He Married the Stripper.

The End of a Stalker.

---NARRATOR---

Nakangiting pumasok ng office building si Lawrence. Inabutan niya ng kape ang security guard na nagche-check ng ID's at binabati lahat ng makasalubong at nakikipag-kwentuhan sa mga naka-sabay sa elevator. Sa building na ito kilala si Lawrence as the nice guy from bookkeeping. A friendly face inside the small company.

"Good morning, Pia." Nakangiting bati ni Lawrence ng pumasok siya sa maliit na office.

"Good morning, Lawrence. Oo nga pala, may nag-hihintay sayo sa office mo."

"Ha? Sino?"

"Frederick Sarmiento daw. Binigyan ako ng business card, lawyer daw." Sagot ng babae, inabot niya ang business card kay Lawrence. 

"Is everything okay?" Tanong ng dalaga. Ngumiti si Lawrence at in-assure ang katrabaho. He confidently walked towards his office, smiling to his co-workers and acting like everything was fine, when in reality his heart was beating so fast he's starting to shake.

Pumasok si Lawrence sa office kung saan nakita nyang naka-upo ang isang lalaki, his clothes screaming money and his demeanor radiating confidence. Napalunok si Lawrence but he tried to hide his discomfort by smiling.

"Hi, Frederick Sarmiento." Pagpapa-kilala ni Ed, nag-kamay silang dalawa, Lawrence told him to take a seat.

"Hello, so tungkol saan ba ito? Sabi ni Pia lawyer ka daw?"

"Ah yes. Good, I'm actually here because of a certain Ms. Gigi Manzano." Ed studied his face, the creep was still smiling but he can see the sweat forming on his forehead and the way he kept shifting in his seat. He smirked.

"I don't... I mean... who?" He stammered, Ed sighed and pulled out a folder from his briefcase.

"Alright, if you wanna make this harder. Gigi Manzano, you may know her as Genie, she works at The Club. The strip club you've been frequenting until na-ban ka because you've been harassing Gigi. Does that ring a bell?" Nag-labas ng pictures si Ed from the folder, pictures of Lawrence going in and out of the club. Lawrence stared at the pictures, his hands shaking, his fist clenched, his calmness dissipating. He stared at Ed.  

"Bakit? Nag-sampa ba siya ng kaso? Because if she did... I can dispute it... wala siyang ebidensya besides... ako yung naagrabyado. I have proof of how she hit me..."

"I knew you'd say that and no... I'm not her lawyer, but I am her friend. And as her friend I made it my mission to bring you down." Ed sat back on his seat, the creep was finally showing his true colours.

"Bring me down? How? Sa tingin mo ba sinong papanigan ng pulis? Nang mga tao? Yung pokpok o ako na nag-tatrabaho ng maayos at gusto ng maraming tao?"

"Lawrence, Lawrence, Lawrence. Do I look stupid to you? Of course I know how it will go, malamang ikaw ang paniniwalaan ng lahat, but if you wanna go to the authorities be my guest, try me. I'm an excellent lawyer but the thing is that's not what she wants to do. And besides sa tingin mo ba, magugustuhan ka pa din nila if they learn what a dirty creep you are? Ano na lang iisipin ng mga ka-trabaho mo? To think that the office social butterfly, the nicest guy around, the belle of this shit-hole is actually a creepy good for nothing stalker?" 

"Are you threatening me?" Dahan-dahang tumayo si Lawrence, he was taller than Ed so if anything he can probably take him and if he can manage to spin it he can tell his co-workers some lie about how he was threatening him.

"Oh... of course not. I'm just stating facts. Why don't you sit back and calm down? So I can actually start?" Lawrence looked at him and refused to move.

"Okay, ikaw bahala. I did tell you to sit." He took out a stack of papers from his folder.

"Take it, this is me threatening you." He smirked as he handed him the papers. Lawrence looked at the first few pages and his face turned white, beads of sweat rolling from his forehead and his hands shaking.

"Pinapawis ka na. Gusto mo bang buksan kong pintuan?" Ed asked he made a move to get up but Lawrence stopped him.

"N-no. Don't... Please..." 

"Ayan edi naubos din kayabangan mo."

"What do you want from me? Gusto mo ba kong mag-apologise? Lumuhod sa harapan ni Gigi..."

"Oh god no, you're not going anywhere near Gigi! At lalong huwag na huwag ka nang magpa-pakita sa kanya. Huwag na huwag ka ding pupunta sa club dahil sa oras na malaman kong may nakakita sayo or makita ka ni Gigi, all these things are coming out. Naiintindihan mo?"

"But I..."

"No buts asshole! I never wanna see you're pathetic face ever again dahil oras na makita ulit kita, lalabas lahat ng to. Naiintindihan mo?!" Tumango si Lawrence.

"Good. Pleasure doing business with you." Tumayo si Ed he extended his hand towards Lawrence and he meekly shook it. Bibitaw na dapat siya but before he can, Alex punched him in the stomach he doubled over from the pain. Ed was still holding his hand almost crushing it.

"That's for Gigi and for all the other girls, you sick bastard." Ed let his hand go. Binuksan ang pintuan at lumabas but before he left he made sure to throw a bunch of copies across the halls, he watched sadistically as Lawrence staggered out and lunged for the papers, frantically gathering them before his co-workers can see them.

Lumabas ng building si Ed he went to the cafe across the street and sat down in front of Gigi who was waiting for him.

"O-okay na ba?" Tanong ni Gigi.

"Syempre naman. Told you I'll handle it. You don't have to worry about anything anymore, hindi ka na niya guguluhin. I made sure of that."

"Salamat ha. Maraming salamat talaga."

"You're welcome." They sat in silence, Gigi looking down on her coffee, Ed watched her waiting for her to say something. Gigi exhaled, pinunasan niya ang mata niya.

"Nakita ko siya, ibang-iba siya sa club at dito sa labas. Napaka-carefree niya, kung hindi ko siguro siya kilala I would have liked him."

"You would, that was his morning persona, I guess. He was popular in the office, he was nice and friendly. So threatening to expose him gave him a fright, it would have been nicer if I did just that."

"Ayoko namang siraan buhay niya, gusto ko lang na lubayan na niya ko at sana mag-tanda na siya. Sana hindi na niya gawin to sa iba."

"I hope so too, let's have faith that threatening him will work. One thing I'm sure though he's not gonna bother you again, hindi na siya babalik sa club but from what I gathered he's probably gonna find someone else."

"Sa tingin mo ba, dapat may ginawa ako? Dapat ba nag-rely ako sa police?" 

"We both now what would have happened if you did that." Tumango si Gigi, she let out a sigh and slumped in her chair.

"Sana lang talaga naka-ganti ako sa kanya physically. Kung hindi lang talaga ko nandidiri sa pag-mumukha nya..."

"Cheer up, I did that for you too. I punched him in the gut. He was doubled over so I'm pretty sure it hurt like a b*tch." Ed smirked.

"Thanks. I appreciate that." Ngumiti si Gigi.