Who are you, Aira?

Chapter 2: The meeting

I opened the door and walk downstairs. Maids along my way greeted me and i just nodded at them. They are used to it anyway.

"Saan ka pupunta, iha?" Nanay Fe asked.

"Mission." I smiled at her.

Nanay Fe is the mayordoma of this house. Eversince we were young, siya na ang nag-aalaga sa amin. Ang alam ko, siya rin ang nag-alaga kay mom at sa mga tita ko noon. She treated me and my twin bro as her own children. We also treated her as our real mother. Wala rin naman siyang sariling pamilya kaya sa amin niya ibinubuhos lahat ng atensyon niya. Kaya naman ganito na kami ka-komportable sa kanya. Sad to say, but her fiance died before they could get married. After that, hindi na muling nagmahal si Nanay Fe.

I snapped back in reality when I heard her sighed. I know what she's thinking. After all ilang beses niya na kaming nakitang duguan ni Aaron. She's like a mother figure to me. To us. Strict, yet genuine and caring. Buti pa siya.

"Iha, hindi bat delikado 'yan?" I lost of words. I know. It's just that... ito na ang kinalakihan naming magkapatid.

"Nanay, I will be careful. I promise." I hugged her and give her my assurance.

"Asaan si Aaron? Hindi mo ba kasama?" I mentally rolled my eyes. Malay ko sa baliw na 'yon. I will strangle his neck when he come back.

"No, nanay. I don't know his location. Probably he's busy." Sabi ko na lang. Hindi pwedeng sabihin ang deal naming dalawa. I can't lose my prize. Isa pa, lagot kami kapag nalaman ng magaling naming ama.

Sasagot pa lang sana si Nanay Fe ngunit biglang nag-ring ang cellphone ko sa bulsa.

Fuck. Not again.

I waved my hand to Nanay Fe and mouthed "bye". Dumiretso na ako sa kotse ko at nagmamadaling binuksan ang pintuan ng driver's seat. Sinagot ko ang tawag at pinagsisihan na inilapit ko ang cellphone ko sa tenga ko.

Shit!

"WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU MR. DELA CRUZ?! WHO THE FUCK ARE YOU TO FUCKING WASTE MY TIME?!"

I stilled.

I inhaled deeply bago sumagot. I may be calm at times pero ang daming tumatakbo sa isip ko ngayon. It's just that, I can explain myself to anyone but I choose not to. It's just a waste of time.

Gusto ko siyang murahin pabalik. Pinaka ayoko sa lahat ay ang sinisigawan ako. Pinikit ko ang aking mata at pinababa ang boses ko bago sumagot.

"I'm deeply sorry, Mr. Villanueva. May emergency lang about---"

"I don't fucking care. I waited for you for fucking 2 hours already. I don't need your fucking explanation. Come fucking here, immediately!"

I bit my lower lip. Damn this fucking guy! Ayoko nga ng sinisigawan!

"I'm sorry. It won't happen again."

Damn! I even apologized to him twice! Sino ba 'to ha? I don't apologize lalo na kung wala naman akong kasalanan. Hindi ko nga alam na may mission si Aaron ngayon sa kanya!

"What the fuck ever."

Bwiset ka, Aaron! Kakaltukan talaga kita pagbalik mo. Hindi pa ako nag-uumpisa pero na-stress na agad ako.

Magsasalita pa sana ako pero binabaan niya na ako ng telepono.

My jaw dropped. What the actual fuck?! I balled my fist. Nanginginig ako sa inis. But i should let this pass. Pinasok ko 'to.

I entered my car. Inabot ko ang wig na pinabili ko sa mga guards ko kahapon. Mabilis akong nagpalit ng suit sa loob ng sasakyan. Tinted ang sasakyan ko kaya hindi makikita ang ginagawa ko sa loob.

Kinuha ko ang suit na suot ko ngayon sa closet ni Aaron. Good thing may mga pinagliitan siyang suit sa closet niya at hindi pa rin tinatapon. My brother is very affectionate kind of man.

Pinaandar ko na ang sasakyan ko papunta sa lugar na pupuntahan ko. Aaron already texted me the location a while ago. He even said sorry dahil nakalimutan niyang sabihing may schedule siya ngayon with that guy. Pinalampas ko na lang. I don't want my energy to be drained.

Minutes passed, nakarating na ako sa isang mamahaling restaurant kung saan katatagpuin ko si Mr. Villanueva. Before I stepped outside, inabot ko ang baril na nakatago sa compartment ng sasakyan ko at maingat na inilagay sa bewang ko. I tapped my gun.

"There. Prevention is better than cure."

I looked myself in the mirror. I made sure na kamukhang kamukha ko si Aaron. Hindi pwedeng pumalpak.

I walked towards the entrance of the said restaurant. Maraming guard ang nakapaligid. Halatang mayayaman ang mga taong kumakain sa loob nito. When i entered, a lady in white uniform approach me.

"Good afternoon, sir. Do you have any reservation?" She smiled. Flirty smile i must say. Bahagya siyang yumuko para ayusin ang palda niya ngunit alam kong wala namang gusot o kahit na anong problema dito. She just want me to take a look at his huge breast. Kung baka si Aaron ang nasa katauhan ko, malamang natuwa 'yon. Pero ako ang nandito. Mayroon din ako nyan. Nakaipit nga lang.

I silenty cursed this mission. Pahirap sa buhay. My poor breast.

I maintain my blank expression. Gusto ko siyang taasan ng kilay dahil sa ginawa niya. Nauubusan na ba siya ng lalaki para gawin 'yon? Tss.

"I don't have any. But I'm here to---"

"I'm sorry, sir. We are fully booked for today but..."

Lumapit siya papunta sa akin. Nakatingala siya ng kaunti dahil mas matangkad ako sa kanya kahit papaano.

"... if you want, you can book me." She winked. She is touching my arm up and down.

Gusto kong masuka. Gusto kong sapakin ang mukha niya pero syempre, hindi ko pwedeng gawin. She really thought I'm a guy, huh?

I smiled. Ginaya ko kung paano ngumiti si Aaron sa mga babae niya. I'm fucking late.

"I'm sorry sweetheart but maybe next time."

Yuck.

"I'm here for Mr. Villanueva. My name is Aira. I mean, Aaron Caleb Dela Cruz. Where is he?"

I cursed myself. Mabuti na lang hindi nagtaka ang babaeng nasa harap ko.

She immediately stepped backward after she heard the surname Villanueva. Interesting. Maybe this guy's very influential to the point that by merely hearing his name, he can make anyone turn into a little kitten. Well, not me.

"I-i'm sorry. This w-way, sir."

She guided me upstairs and found myself in front of a room. I looked upward and there i find the signage VIP #1.

The room is surrounded by the guards. They looked at me as if I am doomed for being this late. I looked at my wristwatch. It's 11:30 in the morning. I bit my lower lip. Bahala na.

I knocked three times before i open the door. It wasn't locked so I guess he's really waiting for my existence. Patienly. I guess.

"You're finally here after 2 fucking and a half hours. Thank you for making me wait."

He said. His voice is deep. Sarcastic and mad. Nakakatakot ang mga iyon pero hindi ako natakot. I maintain my calm, cold and bored look before i shifted my gaze to the man sitting in front of me.

I froze.

I stared at him. I looked into his tantalizing eyes, pointed nose, sharp jaws and... thin and red lips. Pasimple kong kinurot ang sarili ko.

Hindi dapat ako makaramdam ng atraksyon dahil nandito ako para sa isang misyon.

At iyon ay para protektahan siya.