Freedom from Seduction (COMPLETED)

Kabanata 3

Offer

"Oh."

Tila napunta sa malalim na pag-iisip si Tita Cleo habang nakatingin na sa lalakeng pumunta sa harapan namin. I know what she's thinking because she's right. We didn't have sex and if he asked for a leave, he's probably doing something important.

And why waste his time to people he just met? Is he really this kind or am I just too pretty not to be noticed? It's probably the latter.

"Uhm... sorry. Aalis na kami." Wait! Why do I want to go home? Now that he's here, I can offer him a job in our company! Why is my body contradicting every word I say? I bet if I say that I would not stay- "I just wanted to ask you something..." That's it! It's official! I hate my body. Gosh.

He licked his lower lip and looked at my tummy. Umiwas agad ako ng tingin dahil roon. I don't know why I felt more ashamed because of my outfit. Kanina ay parang ayos naman iyon but now... it feels plain. It feels as if I can't entertain a man. More particulary, him.

"So... you're not pregnant?"

Halos mabilaukan ako sa sariling laway. He really gives me chills everytime he speaks in english. It's like he's not poor. It's as if we are in the same level and it's making me crazy.

"I-i'm not."

And gosh, even if I am this pretty, I'm still a virgin! I strongly believe in sex after marriage and not the other way around. Especially not to him! Sa tingin ba niya ay gugustuhin kong magka-anak na siya ang Ama? Nandito lang ako para tumulong dahil mabait ako! After this, I'll leave him alone because I need to hate him. I don't like what I feel. Kakakita lang rin namin and I have a great future ahead of me. Far ahead than being a wife to this... poor man.

"Ano po ba ang gusto mong i-tanong?" He said formally when he probably... he probably saw the distaste in my eyes while I was looking at him and his shirt.

It was a plain gray shirt covered with a liquid of some sort and is that a... is that a vomit? Ngumiwi ako at lumayo. It might smell later. Even if I'm smelling only his scent, it might smell if I go nearer!

He went near the carinderia and knocked on the wooden side of it. Hindi muna ako nagsalita habang kinakausap niya ang lumabas. The latter went back and when he came back, he was holding an extra shirt.

"Salamat..." I heard Zeus said. Tumingin siya sa akin at nagpaalam na magpapalit muna. Tumango naman ako.

"I saw what you did." Siko niya sa akin. "And my God, I am a bitch but I can still be ashamed."

Tumaas ang kilay ko. What did I do? Siya nga ang may kasalanan eh. Zeus is probably taking care of some sick person who eventually vomited and he may not have noticed. Oh baka alam niyang may extra shirt naman rito at binalak nalang niya pumunta dahil sa pagmamadali? Nah. It's probably the first one. Bakit naman siya magmamadali hindi ba?

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"I saw you grimace, Venice."

"And what' wrong with that? A vomit is disgusting!"

"Still. Nakita ko rin naman pero wala akong paglayo layo. Kulang nalang ay tabunan mo ang ilong mo."

"No! Of course not!" I shooked my head profusely. Tinaasan niya ako ng kilay kaya napabuntong hininga nalang ako. "Okay. I almost did. Almost, Tita!"

"It's kind of rude..."

"Oh come on, I need my Tita Cleo. Who are you?" Tumawa ako. "You're now acting like my Mother."

She raised both her hands and made her face crumple as if in disgust. I know she loves my Mother but I also know she loves me more. I'm like her daughter. What she did was normal. Kahit ako naman ay parang na-guilty rin sa ginawa ko. But what am I to do? I was really disgusted. And all I did was step back and looked... disgusted.