Burning Attraction (BLA #1)

Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Deal

"No issue, no life?" Bungad na halakhak ni Thallia eksaktong pagkabukas ko ng pintuan ng condo.

Umirap ako at malawak na binuksan ang pintuan at hinayaan na siyang pumasok. Inayos ko sa may balikat ang suot na night robe at humihikab pang nagtungo sa kitchen counter.

I already know that there will be an issue again about me after what happened yesterday. Hindi ko nga lang inakalang nakuhanan pa ng litrato ang ginawang paghalik sa akin ni Theo kagabi judging by how fast he kissed me.

I thought that there will be no reporters inside that restaurant because of how high end it is. Pero siguro nga ay may mga tao talagang binabantayan ang bawat kilos at sinusundan kami para lang sa perang makukuha dahil na naman sa isang intriga.

"Why did you kiss in public?" Thallia asked me giddily. "Don't tell me that you both have a fettish on public display of affection?"

Sinamaan ko kaagad siya ng tingin dahil sa kaniyang sinabi. Tahimik lang akong nagtitimpla dito ng gatas tapos kung anu-ano na palang iniisip niya diyan!

"Is that why you chose to be a celebrity? Because you like public—"

"Shut up, Thallia!" I glared at her and she just laughed at me.

Kung hahayaan ko pa siyang magpatuloy sa kung anumang iniisip niya ay baka kung ano pa ang lumabas sa bibig niya! I know her of her bold and lecherous mouth. Maisip pa lang ang mga pwede niyang sabihin ay nag-iinit na ang pisngi ko!

"So, when will you tell me honestly?" Pumangalumbaba siya sa lamesa habang seryoso na ang tingin ngayon.

I frowned at her and stirred my milk. Tahimik akong sumimsim doon habang sinusubukang intindihin ang kaniyang sinabi.

"Tell you what?" I asked and crossed my arms over my chest.

"Your real relationship with that hot Architect," she said.

Awtomatikong napaangat ang kilay ko at sarkastiko na lang na tumawa. 

"I don't have a so-called relationship with him..."

"But you kissed!" She really needs to point that out, huh?

"Ano naman?" I lazily sip from my milk again when her eyes turned to slits.

Tila punong-puno ng pagdududa ang kaniyang mga mata at gagawin ang lahat para lang mapiga ako sa anumang sikretong sinusubukang itago.

"Are you saying that you are just strangers to each other?" Her eyes narrowed more at me.

Pumitik ako at tumango. "Exactly."

She laughed sarcastically and smirked without humor.

"Strangers don't kiss, Kiara..." she said breathily and warningly as she leaned against the table just to show how confusing I am.

Buti na lang at hindi naman ako gaanong naapektuhan ng kaniyang sinabi... o siguro ay na-anticipate ko ng sasabihin niya ang mga bagay na ito kaya napaghandaan ko na at hindi na nagulat.

"Don't act so primitive, Thallia! Kissing strangers are normal nowadays..." umismid ako at sumimsim na lang ulit sa gatas.

She narrowed her eyes more and harshly sat back on her chair.

"For others... but obviously not for you," she said like she knows what I'm really hiding.

Umiling na lang ako at tuluyan nang inubos ang gatas bago tumayo.

"You can't stay here. Aalis ako," ika ko nang patungo na sa kwarto para mag-ayos.

Mayroon kaming usapan ngayon ni Theo at susunduin niya ako. We're going to talk about the contract, the consequences, the rules and the confidentiality of our planned pretend marriage. In addition to it, we'll also try to see each other more in public to make sense about our fake relationship.