Fierce

Chapter 38

Chapter 38
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"Can you please buy me a bottled water, Ida?" malambing na pag-uutos ni Graham kay Ida.

He casually put a hundred peso bill at the top of the table, in front of Ida who's quietly eating  shawarma.

"Oh! And please, buy me a slice of red velvet cheesecake." pahabol pa ni Graham habang nakangiti.

Ang one hundred peso bill na nasa ibabaw ng lamesa ay pinalitan niya ng five hundred peso bill.

Napakunot naman ang aking noo dahil sa pag-uutos ni Graham. Didn't he know that hell may rise just by ordering Ida to do things she doesn't want to do.

My lips parted when I saw Ida put down the plastic knife and fork that she was holding just to get the money that Graham gave her.

Ang akala ko'y ibabalibag niya kay Graham ang pera nito pero nang tumayo siya't tumalikod para sundin ang inutos ni Graham ay literal na nalaglag ang aking panga.

"Wow..." I heard Gael whispered in awe.

Nilipat ko ang tingin ko kay Graham na ngayo'y ngiting-ngiti habang pinapanood ang bestfriend ko.

"Katapusan na ba ng mundo bukas?" pabirong tanong ni Gael kay Graham.

Nilingon naman ni Graham si Gael. Halata kay Graham na tuwang-tuwa siya at saka umiling.

"No..." he said. "The world will just officially start turning."

Kumunot naman ang aking noo. "Paano mo nautusan si Ida?" tanong ko sa kaniya. "That's so very unlike her. Kahit siya'y hindi ko maintindihan nang hindi kami nagsusumbatan. How did you do it?"

Lumawak naman ang ngisi ni Graham saka nagkibit-balikat at binalik ang tingin kay Ida na ngayo'y tubig nalang ang binibili dahil may hawak na siyang red velvet cheesecake.

"Come on, Graham. Imposibleng basta-basta ka susundin ni Ida nang walang dahilan." I told him.

He bit lower lip before averting his look at me.

"I won our deal." he simply said.

"What deal?" I curiously asked.

"A deal that she should be my slave for a month." sabi naman ni Graham.

Napataas naman ang aking kilay at lihim na napangiti.

"And the deal that made you won is?" tanong ko.

"A debate." he answered. "We had a debate in Philo. She was my opponent earlier. We made a deal that whoever loses the debate will be the winner's slave for a month. She's the one who thought of that deal. I just agreed."

"And you won?" nakangisi kong tanong sa kaniya.

Tumango naman si Graham at hindi matago ang kaniyang kasiyahan sa pagkapanalo.

"Don't strain her too much, Gray." rinig at ramdam ko ang pagbabanta sa boses ni Gael.

I saw how Graham's smile vanished when Gael warned him about Ida.

"Why do you care so much about her?" Graham asked, trying to guard his emotions but in the end, he still let his feelings show.

Right... Graham still doesn't know anything about the true relationship of Gael and Ida. Maybe he's uhm... jealous?

Gael was speechless because of Graham's sudden question.

I saw Graham's jaw clenched because Gael can't answer his question.

"Don't tell me you like her, Gael. Are you playing with Blair and Ida?" diretsahang tanong ni Graham kay Gael at sinulyapan niya pa ako nang binanggit niya ang aking pangalan.