SEDUCING THE THORN °[KathNiel] ✓COMPLETE

CHAPTER 8

Dos

Sinamahan ko si Brook sa restaurant ni tito Levi para sa interview niya at sa cooking exam. She looked uneasy while I drove her to the place. So when we arrived, I didn't let her alight immediately from the car.

"Puppy, it's going to be okay." I assured her, pressing lightly her arm.

"Kinakabahan ako e." Pag-amin niya. Kinuha ko ang dalawang kamay niya upang hawakan 'yon ng mahigpit. They're cold.Geez. Kinakabahan nga talaga siya.

"Breathe, baby. You'll do great. I know it." Nakangiting pagpapalakas ko ng loob niya.

She sighed heavily and then showed me her beautiful smile. Damn it. Nakakapanghina lang talaga kapag ngumingiti siya ng gano'n. Gumaganda siyang lalo.

"Kaya ko 'to. Para kay mama, kay Bea, kay kuya Cad." She said lowly in a voice almost a whisper. "Gagalingan ko para sa inyo sir."

Did she really say that?

"I mean po, para hindi po kayo mapahiya." She added and I just gave it a nod. Paasa din 'tong Brook na 'to.

While she did her thing, I stayed inside the restaurant to wait for her. At the other table, after an hour or so, she was already out from the kitchen bringing a tray of food towards the head chef and the restaurant manager.

"Brooklyn?" Someone uttered, sounding surprised.

Napalingon agad ako para tingnan kung sino. It's a tall guy with a slick back hair. He looked like a fil-am jerk. Minanmanan ko siya hanggang sa maglakad si Brook papunta sa kinatatayuan ko. Nang umakma ang lalaking lalapit kay Brook, I hurriedly walked closer to her. I grabbed her by the waist and then led her to the car. Ang daming gagong umaaligid sa kanya a. There's Rio and Logan already. And here's another one. Tsk.

"How was it baby?"

Inalis ni Brook ang kamay kong nakapulupot sa bewang niya. Malungkot ang mukha niya kaya sumikip ang dibdib ko.

"It's okay. There are so many other jobs I can get you into." I said to comfort her.

"Talaga?"

"Oo naman. Kaya ngumiti ka na."

Tumango siya't ngumiti sa'kin. Kasunod no'n ay ang pagyakap niya sa'kin. It came as a surprise and I didn't expect her to do it.

"Thank you."

"Anything for you, puppy."

Feeling her arms tighten in hugging me, I found the need to hug her back. I can't stop grinning because the moment seemed dreamy.

"Sir Dos. I'm hired." She announced in a monotone as if it's a bad news.

"Brook?" I uttered after pulling away to see her face. She's smiling now from ear to ear.

"Tanggap ako!" Tili niyang nagpalundag ng puso ko. She looked so happy and my heart is just so warmed to know that she is. I want her to be happy. Always. All the time.

"I'm proud of you. For that, we should eat out."

"Hindi po. Ipagluluto nalang kita ng lahat ng paborito mo."

"Sounds more tempting." Sagot ko. "Let's go home then."

Habang nagluluto, humihiging si Brook ng kantang 'Walang Iba' ng Ezra Band. Bakas sa buong mukha niya na masaya siya. For the whole time she's cooking in the little kitchen of my unit, I never get tired watching and staring at her. That face is just so damn perfect. Suddenly, continuous knocks on the door interrupted me from my sight-seeing. I will kill whoever this guy is. Panira e.