Faking Delays

Kristeena

That night went fucking well. Kocent said no girls and there he is on the dance floor with a bunch of sluts surrounding him.

What a motherfucker.

Nang iwan kami nila Kocent and those two ladies, I was alone with this god-knows-who drunken girl.

Naka yuko lang siya and obviously need to go home and sleep. Nakakailang baso na ba 'to?

I masagged my head for a bit before standing up. Plano kong mag order ng maiinom. Andito na rin naman ako.

Nakaupo ako sa stool nun nang makita kong may kumakausap doon sa babae. A guy. Obviously flirting with her. Hahayaan ko na sana 'cause alam kong kaya niya ang sarili niya, nang abutan siya ng lalake ng inumin. And I wasn't born yesterday to not know what's in the drink.

Agad akong lumapit. "Love, there you are..." saad ko. Tumingin sa akin 'yung babae. "Yes? We have a problem here?" I crossed my arms in front of my chest.

He gulped and took a step back. "Nothing, bro. Just asking something." Tinitigan ko lang siya. "W-Well, I'll go now."

Napailing ako. Hinarap kong muli 'yung babae at nakita kong ubos niya na 'yung inumin na inabot sa kaniya nung lalake. "Oh god..."

"Sarap," nakangiti niyang sabi.

I started looking around for her friends. My god, where are they? The drug will kick in after a few minutes and this girl will do something that she'll regret in the morning.

"Hey," tawag ko sa kaniya. Tumingin siya sa akin. "Do you hear me?" Tumango siya. "Okay, stand up. Let's get you home."

"Sila Fella at Sandy?" parang bata niyang tanong sa akin.

"They're uh... they're already home," sabi ko. I held her wrist. "Tara na, inaantay ka nila."

---

Everything is according to plan until she started stripping and claiming that I told her something I didn't. Argh, what did that guy said to her?

She started kissing my neck and god, all my senses went haywire. No, Harris. You can do this. Inalis ko ang kamay niya mula sa dibdib ko. "Could you sit, properly... Kristeena?"

Ngumiti siya. "Okay."

"I'll ask you again... where do you live?"

"Hindi ko na maalala e. Can I stay at your place?" She smiled which made me smile as well. "It's so hot!" Bigla niyang reklamo. Inabot niya ang zipper sa likod ng dress niya pero hindi niya naabot. "Fuck."

Natawa ako. "What's wrong?"

"I don't know!" Inabot niya uli ang zipper. "Malapit na ba tayo?" tanong niya.

"Yes," sagot ko naman. "Are you sure you want to stay with me overnight? I'm a full-blooded man, you know. And also a stranger," tanong ko uli. Baka sakaling mag bago ang isip niya.

"I know," sagot niya na tila ba ay may tiwala siya sa akin. Natahimik kami ng ilang saglit nang magtanong siya. "Can you... can you touch me?"

I woke up in the morning. And it was the first time I slept with a girl and nothing happened. We almost had sex, I can remember that. But she was a virgin. Before I don't usually care if a girl is virgin or not as long as I can fuck her, I would.

But last night... I actually thought that she would waste it on me! I felt that I'm not deserving. And to think that I asked her to help me make Cecelia jealous. God.

Pag gising ko ay wala na siya sa tabi ko. Wala na rin ang isa sa mga long sleeves ko and also, she left without her wallet and ruined dress. I picked up the wallet and the dress.

Ipaayos ko na lang 'to sa tailor and I'll return it to her. If ever na magkita kami ulit.

Suddenly, my phone beeped.
 

Kocent:

Just receive a news, bro. The Hendersons will be back in town. You better make a move.
 

I sighed. The Hendersons. A big fish in the business industry. I contacted my secretary to cancel all my meetings for today. Time to make a move, just like Cent said.

---

"How would I know that I can entrust my money with your company?" Ron Hidalgo asked. Andito kami ngayon sa office ko. I finally got a chance to talk to him and I'm not planning to waste this opportunity.

"Well, Sir Henderson, I have here records—" ilalabas ko sana ang cellphone ko nang malaglag ang I.D. ni Kristeena. Oh shit. "Uh, sorry about that. Anyway—" Kinuha ko ang I.D. at nilagay sa bulsa ko.

"Can I see that?" bigla niyang sabi. Tinignan ko lang siya and he's looking at my pocket kung nasaan ang I.D. ni Kristeena.

"Pardon, Sir? This?" Tumango siya. Inabot ko ito sa kan'ya.

"Abby," I heard him muttered.

I just looked at him. "Sir... are you okay?"

"Are you a friend of hers?" tanong niya. Medyo naguguluhan ako but I answered yes anyway. We were... friends, right? "I need you to do something for me. If you get this done, I promise to invest any amount that you need. Just take her to me."

And I was determined to do it. Until I got the chance to meet her and finally know her. Never had I felt this much for a person. Not even for Celia.

The task was to give her to her father and nothing else. When I finally employed her as my maid, her father's been supporting her all the way. And also her family in Palawan.

I didn't understand at first. Her life's as messy as Kocen't curly hair. But I finally understood why and I was willing to do everything for her. Not for my self, my father, or my company.

But for her. Everything. For her.

After Zambales, it was supposed to be perfect. I had everything all planned out. She just have to hear me. Fuck.

"Kilala mo siya?" tanong niya sa akin. Agad akong napalingon sa kaniya. She's looking at me. Eyes full of pain. "Kailan pa?"

"Love... it's..."

"Kailan pa?" ulit niya.

I sighed. "Matagal na."

"Ano 'yung narinig ko kanina? Anong plano?"

"That doesn't matter now. That was before! I—"

"You've been talking to him... aren't you? You've been talking to him all along, you've been selling me out!" Natawa siya. A bitter laugh. "Ang tagal kong nagtago sa kaniya, tapos ibibigay mo ako ng ganun ganun lang?"

Lumapit ako. "Kristeena..."

"No! Pinaglalaruan mo lang ako just for your own sake!" I tear fell from her eyes. "I thought... I thought what we had was real. Ginagawa mo lang pala 'yun para sa tatay ko. And I fucking believed you." Pinunasan niya ito.

"Please, let me explain." I tried holding her. I wanted to wipe her tears away, but she was pushing me away.

"I quit, Harris. I don't want anything to do with you, anymore."

I fell in love with someone I shouldn't have. And that was about the happiest mistake I've ever done.