By the way, I am your Sexy Boss.

Chapter 2: Are you happy now?

Chapter 2: Are you happy now?

I fetched my phone and called my driver and asked him to drive me to the resort, after a few minutes, I saw our Fortuner. Tumigil ito sa harap ng mansion, bumaba ang driver at saka ako pinagbuksan sa likod. Sumakay naman na ako at bumiyahe na kami papunta sa Kehanu Resort. The drive was only five minutes since the resort was near our place.

“Salamat, Kuya. Hintayin ninyo na lang ba ako sa parking lot o babalik pa kayo sa mansion?”

“Hintayin ko na lang kayo sa parking lot, Ma’am.” Sagot naman ng driver.

“Sige, I will call you na lang Kuya kapag tapos na ang prom.”

“Sige po, Ma’am.”

Bumaba ang driver at pinagbuksan muli ako ng pinto. I hopped out of the car and looked at the entrance of the hotel, mula roon ay natanaw ko naman si Maverick na naghihintay sa akin. I smiled at him and approached him while our car moved away.

“Let’s go? My friends are waiting inside. We’ll share the same table, if you are okay with it.” Maverick said. Pinagkakatinginan na rin kaming dalawa ng iba pang mga estudyante na pumapasok. Hindi ko na lang pinansin iyon dahil wala naman akong pakialam sa kung ano ang iniisip ng ibang tao sa akin, ang mahalaga ay si Maverick.

We walked towards the reception hall of the hotel, the staff and employees of the hotel seems to recognize me and they all bowed to respect me. I simply dismissed them with a slight wave of my hand while smiling.

Ang tunog ng musika ay palakas na rin nang palakas kasabay ng ingay ng mga tao habang lumalapit kami sa kung saan gaganapin ang prom. While walking at the side of Maverick, hindi ko maiwasang mapansin mula sa aking periperal na tingin ang kaniyang side profile. He was so aesthetic and beautiful, hindi pa rin talaga ako makapaniwala. Ano kaya ang nakain niya at inaya niya ako? While thinking about it, I cannot help but feel so hopelessly romantic... I felt like I was living my dream, like I was in a fairy tale.

Tumungo kami sa mesa kung saan naroon ang mga kaibigan ni Maverick at ang kanilang mga partner din. “This is Alastor, and Wade... My best friends and partners in crime.”

I smiled awkwardly at the two of them and they also smiled back, though they looked uninterested. Nagkatingin lang ang dalawa rin. I looked at the women beside them too and they just stared at me blankly, with this expression that seems to be disgusted. Hindi ko na lang sila pinansin. I looked beside me and realized that Maverick was already gone, I looked around the hall that was filled with people already, and saw him a few meters away from me, with this girl... I think her name is Sarah, and I was sure she is going to be crowned as the Prom Queen, on the other hand, Maverick will surely be crowned as the Prom King. It seems like the two of them were arguing, and Sarah slapped Maverick on his left cheek and walked away.

Bumalik naman si Maverick pagkatapos at umupo sa tabi ko, namumula ngayon ang pisngi niya. “Are you okay?” I asked shyly.

He nodded. Tumawa lang ang mga kaibigan niya rin dahil sa sinapit niya. Ano kaya ang nakakatawa doon? Umiling na lang ako dahil hindi ko sila maintindihan.

The prom went on... Maverick and I stayed at the table despite him asking for a dance because I was not comfortable dancing, he respected it and did not force me. “You can go and dance if you want...” I smiled at Maverick. I did not want to ruin his fun just because I don’t want to dance.

“Are you sure?”

I nodded.

He thanked me after, and then he decided to go to the dance floor. Naiwan naman akong mag-isa sa mesa. I sighed and took a sip of the cocktail. I watched everyone enjoy the night. I wonder what it feels like to be able to dance freely, without being too conscious about your body? The thought made me smile and feel insecure. I shook the bad thought away and decided to just watch Maverick. He was dancing with random girls. Siguro isang oras ang lumipas, pagbalik niya kasama ang kaniyang mga kaibigan sa mesa ay pawisan na silang lahat.

“Salamat sa pagbantay sa mga gamit namin, Keana!” Nakangiting saad ni Alastor sa akin. Tumango naman ako sa kanila at ngumiti. Nagpunas na ng pawis si Maverick din at pinanood ko lang siya. Since his wineglass was already empty and he seemed thirsty, I offered him mine which was still half full. Hindi na siya nagdalawang-isip pa at ininom na niya ang aking inumin.

The thought that we had an indirect kiss made me feel giddy. Matapos ang ilang sandali ay napansin ko na naman ang bahagyang pagtinginan nilang tatlong magkakaibigan—as if communicating with their eyes. Tumikhim matapos si Maverick, at saka siya tumingin sa akin. “Let’s go out.”

“Why?”

Maverick smiled, “basta.”

Hinawakan niya ang aking kamay, at naglakad kami palabas ng hall. Nakatitig lang ako sa kaniyang kamay na nakahawak sa akin, pakiramdam ko ay may mga paruparo sa aking tyan. I wanted the night to never end, because I was already living my dream. Tumigil kami nang nasa labas na kami ng hotel, sa hardin. We went towards the patio at the center... Mula sa puwesto namin ay rinig namin pa rin ang musika mula sa hall ng hotel kung saan nagaganap ang prom. It was just me and Maverick as well who were at the garden. The fairy lights were glistening and colorful, and the sky was sprinkled with stars, and the full moon was shining brightly. Everything was too romantic. The flowers around were blooming as well.

“Bakit pala?” I bit my lower lip.

“I heard that you liked me...” Seryoso ang tinig ng boses ni Maverick.

Nanlaki naman ang aking mga mata... How did he know? I never told anyone. It is not like there is anyone to share this with too, I had no friends. I was alone.

Bumilis ang pintig ng aking puso. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang isasagot ko.

“So, you do?”

I smiled awkwardly and nodded, “y-yes...”

Maverick chuckled. “Sa tingin mo papatulan kita?” Biglang nagbago ang ihip ng hangin, at sa mga sandaling ito, iba na ang rason ng pagbilis ng pintig ng aking puso.

I looked at Maverick in disbelief, “n-no—I mean, why did you ask me to be your date—”

“Dahil trip ko lang.” Tumawa si Maverick, “and because I had a deal with my friends. Wala naman akong ginawa, but you already look like you’ve fallen head over heels for me, well, I cannot blame you because I’m that attractive. But if you already assumed that I actually like you just because I asked you out for a date, pwes, mandiri ka naman. I will never like you... I mean, look at yourself.” He sighed and looked at me from up to down, “fat and ugly.”

My heart sunk. Hindi ko alam kung paano ako kikilos sa mga sandaling ito. Basta bigla na lang tumulo ang mga luha ko. Kasabay nito ay nakarinig ako ng kaluskos mula sa gilid, at nakita ko ang anino ng dalawang mga lalake. Naglakad ako papunta roon, sa may likod ng mga palumpong, at nakita sina Wade at Alastor. They were watching everything.

Despite everything I heard among men in the campus that Maverick was a bad guy who never cared for the feeling of girls, I ignored that because I thought it was not true. But to experience it myself—now, I am starting to believe. I felt betrayed and toyed with, though it was only for a few hours, I thought he was good and I thought he saw the beauty inside me.

“Are you happy with what you’ve watched? Para bang telenovela?” I asked the two friends of Maverick. Hindi ko na sila pinasagot pa at saka ko sila isa-isang sinampal sa pisngi, “this is for making fun of me!” They both groaned in pain. I went back to Maverick after who was still rooted on his spot at the patio.

He smirked at me.

I scowled and wiped my tears away, biglang nawala ang lahat ng pagmamahal ko sa kaniya. “Are you happy now?”

“Yes...” He smiled.

Without a word, I kicked him on his crotch and he fell on his knees and groaned in pain as well, namula agad ang kaniyang mukha dahil sa aking ginawa. “Are you still happy now?” I asked once more and he simply glared at me. I bent down to match him and then stared at him from his eyes, “f**k you.”

And with that, I turned my back and went to the parking lot where my driver was waiting for me. Wala akong sabing sumakay, at hindi na nagtanong pa si Kuya. Basta sa buong biyahe namin pauwi, umiiyak lang ako.