Chapter 31: Barber

I was enjoying my wine while watching our interview on the television. Dylan did really a great job answering questions casually and even dodging some flawlessly. I also did my part by pretending that I enjoyed his arm around me.

It was almost job well done, only if that question was not brought up. Halata sa mga mata ko na naapektuhan ako ng tanong tungkol kay Bryson.

I almost spilled my drink when my phone suddenly rang. Binaba ko muna sa table ang wine glass bago sinagot ang tawag ni Hando.

"How are you?" I rolled my eyes at his question.

He was asking not because he was worried about me. Maybe he really was. But not the kind of concerned because he was empathizing with me. He sounded worried that I might suddenly decide to drop this nasty role play after what happened.

"The reporter is now receiving backlash from your fans for bringing up that sensitive topic," he reported as if that was some good news. "You are good, Nathalia."

Lumabas ng kwarto si Kristan. Hawak niya si Lilly. They went to the kitchen. I even heard him mutter, "Are you hungry, Lilly?"

He's not talking to me again. Ibig sabihin lang no'n na may malalim na naman siyang iniisip. Malamang na konektado ito sa nangyari kanina pero sa dami no'n ay hindi ko alam kung saang parte.

"But..." Hando paused for a while. "I think you need to get used to it, Nathalia. Bryson was a huge part of your career. Hindi natin maiiwasan na laging mabanggit ang pangalan niya lalo na ngayong may lalaki ka ng nagugustuhan—"

"And that's not Dylan," I cut him off.

Pareho kaming natahimik. Saka ko lang napagtanto kung ano ang sinabi ko. "What were you saying again?" I cleared my throat.

Shit.

"As I was saying..." he paused again. "Wait. What do you mean that's not Dylan?"

"Do you think I genuinely like Mr. Carter?" I tried the art of dodging a question by answering the question with another question.

The good thing is— aside from business matters, Hando is not that intelligent man. Mabilis siyang lusutan. Maliban na lang kung pera na ang usapan dahil alam niya lahat ng pasikot-sikot sa topic na 'yon.

"No?" he sounded confused. "All right. As I said, you need to get used to that kind of question. Whether you like it or not, his name is inevitable. But that was already four years ago. You can feel sad about his death but still, look okay with it. You don't need to fake sadness. But I am not saying be a bitch, do you get me?"

I chuckled.

He knows me. But he's right, though. That was already four years ago and I even almost forgot about that if it was not only brought up. Kaya lang naman ako naapektuhan kanina ay dahil iyon ang unang pagkakataon na nabanggit ang pangalan niya sa matagal na panahon.

"Rest, for now, Nathalia. Your schedule for tomorrow will take up your time. After your sudden decision for a break, you are not complaining about that, are you?"

I shook my head. "I am ready."

I also think that I've already consumed too much of my time just to clear up the things in my head. Although I am not entirely sure yet, I know it now. All those confusions only lead to a certain reason. I am not going to deny it, but I will not confirm it either. It's just there.

"Is this a Hollywood thing?"

"Jesus. Kristan!" I moved away when I realized that he was too close to me. Right. I didn't notice that I was not alone on the sofa all this time.

He shoved popcorn from his bowl into his mouth and chewed it while staring at me. There was a smirk on his lips that confused me. For as long as I remember, he has been ignoring me. Why is he smirking now?

"This made-up relationship," he said as he cupped a mouthful of popcorn and shoved it into his mouth. "Before you ask me, Hestia already told me."

He set the bowl of popcorn in between of his closed legs as he leaned his back in the couch. Nakapahinga ang kaliwa niyang braso sa likod ng couch na abot hanggang sa likod ko.

"You mean this fake dating?" Kumuha ako ng popcorn sa bowl niya saka sumubo. Unlike him, I can eat a single piece of popcorn and still takes a second to swallow it.

"Yeah. And that kiss..."

Aktong kukuha ako ulit ng isang popcorn nung ilapit ni Kristan sa bibig ko ang kamay niya. Imbes na isubo 'yon ay tumingin lang ako sa kanya.

"Ilang piraso' yan? The maximum piece I can consume is two."

Nagtaas siya ng kilay saka binawasan ng isang piraso ang popcorn na balak niyang isubo sa akin. Nung hindi ko pa rin sinubo ay binawasan niya nang binawasan.

"Gusto mong kamay ko na lang ang isubo ko sa 'yo?" bastos na tanong niya.

Kahit wala akong kinakain ay tila nabulunan ako. Nung nakaawang ang bibig ko ay sinubo niya sa akin ang tatlong pirasong popcorn.

"The way you eat frustrates me."

"It's salty," I complained while having a hard time munching the three pieces of popcorn. "Huwag mo lang sasabihin na dahil hindi ka naghugas ng kamay."

He licked his fingers after unmannerly shoving the food in my mouth without my permission. Saka niya kinuha ang alak ko para uminom.

I had to remind myself that this man didn't know anything about the mannerly way to consume things. He doesn't know that drinking someone else's drink is utterly rude—much more shove your hand in someone's mouth.

"It's fine," I said, but I said it for myself. "Just don't do these unmannered things when we are outside. That's disrespectful, Mr. Admiral."

"And faking a relationship is a mannered thing?"

"Being a meddler is." I shrugged.

Kinuha ko sa kanya ang bowl ng popcorn saka tumayo at pumunta sa kusina. I placed the bowl on the countertop to get myself another glass bowl. Saka ako kumuha ang isang supot ng dugo at sinalin sa container. I dipped a piece of popcorn in the blood and savored it in my mouth.

"Ugh. So good..." I moaned.

Sumawsaw ako ulit ng isang popcorn bago bumaling kay Kristan na sumunod sa akin. Nanatili siya sa bungad ng kusina kaya ako na ang lumapit sa kanya.

His eyes were deadpan staring at me while I was approaching him. Humawak ako sa dibdib niya bago nilapit sa kanyang bibig ang isang piraso ng popcorn na sinawsaw ko sa sariwang dugo.

"Taste it. It's not salty. And my hand is sanitized," I smirked at him.

He slightly opened his mouth, permitting me. So, I gently pushed it into his mouth. May tumulo sa labi niya kaya pinunasan ko gamit ang aking daliri. I licked the blood the way he licked the salt.

"You can kiss me if you are jealous," I said in my flirty voice.

I ran my palm down his hard chest and even pushed it more when I kissed his jaw, but he still didn't flinch even after all those. Gosh. This man was really hard to break.

"You are fooling your supporters," madiin niyang sabi pagkatapos manahimik. "Is that what a good role model should do?"

Tinalikuran ko siya para umupo. Nilapit ko sa akin ang bowl ng popcorn at ang container ng sariwang dugo. Nanatili si Kristan sa bungad ng pinto.

"I've been fooling them ever since. What do you mean?" Sumubo ako ng popcorn saka humigop ng dugo sa mismong lalagyan. I really think that there's no mannerly way to drink blood. You just savor it the way you want it.

"Okay," he sighed. "Just saying. I didn't mean to be intrusive with your business."

"Good. It's not your business, to begin with."

I covered my mouth to release gas after I finished my drink. Naging makalat akong uminom kaya may tumagas sa bibig ko na napunta sa dibdib ko.

"Uhmm. Kristan?"

"Yeah?"

I drew a deep breath.

"Can you wipe the blood off my chest?" I asked casually. But not really.

Naramdaman kong hinawakan niya ang balikat ko. Marahan na inikot niya ako paharap sa kanya. Nakaupo ako kaya yumuko siya.

He moved his face closer to my chest until I felt his warm tongue licking the blood stain off my chest. It felt good. I put my hand on the back of his head until even his lips were touching my bare chest. He wasn't just licking it now. He was sucking.

"Lower..." I bit my bottom lip.

He wrapped his arms around me and carefully lifted me to place me on the countertop, pushing away the bowls. I enfolded my legs around his waist as I looked up to give him more parts of my neck and chest.

"How are you this good?" he asked.

"Good at what?" I bit my bottom lip as I stroked his hair.

"Playing..."

I smirked.

I was already turned on when he just decided to stop. Nakahawak pa rin siya sa bewang ko habang nakatitig sa akin. I could still see the lust in his bloody red eyes, so I was certain that he wouldn't stop here and leave me frustrated.

"What are you thinking?"

"Where else did he touch you?"

Yumuko siya para halikan ang bewang ko kung saan ako hinawakan ni Dylan. Napaliyad ako hanggang sa naramdaman ko na sa likod ko ang lababo. I rested my back and let him pleasure me.

Kristan took my bottoms off and roughly kissed my nape while stroking my bare legs with his palms. His tongue was gradually moving lower, but every time he was about to touch my most pleasurable part, he would move back up to my chest and leave me unsatisfied.

But then, I remembered his question.

"He also touched me down there!" I didn't mean to scowl at him, but I was done with his teases. I wanted him whole now. Inside me. Thrusting. Moving.

"No, he didn't," he chuckled.

"He did!" Tinukod ko ang siko ko para makita siya.

Kristan was casually sitting on the chair with me lying on the countertop. It was as if I was the food prepared just for him to consume, exactly what I wanted him to do. I wanted him to touch me. Not just touch me, but own me.

I bit my bottom lip and nodded. "Touch me anywhere you want."

"Shit. I cannot tease you any longer." He stood, pushed the chair away, and hurriedly lowered his sweatpants. In just a matter of seconds, I felt him whole and hard inside me.

He grabbed my waist as he moved slower but harder, which I found better than just faster. Every time he would thrust inside me, he would pull my waist to exert a force that reached a distance no one had ever reached yet. It was shuddering and piercing.

"Aries!" I moaned loudly.

"Huh?" He stopped.

"Nothing. Come on!"

After fucking in the kitchen, we decided to take a bath together. But when we entered the shower room, I started kissing him again. And there happened another intimate session.

He kept asking me about Aries.

It was late in the afternoon when I decided to call my hairstylist— Emelyn. Sinabi niya pa na siya na lang ang pupunta rito, pero mas ginusto kong puntahan na lang siya sa salon niya. Although, Emelyn is my long time stylist and also a vampire, I cannot risk her to know that I am living with a man. And Kristan needs a haircut, too.

I informed him about my plan while Kristan was driving us to Emelyn's Salon. He would first go to the salon to have a haircut and pretend that he was just another customer. I would go next and pretend that I don't know him. What a silly plan, but it would work.

I put my necklace on as I planned to take pictures to update my fans about my life. The last time I posted a picture of myself with new hair color, it trended worldwide. It's really flattering how a simple thing to me is a big deal to them.

Just like our plan, Kristan went out first. Pinagmasdan ko siyang pumasok sa salon nang hindi lumilingon. Naghintay ako ng limang minuto bago nagpasyang sumunod sa kanya.

I casually walked in the salon. Naabutan kong nakatayo pa rin si Kristan habang kausap si Emelyn at ang isang staff nitong lalaki.

"Lady Nathalia!" Emelyn welcomed me with a tight hug. "It's been a long time. How have you been?"

"I'm good! How's the business?"

From my peripheral vision— I saw the male employee grab Kristan's arm and try to pull him, but he stood still. "Please, go now, sir. We are closed. You can come back tomorrow."

I see. Since Kristan was a normal customer to them, and they knew that I didn't like to be sitting with random people, they were forcing him out.

"Please, I am asking your respectfully—"

"The glowing sign outside says that you are still open," Kristan insisted. "I just want a quick haircut. You are a vampire. I am a vampire. We should be on the same side."

"Leave now, or I will call a security guard," the employee threatened him.

"Please, have a sit." Lady Emelyn guided me to a special chair that she placed here just for me. Hinarap niya ako sa salamin kung saan tanging sarili ko lang ang nakikita ko. "Have you decided what color yet?"

"Chesnut brown. What do you think?" I asked.

"Are you for real asking my opinion?" she sounded stunned.

I nodded.

"You will look good in any hair color!" she laughed.

I just smiled. That's not an opinion.

"What about that woman?" Sa gilid ng mga mata ko ay nakita kong tinuro ako ni Kristan. "Why are you entertaining her and not me?"

"Please, stop now, sir." Binaba ng lalaki ang daliri ni Kristan na nakaturo sa akin. "She's a special guest—"

"It's fine." I smiled at the employee. "Give him what he wants."

"Are you sure, Lady Nathalia?" nakangiwing tanong ni Lady Emelyn. "You don't need to feel bad about him. We will give him a free haircut if he comes back tomorrow instead."

I sighed. "It's good. Well. As long as he will stay quiet."

"Okay. Give him a haircut," utos ni Lady Emelyn sa lalaki.

Kristan finally sat down on a chair far from me. Nakasimangot siya kaya hindi ko napigilang mapangiti. Alam ko kasing totoong nakasimangot siya.

While Lady Emelyn was preparing the color for my hair, I kept myself busy scrolling through my cell phone while silently eavesdropping around.

Kristan and the barber were now having a conversation.

"May I know what haircut style, sir?"

"Huh?"

"What style do you want?"

"A haircut."

Yumuko ako para itago ang ngiti.

"Here..." Inabutan siya ng isang magazine ng barbero. "I will give you time to decide. Please, take your time. Just be quiet. Thank you."

Sandaling umalis ang lalaki. Pasimple kong sinulyapan si Kristan. Nakakunot ang kanyang noo habang nagtitingin sa magazine.

"Who are these people?" I heard him ask while looking at the magazine. His forehead wrinkled. "I'm confused. I want a haircut, not a new face."

I cleared my throat and looked away because I almost burst into laughter. Bakit naman kasi iniwan siya ng lalaki? He could have stayed and guided him.

"Psst..."

Natigilan ako nung marinig na sumitsit ang katabi kong lalaki. Hindi ako lumingon dahil baka nagkamali lang ako ng pagkadinig.

"Psst. Woman!"

Bumaling ako sa kanya. Tama nga ako. Ako ang sinitsitan niya.

And... woman?

He showed me the magazine. "I don't know how to use this. What hairstyle should I tell him?"

"Excuse me, sir..." Pumagitna sa amin si Emelyn. "Is there something wrong?"

I cleared my throat. "I think comb-over style would look good on you."

"Okay. Thanks!"

I calmed myself. Mukhang dinibdib niya ang pagpapanggap na hindi ako kilala. It's fine. I guess? He's doing his part of this pretending show.

Sinimulan na ring kulayan ni Emelyn ang buhok ko. Gano'n din ang paggupit sa buhok ni Kristan. Nag-picture ako habang kinukulayan ako.

"Why are you letting a human in here?" I heard Kristan whisper to the barber. "Look. She's the only one who has a reflection in the mirror. She's a human, right?"

"S-she's a vampire, too," nauutal na sagot ng staff. "Wait. Don't tell me you don't know her?"

"I'm not sure," Kristan responded. "Who is she?"

I took a deep breath. He's doing good, but it's making me irritated. Puwede namang magpanggap siya na kilala niya ako pero hindi alam na makakasabay niya. Bakit kailangan pang hindi niya talaga ako kilala?

"She's Lady Nathalia Cardinal. A supermodel. Do you really live around here?" namamanghang tanong ng lalaki. "I cannot believe you don't know her. I see. That's why you didn't get excited when you saw her. Strange. I thought everyone knows who Lady Nathalia is."

"Is she really?"

"Yes."

"Hmm. Must be one of the aspiring models. I just heard of her now."

My jaw dropped. What the fuck did he just call me?

"Sir. If you don't shut up your mouth—"

"It's fine, Lady Emelyn," I cut her off with a gentle smile. "It's good that he doesn't know about me. I really feel uncomfortable when I am relaxing and knowing a fan is sitting with me."

I sighed and took another selfie.

"And Dylan gets jealous easily..." I murmured.

Naramdaman kong napatingin sa akin si Kristan.

Lady Emelyn giggled. "You have no idea how loud I screamed after watching your interview. That first kiss on cam did kill me!"

I looked at Kristan and caught him staring back at me. Hindi naman kami pansin ng dalawa kaya nagawa ko siyang ngitian at kindatan. Napasimangot pa siya.

"I can already imagine you marrying him!" Lady Emelyn exclaimed. "I will be the happiest when that happens. I know it's too early for that, but I can see it happening."

"You are talking too much, Lady Emelyn."

Napatikhim siya. "I'm sorry..."

Kristan didn't talk anymore. I thought that was it.

"Oh. You are that woman!" Kristan said out of nowhere. He looked so delighted while looking at me. "I've watched your interview with Mr. Carter!"

"I knew you know her!" Tila nakahinga naman ng maluwag ang barbero. "I really see no reason for you to not recognize Lady Nathalia Cardinal."

"Yeah. Congratulations, Lady Nathalia!" he smiled.

I just smiled back.

What is this now?

"I've heard that you and Mr. Carter are dating..."

"They are!" Humagikgik si Lady Emelyn.

"Done, sir," sabi ng barbero. "Cash or card?"

Kristan just stood and prepared to leave.

"We accept card," sabi pa ng barbero.

Kristan ignored him.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Lady Nathalia. I hope fake relationships can fake feelings, too." He winked at me. "See you around. I will just wait for my girlfriend outside."

And... he left.