Chapter 23: you call the shots

COOLER

Nasa opisina ako nang makatanggap ng tawag mula kay Poseidon. Other than the business, may iba rin akong inaasikaso gaya ng Vander Trading, where I was one of the executives.  It's one of the legit businesses, na humahawak ng mga import ng iba't ibang produkto tulad ng mga durable at consumer goods.

"Zeus," wika ko nang sinagot ko ang telepono.

"Did you check the files Mnemosyne sent?" tanong ni Poseidon.

Bahagya kong sinulyapan ang patong-patong na reports na nasa tabi ng laptop ko. "Is it urgent? I'm kind of busy."

"The police are sniffing around the fire that broke out in Four Seasons," sabi niya, ignoring my reply.

Now he got my full attention. "What?"

I know he's a bit distressed. "You heard me."

Agad kong binuksan ang email at hinanap ang mga files na pinadala ni Mnemosyne. It was a detailed report of the fire in Four Seasons, the spa I commanded to be burned down after Rustia left sad instead of happy. Ayon sa report, may ilang ebidensyang naiwan na maaaring magpatunay na hindi aksidente ang nangyari.

But it's impossible. Arson is a piece of cake for Poseidon. Paanong sa pagkakataong ito lang siya nakapag-iwan ng ebidensya?

"What happened?" tanong ko. "You've been doing this forever, this is the firs time you left an evidence."

Narinig ko ang buntong-hininga niya sa kabilang linya. "Exactly. That sloppy leaving of the incendiary device is too obvious. And I checked, it's not mine. Ibig sabihin, somebody's messing with me. Sa tingin mo, sino kaya?"

Right. My reaper knows his craft very well kaya kapag sinabi niyang hindi siya nag-iwan ng kahit anong makakapagturo sa amin, I believe him. Kung ganoon, tama siya. Someone's messing with us.

"Fix this."

"On it," Poseidon replied. "And in case you don't know, ang police na naka-assign sa kasong ito is no other than Brad Rustia."

Another headache is about to come. "Do whatever it takes to keep him off this case." If anything, I don't want complications. I burned down the place because they upset Rustia; I don't want her brother sticking around.

Nang ibaba ko ang tawag, napasandal ako. I know sooner or later Rustia will find out, but hey, there's nothing pointing back to us. I don't have to worry about it.

What I have to do now is think of an alibi if she starts asking questions. Of course, I cannot tell her I burned down the place for her. I cannot even act like I knew about burning the place. I hope she won't ask too many questions about it. Should I pretend I was relieved na wala kami roon nang magsimula ang apoy?Well hey, I'm a bad actor so I'll just try to keep cool about it.

I stayed longer at the office para mamayang tapos na ang shift niya, ay susunduin ko siya sa trabaho. I was so excited to pick her up, only to find her laughing with that Vinny guy.

Nandilim ang paningin ko—but burning the place down is  so off the table right now lalo na't bago lamang nangyari sa Four Seasons. Rustia and I already talked about it, na wala akong dapat na ipag-alala sa kanila ni Vinny. I trust Rustia, but not the guy.

I picked up the nearest thing I can, almost slamming it on the counter. Nakuha niyon ang atensiyon nila so I ended up buying all the stuff. Ayaw kong nakikita siyang masaya kasama ang iba. I am not depriving her of happiness—but not with this guy.

And now I have a fuck ton of soft drinks I don't know when I'll run out.

Bago kami lumabas ay tinapunan ko ulit ng tingin si Vinny. He looked like a guy who just wanted to earn a living, but here I am making it a big deal because of jealousy.

But wait.

Me?

Jealous?

Hahahahahahahahaha.

Yes.

Damn it.

Rustia was silent hanggang sa makasakay kami sa sasakyan. I tossed the packed condoms on the back seat at nag-isip ng kung ano ang sasabihin. Sa dinami-rami ng bagay na pwede kong makuha, why the hell did I grab the condoms?!

Ano na lamang ang iisipin niya?

We were silent on the drive to her apartment. Dahil malapit lamang ang apartment niya, it wasn't that long of an awkward drive.

Nang inihinto ko ang sasakyan, ako ang unang bumasag sa katahimikan. "I'm sorry."

She looked at me silently. Hindi ko mabasa kung ano ang nasa isip niya. Damn, I really should work on my jealousy. Paano kung mapagod si Rustia sa akin dahil sa walang habas na pagseselos ko?

"Sorry saan?" she asked.

I know it's a trick question, but I know how to answer. "Well, first I am sorry for being mean to your friend Vinny. And I'm sorry for the condoms, I swear—"

Bigla na lamang siyang tumawa nang malakas. Eh?

"You're not mad about the condoms?" tanong ko. Damn, why does Rustia have the sweetest laugh I've ever heard?

Umiling siya at pinunasan ang mga munting luha na namuo dahil sa pagtawa. "Kung nakita mo lang ang mukha mo kanina."

I made a face. "So you're laughing at me?"

Muli siyang tumawa at umiling. "No, okay. Tungkol sa pagiging mean mo kay Vinny, hindi ka sa akin dapat humingi—"

I cut her off. No way I will say sorry to that guy! "No!"

"Are you really sorry?" tanong niya at hinawakan ang kamay ko.

I nodded like a kid. "I am, but please don't make me say it in front of him."

Muli niya akong tinitigan bago siya tumango. "Alright. Ako na lang ang hihingi ng paumanhin sa kanya. But you have to promise you'll work on it, okay?"

Ngumiti ako at tumango. "Okay."

"Good," sabi niya at sinubukang tanggalin ang suot na seatbelt. "Pumasok na tayo."

"Let me," I told her and leaned in to help her with the seatbelt. Naramdaman kong tila natuod siya sa kinauupuan, so I leaned even more. Sinundan niya ng tingin ang kamay kong nagtanggal sa seatbelt niya, before her eyes looked straight to my face, specifically my lips. "Don't look at me like that."

She swallowed. "Like what?"

Still leaning, I tilted my head a bit. "Like you wanted to be kissed."

She bit her lower lip and slowly nodded. "I do want to be kissed."

Tumawa ako at pinagtapat ang noo namin. Cupping her cheek with my hand, ginawaran ko siya ng halik sa labi. It was a soft kiss ngunit kahit simpleng paglapat lamang ng mga labi namin ay nagdulot na ng napakaraming boltahe sa katawan ko. I pulled away slightly and smiled.

I noticed how she slightly frowned, like she wasn't content with just that, pero hindi niya iyon sinabi. Unti-unti akong lumayo, but all sanity left my mind as I watched her slightly parted lips. Mumbling a curse under my breath, I crashed my lips into hers again.

Sa pagkakataong ito ay marahas ang halik na ginawad ko. I started sucking on her lower lip, with my tongue smoothly dipping into her mouth.

Like an instinct, she grabbed my hair, clutching at the strands as she kissed me back equally hungry. I scooted back on my seat, grabbing her towards me so she was straddled over my lap, with my hands on her lower back. We gazed into each other's eyes before I connected my lips with hers once more. Mas lumalim pa ang halik, and it felt like forever, but oddly enough, I couldn't seem to get enough.

Umakyat ang kamay ko sa mukha niya, caressing her cheeks down to her jawline. She tilted her head back, slightly panting from the kiss. She gripped my hair harder, pulling my face down to her neck. I started trailing kisses to her neck and jaw, sucking, biting, and kissing.

Tiny moans escaped her throat, and none of us seemed to think straight at the moment. Muling bumaba ang mga kamay ko, squeezing her thigh. I could feel my hardness touching her, but we were both all over each other.

"Are you okay with this?" tanong ko sa kanya.

She slowly nodded and her reply came out in a breathy moan. "Y-yes."

I kissed her neck, planting sloppy kisses all over it. My hands went inside her shirt, feeling the burning sensation brought by her bare skin while she let out small, pleasurable exhales. She started grinding her hips into me, so I followed her rhythm. Umakyat ang kamay ko sa dibdib niya, and she shivered at the contact. Her breasts were firm, and they were perfect in my grip. I squeezed them a bit, and I heard her call out my name.

"C-cooler?"

Pakiramdam ko ay binuhusan ako ng malamig na tubig sa ulo. Damn, I kept crossing the lines. Bumagsak ang kamay ko sa gilid niya, and I lost all strength left in me kaya isinubsob ko ang mukha sa dibdib niya.

Niyakap ko siya nang mahigpit. "Sorry."

Tila nahihiyang gumalaw siya upang umalis sa kandungan ko pero mas hinigpitan ko pa ang yakap.

"Let's stay like this for a while, please," pakiusap ko. I hugged her like my favorite pillow. Hanggang ngayon ay hindi ko pa rin alam kung anong meron sa kanya. She got me wrapped around her fingertips, like damn. I am cool, in fact, cooler, but when it comes to her I always lose my cool.

"Rustia?" I called her, face still buried in her chest.

She hummed a reply.

"I'm getting bored of this."

I felt her stiffen, before she pulled me out upang tingnan ako. There was a glint of sadness in her eyes, but I meant what I said.

"B-bored ka na? Sa atin?"

I nodded honestly. Damn, she didn't have to look like I just killed her favorite kitten or something.

Hinawakan ko ang pisngi niya at hinarap siya sa akin. "Listen, I'm bored of this because I feel like you have no right to demand my time. I want you to demand. Gusto ko may basehan naman ang pagseselos ko. I want to call you mine and I want to be yours. I'm bored of us making out, clouded with thoughts na kung ano ba talaga tayo." I sighed and reached for the glove compartment at inilabas ang kahon na ilang araw nang naroon.

I opened the box and revealed the matching rings. I heard her gasp a bit, at maluha-luhang napatingin siya sa akin.

"Basically, I want you to be my girlfriend. Or I can be your boyfriend," I said which made her smile. "You call the shots, babe."

#

ShinichiLaaaabs

P.S. I read the comments a lot and get excited everytime you share your thoughts. Mas nakakaexcite magsulat aaaaaahhh🩷🩷😭🥹 Thank you all. I love you!

Love, Tammii.