CHAPTER FIVE

Kit James Morales

Honestly, you're not my type. You have to seduce me first before you could check it. . .

WHAT Aislinn told me last night still lingers in my head even if I tried to buried myself with work. Naubos ko na ng kalahating araw iyong mga gawain na dapat ay buong araw ko tatrabahohin. Sinubukan ko na alisin siya sa isip ko pero bandang huli ay nanatili pa rin ang boses niya sa aking isipan.

“Kit,” anang tinig na siyang pumukaw sa akin at nagpa-angat sa aking tingin.

“Hey man, what's up?” Hindi kumibo si Zeke bagkus ay nilapag niya sa harap ko ang isang envelope. “What's this? It's not even my birthday today, man.”

“Advance happy birthday gift, I guess?” Umiling ako at binukas na ang envelope na bigay niya. Isa-isa ko nilabas ang mga papel sa loob noon saka binasa ng maigi. “Talagang naka-display pa iyang baseball na iyan na napalanunan mo dati?”

“Of course. Nanalo ako kaya dapat lang na ipagyabang.” Si Zeke naman ang umiling pagkarinig sa sinabi ko. “My sister will be leaving again. Wala ka ba gagawin para mag-stay siya rito?”

“It's her choice. Who am I to stop her from leaping?”

“Someone she loved?” Binato ni Zeke ang nakuhang throw pillow sa akin na nasalo ko naman. Nilagay ko iyon sa aking likuran saka binalikan ang binabasa na document. “Hmm, this is interesting. Magkakilala sila at mukhang naging biktima nila ako kagabi.”

“Sino ba iyang mga pinahanap mo't pinamadali mo pa sa akin? Alam mo bang halos dikdikin ko na ang private investigator namin para makuha lang iyan?”

“Thank you for this, Zeke. This helps me to dodge a marriage scheme.”

“Marriage scheme?”

“You heard it right, man.” Tumayo ako at kumuha ng maiinom naming dalawa ni Zeke. I am older than Ezekiel but we attended the same business class in Kensington. This man who happened to be my sister's love of her life is a genius guy. He managed the same business class even if he's two years younger than me. “Gusto kasi ni Mama na malalagay sa maayos ang personal ko na buhay bago ko pa manahin iyong vice chairman seat.”

“So, I am talking to Morales Steel Corporation's future vice chairman, not the CEO?” Dahan-dahan akong tumango bilang kumpirmasyon. “Who will be the CEO?”

“My cousin, Carl and my father will remain the chairman.” Inabot ko kay Zeke ang nakuha ko na inumin saka naupo sa tabi niya. On the other end of the couch rather. “How about you? What's the latest?”

“I'm still roaming around and have no plan of taking any position in our company.” Kumunot ang noo ko matapos marinig ang sinabi ni Zeke. “Do you have job vacancies here?”

“Sa department na binibigay ni Dad kay Elisha maraming hiring. But you know that girl. She's like you and is enjoying her life as an interior designer.”

“As long as she's happy, none of the position offered matters, Kit.” May punto naman si Zeke sa sinabi nito. “Mabalik sa 'yo ang usapan, mayroon na bang napiling Mrs. Kit James Morales?”

I suddenly remembered how Aislinn brought about the deal on their fourth meeting. It was an indirect proposal, and to answer Zeke's question, it's a yes.

“Someone proposed last night but I have to check first her intentions. . .” It may sounds ridiculous, but I won't be marrying someone who will endangered my family. And on cue my phone rings. It's an unknown number. Iignorahin ko dapat kaso may kung anong nagtulak sa akin na para sagutin iyon agad. “Hello? Who's this?”

“It's Aislinn. Sorry if I called now, but I have to ask a huge favor to you.” What I've read in Zeke's investigation papers are something makes me go wary of Aislinn. Especially the scheme she might be cooking along side with her parents.

“What is it?” tanong ko imbis na pakinggan ang pag-aalinlangan ng aking puso.

“Save me.” My eyebrow shot up after I heard Aislinn plead. Why would I help someone I don't even know nor the intentions? Tumingin ako kay Zeke at nakita ko na kumunot ang kanyang noo.

“You should be saying, help me please, my handsome Prince.” Pang-aasar ko kay Aislinn na siyang dahilan para batuhin ako uli ni Zeke ng unan. “I am older than you and I have some pieces of informations here about you.”

“I'll tell you everything but you have to help first.”

“Say the magic word first.”

“Help me please, ah whatever!” The line went off, making me pressed the end call button.

“Sino iyon?” tanong ni Zeke sa akin.

Imbis na sumagot ay pinili ko na tumayo at ayusin ang suot ko na damit. “Someone needs my help so I have to go now.”

“You'll trust that call? What if it's an M.O. of a dangerous people?”

“Kilala ko naman iyong tumawag kaya huwag ka na mag-alala. I'll be fine, Zeke. I will be. I promise.”

~•~•~

SA ISANG parke ko naisipan na dalhin si Aislinn matapos ko siya sunduin sa kanila. Iyong naabutan ko na eksena nila ay masasabi ko na hindi ko inasahan. Aislinn was treated badly by Meghan and Miss Esmeralda. And the traces of the mistreatment is still present on Aislinn's skin.

Kaya iniwan ko siya't tumungo ako sa isang drug store para bumili ng gamot saka ilang makakain na rin. Nang mabili ko na ang mga kailangan ay binalikan ko na si Aislinn. She's still there, sitting quietly where I left her a while ago.

“Let me seethat hand of yours,” I said as I take out of the paper bag the medicine I bought.

“O-okay lang 'to, Kit James. Mamaya ko na lang gagamutin pagdating -”

“Let me.” Ma-awtoridad ko na salita kaya inabot na niya sa akin ang kanyang kamay. “May mga pagkain ako na binili. I still don't know what you really like so I bought everything that's edible.”

“Aray. . .” aniya saka aktong ilalayo ang braso sa akin ngunit hindi ko hinayaan.

“I don't know what's your plan, Aislinn. Those staged meet-up's we had. Maybe, that bathroom incident with my sister was also staged. Nevertheless, what I've witnessed earlier was something for the police to deal with.”

“Iyong sa bookstore at sa bathroom with Elisha, coincidence iyon. I never knew that I would meet your there nor be Elisha's savior.”

Huminga ako ng malalim at pinagmasdan si Aislinn. She's still wearing the dress from last night. Iyong buhok niyang medyo gulo-gulo na at may ilang punit na rin ang damit na suot. Kaya naman pagkatapos ko gamutin ang kamay niya ay tumayo ako at hinubad ang suot ko na coat.

I placed it on Aislinn's shoulder and go back to my seat.

“Saan ka uuwi ngayon? You can use my phone to call whoever you want to call. Yours is already busted and no use.”

“N-natawagan ko na ang pinsan ko.”

“Good.”

“Angela!” sigaw ni Aislinn at sinundan ko naman ng tingin iyong babaeng tinawag niya.

“Are you all right? Bakit kasama mo siya?” Pabulong pa iyon pero wala naman na dapat pang ilihim. I knew Aislinn's background now but not her plan. “He knew? S-sige, mag-usap muna kayo. Akin na ito.”

Nakita ko na kinuha ni Angela ang gamit na bitbit kanina ni Aislinn nang sunduin ko siya sa kanila. She refused to leave those in my car. Para bang may laman iyon na mahahalagang bagay na may kinalaman sa pagkatao niya.

“She's a paparazzi, right?”

“Reporter.”

“That's the same.” Hindi na ito nakipagtalo pa sa kanya. Pareho naming sinundan ng tingin si Angela na bumalik sa sasakyan nito. “I'm giving you chance to explain, Aislinn. No more lies or staged things, okay?”

“T-thank you,”

“Go home now. I'll tell you where to meet me to talk.” Nang tumango si Aislinn ay una na akong umalis kaysa sa kanya. Dire-diretso akong lumakad papunta sa aking sasakyan na naka-park sa 'di kalayuan.

What a day indeed? It's full of surprise and there's more to come.

~•~•~

THE NEXT MORNING, I found myself walking towards my parent's garden. Ang sabi ng mga kasambahay ay naroon sila kasama si Elisha kaya nagdire-diretso na ako sa paglakad.

“Good morning!” Bati ko na nagpalingon sa aking pamilya.

“Aba, mukhang hindi ka busy today, Kuya,” tukso ni Elisha sa akin. “What's new?”

“Wala namang bago maliban sa tinalo ko ulit si Zeke sa chess kahapon.” Nakita ko kung paano umikot ang mga mata ni Elisha pagkabanggit ko sa pangalan ni Zeke.

“Maupo ko na nga't saluhan kami. Inuna mo na namang asarin ang kapatid mo,” ani Mama na sinunod ko naman. I greeted my father and planted a soft on Elisha's forehead. “How's your blind date with Meghan?”

“I have no plans of meeting her again, 'Ma.” tugon ko saka kumuha ng pagkain pagkalapag ng platong pinakuha ni Mama sa isa sa mga kasambahay nila.

“Good decision. I'm hearing news about her being primadonna and gold digger,” sabat ni Elisha na hindi ko naman na ginatungan. “It's true, Mama.”

“And where did heared that?” Papa asked.

“Through the grapevines somewhere,” Elisha answered.

“May ipapakilala ako na iba sa inyo.” That silenced my parents and Elisha for a while. Pero ako tuloy-tuloy lang sa pagkain. “She's someone I met outside the blind date session you set for me, Mama.”

“Oh my God!” Elisha exclaimed. “Is that -”

“I'll set up a date for you to meet her.” Tinapos ko na ang pagkain saka nagpaalam na sa kanila na aalis na.

But before I could bailed out my mother speak up. “Is she a decent woman, Kit James?”

I smiled and nodded. “You'll like her I promise, 'Ma. . .”