KABANATA X: Under...----

I woke up with a headache. Siguro dahilan ito ng alak. Napa- rami din ang inom ko. My senses are awake but my eyes are still shut tight.

My phone suddenly rang. Without a choice, I sighed and opened my eyes. Antok na antok pa ako. I stood up and rubbed my eyes.

I looked at Salmara, peacefully sleeping. I diverted my focus on the phone. Tama. Sa phone tayo. Nakita ko na ang phone ko sa kama ko at sinagot ito.

"Hello?"

"Jiro, where are you?" Mark? Mataas ang boses ni Mark. "I'm at my house. Bakit mo natanong?"

"Damn!"

"What's the problem?"

"The new business stock holder representative is here! He wants you to be here ASAP!" I rubbed my temples and sighed. "Where is he?"

"He hasn't arrived yet but he's nearly here. He will land from Cebu maybe 20 minutes from now."

"Fine. I'll be there." Pinatay ko ang cellphone ko at hinagis ito sa kama. Napa- aga naman yata ang pagdating ng representative ni Mr. William Punzalan. Sabi niya, he will sent his son.

Tinignan ko ulit si Salmara at natutulog pa rin siya. I should wake her up so she could get home soon and sleep at her house comfortably. Pumunta ako sakanya and gently shook her.

"Gising na."

She growled. Dahan- dahan niyang binuksan ang kanyang mata. She flutters it and looked at me. "May emergency meeting ako. We have to hurry. You can't stay here." She looked at me with a confused look.

"Alright. Mag shower ka na. Magluluto na ako." She yawned and stood. "What? No, just stay put. I'll do everything."

"Ssh! Marami na akong utang sayo." She said as she putted her index finger to my lips. All I managed to do was a slight nod. "Good. Maligo ka na." She walked towards the kitchen and started cooking.

Doesn't she have a hangover?

---

Lumabas na ako ng bathroom, basa- basa pa ang aking buhok. Naka- suot na ang pants na susuotin ko pero wala along suot pang- taas. Nakalimutan ko kasing kumuha.

"Aaah!" May kalabog akong narinig. Si Salmara! Dali- dali akong pumunta sa kusina at nakita siyang naka- salampak sa sahig. Hinawakan ko siya sa kamay.

zzt

Her eyes are shaky; mas lalo akong nag- alala. "Ano?! Anong nangyari?!"

"Wa- wala." She gulped. "Ano nga ang nangyari?!" Baka nagka- sugat siya o kung ano! Umiling lang siya. "Nasugatan ka ba? Napaso ka ba? May ipis ka bang nakita? May daga ka bang nakita?"

"Na- nakita ko- ko..." I furrowed my eyebrows, waiting her to continue her sentence. "... I- ikaw." She whispered. "What?" I asked once again it was too silent for me to hear.

"Ikaw."

She eyed me. Oh. Right. I better get clothed. Hindi ko alam pero bigla na lamang akong ngumiti. "You- you should get changed." She looked away. "Magluluto pa ako." She chattered.

"Okay." I said while still smirking.

She screamed because of me? That's suprising.

Nagbihis na ako. Maybe a black polo would do just fine. Sinuot ko ang suit coat ko at inayos ang sarili ko. I came back and saw Salmara holding a towel.

"Puwede bang mang- hiram ng damit?" Mahina niyang tanong. "Damit? Sure." Sabi ko at kumuha ng t- shirt at jogging pants.

"Puwede na ba 'toh?"

"Oo, puwede na 'yan." Ngumiti siya at kinuha ito. "Sige, maliligo na ako. Paki tignan nalang 'yung nilaga okay?" Tumungo ako at pumunta na sa kusina. What will she look like on my clothes?

I sat on the island, binabantayan 'yung nilaga. Curiousity hit me. Can she cook well? Bumaba ako ng island at kumuha ng kutsara. I scooped some of the soup at tinikman ito.

Delicious.

I was smiling like a mad man. She cooks like mom. Mom... I diverted my gave to the bathroom door.

"Jiro!" I heard Salmara's muffled voice. I rushed in front of the door. "Anong problema?" The door slowly opened, she peeked and I can see her face, red. "Puwede mo ba akong ibili ng..." She paused.

"Ng ano?" I asked.

"Ng... Ng... Ughh!" She sighed. "Underwear?" She whispered. Ha? Ano?

"I can't hear you. Say it properly."

She looked down and covered her face with her palms. "Damn..." She said. She looked at me, her eyes peeking between her fingers. "I said... Underwear."

"Underwear?" Underwear? The word kept repeating on my head. I shook off my thoughts and replied, "Sige." I said non- chalantly. "Anong size?"

"Okay lang ba sayo?

"Everyone needs an underwear."

"Me- medium. Buy me atleast one, please."

"Okay."

Nasa isang women's clothing store ako. I'm not really sure if they sell women's underwears here.

"Good Morning Sir!" A sales lady welcomed me. "Ano po ang hinahanap niyo?" I looked around. "I'm looking for an underwear."

"Men's underwear po ba? We don't have it sir. Please do try next door. We only sell female's underwear."

"Exactly."

"Come again sir?" She asked once more. "I'm looking for a female's underwear, medium size."

"Po- po? O- okay po." She blinked at me and I can see her face reddening. My face also feels hot. The things I do for a girl.

I followed her and my eyes widened seeing the variety of women's underwear. My face is so hot. Ang init naman dito! "Wala ba kayong aircon?" I blurted out, wiping my forehead. "Me- meron po."

"Anong klaseng underwear po ba?" She grabbed one of the underwears and showed me. It's lacy and kind of... transparent. "No!" I shouted immediately. Anong klaseng underwear 'yun?

"How about this one sir?" Kumuha pa siya ng isa at pinakita ito saakin. What kind of underwear is this?! Why does it even have leather strings attached to it?! "Definitely not! Just a simple one please."

Masyado ng nadumihan ang mata ko ngayong araw. "Li- like thi- this si- sir?"

"What the---!" Who design these underwears? It's so... Transparent! Crystal clear to be exact. "Give me a plain and simple one please." I said in defeat. Bakit parang pagod na pagod ako. She showed me a 'decent' one. Finally. Tumungo ako. "Anong kulay po?"

"Re- red?"

"This way sir."

Nakabalik na ako sa unit ko. Parang lahat ng energy ko naiwan doon sa store na iyon. What a disaster.

Dumiretso ako sa harapan ng bathroom at kumatok sa pinto. "Andito na 'yung underwear mo."

The door opened slightly. Mayroong lumabas na kamay, binigay ko naman 'yung plastic. "Medyo natagalan. Sorry."

"Thank you." She said and closed the door. Tinigna ko namn 'yung nilaga at buti nalang maayos pa ang kalagayan nito.

Nag- hain na ako. Pagkatapos, umupo ako at pinahinga ang aking ulo sa lamesa.

"You've went through a lot." I heard a giggle. Tinaas ko ang ulo ko at nakita si Salmara na naka- upo sa kama ko, pinapatuyo ang buhok niya. She combs her hair with her fingers. "Kain na." I said.

Umupo siya sa harapan ko at ngumiti. She prayed and ate. Kumain na rin ako. "Masarap ba?" She asked. Tumungo ako, it's really delicious. "Kailangan mo ba ng patis." Tumungo ulit ako. "So you like fish sauce too?" She giggled.

"Can you cook for me again?" I blurted out. Damn Jiro! You and your mouth. "I'll be glad to."

"Bakit ngayon ka lang?!" Bungad saakin ni Sec. Alfonso. "Good morning Mark." I chuckled. Mas lalo siyang sumimangot. "Where is he?"

"He's at your office, clearly dissapointed! Don't you realize that you're 20 minutes late?!"

Hindi na ako sumagot. "Jiro, okay lang ba talaga na ganito ang suot ko dito?" I looked at my back at nakita si Salmara na nag- tatago sa likod ko. "It's fine."

"Wait... Salmara is here?!" Sigaw ni Mark.

"Hi- hi." She waved, still hiding at my back. Umiling na lamang si Sec. Alfonso at hinimas ang kanyang noo. "Let someone escort her please." I ordered. "Fine. Just go up now you punk."

"Shall we go now?" Tanong ni Mark kay Salmara at tumungo ito. I left them and headed to my office.

As I open my office door, I can see someone viewing my books. "You're here; finally." He said as he roughly closed thw book and shoved it to the shelf. Anong problema nito?

"Thank you for waiting and sorry for the inconvenience I caused you, Mr. Punzalan." Umupo ako sa swivel chair ko at siya naman ay nasa harapan ko. He is really Mr. William Punzalan's son. Nasa kanya ang features ni Mr. Punzalan.

"Well let us set that aside shall we?" He smirked at me. He rose from his chair and lend out his hand.

"Nice meeting you Mr. Villanueva, I am Wright Punzalan, son of William Punzalana and representative of WZX Industry."

"Nice meeting you too, Mr. Wright Punzalan."

HAHAHAHAHAH YEY ANOTHER CHARACTER INSERTED 👌👌

Ang cute ni Jiro haha!

paipai

(Seems like every week na ang update AHAHA!)

KABANATA XI: Wright Punzalan