21: business is business
#DWTDwp

Pi

"Ouch ano ba don't tie me, as if naman tatangkain kong tumakas, kung gusto ko edi kanina pa!" I glared at the guy with a braided hair. Syempre hindi ako tatakas. Kidnapping like this is a blessing in disguise, duh.

Lumuwag ang hawak nito sa braso ko at tila nagtatanong na tumingin sa kasama na gaya niya ay naguguluhan din.

"Ano, bababa ba tayo dito sa sasakyan or hindi?" tanong ko. Naiinip na ako, gusto ko ng makita si Cooler.

"Don't try to scream or do anything foolish Miss," sabi ng isa, I guess his name is Eros.

"K."

Muli silang nagtinginan at binuksan ni Hermes ang pinto ng sasakyan. Tahimik na sumunod naman ako, not making it too obvious that I am so excited for this. Hindi iyon warehouse, in fairness pero mukhang basement iyon ng gusali.

I'm positive Cooler is here. As if on cue, a phone rang at sinagot iyon ni Eros.

"Zeus..." He listened for a while at nang pinatay niya ang telepono ay naglabas siya ng panyo mula sa bulsa at ipiniring iyon sa akin.

Oh, a blindfold.

It would be romantic, I guess. Cooler will be surprised to see me instead of the Congressman's daughter. Thanks girl, thanks.

“Eros,” narinig kong tawag ng isa. “Isn’t this girl weird? She neither shout nor tried anything to escape.”

“Iyon din ang iniisip ko,” sagot naman ng isa.

If I wasn’t blindfolded, I would have rolled my eyes. Thank goodness, hindi nila binusalan ang bibig ko kaya kahit papaano ay makakasagot pa rin ako. “Bakit, sa tingin ninyo kapag sumigaw ako palalayain ninyo ako?” Plus, ayaw kong palayain nila nang hindi man lamang nakikita si Cooler. I experienced a traumatic event last night dahil sa mga walanghiyang mga man of steel na iyon, the only way to cheer me up is to see Harry or Cooler.

Right now, Cooler is feasible.

“You have a point. Did you check her? Paano kung may ginawa pala siya para masundan tayo ng mga bodyguards ng congressman?”

“Nothing, I checked and found nothing. At isa pa kung nasundan man tayo, malamang naramdaman na natin kanina pa. I don’t think someone followed us.”

Well, that is possible if Zero hasn’t found out I was kidnapped. Sana ay walang CCTV sa malapit ng parking lot na iyon dahil kung meron malamang hinahanap na ako ni Zero. He knew it when something’s not right at kahit saan man ako dalhin ay mahahanap niya ako. These guys shouldn’t underestimate Zero’s protective abilities which applies to me.

Pero sana naman ay huwag niya akong iligtas sa kidnapping na ito.

I heard a door opened and I was pushed towards a chair. Ramdam ko ang mesa na nasa harapan ko. And I almost melted when I heard the voice I long to hear.

Cooler Vander.

“Is that the congressman’s daughter? He really thinks he can outwit Vander mafia. Pathetic man. Remove her blindfold.”

And the guys did as what they were told. I blinked my eyes to adjust my sight, seeing Cooler in front of me. The lines on his forehead increased when he recognized me.

“Hi!” I said cheerfully, tucking hair at the back of my ear.

Muntik nang mabuwal sina Hermes at Eros nang marinig ang masiglang boses ko. Well for someone kidnapped, I was too cheerful, I know.

“Pi?”

“Oh my gosh you remember my name!” Shocks, that just made me love him even more.

He scoffed. “Who wouldn’t? Maliban sa pagiging Bellomo mo, you are remarkable because you’re with Apo-- I mean, Ryu but then you confessed to me.”

I heard manly gasp na tiyak kong mula kina Hermes at Eros. I know they don’t have any idea what the exchange of words between me and Cooler was about.

“Pero sandali... why are you here? How...?”

Hindi ko na pinatapos ang sinabi niya at komportableng naupo. “Your men are idiots.”

Another growl from them, pero wala akong pake. Right now, I am focused to the love of my life.

Bumaling siya sa dalawa na nasa likuran ko. “Why did you kidnap her? Hindi siya ang anak ng Congressman, she’s a Bellomo.”

I turned to look at the two with a wide smile. They looked puzzled. The one with a braided hair looked at me, “Bellomo... as in the drug syndicate Bellomo?”

I snorted. “Ew, do not use the word syndicate it sounds so cheap and illegal, how about Bellomo crime family?”

He returned a snort, “That’s basically the same.”

“Sandali,” naguguluhang sabi ni Eros. “So she’s not the congressman’s daughter? What the hell is she doing on the campaign at bakit sa family and friends ng congressman pa nakaupo? Plus she has a sleek black car!”

“Excuse me, porket doon nakaupo anak agad? Bobo ka ba? My dad and Congressman Enrico are super close so my dad’s men were there to support his campaign to fill his absence. I was at home, bored as fuck so I decided to tag along only to feel more boredom than I felt in my entire life. And hello, the car is Zero’s, not mine. Isa pa, hindi lamang si Zero ang may sasakyang ganoon. You’re just stupid to pick the wrong person-- uh wait, no you’re not actually stupid, I should be thankful to you two. Hey bros, thanks.” Sinabayan ko pa iyon ng kindat at tila mas lalo lamang silang nagtaka.

“Pi, it’s not time to play okay?” wika ni Cooler at minasahe ang kanyang sintido. “We have business to do, sorry for causing you trouble---”

“So, gusto ninyong kidnappin si Maurice?” tanong ko. They all looked at me with a puzzled expression so I think I need to elaborate. “Maurice is the congressman’s daughter. So siya ang balak ninyong kidnappin? Why?”

“This is strictly our business Pi--”

“Since I am here, that means I’m involved too. Come on, I could be of great help, kung gusto ninyong kidnappin si Maurice, leave it to me.”

Cooler stared at me with disbelief in his eyes. Then he looked at his men. “I think we should tell her since they’re directly involved to this.”

“Pero Zeus!”

Now that made me more curious.

“What is it about?”

Naupo si Cooler at seryosong tumingin sa akin. “I know you’re aware our transactions are overlapping, making both parties loss millions.”

I nodded.

“Congressman Enrico is involved in this scheme, I guess.”

Bigla akong napatayo ay hinampas ang kamay ko sa mesa. Nagulat ang dalawa sa likuran ko sa ginawa kong iyon. “That motherfucker! I knew it I knew it I knew it! Sabi ko na nga ba hindi mapagkakatiwalaan ang buwayang iyon eh! I know from the start na parehas lamang silang dalawa ni Uncle Flavio kaya pala close na close silang dalawa! Those traitors!” I looked at Hermes who I noticed, has a gun on his waist. “Give me your gun, I will shoot that fucker right in his left nut!”

Tila nagulat si Hermes dahil sa kaseryosohan kong iyon samantalang bahagya namang lumayo si Eros. He was gently holding his crotch as he moved away.

“Pi, be calm and sit down,” Cooler said.

Oh. I was mad for a moment. He said sit down.

Owwwkey babe.

So I did. Still, my breathing was heavy due to anger. “So anong balak ninyo kay Maurice?”

“Make her spill what is their game, bakit nila sinasadyang magkaaberya ang mga transaksyon natin.”

I frowned. “You cannot milk such info from Maurice duh, the girl knew nothing but suck dick and paint her nails.”

“What do you suggest?”

”Milk info from the congressman himself, duh.”

Umalma naman ang dalawa sa likuran ko. “What you’re asking is impossible. Sa tingin mo aamin si Congressman?”

“Do not underestimate me babe,” I said with a wink ngunit hindi man lamang iyon nagpatinag kay Cooler. Okay, noted. A wink doesn’t affect him. Maybe a pout next time.

“Seryoso ang usapang ito.”

Huh, he’s really underestimating me. It’s okay baby, you’re forgiven.

“Wanna bet on it? Give me this job and if I can make him confess, give me the end of my bargain.”

Nag-isip saglit si Cooler. Did I mention he’s 100 times hotter when he’s in his serious mode? Damn, I love him so bad!

“Kung mapapaamin mo siya hindi lamang ang Vander mafia ang makikinabang kundi pati kayo,” sabi niya. Tama naman siya but still... I have to push this.

“Pero hello, buhay ko ang nakataya. Ako mismo ang gagawa sa trabaho so kahit parehas na makikinabang ang negosyo natin, lugi ako kung wala akong mapapala.”

Hey, business is business. I am not doing this for free.

Cooler crossed his arms. “What do you want?”

“A date.”

Sabay na napaubo si Eros at Hermes na nasa likuran ko samantalang namilog naman ang mga mata ni Cooler. “Are you serious?!”

“Never been fucking serious in my entire life but now.”

He put his face on his palm, thinking harder about it. Ano bang mahirap sa hinihingi ko? He really didn’t think I’m serious about this, nah?

With a sigh, he looked at me. “Alright, deal.”

Yay!

“Kailan mo gagawin ‘to?” dagdag niya.

“Now.”

“Ano?!” bulalas nilang tatlo.

“Now, as in ngayon.” I turned to Hermes and open my palm. “Give me my things, especially my phone. I have to make a phone call.”

Hindi naman ito nagdalawang-isip at binigay sa akin ang nakapatay kong cellphone. I turned it on at hinanap ang numero ni Zero sa contacts. It only took three seconds before he answered.

“Pi?! Where the hell are you?! Bakit umalis ka ng walang paalam? Nagcommute ka ba? Did something happen? Why didn’t you tell---”

“Calm your tits Zero, I’m fine, unscathed and cute as ever. Anyway, nasaan ka?” tanong ko, all eyes on Cooler who was also looking at me, probably wishing he could hear the other line. No, wala akong balak magloudspeaker.

“Still at the sports center, I thought you just litter around.”

“Okay, stay there,” sabi ko sa kanya. “I’m heading back, I have an important thing to do.”

“Pi, you’re up to no good again, aren’t you?” tanong niya. Zero really knew me, great.

“I’m up to something but good. Wait for me Zero,” wika ko at pinatay ang tawag, tossing my phone to Cooler. “Give me your number.”

Kinuha niya ang cellphone ko at tinawagan ang kanyang numero. Yay! I have Cooler’s number now! Alam kong marami siyang cellphone, at least I have one of his number.

This time, I held my hand out again towards Hermes. “Keys.”

Inabot niya sa akin ang susi kaya muli akong bumaling kay Cooler. “Cooler?”

He looked at me with questioning eyes.

I pointed on my cheek. “Kiss.”

He snorted. “Just go Pi.”

Aw, that didn’t work.

Maybe the kiss should be on our first date.

#

ShinichiLaaaabs✒️

A/N: busy yata si Ryu kaya wala siya sa dalawang chapter lol Anyways, I will be at Ayala Malls Cebu this Saturday for National Book Stores #YAFest! I’m with AkosiIbarra and Serialsleeper! So yeah, if you want, grab copies of my books and have it signed!

Love you. Mwah.
Tammii/ShinichiLaaabs