biglang nagdilim ang paningin niya.

This man did not just say that!

Tumaas ang kilay niya at bago pa niya maawat ang sarili e lumabas na sa bibig niya ang inis. "I do not write for money MISTER RICHARD FAULKERSON JR! At kung talagang matalino ka, alam mo na kung gugustuhin kong yumaman e hindi ako magsusulat since there really is nothing to earn from writing."

Tumayo siya mula sa pagkakaupo at hinarap sina Ruru at Gab upang magpaalam.

"I'm sorry guys. I think I have to take my leave now" she told the engaged couple and then faced the devil – her anger as intense as the fear she felt a while ago "And Mr. Faulkerson, thank you for confirming to me everything I had written about you. Gab already made me reconsider how wrong I was but apparently, sa kanya lang ako nagkamali. Tamang tama ako sa'yo."

Halos lumipad siya palayo at nang makaabot siya sa parking area at maupo sa loob nang sasakyan e doon niya lalong nararamdaman ang panginginig – halo-halong takot, galit, at inis sa nangyari.

Maine knew that she should have expected it.

Dapat nga e hindi na siya nabigla doon.

Pero nangyari na ang nangyari and now she knew what the villain thought of her.

"...I am sure she's earned enough money from the last book she wrote. She doesn't need to milk our family for more..."

Huminga siya nang malalim para pakalmahin ang sarili.

"Bwisit na lalake yun" she thought to herself as she started her engine.

"HAY!!!! NAKAKAINIS!!!!!!!" she screamed.