His Slave

Chapter 35

I went to the mini bar to turn on the electric kettle. While waiting for the water to boil, I opened the cupboard to get some mugs. "What tea do you like?" tanong ko sa kanya ng hindi siya nililingon.

"Any recommendation?" he said. "How about chamomile?"

"Sounds good to me."

"Okay.." I said as I turned off the whistling kettle. "Won't you be joining them at the beach?" I asked as I pour some water at the mug.

"Nah.. Maa-out of place lang ako dun." sagot niya at nagulat na lang ako na nasa tabi ko na siya. "I'll help you with that." sabay kuha niya ng kettle mula sa kamay ko.

I froze at my spot as my heart started to panic. I felt my hands are shaking. Mabilis kong kinuyom ang aking kamay bago pa niya mapansin 'to. "T-Thanks.." sabi ko at naglakad papunta sa balkonahe.

I felt him following me. I motioned to him to have a seat at the wooden chair. At naupo din naman ako sa kabila. He yawned as he sit down. "Sorry." he said, apologetically.

Umiling ako. "I should be the one apologizing. I shouldn't have asked you to come in. You're already exhausted. Baka gusto mong magpahinga na lang." sabay tayo ko. I was being inconsiderate. Nakalimutan ko pa tuloy na, it was his first photo shoot kanina.

"No! Please.." he motioned me to sit down again. "I'm fine. Really, it's okay."

"Okay.." naupo ako ulit. Being alone with him is making me strangely nervous. But, I invited him inside. I really need to start talking about something.

"Ah--"

"Aren't--"

Sabay kaming tumahimik agad ng sabay kaming nagsalita. "Sorry.. You were saying?" sabi niya.

"No, you go ahead." sagot ko naman.

"Aren't you gonna get dressed? Baka lamigin ka."

"Okay lang. Medyo patuyo na din naman 'tong buhok ko."

Ngumiti siya. "Okay.. So, how did you end up in the model industry?"

"Well.. When I was roaming around England, a talent scout spotted me. He took a picture of me and then the rest was history." I replied and took a sip of my tea. "How about you? How did you end up with the clothing business? I didn't know that it was your thing." sabay lagay ko ng aking mug sa mesa.

"Hindi ko kasi nabanggit sa'yo dati na our family owns a clothing company."

"Yeah.. Lately ko lan din nalaman. Nung sinabi sa 'kin ni Sc--" I trailed off.

"Ni Myr?" sabi niya at tumango na lang ako agad.

And it hit me. "Ah so, that's the reason kung ba't ang bilis mong makakuha agad ng mga pampamalit kong damit."

He nodded and smiled at me. "Hindi ko naman talaga gustong sundan ang yapak ni Mama sa kompanyang 'to. It's just that I had to. I have my reason."

"Ganon ba.." ngumiti ako. "Ilang taon mo na ba hina-handle ang company niyo?"

"Not until, for the past two years."

"Last last year?" ulit ko. Tumango siya. Naalala ko nung nakaraang dalawang taon, I endorsed a perfume brand. And it was a really big break for me since it was a well known brand world wide. "Really? It took you that long?" kinuha ko ulit ang mug sa mesa.

"As I said, I have rough years in college. Still, don't know what I wanted to be come. Sa isang bagay lang naman ako sigurado nun. I wanted to see you."

Muntik ng madulas sa kamay ko ang hawak kong mug. "Gin.." sabi ko na halos pabulong na.

"I never really apologized for what happened in the past." he took a deep breathe. "I'm sorry.. I'm sorry if I wasn't there when your mom got sick. I'm sorry, I wasn't there when you needed me the most. I-I'm sorry for leaving you behind."