The Fall of Holden Hidalgo [Completed]

Chapter 4 - Lunch

Chapter 4 - Lunch

(POV Holden)

LUNCH. Madalas si Leon ang kasama ko mag-lunch. Lahat na ata ng pwedeng kainan dito sa central business district ay napuntahan na namin. Leon is not just a secretary, he also became my friend. I am not anti-social, but I am not into meeting other people. The smaller the circle, the better.

"First date natin, tapos sa carinderia mo ko papakainin?" nakapamewang na tanong ni Helena habang nakatingin sa pangalan ng isang canteen na nagse-serve ng mga lutong ulam.

"Hindi ito carinderia, this is a cafeteria. Saan mo gusto? Sa Sofitel Hotel? Sa City of Dreams? Hindi ako sugar daddy, Helena."

Inirapan lang niya ako at umupo sa isang bakante na upuan. It seems that the princess is not used to this kind of place. Kapag nainis sa akin si Helena, mukhang matatapos ang maliligayang araw ni Leon sa department ni Zara at ibabalik muli sa akin bilang secretary ko.

"What do you want to eat?" tanong ko habang pinagmamasdan niya ang menu.

I guess she is trying to decode kung ano ang mga pangalan ng pagkain na nakasulat doon. Kung lumaki siya sa England, baka hindi siya familiar sa ilang mga pagkain dito sa Pilipinas.

"Ikaw sana ang gusto ko kainin, pero saka na kita kakainin. Delaying gratification."

Muntikan ko na masamid sa sinabi niya. Hindi ko inaasahan ang ganitong klaseng biro mula sa isang katulad ni Helena.

"I'll go for tapsilog. Ikaw? Anong gusto mo?" change topic ko na tanong sa kanya.

"Pork Budbod sa akin. Dagdagan mo na din ng Beef Pares with one extra rice. Saka Leche Flan for dessert."

"Do you want to add some Caviar and Foie Gras?" sarcastic kong tanong sabay kuha ng menu sa kanya.

"You are fond of sarcasm. That is rude, my Holdie. Lilista ko ang mga not-so-nice attitude mo."

"Isusumbong mo ko sa Aunt Zara mo?"

"Nope, para may listahan ako ng kasalanan mo and I will punish you nice and slow. Don't worry, Holden Hidalgo. You will surely enjoy my punishment."

Tinawanan ko lang si Helena sa biro niya. I am not a patient person, but with this girl, I think I can overlook some things. Siguro dahil pamangkin siya ng big boss ng company. I don't want to be in a troublesome position kung mag-aaway kami ni Helena.

She is young and I am about eight years older than her. Magmumukha akong immature kung papatulan ko ang mga nakakainis niyang biro.

"Hindi ka ba nalulungkot sa bahay mo? Wala ka man lang kasama kahit pusa or aso," tanong ni Helena habang kumakain kami ng lunch.

"I have a high-end gaming desktop computer. It serves as my companion."

"Your wall is too high, Holden Hidalgo. You shoot anyone who attempted to climb your wall. You can't stay inside your fortress with your demons forever. You should let someone in. Or at least have someone who can fight alongside with you," she whispered without looking at me.

I don't know where she got the idea that I don't usually let anyone in, but she perfectly describe how my life works as of the moment. A tormented past made me this way. I created a perfect facade that everyone can see, but there is someone damaged behind that mask.

"And that would be you, Helena? My savior? The one who can redeem me? The girl who is capable of crushing the great wall of Holden Hidalgo?" seryosong tanong ko sa kanya, habang patuloy pa rin siya na kumakain.

"Do you think I have time in the world to break down your so-called walls? I will just wait for the right time until your barriers are shattered into nothing and then I will conquer you, Architect Holden Hidalgo. I will laugh my ass off when that happened."

"What will happen?"

"The Fall of Holden Hidalgo."

"You know some deep shit, Helena. Are your demons haunting you too? Do you see me as another broken companion who is struggling in this journey called life? Come on, mukha ba akong depressed or may anxiety disorder?"

"I see you, as you."

"Again, what is that even supposed to mean? Malayo ang course mo sa psychology or psychiatry. You can't see right through me in less than an hour," sabi ko sabay tingin sa relo ko.

Wala pang isang oras ko kausap ang babaeng ito, pero tila mas marami pa siyang alam sa akin. Parang may kakayahan siyang silipin ang itinatago ko sa ibang tao.

Is Helena hiding something from me? Totoo ba ang mga biro niya? Did she fucking hire a private investigator to check up on me?

No, I don't think so. I am just paranoid as fuck. Someone like her will not go after someone like me.