Rugged Men Series 2: Kyron Sanchez (TAGALOG)

Chapter 8

MALAYO pa lamang sa parking lot kung saan niya ipinarada ang sasakyan ay nakita niya na ang panaas ng ulo ni Shania. Ilang metro pa lamang ay pinagbuksan na siya ni Shania na halata ang kuryusidad sa mga mukha. Pabigla na umupo siya sa driver seat at sandali na kinalma niya ang sarili. Ngunit nang hindi na napigilan ang sarili ay napasigaw siya sobrang pagkahumindusan ay hinampas-hampas ang kanyang ulo sa manubela dahil sa sobrang galit. She could feel her blood boiling, rushing like a car racing in a track. Sa sobrang galit niya ay nagsimula nang bumabaw ang kanyang paghinga.

“Woah, woman. Calm down!” Shania beamed as she crouched on the driver's seat and then tapped her shoulder.

“Someone must have woken up on a wrong side of bed...” wika ni Heather na mas lalo niyang ikinagalit. “Regretting your decision, are we not?”

“Heather' s right, I am, damn it. I should not have slept with that walking d**k. I should have ask Isaac and not him,” pagbibigay-alam ni Mika para pilit na tinawid ni Shania sa front passnger seat. “Kung hindi lang ako nakapagpigil sa lalaking iyon ay baka nga nabugbug ko na siya sa loob ng penthouse niya. Putangina... nasira ang araw ko. How could he say that to me?”

“Okay, okay... wait,” natatarantang ani Shania sabay nagpakahirap sa ginagawa.

Nang makaupo na ito sa kanyang tabi ay tiningnan niya ito nang masama. “What? Here to laugh at my stupidness for falling for one of your games?”

Hindi makapaniwalang nasalat ni Shania ang dibdib at nalilitong tiningnan siya. “I'm not here to laugh in your face, okay? I am here for you to vent.”

Hindi naniniwalang tiningnan niya ang kaibigan na si Shania kasabay ng sarkastikong pagtaas ng kanyang mga kilay. “Yeah? Humor me, Shan?”

“Oh, okay. Maybe I did because your face looks like a ripe tomato that's about to burts but I'm going to do that later...” natatawang tugon ni Shania at pinisil ang kanyang mga pisngi. “But I need you to tell us what happened first para naman isang malakas na tawanan na lang.”

“Oh, God, Shan! You're not helping me at all...” Marahan na pinalis niya ang mga kamay nito kaya mas lumaki ang pagngiti nito.

“Yeah, Shan, you're not helping Mika at all,” segunda pa ni Heather na napapikit sa kanya sa kinauupuan.

“Shut up, Heath. Since when did you become Mika's echo, huh?” nang-aasar na sinipat nito sa Heather na nagpaikot lamang ng mga mata senyas bilang pagsuko bago ibinalik sa kanya ang atensyon. “But kidding aside, Mik. Tell us para madayan ka na namin...”

“Well... I cook for him?”

“Wait, you did?” hindi makapaniwalang tanong ni Shania at halos mapangiwi ito sa natuklasan.

“You really did?” segunda pa na tanong ni Heather na tila hindri makapaniwala para mapailing-iling siya sa mga ito.

“I did it, so what?” naiiritang tanong niya sa dalawa.

“But you never cook something for us,” natatawang wika ni Shania para mapaikot ang kanyang mga mata.

“It's because I don't want to, okay?” sagot niya kay Shania, hindi na napigilan ang pagtaas ng boses.

“And you want to cook for Kyron?” Heather asked, her face almost comical and her voice sounded with so much disbelief.

“I didn't. I'm just showing a little gratitude, you know, because he asked for it before we fell asleep...” dugtong niya sa kwento.

“Wait, he asked you?” tanong ni Shania.

“Do you have to repeat everything I said, Shan?” naasar na tanong niya sa kaibigan.

"Who's Mika's echo now?" pang-aasar ni Heather para mapaingos si Shania.

“Shut up, Heath," agap na wika nito at tumingin sa kanya. "I wouldn't repeat what you said unless it's not unbelievable to imagine. It's called being appalled, Mika. I'm appalled because he requested and then you made him...” pagbibigay-alam ni Shania na para bang nagtatampo.

“Yeah, you made something for him and you never made us since like forever...” pagsang-ayon ni Heather para tuluyan na siyang mapaungol sa.iritasyon.

“Are you guys going to ask me why am I pissed off or are you going to complain about what I made... I mean it's just bacon and egg sandwich?”

“You made him bacon and egg sandwhich?” sabay na tanong pa ng dalawa para mapaungol siya sa sobrang pagka-irita at masubsob niya na lamang ang ukha sa kanyang mga kamay.

“You guys are so annoying! God!” palahaw ni Mika sabay sinabunutan ang buhok at kinalma ang sarili. “Fine, I'll cook something for you today, so can you make me finish now?”

“Yes, you can finish now...” agap na sagot ni Shania habang nakangiting ako. “Bacon and egg din sa akin, ha?”

“Sa akin naman ay ham and egg...” ani Heather para napasubsob na naman ang kanyang mukha sa manubela.

“God, I hate you both! Where's Alexanderia when I need her?” naiiritang tanong ni Mika sabay marahas na inihilamos ang nga kamay sa mukha. “Puro pagkain ang nasa utak ninyo!”

“Okay, calm down, woman! We're listening now...” Shania said with her eyebrows wiggling.

Naningkit lamang ang kanyang mga mata at iningusan si Shania.

“For real, this time. So where were we again? Kyron asked for breakfast which you did... and regret, I bet,” pang-aasar ni Shania at saka pabiro pang pinaikot ang mga mata. “And then what?”

“And then Kyron said that he shouldn't have f**k me,” pagkuwento niyang muli sa dalawa.

“And?” naosyong tanong ni Shania at inihudyat ang kamay na siya ay magpatuloy.

“He shouldn't have f**k a virgin because they get to demand afterward... I mean, I'm not!” naiinis na pagbibigay-alam ni Mika.

“Did you not? Really?” pang-aasar ni Shania dahilan para matampal niya nang bahagya ang braso nito.

“I did not. I just said good morning and do what he asked me to do. To cook him his f*****g bacon and egg sandwich for breakfast! I get pissed off and then I left after he said sorry—”

“He said sorry?” Shania interrupted.

“Are you deaf, Shan?” naasar na tanong niya sa kaibigan.

“I'm not. I'm just asking if he said sorry then you don't have to whine with us. Nag-sorry naman pala, eh.” Shania said in matter of fact tone which made her scoff. “Akala ko naman hindi.”

“I am not like you, okay? I am not like you who will always be okay with every thing like a random person,” galit na tugon niya kay Shania. “I have pride and don't want someone hurting me. Call me what you want but I'm still mad at him.”

“I never said you being hurt isn't valid,” ani Shania para mapatingin siya dito. “I just don't get the fact that you make me sound like I'm a slut.”

“What? I didn't say you are a slut, I said random, Shan,” depansa niya para mapailing-iling ito. “Magkaiba iyon.”

“Is it? Maybe for you, it's different. I'm sorry, but it sounded the same to me. Oh, don't worry, I get that a lot to people, Mik. I just never thought I will hear it from you whom I thought that understands me the most,” Umiling-iling si Shania bago binuksan ang pinto at lumabas.

“Oh, come on, Shan! Not again...” wika ni Heather para mapailing-iling na naman si Shania.

“Thank you for the breakfast offer but I changed my mind! Magfa-fast food na lang pala ako!” saad ni Shania bago malakas na sinarado ang pinto.

“God!” palahaw ni Mika sabay inihilamos ang mga kamay sa mukha. “Now, I pissed Shania.”

Nagpakawala nang malalim na oaghinga si Heather. “Pahupain mo muna ang galit no'n. Magiging okay din iyon ng mga ilang araw,”

“WHERE'S Val?” bungad ni Kyron nang makarating siya sa bahay inuman nila. Naroon sila Isaac, Kayden at Jackson na kanya-kanayang hawak ng alak. “I thought he would come.”

“He's probably with Mika right now,” Nagkabit-balikat si Kayden. “Who cares anyway? Palagi naman talaga iyon drawing sa mga lakad. Busy lagi sa sekretarya niya.”

“He's with Mika?” mariing pag-uulit ni Kyron dahilan para mangunot ang mga kilay ni Kayden. “But he's a jerk.”

“And you're not?” sansala ni Isaac para mapatingin siya nang masama dito.

“I am, we all are. Nobody comes clean, I'm just asking why he's with Mika since Mika don't hang out with jerks,” tugon ni Kyron para pagak namapabuga na lamang ng hangin si Isaac at nagtuloy-tuloy sa pag-inom at wala ng sinabi.

“Oh, I think you're wrong. She hang out with a jerk once, and it happened last night...” pang-aasar na sabad ni Jackson para mangunot nang matindi ang kanyang noo.

Umingos siya dito at nagsalin ng paborito niyang Whiskey na Vallerio Adami na isa sa mga collection ng Macallan Red. “f**k off, Cruz! Got no case to handle?”

“Obviously, that's why I'm going to piss you all off,” walang emosyon na sambit ni Jackson at umismid. “Your life is so boring, guys. Can we do something that can make me think and wonder, Alvarez? No? Just drink and do darts? f*****g boring!”

“Kausapin mo pagong, putangina. Ang dami mong reklamo, sana hindi ka na lang pumunta dito sa pag-aari ko at nagburo na lang sa bahay mo!” Kayden scowled that made Jackson laughed wickedly.

“See? It's working, I'm finally pissing you off. Next time, pray to God that I have case to work at every day so I'll keep my mouth shut. Now, my next target is Ramos...” saad ni Jackson para mapangisngis si Kayden sa kinauupuan at sabay na tinaasan ito ng hinalalato gamit ang mga kamay. “f**k you, too, Alvarez.”

Napailing-iling si Kyron at napabuntong-hininga. Nang tumingin siya kay Kayden ay tinaasan siya nito ng kilay.

“What? Going to piss me, too?” asik ni Kayden mangunit ang kanyang mga kilay.

“No, I'm going to ask if Val is with Mika?” tanong niya ng mahina dito.

“He is, Sanchez. Val called me that he won't come because of Mika. Why do you have to whisper to know?” nang-aasar na tanong ni Jackson para mapabaling siya dito habang nag-igtingan ang kanyang panga.

“Now, you're pissing me off,” mariing sambit niya sabay ibinaling ang atensyon kay Kayden nang magkibit-balikat lamang si Jackson.

“That is exactly my goal for today! Now, next is Ramos...” pang-aasar pa ni Jackson bago nito nilingon si Isaac na naasar na agad sa kinauupuan.

Nang tumingin siya kay Kayden ay pinaikot na lamang nito ang mga mata. "He's always with Mika, man. Writer niya iyon, eh, malamang... may nangyari ba kagabi? Bumisita ako sa penthouse bar ko kagabi tapos nakita ko kayong masinsinan na nag-uusap. It so unkike you and Mika, hindi kasi kayo nagpapansinan tapos abala kayong dalawa kagabi.”

“Nag-usap lang kami,” tugon niya sa kaibigan na si Kayden.

“Oh, they don't. You're a fool if you believe him. He obviously screw Mika that night...” sabad ni Jackson para mapatingin siya dito nang masama. “And then Mika pissed him off just like she always do to us with her spicy stare like we're some kind of dirty pigs.”

“It's not like that...” depensa ni Kyron pagkatapos ay nag-igtingan ang panga.

“You won't be acting distraught if you won't,” pang-aasar ni Jackson para mapabuntong-hininga siya nang malalim. “Don't lie to me. I'm a lawyer and I can tell if you're lying.”

“Yes, we screw each other...” panimula ni Kyron at napahilot sa sentido. “But only this time Mika didn't piss me off. I did.”

Natigilan ang tatlo at si Isaac ang pinaka-unang nakahuma sa kanyag sinabi.

“Wait, I thought you wouldn't screw your best friend's wife's friends?” nagtatakang tanong ni Isaac para mapapikit siya nang marahas at mapahilig sa pang-isahang sofa.

“Well, I guess I did an exemption for her,” ani Kyron sabay palatak.

“I can imagine Valentino being punish right now...” wika ni Kayden at tila ba pinalis ang pananayo ng mga balhibo sa braso. “Naalala ko noon. Palagi niyang sinasabi sa akin na sumasakit ang ulo niya dahil sa isang writer ma Mika daw ang pangalan. Now that I knew Mika because of Alejandro. I would agree that Mika is hard dough to knead. Damn, she always have that angst with her that made her so superior which she is, no doubt. She's a bitch...”

“Don't say that,” sabad ni Kyron para mapantastikuhan itong mapatingin sa kanya.

“I mean she is, man. You can't deny that,” Kayden replied.

“I know but that doesn't mean you can go saying she's a b***h, Alvarez. Not when you're in front of me.”

“Are you saying that because you slept with her or are you saying that because you're sorry?”

“Neither,” pagsisinungaling ni Kyron.

“Mabe both,” sansala naman ni Isaac para panlisikan niya ito ng mga mata.

“Okay, I'm not going to say she's a b***h in front of you but that doesn't mean I changed my mind, she's still a b***h to me,” wika ng Kayden para mapatigil ito nang panlakihan niya ito ng mga mata. “Whatever, Sanchez. But I'm quite sure that Val's is in hell right now. Why don't you go save Val's ass right now since it was clearly your fault this time? Apologize to her.”

“What? Me? Apologize to her for the second time around? No!” eksaheradang naguhit si Alejandro ng malaking ekis gamit ang mga braso. “I already tried once and she kicked my ass. Let Val handle her writer.”

“You're an ass.” iiling-iling na wika ni Kayden upang mapaikot na lamang ang kanyang mga mata.

“I have to agree you on that,” segunda pa ni Jackson para mapaismid na lamang si Kyron.

“ARE you saying that you're secretary didn't check the synopsis that I pitched?” mariing tanong ni Mika sa may-ari ng kabyang pinagsusulatan na kompanya, ang Valentine's Page. “Isn't that your job and not your secretary?”

“I have to take a break last night, okay. Don't be mad. I will review it now. So can I go now?” nakangiwing sambit ni Xavier at dali-dali tumungonsa pinto.

“Not so fast, Val. Stay,” mariing utos niya sabay pinanlisikan ito ng mga mata dahilan mapaungol ito sa pagkadismaya.

"I should be the one ordering around here and not you, Mika. I am the CEO of the company you are standing!” wika ni Xavier para pagak na mapatawa siya s kinauupuan.

“Do you want to fire me? Fire me. Go ahead,” nanunukat na saad ni Mika at walang emosyon na tumingin dito. “I want to see you try.”

“I'm just kidding, Mika...” Nagbigay ito ng pilit na ngiti at lumapit sa kanya sabay hilot ng kanyang balikat. “You know I can't do that. You are my only the writer who of made up into Manila Times. Of course, I would not do that. Ano ba ang gusto mo para diyan sa init ng ulo mo? Milk Tea? Your starbucks favorite? Just tell me, my treat.”

“I want to see you not breathing, can you do that?” naiiritang ani Mika na nagpatigil dito sa ginagawa.

“Mika naman...” kinakabahan nitong wika sabay umupo sa kanyang harap.

“You can't do that, right? So just shut up!” asik niya dahilan para mapalayo ito nang bahagya.

“Damn, you're so scarry. What happened by the way?” nag-aalalang tanong nito para tingnan niya ito nang matalim.

Mas tumalim ang mga mata na tiningnan niya ito.

Kinakabahan na tumawa ito at nagkamot ng batok. “Forget that I asked. You won't answer anyway...”

Umisngso si Mika at kinalma niya ang sarili. “Why does he have to be so jerk?”

“Me? A jerk?” nagtatakang tanong ni Xavier pagkatapos ay tinuro pa nito ang sarili.

Nang marinig ang pagkatok ng kanyang sekretarya ay sabay sila na napalingon ni Xavier. Pumasok ito sa kanyang opisina na halatang nababalisa.

“That's better be good..."”nagngingitngit na wika niya sa sekretarya na si Gersy na nakita niya pang bahagyang lumunok habang nanginginig pa ang mga labi marahil sa takot. “Talk.”

“It's Mr. Sanchez, Ma'am...” wika ni Gersy na mas lalong nagpakunot sa kanyang mga kilay. “He said he wanted to see you.”

“Get out! All of you!” sigaw ni Mika habang turo niya ang pinto.