Hindi pa rin mawala sa isip ko kung paano nagawa ni Cole ang ganung bagay. Did he train to hold a gun so perfectly like that?

Napatingin ako kay Crescent. Hindi nakakaduda kung siya ang gagawa dahil assassin siya, but Cole is just a neurosurgeon. How could he spin guns like that?

Nakatanggap ako ng mensahe mula kay Joey. Nakauwi na sila Cole ng ligtas sa condo. Mabuti naman.

"Do you know Cole?"

"Yeah, we met a while ago," pilosopo niyang sagot.

"I mean, have you met him before?"

Hindi siya sumagot at tinabihan ako sa pag-upo. He gently wraps his arms around my waist and shove his head to my neck.

Parang bata.

"Sagutin mo nga ako, Crescent."

"I haven't 'cause if I did, he's dead by now."

I heaved a sigh at tinitigan ang kanyang buhok. I gently caressed it, hindi naman siya nagreklamo. Naramdaman ko na lang ang paghigpit ng kanyang hawak sa beywang ko.

"May problema ba?"

"I won't let that happen again, little kitten. I won't let another man touched you again," he softly said.

Namula ako sa hiya. My heart's beating fast. Sana hindi niya iyon naririnig.

"I really thought you're going to kill Cole," I sighed.

"He's holding you. I was scared because I thought he's going to push you."

Natawa ako dahil dun. Hindi iyon magagawa ni Cole sa akin. Pero paano niya nalaman na may dalang baril ang isang ito. Kahit magkasama kami ni Crescent buong araw, ni hindi ko alam kung may baril siya o wala.

"Do you want to come with me, little kitten?"

"Saan?"

"Cebu."

Umayos ako ng upo at tinignan siya. Ganun din ang ginawa niya sa akin.

"Cebu?"

"Visayas."

"For work?"

"Vacation," he sighed and pulled my waist closer. "Let's go tomorrow."

I badly wanna gooo. But...

"I can't. May trabaho ako," I sighed in frustration.

"Just ask your dad," he casually said that like he knows him.

"How did you know about my dad?" lumukot ang noo ko pero binawi niya ang kanyang sinabi.

"I mean the CEO. Just file a leave for three days."

"It's easier said than done."

The only good thing about being a general surgeon is money. But when it comes to vacation leaves, hindi kami basta-bastang nakakakuha nun. Hindi kami basta-bastang pinagbibigyan lalo na't accidents come and go in places you don't expect, and times you don't expect.

"Okay, we'll go next time," muli niyang isinubsob ang kanyang mukha sa leegan ko.

Maybe Crescent doesn't have a mission for the meantime that's why he wants to go on a vacay

I got in the morning to do my usual routine. Go to the hospital and check my patient's condition. Nang sunduin ako ni Crescent nang araw na yun, he looks tired and uneasy.

"You badly want to go, don't you?" tinignan ko siya ng mabuti.

"You're too busy, little kitten."

"Ayaw mo bang pumunta mag-isa?"

"It's no fun when you're not around," he sighed but still focusing on the road.

Napaisip ako. What if I try to ask the CEO directly about my leave? Huminga ako ng malalim at nagtype sa cellphone.

"Fine, I'll ask the CEO tomorrow. Magpapa-appointment muna ako."

I gave up.

With those devilish mad eyes, I can't say no.

Dumiretso ako sa opisina ni Mr. Malavar kinabukasan. He agrees talking to me even after what happened last week. Mabuti na lang at maayos na ang kalagayan ng kanyang bodyguards. When I arrived at his office, they made way for me at pinapasok ako kaagad.

Well, I did have an appointment so my visit is valid.

Pinagbuksan nila ako ng pinto. Nadatnan ko si CEO na nakatingin sa maladagat na view sa ibaba.

"I need to talk to you," naupo ako sa sofa kahit hindi niya pa sinasabi.

"About what, dear Georgia?" ipinatong niya sa glass table ang wineglass at naupo sa kaharap kong upuan.

"I want to leave."

Muntikan na siyang madulas sa sofa dahil nawalan ng lakas ang kanyang mga paa. He's so short, by the way, like 5ft.

"W-What did you say? Agad-agad?"

That's when I realized how my words came out wrong.

"I mean, I'm sorry. You must have misunderstood me. What I want to say is, I want a three-day vacation leave," I smiled.

"You can't."

"What?"

Ang bilis naman ng response na yun. Parang hindi pinag-isipan. Napairap ako sa kawalan. I knew this is going to happen. I expected that answer anyway.

But I don't want to give up since Crescent is asking one simple favor from me.

"Why?"

"Cause we only have two general surgeons in this hospital, ikaw at si Dr. Realto," he sips.

"Never heard of him. Then can this Dr. Realto cover my three day shift?" tumaas ang kilay ko.

"Pwede naman."

"Great! Where is he?"

"But he was fired a week ago, Georgia. You told us to fire him," CEO gently massaged his temple and sighed. "You don't even recognized your colleagues."

Oh great. Now what?

Hilaw akong ngumiti kay CEO. It's my fault he got fired. The fuck should I do now?

"Can someone else cover for me? You know very well that I don't accept No as an answer. My father should have told you that by now," inis kong nilagok ang wine na natira sa kanyang baso.

"Georgia, dear, you can do that if you can send someone here to cover your loss shifts."

Napaisip ako matapos niyang sabihin iyon. I slowly smiled and dialled her number.

"Oh, I absolutely have someone in mind and she's from America."

Mr. CEO gave me an indistiguishable look before pouring another glass of wine. Ngumiti lang ako nang sinagot ni tita ang tawag. Naiintindihan niya kaya't bibiyahe siya bukas papunta rito gamit ang kanyang private jet. She sounds excited because she's going to meet Joey again. Hindi kasi sila nagkita noong Grand Ball.

"What's with your smile, little kitten?" tanong ni Crescent nang kumakain kami ng dinner.

"I think we can book a flight right away."

Crescent stared at me. "For Cebu?"

Tumango ako habang nagpipigil ng ngiti. I saw Crescent's lips form a curve.

"That's good news," he bit his lower lip. "I'll buy tickets after we eat."

Pagkatapos kong kumain, dumiretso ako ng kwarto upang mag-impake ng damit at iba pang gamit na dadalhin sa Cebu. I'm pretty excited, I admit that. Pero gusto ko ring isama si Joey kasi pangarap naming makapagbakasyon, malayo sa trabaho.

I video call her through Messenger. I'm pretty sure she's still not sleeping. May sumagot sa call but it's not Joey, it's Cole.

"Hey, George. What's up?"

Naka-topless and cargo shorts ang loko. Ang hilig niya talagang maghubad kapag nasa bahay lang.

"Where's Joey? I want to talk to her, Cole."

"Naghuhugas ng pinggan. Wait, I'll call her. Joey, George's on the phone," tumayo siya at iniabot ang phone sa kaibigan ko.

"My hands are wet. Hawakan mo muna," Joey looked at me. "Napatawag ka yata, George?"

"Let's go to Cebu tomorrow, like vacay. Magfile ka ng leave ngayon," utos ko, tono excited.

"Now?" tumaas ang kilay niya.

"Yes, now! Don't worry about work. Maraming nurse ang magcocover sa shift mo."

"What about me?" Cole interrupts.

"No! Hirap na hirap na nga akong makahanap ng ipampapalit sa akin kanina," irap ko.

"Definitely! I'll call CEO later. Mag-iimpake na ako," she exclaims at iniwan si Cole na nakatulala.

"What about me?" he pouts. Natingin siya sa akin. "Cebu? Really, Georgia? Agad-agad?"

I shrugged and smiled. "I just wanted to go on a vacay, Cole."

"With your butler?"

"Shut up. By the way, I called your mom. She's covering my shift for three days so... have fun."

"Georgia, you-"

Mabilis kong pinatay ang tawag nang magsisigaw si Cole sa inis. Haha! They really hate their mom.

Wala naman sigurong masama kung sasabihin ko kay Crescent na gusto kong isama si Joey. I'll pay for her expenses if he agrees.

"Are you that excited, little kitten?" tanong niya habang nakasandal sa may pinto ko.

"Not so excited," irap ko.

Halata ba masyado sa mukha ko?

"Flight is 3:00 in the afternoon. Marami pang oras upang mag-impake ka ng gamit," he smirks.

Hinarap ko siya at naupo sa sahig. Iniwan kong nakabukas ang maleta ko.

"Can you do me a favor?"

"Like?"

"Can you buy another ticket for Joey? I want her to come and relax as well. Don't worry, I'll pay for her expenses. I promise!" tinaas ko pa ang kanang kamay ko.

Nakita ko siyang huminga ng malalim at nagtype sa kanyang cellphone.

"Let's just cancel the flight."

Tumayo ako at mabilis na kinuha ang kanyang phone. Is he mad?

"No, why would you do that? Nagtatanong lang ako if pwede dahil kung ayaw mo, sasabihin ko na lang kay Joey," naupo ako at nagpakonsensya. "But she'll get sad about it."

"I'll ask them to cancel the flight so that we can ride on my private jet."

"Sabi ko nga."

Ibinalik ko sa kanya ang phone. Akala ko talaga galit siya, hindi naman pala. He went to his room and starts packing his things as well.

Kinabukasan, nagkita-kita kaming tatlo sa condo. Napagdesisyunan namin na sabay-sabay na kaming sasakay since sa iisang jet din naman kami sasakay.

I heard the doorbell rang.

"Si Joe na yata yan," lumapit ako upang pagbuksan siya ng pinto.

Nagulat ako nang makita si Joey kasama si Cole.

"What are you doing here? Sasama ka rin?" taas kilay kong tanong.

"I don't want to work with mom for straight three days," asik niya at pumasok dala-dala ang gamit nila ni Joey.

"I tried to stop him but he insists," Joey shrugged.

"Sinong pumalit sa kanya?"

Pumasok kami ni Joey sa loob. Nakaupo lang si Crescent sa sofa habang nag-i-iPad.

"Si dad," tipid niyang sagot.

Cole's mom remarried Joey's dad who is also a general surgeon like me. Mabuti naman pala kung ganun.

"Anong oras tayo aalis?" tanong ni Cole sa akin.

"3:00 PM," Crescent replied and closed his iPad. Napatitig siya kay Cole. "What are you even doing here?"

"Sasama ako. Do you think I'll leave my sister and friend with you?" naningkit ang kanyang mga mata. "I don't even trust you."

Crescent smirked.

"Do whatever you want."

Tinignan ko ang mga gamit na dala ni Cole. Napansin ko ang isang suitcase na katulad na katulad sa suitcase ni Crescent.

Ano kayang laman niyan?

Nang mag-alas tres, dumiretso kami sa isang building kung saan nakaparada ang private jet ni Crescent. Tinulungan niya ako sa mga dala kong gamit but there's also two chaperons following behind us.

Naupo kami ni Joey sa malaking couch. Samantalang magkatabi si Cole at Crescent sa harap. Cole scanned the magazine na nakalagay sa mesa at binasa iyon sa naka-de kwatrong posisyon.

Crescent took a wine and glasses from the cabin. Napansin ko rin na walang flight attendant dito. Tanging piloto lang.

"Tulungan na kita," nilapitan ko si Crescent at kinuha ang dalawang wineglass. "Wala bang flight attendant dito?"

"You're worried about that?"

"Baka wala tayong makain. Hindi kami marunong magluto ni Joey."

"I can cook for you, little kitten. I prepared everything for you," he smirks.

Napaatras ako nang titigan niya ako sa labi. Bumaba ang tingin ko sa carpet at bumalik kay Joey dala ang wineglass.

"Let's drink."

Crescent puts the wine on the table. Uminom kami ni Joey pero konti lang. Konti lang talaga promise.

After one hour...

"Hindi ako lasheng!"

"You're drunk, little kitten."

"Hindi. Shi Joey, lashing," sinampal ko si Crescent sa mukha.

I saw Joey laugh and ate the cake. Oo, pulutan namin ay cake. Vanilla cake.

"You're embarassing me, Joey," nailing si Cole sa inasta niya. "Where are our rooms, Fritz?"

"Left wing," sagot niya pero nakatitig pa rin sa akin. "There's only two rooms. You can share rooms with Joey, Aranzure."

Nakita ko kung paano nanlaki ang mga mata ni Cole.

"Idiot! Let's share the room and let Joey and Georgia sleep together," binatukan niya ito sa likod.

Crescent touched his neck and sighed. Nakatitig pa rin siya sa akin. Tumayo siya at kinarga ako sa balikat. Hayop talaga, kahit bridal carry ay hindi magawa.

"Put me dooown, Coleee!" parang bata si Joey.

"Haha, lashing ka talaga, Joe. Hina-hina mo!"

"Ikaw mahina. Malakas ako!"

"Shut up. These girls are so annoying," reklamo ni Cole at hinatid siya sa kwarto.

"Right wing tayo, assassin. Dad will kill you if you do shomething bad to me," I hiccupped.

"I hate to admit this but Aranzure is right. You should stay with Joey."

"Why? Di mo ba ako gushto makashama, assassin?"

"You're drunk, little kitten. I might do something to you," malambing niyang sabi.

"I know you won't," bulong ko at nakatulog.

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