My Other Half

4

        "WHAT? Di ba sabi ko ayosin ninyo! What the hell am I doing here kung wala palang gagawa ng hotel ko? Siya lang ba ang architect sa Pilipinas? Find someone!" hinagis ni Blaze ang mga papel sa mesa at lumabas sa meeting.

         He really hates incompetence. Dumeretso siya sa office niya and sat in his chair. Hinilamos niya ang kamay sa mukha niya, he's so tired and he didn't sleep much last night because of the woman in his bed. Ang babaeng hindi maalis sa isip niya hanggang ngayon, and this morning, alam niyang hindi siya fan or paparazzi but he can't resist to make her angry lalo na't mas lalo ito'ng gumaganda that she's mad and when her cheeks became red the moment he said the words 'make love' made him hard.

        "Sir, Mr. Vasquez is here to see you," wika ng secretarya sa intercom.

        Pinindot ni Blaze ang telepono "Send him in."

        Bumukas ang pintuan ng office at pumasok doon ang isang lalaking nasa early-thirty, medium built at naka-office suit "Blaze!" bati nitong nakangiti.

        "What do you want Carlo?" seryosong tanong ni Blaze.

        "Nice to see you too." Carlo answered.

        "Just tell me what you want."

        "Gusto ko lang makita ang baby brother ko. Hindi ba pwede iyon?"

       "Cut the crap! Do you need money again? Here a blank check, just get out of my sight, I don't want to see you here," galit na wika ni Blaze at hinagis sa sahig ang tseke.

        Alanganing pinulot ni Carlo ang tseke sa sahig "Alam mo Blaze, hindi mo dapat tinatrato ang kapatid mo na ganito. I'm the oldest, I should be the one sitting in that chair."

         "You lost the right the moment you killed our brother. Get out!" sigaw ni Blaze.

        Lumabas ng opisina si Carlo with the blank check in his hand "Balang araw, babawiin ko ang sa akin," bulong sa sarili.

        MAINGAT na naglakad si Patience papasok sa kanilang bahay, not wanting to catch attention "Someone is walking the walk of shame," gulat na napatingin siya sa sofa at doon nakaupo si Tina.

          "Hi!" she awkwardly said, she was about to walk away when Tina stopped her.

        "Wait. Sit down." may owtoridad niyang wika.

        Lumapit si Patience kay Tina at umupo sa sofa "what?"

       "Saan ka pumunta kagabi? Bigla ka na lang nawala! You didn't call, nag-alala kami sayo," ani Tina.

       Patience closed her eyes for a moment, trying to remember what really happened last night. She remembered getting drunk and she went outside then. Nothing. Wala siyang matandaan kung papaano siya napunta sa higaan ng lalaking iyon. Arrogante. Mayabang. Gwapo. Stop thinking abou his face Patience.

         "Hoy! Ano na?"

        "I don't remember." Patience said softly.

         "What? Then let me help you remember," nagtatakang nakatingin si Patience kay Tina habang naglakad itp papunta sa mesa at kinuha ang isang newspaper at binigay ito sa kanya.

        Binuklat ni Patince ang newspaper at nakita ang frontpage, nandoon ang mukha ng lalaking nasa hotel, in the picture may kahalikan siya'ng babae, hindi masyadong nakikita ang mukha ng babae dahil sa nakatalikod ito but she didn't need a confirmation from anyone because she knows na siya iyon, same back and same clothing she is wearing right now.