The Iced Gems Series

Sapphire: Guilty as Charged Part 2/3

*bzzzt*bzzzt*bzzzt*

What the actual fvck is that?

*bzzzt*bzzzt*

I covered my head with a pillow and buried myself deep into something soft. Sobrang lambot naman ng unan ko. @_@

*bzzzt*bzzzt*

"Elijah, utang na loob! Your phone's been vibrating for minutes now. Could you just turn that thing off? O ibabato ko na yan?" antok na sabi ng kung sinuman. "And stop burying your face on my chest! Your mustache tickles me," dagdag reklamo pa nya. Pssh. Sungit.

I sleepily tried my best to get up and reach for that annoying phone. I immediately turned it off. Grabe, sobrang antok pa ko. Kung wala lang akong meeting with Klein, dito na lang muna ako. It's a Saturday, and I should be enjoying myself to my heart's content.

I yawned. Napasobra naman yata yung pagod at puyat ko. I looked at the woman laying beside me and shook my head in disbelief. Who would have thought that Atty. Casey Ramos is that wild? Yeah, the same Atty. Ramos in the pantry. Hindi ko naman alam na grabe pala tama nito sa akin. Alas kwatro na yata ako pinatulog, at buti nga pinatulog pa ako. Hirap maging habulin. :(

I did not bother to wake her up. What for? Baka bugahan lang ako nyan ng apoy. Halatang wala pa sya sa mood dahil mas pagod sya. Ayaw ba naman akong tigilan kagabi. Baka imbes na sabayan nya ako sa pagligo, palayasin pa ako nang walang saplot. Psshh. Women and their moodswings.

I took a quick shower and slipped into something casual. Buti na lang parating may spare clothes sa kotse ko. We'll never know kung kailan at saan na lang ako biglang hablutin ng mga babae. ;)

It was almost a two-hour ride from Makati to SM North, mainly because of the traffic. Partida hindi pa ako nag-EDSA nyang lagay na yan. I parked my car and headed for the Chinese restaurant Klein suggested. I heard that Giselle would be joining us, at mukhang magpapa-impress itong si Mr. Smith.

The first few minutes inside the mall was hellish. Ang daming tao. Aish, weekend nga pala. Kaya siguro hindi masyadong effective yung air conditioning system nitong mall kahit pa sabihing SM 'to. Sobrang init. Lalo na nung may nakita akong babae na nakaagaw ng pansin ko. She's slim (evident with her jeans and halter top) and walks gracefully. Nice curves we got there... What the hell Elijah? Pagod ka pa nga dahil sa kagabi pero kung saan ka na naman nakatingin. Tsk.

I put all my effort in ignoring her presence. I even turned to my left and found another way, pero parang nang-aasar sya. Kung saan ako pupunta, nandoon din sya. I could not see her face kaya di ko alam kung may masama ba syang balak sa akin or what. When I reached the resto, napamura na lang talaga ako.

WHAT THE HECK!!?

"Hey, I'm glad you made it," bati sa akin ni Klein. "By the way, with us is my daughter Liana, her mom Giselle and Atty. Alonte. You've met them before."

"Yeah," I answered, struggling not to stare at Atty. Alonte and drool. Why does she have to be that woman in jeans and halter? Just why?

"So, take a seat Atty. Montenegro," nakangiting bati sa akin ni Giselle. I turned my gaze on her. Hindi naman siguro sila nakahalata. And I can see that she and Klein are in good terms now. Naghimala siguro ang langit.

"Sure. And call me Elijah or Eli. Atty. Montenegro is too formal," I greeted back and she just smiled.

"This meeting is our appreciation lunch. Kung sinabi siguro namin na informal 'to masyado, baka hindi kami nakasingit sa schedule nyo," natatawang biro ni Klein na sinang-ayunan namin. Right. "Liana, say hi to Tito Eli and Tita Kirbie," lambing pa ni Klein sa anak na karga. Liana did not say anything pero tinawanan lang kami. Trait same as Enoch. Speaking of, kumusta na kaya yung batang jerk na yun?