By the way, I am your Sexy Boss.

Chapter 11: Dreaming again of that First Encounter

Chapter 11: Dreaming again of that First Encounter

The party was over and I can feel the exhaustion all over my body. I really did not want to have a homecoming party at all since the agenda of my Lolo is to find prospect husbands for me, bumuntong-hininga na lang ako dahil may maganda namang nangyari dito kahit papaano. Nagkita kami ni Maverick. Hindi na napag-usapan ang business proposal para sana sa partnership ng aming mga negosyo dahil umalis din siya kaagad. I do not know why, but I guess because he was surprised to find out that we met earlier than he expected. Tumungo siya sa hardin ng aming mansion dahil iniiwasan niya ako, ngunit iyon ang naging daan upang mas magkita pa kami.

Humiga na ako sa kama at saka ko pinikit ang aking mga mata. I was still a little jet-lagged, I can feel that. Nag-aadjust pa ang aking katawan din sa oras ng bansa dahil magkaiba ang oras ng Pilipinas at Hawaii. Humikab ako at saka ko hinayaang makatulog na ako, at doon, muling naglaro sa aking panaginip ang aming unang engkwentro matapos ang limang taon.

“I am sorry, but are you one of the girls that I played with before? Sorry, I mean, I was a child... Immature. I know it is not an excuse, but still, I sincerely apologize if you were one of those girls and I also apologize if I hurt you before, though I do not exactly remember you.” Tinitigan niya ako at bahagyang tila inaalala niya kung sino ako, but he was still oblivious.

Maybe I should take advantage of this fact that he still has no idea about who I am, I smirked secretly with that idea in mind. He toyed me before, I guess there is nothing wrong with toying with him a little as well, right?

“It is alright, it is in the past. Hindi rin naman ako ang tipo ng babae na nagtatanim ng sama ng loob,” but I never forget. Secretly, I thought of that. Habang inaalala ko kung paano niya ako sinaktan at pinaglaruan ay tila tumitigas lalo ang aking puso. It takes a lot of self-control to remain calm at times like this. Hindi ko talaga ine-expect din na magkikita agad kami ni Maverick saktong pagbalik ko galing sa Hawaii. And he is walking around my home as if he did not do anything wrong to the child of the house. Looking at him, wala akong ibang maramdaman kundi ang hatred. Hindi ko maikakaila na mas lalo siyang naging matipuno at gwapo, ngunit alam ko ang ugali at baho ng lalakeng ito. He only wants you because you are beautiful outside. All that matters for him is looks. This is something I learned the hard way, but I guess most people are like this.

This is normal human nature, kaya naman lahat ng unconventionally beautiful have a life that is better because they are not discriminated for their looks. Rather, they are adored. Otherwise, you will be loathed, become a laughing stock, and treated unfairly. People only want what’s beautiful... I do not know if I am lucky to be heartbroken to the point that I decided to change myself, but I have to thank Maverick because at least, even though he was a jerk, he contributed a little to my development and growth.

“So, tell me, what’s your name?” Maverick asked.

“Kares,” I smiled. I did not lie though, hindi rin karaniwang alam ng mga tao rito ang pangalawang pangalan ko, ang alam lang nila ay ako si Keana.

“Alright, it is my first time hearing that name, are you sure you have the right guy? I mean, I do not even remember you, but I have a very sharp memory.” Aniya. Pagkatapos ay tinanggal niya ang butones ng kaniyang long sleeve, three buttons up, somehow revealing his ripped muscles and body. He must have been consistently working out. He has a model’s body—and I guess I can also say the same with his face, he was a moreno—a perfect embodiment of what we always call as tall, dark and handsome, and I guess he was 6’0, since I was 5’9 and we were closer a little bit when it comes to height.

“You are Maverick Maximillio, right?” I raised an eyebrow at him.

That made him frown, “yes, indeed...”

“Then I have the right guy.” I chuckled, “do not worry, hindi ako nagtatanim ng sama ng loob. I can assure you on that.” Pagkatapos ay napagpasyaan kong maglakad palapit sa kaniya, kasabay nito ay biglang bumukas ang lahat ng streetlamps nang tuluyan sa malawak na hardin ng aming bakuran, revealing all the flowers at their full bloom, and the other greeneries around.

“Really? I am glad then, ayaw kong may taong may galit sa akin, at alam kong hindi naging maganda ang aking nakaraan, marami akong mga katarantaduhang ginawa sa buhay, at marami akong nasaktan dahil sa aking ginawa,” bumuntong-hininga si Maverick. Ako naman ay tahimik lang na nakatitig sa kaniya at sa kaniyang ekspresyon, nakapansin ako ng lungkot, at hindi ko matukoy kung bakit.

“You regret, then?”

Tumango siya.

Pero nasa bandang huli lagi ang pagsisisi, kahit pa man pagsisihan niya lahat ng kasalanan niya, hindi maikakaila na marami siyang taong nasaktan, at kasama na ako roon.

“I do... I honestly do.” He sighed once more, tila pasan niya ang buong mundo. Malungkot ang kaniyang ekspresyon ngayon, “that is also why I am here... I do not know how to face the center of the homecoming party right now, you know Keana? The girl who just got back from Hawaii, before she left, I broke her heart... Hindi ko alam kung may mukha pa ba akong maipapakita sa kaniya matapos ang aking ginawa. I was a jerk, I know, but I also want to tell her at the same time that I want to apologize, and that even if she does not forgive me, I still am sorry.”

I opened my eyes. It was just a dream.

It was already the next day. Hindi ko pa rin makalimutan ang mukha at ekspresyon ni Maverick kagabi nang malaman niyang ako pala si Keana. It was priceless. I almost laughed at him because of the funny face that his face featured, but of course, I was able to control myself and the urge to do so. Hanggang ngayon din, tumatakbo pa rin at naglalaro sa aking isipan ang aming usapan kagabi. Hindi ko maiwasang magduda rin dahil alam ko ang ugali niya dati. Paano kung nagpapanggap lang siya na nagsisisi siya at nagbago na siya?

No. I waited for this all my life, hindi ako magpapauto sa kaniya this time around. Pinikit ko ang aking mga mata at muling naalala ang lahat ng nangyari kagabi. Of course, it was still fresh in my memory because that only happened a few hours ago, pero mas malinaw pa rin sa akin talaga ang nangyari limang taon na ang nakalipas, kung paano ako pinaglaruan at sinaktan ni Maverick dahil lang sa isang babae na galing sa California, I think she was Elizabeth. It was a bet made by him and his friends, Wade and Alastor. Ang lahat ng ito ay ginawa ko for this moment, though not entirely, since I also learned to embrace and love myself, and that made me change.

Nagbihis na ako at naghanda dahil sa araw na ito, official nang ako ang magmamanage ng aming mga negosyo. Alam kong maaga ring umalis si Kuya Kael at dumiretso sa munisipyo dahil mayor siya at marami siyang kailangang gawin at ipatupad. I am happy since Kuya Kael really has a heart when it comes to leading, it is his passion, and he only wants nothing but what is for the best for his people.