Faking Delays

Harris

"Why is this outside the refrigerator?" tanong ko nang makita ang left over na ulam mula kanina.

Biglang pumasok si Kristeena sa loob ng kusina. "Ay, sorry, sorry, nakalimutan ko." Kinuha niya 'yung lalagyan ng ulam at ipinasok ito sa loob. "Ayan na ah, nasa loob na. 'Wag na highblood, Sir."

I sighed and paid no mind at her final remarks. Staying with this girl for almost 5 months has been one hell of a roller coaster ride.

"I don't want this to happen again, understood?" seryoso kong tanong.

"Nakalimutan lang e," bulong niya at talagang nagtaray pa. I groaned. Why the hell do I find that cute?

I shrugged off the idea of her being cute. "Just go back to work."

Umalis na siya at naiwan ako mag isa sa kusina. Damn that woman for making things complicated.

The more time we spend together, the more hard it is to keep my promise to her father. I sat down on the chair as I reminisce what happened a few months back.

---

"This company is going down, Harris. If you won't do anything about it, this will surely sink underground!" sigaw ng aking ama na nagpupuyos sa galit dahil sa kapabayaang nagawa ko. "You should've seen this coming, son. Bankruptcy? This is outrageous! The Everett Company is never less when it comes to money, and you know that. Someone is pulling the strings to see you fail..."

Hinilot ko ang sentido. "I know, father, I know. I'm taking care of it."

"You better..." Tumayo siya sa upuan. "Anyway, I'll go to Maldives tonight. I have a meeting with an ambassador, Mr. Enrile." At umalis na siya. "Matatagalan ang balik ko."

I groaned. First, Celia. Then this! God, what's next.

Biglang may pumasok sa office ko. "Sir, your coffee." Lalo akong nawala sa mood.  It's Greene. Suot niya na naman ang uniform niya na kinulang sa tela. Yumuko siya at talagang ipinapamukha pa sa akin kung gaano kaliit ang mga dibdib niya.

Oh, please, woman. I've seen better tits than that.

I sighed. I badly need a replacement for her.

"That would be all, Miss Greene. You may leave."

Ngumiti and bit her lip before leaving. My god. Napailing ako. I checked all the papers that are here on my table.

Biglang nag ring ang telepono ko. Sinagot ko ito. "Yes?"

[ Yes, Sir Harris, uh there's someone here outside saying he's a friend of yours? Let me talk to him, c'mon. He knows me! Papasukin mo na lang kasi ako, miss. Should I let him in? ] rinig ko sa kabilang linya. The voice sounds familliar... [ Sorry, sir, sumusunod lang po ako sa protocol. Tell him it's his favorite coin! Sir, sorry but— ]

Nang marinig ko 'yun ay agad kong nalaman kong sino siya. "Let him in, Miss Greene."

[ Um, okay, Sir. Pasok ka na daw po, Sir. ]

Maya-maya pa ay bumukas ang pinto at pumasok ang lokong ito. "That secretary of yours is one juicy piece of meat."

Napailing ako sa sinabi niya. "Whatever you want, whatever you need, I don't have it. You may leave."

Tumawa siya at umupo sa lamesa ko. He set aside the papers and gave me a card. The Clubx, it stated. "A friend of mine just opened up a bar, just around the corner. He invited me and told me to invite famous people, specifically you, para makilala naman daw ang pangalan ng bar niya. So... wanna come?"

"In short, you want to use my name..."

"Yes! That's exactly what I mean," nakangiti niya pang sabi.

Umiling ako. "Like I said, I'm busy."

He sighed. "Bro, you're stressing yourself out. Alam ko kung anong problema, nakasalubong ko si tito kanina. I wish I could help but... I'm facing problems of my own. You know in the hospital... So para sa ikapapayapa ng mga isipan natin, let's have a guy's night out! Just you and me. Promise, no girls."

Tinignan ko siya. A few minutes and I sighed. "You better make sure, you big ball of pubic hair."

---

Kakabukas pa lang nitong club pero marami nang tao. There are girls, but none caught my attention just like Cecelia did.

I am wearing a long sleeve, tacked in my pants. Nirolyo ko pataas ang sleeves dahil masyadong pormal kung ibababa ko lang.

"Hey! Dito na kami! I've invited people like you said. Bayad ko?" Typical Kocent.

Tumawa ang kausap niya at nag abot ng bayad. "Of course. Maaasahan ka talaga." Tumingin siya sa akin. Agad niyang nilahad ang kamay. "Nice to meet you po, Mister Everett. It's really a pleasure." Nilabas ko ang kamay mula sa bulsa ko at nakipag kamay. I nodded.

"Anyway, we'll check this place out, ha, Trent." Tumango lang ito. Umakyat kami sa third floor which I believe is for the VIPs. Pag akyat ko ay marami agad akong nakitang pamilyar sa akin.

Karamihan sa kanila ay sikat sa iba't-ibang larangan.

"Hey, Kocent!" Napalingon kami. There's a blonde slim girl that's storming towards Cent. "You son of a—"

"Watch your mouth, cous. My parents can hear you." Itinuro niya ang itaas.

Tumingin 'yung babae sa itaas bago umiling iling. "Whatever! Ang tagal mong dumating! Those good for nothing bouncers almost didn't let us in!"

"Teka... 'Us'? I invited only you, right? Anong 'us' ka d'yan?" tanong nito sa pinsan.

Tinuro niya ang kinauupuan niya and there are two girls sitting there. "Sinama ko mga kaibigan ko. Masama?"

"No, of course it's not," ani Cent na hindi inaalis ang tingin sa mga babae. "Tara, Harris, let's sit with them." At naglakad na siya papalit sa upuan nila. Hinila niya ako para sumama.

I heard his cousin growled. "Argh, you're really a dickhead."

Umiinom ang dalawa at nag uusap nung lumapit kami. "Uh, hey there," pambungad ni Cent. "I'm Kocent, and this is Harris. Can we sit here?"

"Of course you can," sabi nung babaeng may itim na itim na buhok. Uupo na sana si Cent nang muli itong magsalita. "But you may not."

"Why not?"

Inangat nung babae ang tingin niya sa amin. He first stared at me. Black beautiful eyes. The first thing I noticed then her whole look. Is she a model or something?

He then looked at Kocent and laughed. "Mukha kang bulbol," natatawa niyang sabi at itinuro niya pa ang buhok nito.

Agad na humawak si Cent sa buhok niya. "Y-You're rude!"

Dumating na man na ang pinsan niya at umupo sa tabi nung babae. "Good job, Kristeena. That's the way to keep the boys away." Kristeena. What a strong name.

"Hindi kaya!" sabi naman nung babaeng may brown hair, just like Kocent's. "He's actually cute."

"Hindi kaya siya!" paglalaban nito. Tumingin siya sa akin with those sleepy eyes and smiled. "Siya ang cute," anito sa akin.

Oh my god. Who is this girl?

"Your friend's drunk, cous. Iuwi mo na."

Tumawa siya. "Why? So that no one will bully you? No way! She's staying."

"So can we sit with you?"

Tumango ang babae. "Sure, sure. Just no monkey business, Kocent. I know you."

"Oh? Ako agad? Hindi pwedeng itong kasama ko?"

"You, tell me... why did you befriend this asshole?" sabi nung babae sa akin.

I shrugged. "It's good to keep a dog around," pagsabay ko sa biruan nila.

Bahagya naman akong sinuntok ni Cent. "Harris!"