Hindi agad siya nakabangon dahil sa sakit ng buong katawan. Muntik pang mauntog ang ulo niya sa pinto ng banyo pagkagising. Bakit hindi man lang niya namalayang tanghali na pala? Oh well, no one will scold me at this time.
“Yaya? May pagkain na ba? Gutom na ako.” Tawag niya habang pababa ng hagdan. Kung pwede nga lang matulog na lang siya buong araw.
“Abang bat aka, gising ka na pala. Kanina ka pa hinihintay ng bisita para kumain,” salubong nito sa kanya.
“Bisita? Sino naman kaya yon?”
“Iyong sabi ng kuya mo na para may kasama ka rito.” Dagdag ni yaya ng makitang blangko pa rin ang ekspresyon niya.
“Ah ‘yon ba. Ba’t hindi na lang siya kumaing mag-isa? Saka hindi nyo ako dinalhan ng pagkain sa kwarto.”
He invited his friend to come over so I won’t be alone in here what a lame excuse. I’m sure my brother is up to something!
Napahikab siya. Inaantok pa talaga siya. Di bale pagkatapos kumain ay pwede na siya matulog ulit.
“Utos ni Sir Lander na huwag kang padalhan ng pagkain sa kwarto mo.”
So ‘yan pala ang pangalan ng Disciplinary Officer na ‘yon. Does eating with him part of his discipline too? It doesn’t make sense!
Sumilip siya sa dining at nakita niya ang lalaking tinutukoy ng yaya niya. He’s sitting facing the window kaya likod lang ang nakikita niya. He’s wearing gray long sleeves and black pants mukhang dumaan pa ito sa opisina. What caught her attention are the broad shoulders. Nagwo-work out ba ito? Likod pa lang mukhang ulam na.
He glances at her direction as if sensing that someone is observing him.
“Are you Chloe?” he asked.
That monster…no, that handsome monster! Who says he’s like a disciplinary officer he doesn’t look like one. He has slightly unruly hair <insert Shinee’s Jonghyun features or whatever just imagine your celebrity crush hehehe>
She have crushes in the university but this one is..oh my gosh. He is the ultimate crush of them all. She can’t help but to keep staring at him.
“Tatayo ka na lang ba dyan? Look, kanina pa kita hinihintay so please umupo ka na at kumain.”
And her mind zaps back to Earth. Biglang nawala ang ngiting inihanda niya. Saksakan nga ng gwapo, saksakan din ng sungit. Baka dala lang siguro ng gutom kaya ganun. Kunting charm lang ang kailangan dyan.
“You’re Lander, right? I’m-“
“Sinabi na sa akin ni Edison kung sino ka so let’s skip the introductions.” Sinimulan na nito ang pagkain. Mukhang gutom nga.
“Ano ba talaga ang dahilan mo at basta ka na lang pumayag na magstay dito?”
Sa sinabi niya ay napatigil ito sa pagsubo at tiningnan siya ni Lander. Magsusungit naman ba ito?
Baka isa naman ito sa mga pakulo ni kuya. Does he really think that this guy can tame her? Well, he’s wrong dahil hindi uubra ‘yon.
“Let’s talk about it later but besides it’s none of your business.”
“Wala ka palang kwentang kausap.” Agad siyang lumipat ng upuan malayo kay Lander. Nagkunwari siyang walang kasama.
“And what do you think are you doing?” sabi nito.
“Baka kasi mahawa ako sa ugali mo. Ikaw ang pumilit sa akin na kumain kasama mo.” Bago pa lang ito sa bahay akala mo kung sino makaasta. I should teach him a lesson to know where he belongs!
Nagpasya siyang pumasok na lang sa kwarto kahit kumakalam pa ang sikmura niya.
“Saan ka naman pupunta?” Napailing na lang si Lander. Ano ba itong gulo ang pinasok niya?
“I heard you’re taking a vacation leave tomorrow,” sabi ni Edison matapos nilang pag-usapan ang ibang projects.
“And you’re suddenly interested? Sabay ka na lang kaya sa akin para naman may kasama akong maghanap ng babae,” tugon ni Lander.
“I have a deal to propose with you.”
“What deal? It’s better be good,” ngisi nito. Matagal na silang magkasama ni Edison sa company kaya alam na niya kung ano ang ibig sahihin nito. Hindi ito business deal but a match making.
“You’ll be in-charge of my sister.”
“You mean date her?”
“If you mean doing that you have to take her seriously then.”
Sinasabi ko na nga ba. I can’t take serious relationship yet!
“But it’s not what I’m planning. You will be in charge of guiding her in the company’s operation. In just few months she will obtain a position in here so basically you have to teach her everything you know. I can’t handle her alone with well, her stubbornness.”
“What if she falls in love with me? You can’t help it but I don’t want to get involve with your family.” If that happens it’s going to be trouble he have to deal with the brother first.
“In that case you have to make sure that she won’t fall in love you or you won’t fall in love with her.”
Pero ngayon na nakita na ni Lander kung sino ba talaga si Chloe. Mukhang mahihirapan siyang pakisamahan ito. I have no idea I have to deal with that brat. He’s disappointed with what Edison told about her. She’s easy to teach, fast learner, pretty with fashion sense pero hindi nito sinabi na tanghali na ito kung gumising, hindi agad naliligo at tamad.
Mag-iisang oras ng nakatunganga si Chloe. Hindi makatulog ng maayos. Her stomach keeps on growling. Gutom na talaga siya hindi ko na talaga kaya. I better sneak in the kitchen.
She opens the fridge pero wala naming makakain doon. Kahit ang rice cooker ay walang laman.
Tinago niya lahat ng pagkain? That monster! Bakit ba kasi dumating siya ditto ‘yan tuloy mukhang magkakaulcer pa siya.
He watches her sneaking in the kitchen. We’ll see. I’ll starve you, brat! He saw her writing something. What is she doing? Preparing the grocery list? I don’t think so.
She turned around and caught him staring.
“May kanin pa doon. Hindi ko naman kinain lahat.” Nakita niyang namumutla na ito. Kapag hinimatay ito, kasalanan pa niya.
Instead of responding, she just give him a death glare and walk away.
