Chapter 4

Mavis Estrella

Two weeks passed while I purged the company for traitors. Marami akong nahuling kinukupit ang pera ng kompanya at iba pang ginagamit ang pangalan ko para mangutang.

My head throbbed just by thinking about it. I think it's still not enough for them to go to jail. I have to make sure they can't work in a large company again.

Damn cockroaches.

Half of the Board of Directors weren't happy after that. Half were very pleased to know that our company could start afresh. Pero nanatili silang lahat sa kompanya dahil kay Pacé Lambarde. The weird man decided to invest millions of dollars to the company.

Hinayaan ko na lang dahil sabi niya wedding gift niya na raw iyon sa mapapangasawa.

Speaking of wedding. It's in about few weeks but I haven't bought a dress yet. My wardrobe was filled of dark-colored corporate outfits. I don't want to ruin Liz's wedding by showing up like a mourner.

I chatted Liz to ask about a good store where I can buy an appropriate dress to wear and she replied with a 'Wait a minute.'

Maghihintay na lang ako. Paniguradong marami siyang inaasikaso dahil siya ang sekretarya ko.

Hinubad ko ang suot na heels at huminga nang maluwag at tiningnan ang orasan. It's 11 AM.

It's been a tiring morning.

Nahiga na rin ako sa couch. Pinwesto ko ang ulo ko sa arm rest at pinatong ang naka-stocking kong paa sa kabilang arm rest. Bago ko pa isipin ang posisyon ko sa pagtulog, unti-unti nang bumigat ang aking mga mata.

"Mavis."

Kumunot ang noo ko nang marinig ang pamilyar na boses.

"Kaiden?"

Nalilito kong ginala ang mga mata ko sa paligid pero wala akong kahit na anong maaninag.

"You did this to me, Mavis." I froze and listened to his pained voice. "It's all your fault."

Tinutukoy ba nito ang pagtataksil niya sa akin?! The nerve!

"No," mariin kong sabi. "Bakit ako ang sinisisi mo? Ikaw ang nagloko sa ating dalawa!"

"Stop it, Mavis. Don't pretend that you love me."

Nanlaki ng mga mata ko sa pinagsasabi nito.

"W-What?! What are you talking about?"

"Ni hindi mo nga alam kung anong tunay kong nararamdaman." Kaiden's voice went on while I was looking around to see where he was. "Nakakasakal ka na, Mave. Hirap na hirap na akong pantayan ang standards mo. You get rid of people so quickly that I was afraid of you everyday."

"What?"

"I was hurting inside and you didn't even notice. You didn't care."

"H-Hindi iyan totoo."

"Stop lying. You're a liar. I guess that's why your parents left you early."

"K-Kaiden..." My voice broke as tears began blurring my vision. "W-Why-"

"Maybe that's why your father cheated on your mother. Your mother wasn't enough, just like you."

"Don't say that!" malakas kong sabi pero hindi ko na mapigilang mapaluha sa masasakit nitong salita. "Huwag mong idamay sina Mom!"

"Hindi mo ba naisip na baka ang totoong mahal ng ama mo ay ang nanay ni Amon? Don't you think he left them because he got your mother pregnant?"

I bit my lips in anger and sadness.

"That's why I found her, Mave. I chose your friend over you. She gives me something you can't give. She was pretty and cute. She laughs at my jokes and her kisses were wonderful." Sumasakit ang dibdib ko sa narinig. "Unlike you. You're a block of ice. Wala kang pakiramdam."

"H-How could you say that?"

"You're not human. You can't even forgive people."

"N-No, I-I can do it. I can forgive people."

"But you can't give them a second chance, can you?" Napahagulgol ako nang natawa ito nang malakas na may halong pang-uuyam. "I know you. You're so selfish. You're heartless."

Nagsimula akong maglakad papunta sa direksyon ng kanyang boses kahit na hindi na ako makakita nang maayos dahil sa pag-iyak.

"K-Kaiden, where are you?"

Pero wala na akong ibang narinig mula sa kanya. Ilang segundo lang ay may narinig akong pag-ungol.

Kumunot ang noo ko at sinundan ang boses na iyon.

And I found myself staring at Kaiden while he's kissing a girl. His eyes glinted with desire as he lapped her mouth intensely.

The feeling of betrayal washed over me and I stood there like a fool while sobbing in my hands. For quite a long time, I cried silently until I couldn't shed tears anymore.

-

This is on 3rd Person's POV.

Gin Yoko Salvador or popularly known as Giyo, was having a bad day already when he received a command from Pacé, his friend slash boss, to take Mavis Estrella to a bridal shop and assist her in picking out a nice dress.

He knew why his friend did that. Iniisip na naman nitong dapat akitin ni Giyo si Mavis para hindi maagaw ng babae si Liz.

He could only scowl at the crazy guy and proceeded to go to Estell, Mavis' company. Pinagbantaan kasi siyang hindi s-swelduhan nang isang taon kapag hindi niya gagawin ang sinasabi ni Pacé.

Pagdating sa kompanya, napansin nitong parang pinagsakluban ng langit at lupa ang paligid. May mga kumakaripas ng takbo at mayroon namang nag-t-trabaho habang pinagpapawisan nang masyado kahit malamig ang paligid.

Nang madatnan ni Giyo si Liz, napahinga siya nang maluwag at lumiwanag ang mukha niya pero agad ding nadismaya dahil mag-i-interview pa raw ito ng mga aplikante. Binigyan lang siya ng direksyon patungo sa opisina ni Mavis.

Giyo had a rough idea on what's going on based on some rumors. Maraming pinatalsik galing sa Estell kaya natambak ang mga trabaho sa iilang mga natitira.

He didn't even like how Pacé decided to help this dying company. Even if it's for Liz. It was for love.

He clicked his tongue and proceeded to Mavis' office. The sooner he gets this done, the faster he'll get to his house and sleep. He didn't even know why it's part of his job to handle the wedding matters. Naalala pa ni Giyo na siya pa mismo ang gumawa ng wedding invitations.

'Come to think of it, Pacé haven't given him the promised car yet,' he thought.

Napailing-iling na lang siya.

Kayang-kaya nitong magwaldas ng milyon-milyong dolyar para kay Liz.

If only he could also do that...

Giyo shook his head then blinked as soon as he realized he was already staring at a grey door. There was a large scribbled 'Mavis Estrella' on it with the letters 'CEO' embossed under the name.

Kumatok si Giyo at naghintay na pagbuksan siya ng babae pero isang minuto na ang lumipas ay wala pa rin siyang naririnig na kahit ano. Kumatok siya ulit, paulit-ulit, magkakasunod hanggang sa naubos ang kanyang pasensya at padabog na pinihit ang doorknob pabukas.

Pagsasabihan na sana niya ang babae na huwag maging bastos pero natigilan nang makita itong halos mahulog na mula sa couch. Her skirt was already riding up her round thighs, exposing the black stocking beneath. Pero dahil bahagyang nabanat ito sa hubog ng hita ng babae, klarong-klaro ang kulay krema nitong mga binti. Gusot din ang suot nitong white shirt habang nasa sahig naman ang hinubad nitong blazer. Sa nipis ng suot nitong long sleeves, naaninag na ni Giyo ang pink nitong bra na halos hindi na kayang takpan ang malalaki nitong dibdib.

"Tangina," mahinang mura ni Giyo habang unti-unting kumunot ang noo. Lumapit siya rito at dinampot ang blazer na nasa sahig bago padabog na initsa para takpan ang katawan ng babae. "Kung malikot ka pala matulog, sana sa sahig ka na nahiga," bulong ng lalaki habang ginagamit ang sariling tuhod para pausugin si Mavis nang di ito mahulog.

"K-Kai..." Mavis mumbled suddenly so Giyo looked at her now crying face.

Gulat na gulat ito sa nakikita at nanlaki ang mga mata.

'Binabangungot ba ito?'

He sat on the floor and went nearer. Pinakatitigan niya ang pagluha nito at unti-unting naintindihan ni Giyo kung balit kinababaliwam si Mavis ng maraming tao.

Her elegant brows, straight pointed nose, flushed cheeks, and pinkish heart-shaped lips made his mind go haywire. Nahihipnotismo siyang lumapit dito at akmang hahalikan ang babae nang matigilan siya dahil sa isang katok.

Napatalon si Giyo sa gulat at nauntog pa ang tuhod sa glass na coffee table bago tuwid na tumayo. Tumingin siya sa pinto pero wala namang pumasok.

He waited for a while and when he was certain that no one would go in, he looked at Mavis again. Her wavy black hair was in a tangled mess but she still looked fucking gorgeous lying there while crying.

"Why are you crying?" he asked quietly and got a large purple handkerchief from his pocket. Marahan niyang pinunasan ang mga luha ni Mavis at saka ay nirolyo ang maliit na bahagi ng panyo bago itinali palibot sa ulo ni Mavis, nang sa gayon ay masalo ng panyo ang mga luha niya. Sinadya na rin ito ni Giyo para matakpan ng panyo ang nakakatakam na mga labi ng babae.

He was sure he would've already assaulted those delectable lips if it weren't for the sudden knock. He slapped his own face to forget about Mavis and just sat on the couch in front of her.

Dumampot siya ng magazine na nakalagay sa coffee table at halos lumuwa ang mga mata nang makita ang mukha ni Mavis sa cover nito. She was wearing a black buttoned dress that hugged her curves intimately. It was supposed to be a formal attire but because of her huge breasts and extremely attractive face, Giyo thought she was trying to turn him on.

Nasapok niya ang sarili gamit ang magazine at napatayo. Type niya ang mahihihinhin at cute na babae, hindi katulad ni Mavis na kahit anong suutin ay para pa rin itong nang-aakit. Wala rin naman sa personality nito ng mang-akit, lalo na at sinasabing wala raw itong puso.

He groaned in frustration.

"I need to fucking get out of here." But before he could move his feet, Mavis' disgruntled moan made him immobile. "Damn." Nasabunutan ni Giyo ang pink na buhok at huminga nang malalim bago dinampot muli ang magazine para pantakip sa lumalaking umbok sa kanyang pantalon.

Kung sana ay hindi siya pumunta rito... Kung sana hindi niya nakita ang umiiyak nitong mukha... Kung sana hindi niya tinitigan ang nakakatakam nitong mga labi...

It was such a bad move.

He cursed for the nth time before looking at Mavis who's slowly sitting up while fixing her hair. She noticed the purple handkerchief and was slightly startled. Inalis niya ito sa kanyang mukha at napansing basa ito.

A mixture of emotions swirled in her grey eyes before she found Giyo awkwardly holding the magazine.

"Giyo?"

The way her mouth deliciously called out his name with her sultry bedroom voice made Giyo's cock twitch.

The man knew he was doomed.

-

Habang inaayos ni Mavis ang sarili, hindi niya mapigilang mapatingin sa nakatuping panyo sa harapan niya.

Purple...

She thought the man's favorite color was pink because of his hair but maybe Giyo just loved pastel colors. She looked at the door to her private bathroom and wondered what took him so long.

'Baka tumatae ito,' nasa isip niya.

Pagkagising na pagkagising ni Mavis ay nagtanong kasi agad si Giyo kung nasaan ang CR. Baka nga ay hinintay pa siya nitong magising para magpaalam na makikigamit ito ng banyo.

She looked at the purple handkerchief again and smiled.

Sweet din pala ang lalaki at mabait. Lagi itong tinatago ni Giyo sa likod ng matalim nitong tingin at sarkastiko nitong tono kapag nagsasalita.

Gin Yoko Salvador.

Wala siyang ibang alam tungkol sa lalaki maliban na lang na konektado ito kay Pacé Lambarde.

"It's better to cry in front of strangers," mahinang usal ni Mavis bago kinuha ang panyo at nilagay sa loob ng kanyang handbag.

Naalala niyang pupunta pa pala siya sa isang shop para mamili ng damit sa kasal. Ala una na ng hapon kaya malamang ay dalawang oras siyang tulog.

'Come to think of it, why is Giyo here?,' she asked herself. 'May problema kaya?'

Nagkasalubong ang kilay ni Mavis habang iniisip kung bakit nandito ang lalaki. Kahit pinampahid nito ang sariling panyo sa luha niya ay hindi siya pwedeng magtiwala agad dito.

Her icy cold eyes darted to different directions but she couldn't find anything amiss, other than Giyo's sudden presence. Isa pa, nararamdaman na ni Mavis dati pa na parang inis lagi ang lalaki sa kanya. Hindi naman siya nagrereklamo dahil hindi naman sila malapit sa isa't isa.

Biglaang bumukas ang pinto ng bathroom kaya napatingin agad si Mavis doon. Giyo went out of it with flushed cheeks and beads of sweat on his forehead. May iritasyon sa mukha nito habang mahigpit na nakahawak sa nirolyong magazine.

Mavis concluded that the man was the type of guy who liked to read some newspapers while pooping. Pinigilan ng babaeng huwag matawa sa nalaman.

"C-Can I keep the magazine?" nauutal na tanong ng lalaki at hindi pa makatingin sa kanya. Ibang-iba ang aura nito dahil sa pamumula ng mga pisngi.

Mavis found him cute so she said, "Sure."

Huminga nang malalim ang lalaki at tumingin sa kanya nang ilang segundo bago bumaling sa pader.

"Pacé told me to take you to the bridal shop." It was funny how he didn't meet her eyes. She didn't find it rude at all because Mavis thought that he was just embarrassed after using her bathroom to take a dump.

Marami yata itong nakain kanina. Iyan ang inisip ng babae.

Pagkain...

Kaagad na kumulo ang kanyang tiyan dahil sa naiisip. Nakatulog pala siya nang walang pananghalian.

Giyo heard her stomach rumbling so he looked at her. A slight blush creeped on her cheeks as she bit her lips and looked at him.

Halos mayupi na ang magazine sa pagkakahawak ni Giyo roon dahil sa pagpipigil pero nagawa niya pa ring magtanong.

"Would you like some lunch?"

Kahit nahihiya sa biglaang pagkulo ng kanyang tiyan, pinilit ni Mavis na gawing pormal ang mukha at seryosong tumango. Ang lalaki naman ay napakagatlabi habang nagpipigil mapangiti.

Nabaliktad na ang sitwasyon ang ngayon naman ay si Mavis na ang nahihiya.

"Let's go," Mavis calmly said and got her bag before sauntering out of the room. Wala itong kamalay-malay na halos kapusin na ng hininga ang lalaking nakasunod sa kanya.

"M-Mauna na ako. Hihintayin kita sa parking lot." Iyon lang at kumaripas na ng takbo ang lalaki na para bang hinahabol ng halimaw.

Kahit nagulat sa biglaang pagtakbo ni Giyo, inisip na lang ni Mavis na marahil ay nahihiya pa rin ang lalaki sa paghiram sa banyo niya.

'It's really not a big deal though,' she thought and just went in her elevator. 'O baka dahil sa purple na panyo.'

Ngumiti ulit si Mavis. Si Liz naman na nasa labas at akma na sanang tatawagin ang babae ay natanga sa mailap na ngiting sumibol sa mga labi ng kanyang boss.

Natameme ang sekretarya at gulat lamang na nakatulala sa elevator hanggang sa magsara ito.

Mavis didn't know that she kept another person thinking about her that day. And a probably jealous groom-to-be the next day.

Nang maabutan ng babae si Giyo sa labas ng kotse nito sa parking lot ay nanatili siyang kalmante. Pinagbuksan siya ng pinto ng lalaki at pumasok naman siya agad para maupo.

Mabilis rin na sumakay si Giyo at pinaandar ang makina.

"Pasensya na. Ito lang ang afford ko," he said with a small voice so she curiously looked at him.

"What do you mean?"

"The car..." Giyo said and gripped on the wheel. Noon lang napansin ni Mavis na may mga tuklap na sa manibela at mukhang luma na ang mga upuan pero hindi naman madumi. Klarong inaalagaan iyon ng lalaki.

"I don't even have a car," Mavis told him with a small smile but she immediately hid it.

"What?" naguguluhang tanong ng lalaki. "Why?"

"Malapit lang ang condo ko, nasa kabilang kanto lang." Hindi niya alam kung bakit niya nasabi ang personal na bagay na iyon pero umiling na lang siya. "Hindi rin naman ako mahilig lumabas."

"What do you use when you go to business trips then?" he asked with a curious voice.

Klaro na naman ang sagot sa tanong na iyon pero sumagot pa rin siya.

'Baka nag-iisip lang siya nang mapag-uusapan para hindi awkward sa loob ng kotse.'

"The company car."

Giyo blinked a few times as if he finally realized the obvious.

"Right," he murmured. Then his piercingly black eyes darted on the road and he drove.

Ting!

Bumaling si Mavis sa kanyang bag at kinuha ang phone.

His ears perked at the sound of the notification bell. After a few seconds, Mavis' phone began singing.

"Magdalena anong problema
bakit 'di ka makawala sa kadena
Sa gabi-gabi'y ikaw ay nasa selda
Na hanapbuhay mo ngayonn~"

Napahalakhak si Giyo nang marinig ito. Hindi niya alam na mahilig pala sa ganitong klase ng kanta si Mavis. Hindi halata sa babae. Pinoy rap pa talaga.

Dahil sa biglaang pagtawa ni Giyo ay nabitawan ni Mavis ang kanyang phone bago ito masagot. Tumalbog ang phone sa kanyang hita papunta sa ilalim ng mga paa ng lalaki.

Without thinking about it, she dove down and held on his thigh before her right hand tried reaching the phone. Giyo's muscles tightened because of her touch and he grunted.

"Nananadya ka ba talaga?" he frustratedly hissed. Gulat na napatingala si Mavis sa kanya at nakita si Giyo na namumula habang matiim na nakatitig sa kanyang nanlalaking mga mata. "You're gripping my thigh, woman." Doon lang napansin ng babae ang ginagawa. Her eyes strayed towards the bulge on his pants and she flushed.

Napasinghap din si Mavis dahil sa kahihiyan at agad na napaatras. Dumikit siya sa pinto habang hindi na mapigilang pamulahan ng pisngi. Nagpatuloy sa pagtunog ang phone niya pero ayaw niya na itong pulutin ulit.

"I'll get it," Giyo said in a weary voice while she could only glance at him while nervously biting her lips.

Hindi na lang tumingin ang lalaki sa kanya.