Lost Lies

Capítulo cinco

Naihanda na ni Rain ang mga papers na iuuwi niya. Oras na kasi ng pag-uwi. Sakto naman ang dating ni Ian para sabihan siya na ihahatid na niya ito.

"Oh, she's the new secretary ni boss?" Turo ni Prince kay Rain. Nginitian siya ni Rain at nilahad ang kamay nito.

"Hi. I'm Rain. Filipino ka rin?"

"I'm Prince Maxwell, it's nice to meet you. And yeah, binatang Filipino." Prince held her hand. Medyo napatagal ang shake hands nila kaya hinila ni Ian ang kamay ng kaibigan niya.

"Hoy, driver, mauna ka na sa sasakyan." Pagtaboy ni Prince kay Ian. Tinignan siya ni Ian ng masama.

"Uhh..." Sisingit sana si Rain pero nagwalk-out si Ian. Her smile turned into a sad one.

"Pagpasensyahan mo na lang yun, isumbong ko yun sa boss niyo eh." Ngumuso si Prince sa paalis na Ian.

Tahimik lang si Rain papuntang parking. Prince is the only one talking and asking Rain about her life. She never admits that she's related to Zamora Industries, and it's good Prince didn't ask her.

Papalapit pa lang sila ng sasakyan nang may naaninag si Rain sa backseat. Ian's with someone? Kumunot ang noo nito.

Pinagbuksan siya ni Prince sa backseat at nabighani sa ganda ng babae. Parang nanliit siya sa sarili niya. Girlfriend kaya ito ni Ian or ni Prince? Her mind's pushing that it was Prince's.

"Hi!" Masiglang bati Cassie kay Rain na natatameme pa rin sa kanya.

"I'm Cassandra. And you are?" Naghihintay pa rin si Cassie na magsalita si Rain.

Rain gulped, "I'm... R-rain..." Cassie gasped, as Rain smiled at her sweetly. Rain noticed that they, Ian and Cassie, somewhat look similar.

Lumingon sa rearview mirror si Cassie na malawak ang ngiti. "Ella es bonita, hermano." Sabi niya. She sure is looking at Ian. Pero di niya naintindihan ang sinabi ni Cassie.

"Nice to finally meet you!" Cassie hugged Rain. Hindi maintindihan ni Rain ang sinabi ni Cassie.

Finally meet you? Alam na niya tungkol saakin?

"Girlfriend siya ni Prince." Sabi ni Ian. Nagkatinginan naman ang dalawa. Prince prentended to cough while Cassie became silent.

Binalot sila ng katahimikan. No one dared to break the ice between the four of them. Nakarating na sila sa apartment ni Rain.

"Thank you, Ian. Bye Cassie, Prince." Cassie gave her a hug, once again.

"Take care, Ate Rain." She grinned while Rain was getting out of the car. Rain closed the door and waved at them.

Until now, she can still feel the awkwardness inside the car. She shrugged it of her mind and went inside her apartment.

Paakyat na sila Ian sa condo niya. Pero hindi pa rin nawawala ang topic nila tungkol sa pangalan niya.

"I still can't believe she called you Ian?" Prince said, emphasizing Ian's name.

"Ian was never your name, Kuya." He was never named Ian. Even his mum and dad. Ang tawag lang sa kanya ay Nick. Iniisip niya minsan kung bakit siya binigyan ng mahabang pangalan ng mga parents niya.

"It was part of my playact. Tama na nga ang tanong. Hoy Maxwell, hindi dahil sa sinabi kong girlfriend mo ang kapatid ko, totohanin mo na. Sinasabi ko sa'yo, bubugbugin kita at ipakain sa tigre ko." Banta ni Ian at hinila si Cassie palayo kay Prince.

Ian can feel that Prince like Cassie. She's just eighteen. Young at age, but acts like a grown up lady.

Pagpasok nila, sinalubong agad sila ni Judah, Ian's pet tiger. He's not that large. Para rin itong aso at well-trained ito.

"Judaaaah!" Cassie and Prince, at the same time, exclaimed and hugged and tickled Judah. Ian smirked at their childishness.

"Aren't you both tired? Cassie dun ka sa room ko, sa guest room ka Maxwell. Wala akong tiwala sa'yo. Oorder lang ako ng dinner natin."

AFTER dinner, they entered their rooms. Cassie was busy on her phone with her pajamas na nasa closet ng kuya niya. May mga damit sila ng ate niya sa condo ni Ian. It was like their second home.

"Ipapahatid na lang kita bukas sa palasyo. I need to pick-up Rain tomorrow." Ani Ian sa tabi ni Cassie na nagtatype sa laptop niya.

"It's okay, kuya." Nagpapasalamat siya sa Diyos at hindi siya nagkaroon ng demanding na kapatid. Cassie always agrees to what Ian is suggesting. Cassie always say 'yes'. Kabaliktaran kasi niya ang Ate nila.

Ely was sometimes demanding. What she wants, she gets. Her personality fits to her appearance. Strong, but mostly soft woman.

"She's nice though..." Cassie said and jumped to the bed. "I wish I could bond with her." Ian faced her sister, lying beside him and falling asleep.

Naaawa siya sa kapatid niya dahil kadalasan wala siya nakakasama sa bahay nila. Maliban na lang sa mga maid at butlers na naging kaibigan na niya. Their Papà was always out of the country, expanding their estate.

They own the largest Real Estate Investment, Riyez Real Estate Investment, where they owned and manages a pool of commercial properties and mortgages and other real estate assets. Mabuti na lang at nagkaroon siya ng interest sa pagmamanage ng investment company nila.

He was brought back to reality when his phone rang. It was Prince.

"'Di ka ba lalabas dyan?" Prince said from the other line. Binaba naman ni Ian ang linya at lumabas ng kwarto.

Pinuntahan niya si Prince na nanonood sa sala. Umupo siya sa tabi nito. "Anong problema?" Tanong ni Ian at itinaas ang paa nito sa center table.

"Book me a flight for tomorrow evening. Or pahiram muna ng jet mo." Kumunot ang noo ni Ian.

"Abusado ka ah? Pero sige, use my jet. Palitan mo ng bago ah, kapag ibabalik mo." He smirked. Mayaman din naman si Prince pero nagreklamo pa rin siya.

"What?! Okay lang, di ko na lang ibabalik."

"Oh, so gusto mong may susunod na missile sa'yo bukas?" Banta ni Ian.

"Fine! Magiging pulubi ako nyan eh!" Prince whined like a five-year-old kid. Prince was like his little brother he loves to annoy. Gusto din naman niya si Prince for his sister pero bata pa sila.

Prince is the youngest of the Association. Since the position was given to him, he started to learn how things are done. Ayaw niyang pumalpak beacause he wants to make his parents proud.

"Anong plano mo sa utos ng Omega?" Prince suddenly asked.

Fuck. He almost forgot his mission. He ran his fingers on his hair. He starts to feel stressed, he doesn't know his first move. The only thing he knows is he needs his friends.

"Don't tell me you forgot about that? Napapakiramdaman kita." He sighed at what Prince said.

"You know... Rain is your distraction. You need to put a gap between the two of you. Here..." Humarap sa kanya si Prince.

"There's two things, the love of your life and your position. If you're going to focus on the other one, you win one, you lose one." Prince raised two fingers.

"But there's still a probability that you'll lose or win them both. Love life and your position."

But I need them both.