In Charge (ON-HOLD)

Chapter 3: Bathrobe

CHAPTER 3: Bathrobe

CALIBER'S POV

I followed the soldier's instruction and used the staircase to go down. I'm not alone and I'm quite irritated by the stares these ladies and gentlemen give me every now and then.

I stopped on my tracks and looked at them. "Will you please stop staring? It's irritating." They all looked shocked at my remark. I held massaged my right temple to keep my temper at hand. "I don't mind if all of you go first."

After recovering from the shock, they all hurriedly walked in front of me. I waited for a couple more minutes before following suit.

*

I finally reached the bottom floor and decided to push open the door for me to get to the lobby. I was greeted with loud chattering from the other hotel guests. Some women are glancing my way which I ignored.

Is this the first time they saw a man this handsome? I walked towards one of the seats and sat. I grabbed a magazine from the table top and crossed my legs. As I was examining the magazine's content the hotel's glass door opened, revealing a group of soldier in their respective uniforms.

My eyes suddenly looked at their group and scanned for a familiar woman. There she stood firm in the middle of the group while holding the German Shepard's leash. The woman has her head held high looking proud and mighty while the dog stood next to her. Damn! She looks sexy and fierce.

I took a deep breathe and put the magazine back to where I grabbed it. I stood up and my feet led me in front of their group, earning curious stares from the soldiers and a raised brow from the woman in green.

"Uhm. Sir ano pong kailangan niyo?" The soldier next to her asked. He looks embarrassed but I don't know why.

"I thought this is an emergency? Bakit ngayon lang kayo dumating? What if sumabog na ung bombang sinasabi nilang andito sa building?"

The woman cleared her throat and decided to take a step forward. "Excuse me lang ho sir. For you information, hindi lang po ito ang trabaho naming mga sundalo. May mas importante po kaming trabaho na pinuntahan bago ang hotel na ito." I looked at her from head to toe and smirked.

"What is more important than saving the lives of the guests here in the hotel?" The dog stood and started snarling at me. "Will you please tame your dog, miss? It might bite me."

"Sana nga kagatin ka," She whispered but I heard it. "At sir oo may mas importante pa kesa dito. Para sa akin mas importanteng sagipin ang libo-libong buhay kesa sa iilang taong naka check-in dito sa hotel. Tyaka meron naman akong pinapuntang sundalo dito upang tignan ang premises at sa kanyang report mukhang bomb threat lang ang nangyari at wala naman talaga bomba pero eto kami at susubukan paring maghanap ng bombang wala naman." She impressed me more ways than one. "Excuse me ho gagawin lang namin ang trabaho namin."

I gave way and she walked tall and proud. The soldiers behind her were chuckling silently from the little showdown we had. She was near the elevator when she looked me again.

"Sa susunod po sir wag kayong lumabas na naka bathrobe lang kung ayaw niyong pag piyestahan ng mga kababaihan dito." The elevator opened and they all went in.

Realization hit me. I scanned my self and face palmed. "Why do I always have to ruin my image by wearing wrong set of clothing?" I heard some women giggle. I looked up and smiled at them awkwardly.

Now I know why people kept staring at me the moment I went out of my hotel room. Ang malas ko naman nakakainis and she even saw me. We'll I don't mind if it's only her because she might fall in love with my masculine body and all.

The thought made me smile. Her being amazed with my body but I would be better if she falls for me, hard. Yung tipong hindi na siya makaka layas sa piling ko.

*

After waiting for hours, the military group re-appeared in the lobby again. Most of them are sweaty due from the search combined with their uniforms. The only person my eyes are looking cannot be found in the group.

Where's that soldier? I searched at the whole lobby but still couldn't find her. I stood up and approached the military group.

"Excuse me, may I ask where that woman is?" All of them looked at me with shock.

"Ah sir, si ma'am Solar po ba?" I nodded my head in response. "Nasa taas pa po kasi un at kausap si Jessie mukhang pinapagalitan nanaman ni ma'am." The others started laughing at the thought of the so called 'Jessie' being scolded.

"Sir may gusto po ba kayo kay ma'am?" The soldier from behind shocked me with his question but I kept my posture.

"Yes," I honestly said. They all shook their heads in disagreement which made me frown. "Bakit kung makailing kayo wagas? Am I that ugly to you fellas?" I irritatingly said.

"Ay naku ser, hindi naman po sa ganon. Si ma'am Solar po kasi e hindi mahilig ba sa lalaki." He scratched his face.

"You mean she likes women?"

"Ay hindi din po ser. Paano ko po ba sasabihin sa inyo?" He looked up and thought about something.

"Kasi sir hindi po hilig ni ma'am Solar ang mga BF-GF na yan," The other soldier said. "Si ma'am po kasi mahal na mahal ang pag-susundalo. Ang dami na nga pong nanligaw dyan kaso walang pumapasa."

"Feeling ko hindi sa ayaw ni ma'am ung relasyon. Malay mo meron na palang may hawak ng puso niya." He pouted his lips towards the elevators direction.

The soldier I have been looking for showed up together with the man named Jessie. They were laughing at a joke the man said. The soldier even hung his arm around the woman's shoulder which she didn't push aside.

My mood earlier made a 360-turn from good to foul. I didn't know I'd feel jealous because of this unsightly view in front of me. Yes, I am jealous. I know myself and I know what I feel to my very bones.

I want to tackle that man but I know I don't have the rights to do so. I got contented at looking at him with deadly glares and imagining how to kill a person.

"Ay andito pa pala si Mr. Bathrobe." My train of thoughts were cut because of that authoritative voice yet so pleasing to hear.

"Excuse me, miss soldier. Of course, I'd still be here since your team just finished checking the premises for the bomb and I am currently checked in this hotel." I crossed both hands in front of my chest.

"If that's the case," She walked to the crowd and stopped at the middle, "there is no bomb inside this building. Isang bomb threat lang ang nangyari pero nahuli na namin ang salarin sa nasabing bomb threat. He is a current guest in the hotel. Isang 9-year old boy na nabored sa kanyang hotel room and nag iwan ng papel sa may reception desk. Paalala po sa mga magulang. Pakibantayang maigi ang mga anak ninyo dahil baka makaperwisyo po sila katulad na lamang ng nangyari ngayong araw." Her tagalog is making my nose bleed.

She approached a little boy and patted his head. She said something which made the boy nod in response then she smiled at the boy. I hope a day would come that she'd smile at me like that.

"Mr. Bathrobe ngingiti ngiti ka diyan? Crush mo si ma'am no?" Jessie who was beside me nudged my side. I stared at him for a couple of seconds then left him without uttering a single word.