A for Azalea

Jealousy

He had a bad dream!

Napabalikwas ng bangon si Xander at agad napangiwi ng may gumuhit na kirot sa binti.

Sometimes I wish im Robocop. So I wouldn't feel this pain. Physically and mentally.

He remembered the discussion between him and his father last night.

"Pa, I want to go out of town," simula niya.

"Have you been receiving prank calls again? Or should I say, death threats?" Napailing siya. As much as possible, he doesn't want his father to know.

"You can go to La Union, son" his father continued.

He actually have a plan in mind. That's why he suggested to be out of town. He smiled.

"That's what I wanted to do. But since I cant leave the company.." kusa niyang binitin ang sasabihin.

Don Alberto waited for his next statement.

"I would like to bring my executive assistant!" Yun! Nasabi niya ng hindi kumukurap.

Lihim na napangiti ang kanyang ama sa kabilang linya..

"Ill take care of that. Ill talk to Aze first thing tomorrow," they talked about the conference before ending the call.

They agreed that aside from Aze, he will bring four men for their safety. And he slept with a smile on his face.

He pressed on the button of the intercom at nagpadala ng almusal after he took a bath.

Aba malaking achievement na to.Its hard to move around his room kasi paika ika pa siyang maglakad not to mention di niya maigalaw ang kanang braso niyang nakacast.

He will just ask help from Nana Tinay later to put on his shirt. Nahirapan siyang isuot ang damit sa sarili.

Kakatapos niya lang isuot ang boxers ng may kumatok.

Si Nana na to.

"Pasok ka Nana, bukas yan," bahagya pa niyang inayos ang kabilang side ng boxers dahil mahirap iangat. Baka makita ang tinatago niya.

Napalingon siya sa pinto ng makarinig ng singhap.

"E-eh kasi po Sir.. ano..kasi.. ako yung inutusan ni Nana Tinay magdala ng pagkain nyo," napapahiyang bulalas ni Aze.

Nagkibit siya ng balikat at inangat ng maayos ang boxers. He noticed the bandage on her left arm.

"Napano yan?" nguso niya sa braso nito.

"Nasugatan lang. Katangahan," halatang ayaw na nitong magkwento. Napatango na lang siya.

"Can you help me put on my shirt?"

Saglit na natigilan ang dalaga bago walang kibong tinulungan siyang magsuot ng damit.

"Thanks,"he whispered.

As if she was electrified that she almost jumped out away from him. He smiled at himself.

"So you will feed me for today?" nakangiti niyang sabi.

"Ho?"nilapag nito sa mesa ang tray.

Hmmm not bad. Macaroni soup, fried rice and bacon with tapa. My favorite.

"Are you deaf?" pang aasar niya. "Sabi ko subuan mo ako," he bit his lips to suppress a smile.

"Ang sabi ni Nana, maghatid lang ako ng pagkain, bakit pati pagiging yaya pinaako sa akin?" it was meant to be a whisper he knows but loud enough for his ear to catch.

"May sinasabi ka?" kumunot ang noo niya.

"Nothing sir,"she walked towards the table and looked at him.

"And why are you here this early?" tiningnan niya ang suot ng babae.Plain white shirt and walking shorts.

Para naming maglalaro ng tennis to. Kinis ng legs. Nakakabusog.

"Can you stop staring at my legs, SIR," she put emphasis on the last word.

"Im not staring at your legs!" bawi niya. And he sat on the chair in front of hers.

"Ahhh, nganga," tinapat nito ang kutsara sa bibig niya.

"Ang dami naman niyan!" reklamo niya. "Di magkakasya lahat yan."

Her face is like a crumpled paper. He really wanted to laugh but he is trying not to. Baka itapon ng babaeng to sa mukha niya ang pagkain. Knowing her temper.

"Are you gonna eat this or you will be eating all by yourself?" nakasimangot pa din ito.

He opened his mouth at sinungalngal lang nito ang kutsara sa bibig nya.

"Jesus!"

Muntik na siyang mabulunan."Balak mo pa ata akong saksakin ng kutsara ah."

She just smiled sweetly.

Holy cow!

"I was here early because I received a call from your dad." Patuloy ito sa pagsubo sa kanya."He said we will be leaving the day after tomorrow."

He swallowed the food."Are you gonna stay here until we leave?"

"Unfortunately, yes" sumimangot ulit to.May kasama pang pout.

YES!

"That's very unfortunate, really," sumang ayon na lang siya. Pero deep inside, tumatalon ang puso niya!

Sasagot pa sana ito ng marinig ang mahihinang katok. Napatayo ito at tinungo ang pinto.

"Oh Nana, patapos na po tong alaga niyo," dinig niyang sabi ni Aze.

"Eh hija may naghahanap sayo sa baba,"sagot ng matanda.

"Sino-"

"Sino ho Nana?" inunahan ko na siya. Napalingon ang dalawang babae sa kanya.

"Di ko kilala pero may dalang cute na bata," napatingin ang matanda kay Aze. Namalikmata lang ba siya or talagang namutla ang babae?

"Naku Nana sandalilang po at pupuntahan ko muna," tumakbo na palabas ng kwarto ang babae.

Nana Tinay entered the room. "Kakain ka pa ba Alexander?"

"Hindi na ho, Nana. Nawalan na ako ng gana,"daig pa niya ang nakalaklak ng Datu Puti suka sa asim ng mukha niya.

Niligpit na ng matanda ang pinagkainan niya. Palabas na ito ng magsalita siya.

"Anong hitsura nung lalaking naghahanap kay Aze, Nana?

The old lady looked at him and answered, "Kuuu, kagwapong lalaki. Matangkad at mukhang opisyal," napatayo siya ng di oras sa kama.

"Sabi ninyo may kasama hong bata,"lumapit siya sa bintana at sumilip sa labas.

"Aba eh cute na cute. Naaalala kita nung bata ka pa."

Tuluyan ng lumabas ang matanda.

Dali dali siyang nag ayos. Bababa siya para mabistahan ang sinasabi ni Nana Tinay na gwapong lalaki!

Gwapo din naman ako ah!