Chapter 17: options

COOLER

I woke up to a sore shoulder and a splitting headache. Nakahiga sa tabi ko si Rustia, sleeping soundly. Her sleeping face reminds me of a little child. Napangiti ako nang maalala ko na buong gabi akong nakayakap sa kanya. It felt so good. Even with a grazed shoulder, ito na yata ang pinakamasarap na tulog ko.

I slowly shifted from the bed. Binuksan ko ang drawer sa gilid ng kama. Reaching for the small bottle, I popped two pills for my headache.

Dahan-dahan akong tumayo at tiningnan ang sarili sa salamin. Last night was weird, everything about it. Mula sa transaksiyon hanggang sa presensiya ni Rustia— it was truly odd.

Kinuha ko ang cellphone at tinawagan si Mnemosyne. She answered the call on the third ring.

"Zeus, good morning. How's the headache?" pabirong tanong ni Mnemosyne. She must have heard what happened from either Artemis or Poseidon.

"I took some medicine," sagot ko. "Listen, I need you to run a research about Brusca."

"Ares took care of his dead body—"

I shook my head. "That's not Brusca."

I heard her gasp from the other line. "What?! I mean, my previous research says so, kaya anong ibig mong sabihin?"

I glanced at the sleeping Rustia. She was still in that position, so I moved a little bit further from her, afraid of waking her up bago nagsalita. "It's... it's just my theory at wala akong kahit anong ebidensiya pero malakas ang kutob kong tama ako."

Saglit siyang natahimik mula sa kabilang linya na tila ba nag-iisip. "Even Apollo's data all points out to that big buff guy as Brusca."

"I know, pero Mnemosyne, trust me on this. I know Poseidon is strong, and Artemis is a great support but that was one lame fight. Brusca is a retired sicario of a Mexican cartel. A contract hitman. You think he will walk into a warehouse with nothing but a normal shotgun at maghahamon ng paghihiganti? I don't think that's it."

That was truly suspicious. And I don't think Brusca would die just like that? That was very sketchy.

"I get your point," sagot niya. "I will look into it."

"Thanks, Mnemosyne."

I ended the call and dialed Poseidon's number. He also picked up fast considering he was tired from last night's happenings.

"Wow, you're up early," bati niya.

"Last night's merchandise?" tanong ko.

"Retrieved."

"Good. The place?"

"Good as nothing happened."

Mahinang tumango ako. "Good. I assigned Mnemosyne to dig some more about Brusca."

Ilang segundo siyang natahimik. "You don't think that's Brusca?"

"Yes."

He sighed. "That's what I thought. The real Brusca is probably out there planning something. Be careful, Zeus."

One thing I like about Poseidon is his being insightful. He also don't trust easily so I know he was also suspicious of that almost easy win last night.

"I'll take that in mind," sagot ko at bahagyang tiningnan ang natutulog pa ring si Rustia. She stretched out a bit and pulled the pillow closer. "Poseidon, I need you to do something."

"Fire away."

"Gather anything about what happened a few years ago, nang araw na namatay si Erebus at ang pagkawala ng pera. Even the tiny details, gather everything." Even if Rustia wantedbjothing to do with it, I feel like I should now what really happened that day. Rustia was a witness but she chose to forget, and now her life's at risk. The least I can do is keep her safe and figure out what happened that day as much as I can.

"Got that, but just so you know it will take time. Limang taon na ang lumipas but no one, not even the commission's hunting dogs, were able to figure it out. Do you think your brother Gray will help—"

"No," mabilis kong tanggi. Aside from the fact that my brother will never help this business, ayaw ko rin siyang madamay rito.

"Hmm, how about Amb—"

"No." Just like my brother, Amber will surely not help.

I can hear him snort. "Seriously dude, answer faster," sarkastikong sabi niya. "Fine, fine. I'll figure out as much as I can."

"Salamat, Poseidon."

Nang pinatay ko ang tawag ay agad akong pumasok sa banyo at naligo. My mind wandered into so many things. Kung tama nga ang hinala ko na hindi si Brusca ang napatay kagabi, I have to keep my eyes peeled. Tama si Poseidon, the real Brusca might be out there planning something big. The moment I stepped out of the bathroom ay gising na si Rustia. She slowly opened her eyes and blinked.

"Good morning," bati ko sa kanya. "I think the housekeeper already prepared breakfast."

Bahagya siyang napayuko, as if we didn't cuddle up all night. "S-susunod ako."

I smiled at her. "Alright, I'll brew some coffee downstairs. Let's have breakfast first before we talk, alright?"

Agad siyang napatingin sa akin na namilog ang mga mata. What now, she expects me to forget about it because I was high last night? Nope. We have to talk about this. This thing is making me lose my mind so I have to deal with whatever this is.

Bumaba ako at gumawa ng kape. Truth be told, I was scared of where this talk will lead to. What if it's going somewhere we will both regret? Ipinilig ko ang ulo at kumuha ng dalawang tasa. What's more regretful is not trying things out.

Ilang sandali ay nakababa na si Rustia. Nakaligo na siya at suot niya ngayon ang isa sa mga damit ko.

"I borrowed some of your clothes, I hope you don't mind," sabi niya.

Ngumiti ako at humigit ng upuan, guiding her there. "You look good in my shirt."

Bahagya siyang namula at hindi sumagot. Hindi ko na siya inasar pa at kinuha na lamang ang kape at nilapag iyon sa harap niya. Inihanda ko na rin ang pagkain at umupo sa kanyang tabi.

"Let's eat?"

She nodded before picking up her utensils. "May kasambahay ka pala?"

"Not really a kasambahay dahil hindi ko naman kasama si Nanay Ester dito sa bahay, but from time to time, she cleans my house early in the morning and prepares some breakfast twice a week, even if I don't want to. She always worry about me kaya ginagawa niya iyon kahit matanda na siya. I told her not to come here noong nandito ka so you will not freak out. You should try her sinigang, it's the best in the world."

Ngumiti siya at nagsimulang sumubo. "Hindi ko alam na close ka pala sa kanya."

"She's like a mother to me," sagot ko. "Si Nanay Ester ang nag-alaga sa akin mula pagkabata. Every time I pick a fight with my cousins, she would chase me with a broom."

Natawa siya ngunit napansin ko ang pag-aalangan sa kanyang mukha, as if she wanted to ask me a question.

"If you're wondering where's my real mom, I think she's in Europe? Not sure dahil madalas siyang magtravel. Obviously, hindi sila nagkatuluyan ng tatay ko. They were just... friends with benefits."

Namilog ang kanyang mga mata at agad na napayuko. She's not thinking that's what I wanted us to be too, right?

My mom and dad are actually cool with each other. They were both mature and open-minded. Alam nila pareho that they were not each other's true love. My old man's stuck with his the one that got away, while my mom enjoyed marriage and divorce with I guess three partners already?

"So... Can we talk about us now?"

She choked on her food. I handed her some water and watched her every move.

Rustia at a glance is cute, but if you stare long enough, she's actually beautiful. Tila may kung ano sa kanya that makes me drawn to her.

"Us...?" She looked at me with wide eyes.

I nodded. "Yes, us. I'm sorry if I keep crossing the line. I kept giving you mixed signals, but believe me, I don't know why I am doing it. Palagi ka sa isip ko, Rustia. What did you do to me?"

"Sorry," mahinang usal niya. "Hindi ko rin alam anong nangyayari sa akin. I know we're not in love, malakas lang ang attraksyon natin sa isa't isa."

I nodded at her. Do I love her? Definitely not. Love is not in my vocabulary right now. That is why I have to handle it like how I usually handle business.

"Right, this feeling is both causing us trouble in one way or another, that's why I came up with solutions." I raised four fingers. "I have four options for us to choose."

She looked at me intently, intrigued. "Options?"

Nagpatuloy ako. "Option one, the classic boyfriend-girlfriend relationship. We can go on dates, we won't entertain others, we take things seriously, and oh, there's commitment. I think we're off to a good start, you already met some of my friends and family, and I met your brother too, although it was at the wrong place and wrong time."

Hindi siya nakapagsalita, she looked so confused right now kaya nagpatuloy na lamang ako.

Raising two fingers, I continued. "The second option, friends with benefits. No strings attached, no expectations, we're just purely enjoying each other's company. Pangatlo..." I leaned back, pulling the collar of my shirt as I watched her face slowly lose color. "A sugar daddy relationship."

Again, she choked on nothing. "S-sugar daddy?"

Tumango ako. "It's not as bad as it seems, considering I am not that old. It's a give and take relationship. I will provide for you financially as we maintain this relationship. Honestly, I am so drawn to you Rustia, I like kissing you. I just found out it felt so good all cuddled up with you. Let's continue that and I will provide all your financial and material needs."

Napalunok siya ng ilang beses. She looked like she cannot believe what she's hearing right now, and I cannot believe it either. Why am I propositioning? What if she chose option one and then I will fail big time?

Argh! Saka ko na lamang iisipin iyon.

"At ang panghuli?" Tanong niya.

"The last option is a platonic relationship," sagot ko. I hate this one, but I respect Rustia that's why I am willing to lay this one in case she wants nothing to do with me. "We will be friends, nothing more, nothing less. There's no crossing the line in this one."

Rustia looked at me and smiled. Matamis ang ngiting iyon at hindi pilit. "Alam mo ba kung ano ang pinakaunang magic trick na natutunan ko? It's the vanishing rose."

I looked at her intently, trying to read what was on her mind. I just gave her four options and she talks about magic tricks? Not that I'm complaining. Kumuha siya ng rosas mula sa flower vase na nasa mesa. She also got the cloth that was placed on the side.

"What you offer is like this rose," sabi niya at maingat na sinipat ang bulaklak. "It's beautiful, it's too good..." She held out the rose to me, as if offering it. Nagtatakang tinanggap ko iyon ngunit bago ko pa makuha ang rosas ay muli niya iyong binawi at binalot sa tela. "The offer is very tempting, like how you were enticed to receive this rose."

Sinundan ko ng tingin ang rosas na nakabalot ng tela nang itapat niya iyon sa kandila at inihagis pataas. The cloth burned fast and bright, the flame vanished in the air as well as the rose— no hint of its existence.

"Pero kung pipiliin ko ang una, that's what I thought I want, pero sa tingin ko itong nararamdaman natin ay mawawala rin eventually. This attraction is fleeting and sooner or later, we might end up hurting each other kung iyon ang pipiliin ko. The second one is something I am not willing to accept. The third one is also good and tempting pero hindi ko kailangan ng mga materyal na bagay, Cooler. I appreciate all your careful thought of coming up with these options. That's very considerate of you kaya salamat. I made up my mind, I choose the last one."

I wasn't ready for the sting in my chest when she chose my least liked option.

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