When Playboy Meets The Odd

CHAPTER TWENTY

MONSERRAT

So apparently, Sage said that she's been really thankful to my help that I gave her yesterday. I mean, she should be! I ran as fast as I could to the convenience store when she typed that word 'please'.

I didn't really know that a certain word can make me go crazy until she texted me that.

Kahit hiyang hiya ako na bumili ng pads niya, nilakasan ko ang loob ko kahit pa pinagtinginan agad ako pagkakuha ko pa lang ng pads na yan.

I concluded that she needed help. Hindi naman ako nagkamali nang makita ko siya. She's been sweating on that floor and I thought she's dying as she screamed silently in pain with eyes both closed!

My mother also suffers from dysmenorrhea but it's not as severe as Sage's. Kaya heto ako ngayon at imbis na naglilinis ay pinapakain ni Sage. Palibahasa ay nakainom na ng gamot, she can now move freely.

"I like more mayonnaise." Sabi ko nang makita ang mayonaise na nilalagay ni Sage sa ketchup.

She looked at me. "Sure." Ngiti niya kahit pa halata na ang irita sa tono niya. She's been serving me foods since earlier at hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa din natatapos ang pagkain ko.

"How about black pepper?" Tanong ko matapos niyang lagyan ng mayonaise ang sauce ng nachos.

"Of course, hindi pa kasi tapos. Just wait!" Aniya at binigyan ako ng makahulugang tingin saka biglang ngumiti nang nakakaloko.

She immediately put some black peppers on the sauce. Dumako naman ang tingin ko sa kanyang TV.

"Ang boring naman ng movie." Reklamo ko. Tumunghay ang ulo ni Sage na kasalukuyang nakaupo sa sahig. She reached for me and I thought she's going to punch or hit me when she suddenly grabbed the remote on my hand.

"Uso kasi ilipat ang channel. The TV won't adjust for you " she said sweetly but obviously annoyed. "Do you need some drinks? Iced tea perhaps?" Tanong niya. Tumaas naman ang gilid ng labi ko.

Ayos ah, para akong nasa fast food.

"Sure! I want iced tea with more ice!" I said challenging her. She stand up and look at me once again. She smiled like she's never annoyed. Konting konti na kang sisipain na ako ng babaeng to.

"Okay." She said faking a smile. She's so fucking fun to be teased with!

Bumalik siya sa living room na may dalang pitcher of iced tea. She served me a drink at ininom ko naman iyon. I offered her a glass but she won't have any cold drinks because of her dysmenorrhea.

"What did your Manager said when you told her you'd be absent yesterday?" Tanong ko. Hindi na kasi siya pumasok para makapagpahinga siya. I also suggested that because it says in the internet that stress might make dysmenorrhea worst.

"She said, it's fine but I should work for extra hours for that absent." I nodded from what she said. So that's how fast food crews work, huh?

"Papasok ka ngayon?" Tanong ko and she nodded.

"My schedule shifted from morning to night. I will be there at 7 until 12 midnight." She said. I looked at her quite shocked.

"Midnight?" Tumango ito. "Hindi ba delikado kung uuwi ka ng ganun kalalim ang gabi? You can accidentally bump into some psycho on your way home!" Pag-aalala ko dito. Didn't she how dangerous it is to be outside on that time! Marami nang nababalita ngayon na babaeng natatagpuang patay! I mean she's not normal, weird sometimes, but I won't feel good if something happens to her.

Tumaas ang kilay niya. "Are you actually worried about me?" She suddenly laugh. Tinitigan niya ako na para bang manghang mangha.

"Of course!" I honestly said. She suddenly stopped laughing. Pati ako ay napatigil. "I mean..." She gave me an expecting look. "You're now acquainted with me. If there's something happened to you I won't feel good about it." I explained.

She slowly nodded quite convinced. "Am I like..." Bigla itong nag-isip ng salita. "...your friend, now?" Tanong niya na may halong pagdududa.

I blinked. Is she now my friend? I don't remember having a girl friend. A fling friend maybe? But never really a friend that is girl. I don't have any pure relationship to any girl.

"Maybe?" I asked confused. She suddenly shooked her head strongly.

"No." Aniya. "I don't want you to be my friend." Nanlaki naman ang mata ko. Ayaw niya? Siya pa talaga ang may ayaw sa aming dalawa ha?

"Bakit?" Tanong ko.

"You're weird." Anito. Halos hindi naman ako makapagsalita sa narinig.

"Did I heard it right? Weird? Are you serious? Ako?" I laughed at what she said. She's the weird one here for heavens sake!

"And why do you think I'm weird?" Tanong ko. Pinagmasdan niya ako at kumuha ng nachos saka nginuya. Pinantayan ko ang titig niya na may paninginkit.

"You're too perfect." Anito. I smiled at her remarks. That's a pretty good answer. She thinks I am weird because I'm too perfect? Sabagay, not everyone can be as perfect as me, so I assume I am the weird one?

"You're pretty right--"

"At least that's what my co-workers said." Pamumutol niya. Nawala naman ang ngiti sa labi ko. Ayos na eh. But at least her co-workers think I'm perfect.

I grabbed some nachos and munch it noisily because of annoyance. I gave her a glare. She just looked at me bored.

"Why am I weird, then?" Tanong ko rito. She shrugged her shoulders.

"It' just that, like what I said, other thinks you're too perfect." Aniya. "You're family is rich. You're athletic. Maybe, intelligent enough?" Napataas naman ang kilay ko sa sinasabi niya.

"Your point is?" Tanong kong nabibitin.

She grabbed another nachos. "In short, you're one of the famous bachelors." Aniya.

"And?" She looked at me and sighed.

"But what are you doing in here, in the condo of a known sociopath?" Sue asked. I stopped grabbing some nachos and gave her a look. "Just because of a dare, you are here almost everyday spending time with me. You're the weird one." She glance at me before grabbing a glass of iced tea.

She suddenly shooked her head. "You must've be so afraid of losing." Bulong pa nito nang hindi ako tinitignan.

I cleared my throat. "Let's just forget that dare for the meantime." Sabi ko at kumuha ng isang nachos. "For now, please put more black pepper on these sauce." I said and she immediately gave me a glare.

SAGE

Antonio did a pretty good job taking care of me yesterday, so I decided to treat him better for a day. Pero ngayon ay nagsisi na ako dahil hanggang sa trabaho ba naman ay gusto niya na pagsilbihan ko siya. He's now eating at the veranda. He also insists on waiting for me so he could drive me home. Hindi naman ako tumanggi. Bakit ako tatanggi? It's a free ride!

"Sage, kunin mo na ang mga order." My thoughts suddenly vanished when our Manager tapped my shoulder. Nakita ko na humaba na naman ang pila.

I grabbed my small notebook and took some of the orders. "Pakibigay po sa counter." I said and gave the piece of paper to the old lady.

"Salamat hija." She gave me a warm smile and her wrinkles showed up. Nginitian ko rin ito.

If there will be a type of person that I will prefer to talk to, that is the senior citizens. Talking to them reminds me of my adopted parents and most of them speak with sense that you might end up wondering what life they've been through. Talking to them makes me think that maybe life is actually worth living, and they are the evidences of it.

I finished taking orders kahit pa akala ko wala nang katapusan ang pila na to. Why do people likes to eat in this kind of place anyway? The foods are not that great, and you'll have to wait for like minutes while waiting in line to order! That's why I prefer drive thru orders. I can have my orders faster and I can eat at peace in my home.

Anyway, it's not like everyone can order in drive thru.

"Ano ba ang sinasabi mo?!" A man suddenly shouted. "Wala nga akong ginagawa sayo! Bakit ka ba nangbibintang!" Anito.

"Sir, naramdaman ko po ang kamay niyo." One of our staffs is talking to him. I didn't actually know her name but she's also in charge of cleaning.

"Sabing hindi nga eh! Kung makabintang ito!"

Our Manager came out the kitchen and walk towards the commotion immediately.

"Sir, pasensiya na po, ako po ang Manager, ano po bang nangyari?" Tss. She immediately said sorry without knowing what happened.

"Eh iyan kasing empleyado niyo! Bigla na lang lumapit sakin at sinasabing may ginawa daw akong masama sa kanya!"

Our Manager looked at the employee waiting for her explanation.

"Ma'am, hinipuan niya po kasi ako. Naramdaman ko po ang kamay niya." Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa narinig. What a fuckin pervert!

I saw Antonio stopped eating and took a glance at the commotion.

"Totoo po ba yun Sir?" Gulantang na tanong ng aming Manager. I can see that she's trying to be professional by hiding her anger. I know that she believes the employee.

"Hindi nga eh! Bintang ng bintang, may ebidensiya ba kayo?" I rolled my eyes. Bakit ba parang pare-pareho na lang ang mga sinasabi ng mga guilty? That alibi is so gasgas na.

"Pero Ma'am, hindi naman po talaga ako magsasalita kung hindi niya po yun ginawa." Mahinahon na apela ng employee.

Our Manager sighed. "Sir, totoo po ba ang sinasabi ng employee namin?"

Bigla namang nagdabog ang lalaki. Without further ado, I took my phone out.

The man kicked the chair. "Sinabing hindi nga eh!" Anito.

"Sir, huwag po kayong magalit. Tinatanong namin kayo ng maayos."

"Eh, pano sisi kayo ng sisi sakin! Malay ko ba kung dumaan lang yung kamay ko sa katawan niya. Hipo na ba yun agad?!" Reklamo nito.

"Sir, dalawang beses ko po naramdaman ang kamay niyo." Said the employee.

"Eh putangina hindi ko nga ata sinasadya!"

"Sir, huwag niyo pong murahin ang tauhan namin. Hindi man po namin mapatunayan na nanghipo po kayo pero pwede po namin kayo kasuhan sa pagwawala niyo. Pwede rin po naming makita sa cctv kung ano po talaga ang nangyari at mabigyan kayo ng hatol kung totoo po sinasabi ng tauhan namin." Said our Manager. "Saan ka ba hinipuan?"

"Sa pang-upo ko po." Bulong ng employee.

"Edi sige magsampa kayo! Tignan natin kung makikita sa cctv!" Hamon naman ng lalaki.

I look at the cctv. He's pretty confident because he knows that the cctv can't actually clearly recorded the incident. Medyo tago ang puwesto niya, and if he did it under the table then the possibility to see the scene is very low.

I suddenly walk towards them with my phone recording. Napatingin ang Manager at ang employee sakin. The man turned to me confused.

"I will be uploading this to facebook." Panimula ko.

"Sage, anong ginagawa mo?" The Manager asked. The video is still recording. Itinapat ko ito sa lalaki.

"Ito po ang guy na nanghipo sa isa sa mga staffs namin." Sabi ko at agad naman na nanlaki ang mata mg lalaki. I pointed the camera to the staff.

"This is the victim. Pilit na itinatanggi ng guy na ito," tinutok ko muli ang cam sa pervert. "... na ginawa niya ang paghihipo." I said like a reporter.

"Hoy itigil mo yan!" Pananaway niya sakin.

"Earlier, we all saw how this guy screamed in anger. Walang tigil na inaway niya ang manager namin and our staff." Nakita ko naman na lumapit na ang guard sa amin.

"Sage, tama na yan!" The Manager tried to stop me. Itinutok ko sa kanya ang camera. "The manager suggested that they will look on the cctv," tinutok ko ito sa cctv. " pero alam ng guy na ito na hindi mahahagip ang ginawa niya dahil tago ang kanyang puwesto. Do you always eat here? I mean, that is just my prediction." Halos pandilatan naman ako ng lalaki.

"Hoy itigal mo na yan!" Sinubukan niyang lumapit pero lumayo naman ako.

"Ngayon po ay nagwawala siya. He doesn't even aware na kapag umamin siya at hihingi ng sorry sa aming staff ay hindi na siya hahatulan ng kaso kahit pa magsumbong ang staff." Sabi ko na nag-iimbento.

The staff and our Manager looked at each other confused. Napatigil naman ang lalaki sa sinabi ko. Luminga siya sa paligid at nakita na halos lahat ng tao doon ay vinivideohan siya.

"What can you say, Sir?" Bumaling siya muli sakin. "Aamin po ba kayo at hihingi ng tawad o gusto niyo pa po na idaan ito sa court?" I asked like I am a reporter.

The man glanced at my camera. He's suddenly under pressure.

"Umamin ka na!" Sigaw ng isang babae sa malayong mesa na nagvivideo rin.

Napahilamos naman sa mukha ang lalaki. "Puta! Hindi ko nga sabi hinipuan– osige! Para matigil na kayo manghihingi ako ng sorry kahit hindi ko ginawa!" Sabi niya pa. This guy is so stubborn!

"Sige po. Please say sorry to the victim." Utos ko. Kaagad naman siyang lumingon.

"Sorry na!" Anito. "Sorry na kahit hindi ko ginawa!"

Yumuko ang staff namin and it seems like she still has something to say.

"So you said your sorry na po?" Tanong ko.

"Oo, narinig mo naman!" Aniya.

"Okay po, hindi na po kayo pupuntang court. Yoohoo!" Palakpak ko at kahit nalilito ay sumunod naman ang iba. The man looked at the cam confused. "Sir, napatawad na kayo!" Maligalig kong bati. The man suddenly smirked quite convinced.

"Anong nararamdaman niyo Sir na nakahingi kayo ng sorry?" Masaya kong tanong. "Magaan po ba sa loob?" Tanong ko pa.

I smiled brightly to hide my act. "Uh, oo. Bakit mo pa ba ako vinivideohan?" Reklamo niya pa rin.

"Uh Sir, kasi I am in charge po sa pagmamanage ng social pages namin. This video will be uploaded po kasi you did a great job by saying sorry to one of our employee kahit wala po kayong ginawang kasalanan." Sabi ko pa. Magsasalita sana ang Manager pero I gave her a sign to stop.

"Ah ganun ba? Ewan ko nga kung bakit ako sinisisi nito, wala naman akong ginawang kasalanan!"

"Pero salamat po Sir dahil humingi pa rin kayo ng tawad. Palakpakan natin si Sir. Yoohoo!" Everyone clapped this time. The man looks confused but suddenly laugh.

"Aba eh napagbintangan pa nga!" Aniya.

"Oo nga po Sir eh, saan niyo po ba siya hinipuan?" Tanong ko.

"Ah, eh sa pwet." Sagot niya na natatawa pa.

"Talaga po Sir? Wow. How many times?"

"Dalawa lang!" Aniya at ngingiti-ngiti. The crowd suddenly turned silent. Tumaas naman ang gilid ng labi ko. The Manager and the employee looked at me shocked. Nawala naman bigla ang ngiti ng lalaki nang mapansin niya ang tahimik na paligid.

He looked at me as he suddenly realized what he just said. "Putangina ka--"  He burst out his anger and suddenly tried to grab my phone. Kaagad naman siyang nahuli ng mga guards.

"Puta ka, itigil mo yan! Itigil mo yang video!"

I ended the video with his screams. I can't believe he will fall for that dumb trick of mine.

Everyone in the store clapped when the man was dragged by the guards. Dumako tuloy ang tingin ko kay Antonio who's been looking at me quite amazed. He gave me a thumbs up.

I rolled my eyes.

The guards guided the man to the precinct. "Do you want to file a case to that man?" Tanong ko nang lapitan ang employee. Tulala niya naman akong tinitigan na para bang she's awestrucked.

She dumbfoundedly nodded. "Give me your phone." I said and send the video to her.

Our Manager and the employee immediately went to the precinct.

Good luck you dumb pervert. I hope you learned your lesson.