The Merciless Playboy

Chapter 3

I went to work this morning with a pounding headache. Hindi dahil sa dami ng aking nainom ng nagdaang gabi kundi dahil sa kawalan ng tulog. I spun my head to check if my officemates already arrived, pero mukhang ako ang pinakamaaga sa aming headquarters.

Itiniklop ko ang aking laptop pagkatapos pasadahan ang aking report.

I sighed.

How could a stranger affect my rational being by just passing by? Is it the night we've shared together? Or is it something else?

Ngayon lang ako nakaramdam ng ganito, I feel so restless. Hindi kaya nagkagusto ako sa lalaking iyon?

Mabilis kong itinanggi iyon sa aking isipan. That can't be. Marahil ay dahil naging malaki ang kontribusyon niya sa pagkamulat ko sa aking pagkababae kaya hanggang ngayon ay hindi ko siya makalimutan.

He could've unfolded the things I should've figured out in my 23 years of existence that's why I'm feeling so attached to the thoughts of him. He's my first and probably won't be my last.

Did I regret it?

Not at all.

Did I think he violated me?

No. We were two consenting adults in the first place. I also liked what we've shared. Kahit na... para sa akin isa itong pagkakamali.

Hindi naman ako naninisi, hindi rin naman niya ako pinilit. The only thing that confuses me now.. is this..

Why am I still thinking about him?

"Lauren! Anyare kagabi?" Binuhay ni Lala ang kanyang laptop. She sat beside me and peered at my direction.

Ngumiti ako ng pilit sakanya. I tapped our shared table with my fingers while thinking carefully what to say.

"Sumakit ang ulo ko" pasimple kong paliwanag.

She crinkled her nose and pouted a bit. "Hindi ka naman napainom ng marami ah? Aga mong umuwi"

Pilit kong binura ang lahat sa aking isipan, ngunit tila nagbibiro ang tadhana. I saw two figures entering our quarters area.

Hindi kaya namamalikmata lamang ako? Nagtama ang mga paningin namin ng lalaking nasa bandang likuran. He looks more manly with his white underdress, with sleeves rolled up to his elbows.

He looks at me with indifference in his eyes. His familiar scent filled in the enclosed space of our quarters area.

"Huy, Lau!"

I snapped at Lala, pulling away from my stance. Una akong nagbawi ng tingin at hinarap ang aking kaopisina.

"Anong ginagawa nila dito?" Pabulong kong tanong.

Humagikgik si Lala at bahagyang dumukwang sa akin.

"Bagong empleyado" she squaeled.

Nakaramdam ako ng panlalamig sa sikmura.

"Bakit parang hindi ko alam na may-"

"What a coincidence, miss?" Naputol ang aking sinasabi ng may sumingit sa pagitan namin ni Lala.

He smirked and crossed his arms. Si Lala ay napanganga lamang.

"Siya nga yon! Kaya pala familiar!" She bursted into stiffled laughter.

"D-dito ka rin sa department namin?"

He closed the distance between us, his eyes focused on me.

"Yup! May problema ba?" His hoarse voice scent shiver all over me. Butterflies gone wild in the pit of my stomach.

"Wala naman" I looked away as my knees turned to jelly. I swallowed the lump in my throat as I managed myself to look calm in front of him.