Fortress Island Series 1 Alejandro: Love Just Ain't Enough (BOOK TWO)

FIVE

Pain

Sabado night.

Jampacked ang ClubMix bar. Alas siyete pa lang ay nandito na ako.

"Omg!" Tili ni Claire habang papasok sa laundry room. Kasalukuyan akong nagbibihis ng aking waitress uniform.

Agad na umikot ang mata ko. Alam ko naman na kung bakit parang uod na naman ito na binudburan ng asin. Saturday means fangirling mode is on.

Habang papasok ako kanina ay namataan ko na kaagad ang grupo ng mga kaibigan ni Sir James. Kasama ng mga ito ang kani-kanilang partner.

"Claire, alam kong libre ang mangarap pero pwede bang mangarap ka naman ng isang bagay na kahit one percent man lang ay may posibilidad na makamtam mo ito? Kasi kung sila lang din naman ang aasamin mo, parang ngayon pa lang, gusto ko nang ipagtirik ng kandila ang duguan mong puso." Ani ko habang tinutupi ang damit ko at maingat na nilagay sa loob ng locker. Humarap ako kay Claire at sumandal sa pinto ng locker.

"Ang hard mo sa akin, ate Bea." Lumabi ito at kinuha ang kanyang uniform na nakahanger sa sariling locker.

Isang bagay na gustong gusto ko dito sa ClubMix bar ay naka-laundry ang aming mga uniporme. Each of us has three sets of uniform kaya mukhang bago at malinis kami tignan. Laging mabango at komportable ang aming pakiramdam tuwing gabi.

"May mga asawa na ang iba sa kanila at ang iba naman ay may nobya. Nakita mo mga mukha ng mga babaeng yun? Jusko, wala tayong panama sa mga yun."

"Ikaw meron. Ako wala talaga." Umakto itong tila maiiyak. "Buti di ka pinatos ni Sir James, ate."

I side-eyed her. Hmmm. He actually made an indecent proposal to me. Tuwing naalala ko ay natatawa na lang ako, lalo na't medyo malapit na kami ngayon. He's close to everyone. He treats us with respect at parang kamag-anak na rin ang turing niya sa amin. Hindi iilang beses na nagpapahiram ito ng pera sa tuwing kinakapos ako. Ang totoo, pinaka the best na boss si Sir James. Bukod sa mabait ito ay lagi nitong iniisip ang kapanan ng kanyang mga empleyado. If there's one thing that I don't like about him, it's that he's such a Casanova. Parang nagpapalit lang ng damit kung magpalit ito ng babae.

When I first came to his office years ago, I could still remember how he looked at me. His eyes were full of appreciation and lust. Sir James didn't beat around the bush and asked me directly if I would like to spend the night with him. He gave me options. If I chose to have a physical relationship with him, then there's no chance I could work here. He doesn't mix business with pleasure. Pero hindi ako desperada at lalong hindi ako naghahanap ng lalake para lang punan ang kahungkagan sa puso ko sa ginawa ni Alejandro. He's charming alright, but I had been immune with the likes of him. They are all a bunch of wolves in sheep's clothing.

Trabaho ang pinunta ko dito sa Davao at yun ang pinaka-kailangan ko. I have mouths to feed. Playing fire with someone else isn't my cup of tea. At isa pa, kung lalake lang din naman ang kailangan ko, there's Tyler.

Malayo man ito sa mga katulad ni Alejandro at Sir James, I'd much prefer to spend time with him.

For Tyler, hurting me will never be his option.  For him, my happiness is his utmost priority. He treasures me like I am his most valued possession.

For him, I am his world.

With that being said, I want to be fair to him. Falling in love with him is not a difficult thing to do. Kamahal-mahal ito. I'm happy when I am with him. Kasama kami ng pamilya ko sa future na gusto niyang buuin.

He's very selfless and too pure. Ang totoo, hindi niya deserve ang isang tulad ko just like how I don't deserve someone like him. I didn't mean to depend on him, but during those dark days, he was my only shoulder to cry on. He left Palawan para sundan ako dito sa Davao. He was that persistent and dedicated.