Eva

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"Um-oo ka na ba? Hindi na masama 'di ba? Excited na nga ako!"

Hindi ko alam kung matutuwa ba ako sa kanya o ano? Ibang-iba siya. Masigla, maganda at mukhang exciting siyang magsimula sa trabahong ito.

Naghihintay kaming pareho kay Madam. May tawag kasi siya at importante raw.

"Aren't you scared?"

"Me?" She chuckled. "I'm not. I'm thrilled! Aren't you?" Her brows knitted together as she stared at me.

"Hindi pa ako um-oo eh..."

"Hala. Bakit?"

"Natatakot ako..."

"Alin ba ang mas nakakatakot, friend. Iyong walang matirahan at makain, o ang pasukin ang trabahong ito? Mag-isip ka. . . Ako kasi estudyante ako, at working student din. Doctor ang kurso ko."

Nawala ang ngiti niya sa labi nang magtitigan kami.

"I'm Cristina Santiago." Lahad kamay niya.

"Eva Serino." At nagkumustahan kami ng kamay. Napabuntonghininga na lang ako sa sarili. Ang hirap pala nito.

"Alam mo, Eva, kung ako sa 'yo, um-oo ka na. Sayang din. At isipin mo ha, ikaw naman ang masusunod. Hawak mo ang batas pagdating sa kliyente mo. Hindi na masama. At saka, ang sweldo at oras ng trabaho. Saan ka kikita ng eighty thousand isang gabi lang?" Namilog ang mga mata niya sa akin.

Tumango ako. "Tama ka nga. . ."

"Oo, 'di ba! At nandito naman ako. Magkasama tayo!"

Tama nga siya. Magkasama kami. May kasama akong kilala ko.

Madam came back and showed us the place. I was right about what I had imagined. The place, and even the stage where the bidding happens, looks like a Ms. Universe stage, but a small version.

Magarbo nga naman ang lahat at mamahalin ang paligid, at kahit na ang penthouses sa itaas na kung saan kami at ng VIP client ay completos recados sa seguridad. Hindi basta-basta. May kamera sa buong paligid at hallway, pero wala na sa loob ng mga penthouses.

Mala palasyo nga naman. Imagine them paying ten million a year. 

What the heck is wrong with them? Oh well, as Madam said earlier, most clients are lonely, and this is the place of their secret happiness... the place where pleasure and hell happen.

"Baliw na talaga ako!" 

Ginulo ko ang buhok habang ginagawa ang kape ng customer ko. Rinig ko ang pagtikhim ni Emelda sa tabi. Gumagawa rin siya ng order ng iba pang customer.

"Anong nangyari sa 'yo? Sisipot naman si Mr. Grayson. Maaga pa hoy!" kantyaw niya.

Ngumiwi ako sa sarili at mabilis na inayos ang buhok ko.

I can't share my recent activities with her. I can't disclose that I'll be starting a job at Rampage as one of the Calendar girls. I've already signed an NDA, and my safety is on the line. I will begin next week.

"Wala..." Ibinigay ko na ang kape sa customer na nakapila, at saka nakatitig ang mga mata ko sa entrada ng pinto.

Ang tagal naman ni Mr. Grayson. Gusto ko na siyang makita.

At ilang minuto nga lang ang nakalipas ay dumating na ang crush ko. . . si Mr. Grayson.

My feelings for him are unusual. It's more admiration than love. He is admirable in every way and truly kind-hearted.

Alam ko agad na mabuting tao siya, dahil tumutulong siya ng sekreto sa mga taong nadadaanan niya. Minsan nga ay sinasadya ko pa ang hintayin siya sa eskinita para lang mapagmasdan siya.

Mabait siya. Binibigyan niya ng pagkain ang bawat matatandang pulubi sa gilid at binili niya ang mga gulang na paninda ng mga matatandang magsasaka sa gilid.

Sino ba naman ang hindi mahuhulog ang loob sa kanya? I mean, look at him. He is dressed in a smooth, polished way, and his slightly disheveled hair with a little curl at the tip looks magnetic.

Siya yata ang young hot version ni Antonio Banderas. Magkapareho ang hitsura ng mukha nila at mata. Matangos ang ilong, kaswal manamit at higit sa lahat, matigas ang tindig.

Ano kaya ang trabaho niya?

"Hi, Eva. . ."

Siya ang unang bumati sa akin dahil in-imagine ko pa siya sa likod ng utak ko. Ano kaya ang pakiramdam na kasama siya sa iisang kwarto?

My goodness, Eva! What am I thinking?

"G-Good morning, too, Mr. Grayson." I gave him my broadest smile. "Macchiato again?"

"Yes, please. . ."

Sabi ko na nga ba. Kahit na pangit ang lasa ng macchiato ko ay alam kong ito pa rin ang bibilhin niya. Isa lang ang ibig sabihin nito. Nahuhulog na siya sa ganda ko!

***

Sebastian

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"Bloody hell. Dammit! What the hell?" I mumbled as I looked at the design Andrew made. He is one of my architects, an aspiring one who works under my business.

"This is not right, Drew. The client will reject this." I got up and swiftly turned my head from side to side.

Sumasakit ang ulo ko sa kanya, pero dahil gusto ko siyang turuang mabuti ay kailangan ko itama ang lahat ng pagkakamali niya.

"Sorry, engineer. I will do it again," in his low voice.

"No, just leave it to me, Drew. You can head out into the field with Miranda. Spend time with her to gain more insights into construction."

"Yes, engineer." He bowed his head and exited my office.

Napahilot ako sa leeg at napaku ang mga mata ko sa tasa ng kape na gawa ng sekretarya ko. Bumukas ang pinto at ang sekretarya ko ito. . . si Melanie.

"Engineer, gusto n'yo po ba ng tubig? The meeting will start in fifteen minutes, engineer."

I nodded, and she closed the door. I clenched my teeth and let out a small sigh.

Melanie and Eva are alike in one aspect. Neither can brew a decent cup of coffee. Eva's macchiato is a concoction I can't stand, yet I still found myself returning to her café, hoping for something better.

I don't think it's the macchiato I want from her. . . It's the desire to see her. I always imagine her kneeling in front of me, sucking my dick.

I'm so fucked.

I shook my head, trying to get her out of my system. 

This is not good. Why the hell do I think of her? And every time I think of her, I get fucking hard, ending up jerking myself most possibly. I need to get her out of my system!

"Are you interested in politics, Seb?" Luciano asked.

It's Saturday today. I have no work. I just want to chill with the boys. After a light breakfast, we are playing golf now.

Luciano hit the golf ball, and it went to fifty yards.

"You need to practice, Mr. Valerio," Garet chuckled. He positioned himself, gripping the golf stick hard, getting ready to hit it.

Snap.

It went thirty yards.

Luciano laughed. "Fuck! See that? You're the one who needs to practice, Mr. Libradilla."

Garet tilted his head slightly. I smirked, and they both regarded me defiantly.

"Let's see if the most magnificent architect-engineer of all time can do better than us." Luciano laughed while placing his hands on his hips and flashing me a goofy grin.

I shook my head while adjusting my top-quality iron golf club. I've built a reputation as the best in this area. I frequently socialize with colleagues in my industry. It's here that I have met fellow professionals while discussing politics and shit, as most of them are politicians. And I'm the one who introduced this sport to the two lunatics behind me.

Wack.

I hit the ball perfectly, and it went further than I could have imagined.

"What the hell," Luciano jerked his head up. "And what else do we expect from an expert? . .Shit." Luciano chuckled quietly.

Garet sighed and shook his head. He doesn't seem happy today. It seems like something is off about him.

I want to ask him what's bothering him lately, but I'm too scared. Just in case I need to give him some advice. . . I'm not good in that field because I fucked up most of the time.

"A treat for lunch?" I smiled at the two.

"That's better! I like that it's coming from you, Seb. Alright, I'll go for the priciest meat on the menu." Luciano chuckled as he picked up the golf ball, with Garet trailing behind.

Napailing na lang ako sa sarili. Medyo mahal ang resto rito sa golf course, pero okay lang. Matalik ko namang kaibigan ang may ari nito. May discount ako.

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c.m. louden

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