Hideaway [Completed]

Chapter 6

It was their first morning together in his penthouse. Katrina woke up after a restful sleep. Her room here is pretty cozy and nice. First time niyang makatulog sa ganito kagandang kwarto. Parang nakikita lang niya ang mga ganito kagagandang furniture sa Crate and Barrel o kaya ay sa Pottery Barn.

She opened her curtains to see the most amazing morning view. The busy streets below were full of cars and people jogging and walking to work. Isang park ang nakikita niya ngayon na katabi ng building nila and beyond that is the business district.

This luxurious life is something she won't ever get used to. She feels awkward in this place.

Dali-dali niyang sinarado muli ang kurtina para lumabas ng kwarto. It was still quiet. Malamang tulog pa si Aspen so she took the liberty to cook some breakfast in the kitchen.

Puno naman ang fridge nito so she cooked some bacon and eggs for breakfast at gumawa rin ng pancake. Kailan kaya magiging ganito kadami ang laman ng kusina at ref niya?

"Smells nice," kumento ng isang baritonong boses sa likod niya.

She turned around and saw Aspen na bagong gising. Naka-boxer shorts lang ito at white shirt. "Good morning," bati niya.

"Morning!" he answered back. "Marunong ka palang magluto."

"Prito lang to. Hindi to mahirap." She said and turned back to her bacon.

"Ang aga-aga, ang sungit-sungit mo," Aspen commented and got his coffee beans para magprepare ng kape niya sa coffeemaker.

Tiningnan lang ng masama ni Katrina ang binata. They just met pero napaka-feeling close ng lalaking ito. He dragged her out of her apartment, pushed her to stay in his condominium, and advised her to stop schooling for a while. In less than twenty-four hours ay na-control kaagad nito ang buhay niya.

"Don't look at me like that. You're living under my roof now."

She just breathed deeply and looked the other way. Napakayabang pa nito. Kung maipamukha nito ang pera nito sa kanya, parang sobrang dukha niya. Well, totoo naman. "May trabaho ako mamaya sa restobar. Baka hapon na ako makabalik."

Tiningnan siya ng masama ni Aspen. "Is that the same restobar we met in the night I was drunk?"

Tumango siya.

"So you still work there?" Mukhang galit ito sa pagkakaalam noon.

"Oo, kailangan ko pa rin naman ng pera. Hindi ako kagaya mo na lumalangoy sa pera araw-araw."

"Babayaran kita ng pera kapag napatunayan kong anak ko ang dinadala mo. You can quit your job for good. Baka kung sino pang mag-offer ng pera sayo doon at tanggapin mo."

She shot him a glare. That was below the belt already! "Ano bang problema mo sa trabaho ko? I'm not a prostitute."

He just glared back at her.

"I can't quit my job. Ito na lang din ang source of income ko ngayon. Mawawalan ako ng perang ipapadala sa mga magulang ko kung magki-quit pa ako dito."

"You're supporting your parents?" manghang tanong nito.

Tumango siya. "Hindi ako galing sa mayamang pamilyang kagaya mo."

"Fine, babayaran kita enough to support your parents. You don't need to work after the DNA results are out," ulit muli ni Aspen bilang pagkumbinsi sa kanya.

Well, he actually makes sense. Her tummy is starting to show at nahihirapan na rin siyang maggagalaw recently. Even her morning sickness is becoming a hassle as well. Pero magiging fully dependent siya sa lalaking ito kung tatanggapin niya ang perang inaalok nito.