Her Worst Contract (LOA 2 #2)

CHAPTER 21

Isang malalim na paghinga ang aking pinakawalan bago iminulat muli ang aking mga mata at eksaktong pagka ayos ko ng upo, biglang tumunog ang cellphone ko.

My mood lightened when I saw Olivia's name on the screen, I instantly answered her video call and saw her smile from the screen. "Hellooo philippines!!!" malakas ang boses nitong sambit at inikot pa ang camera sa kanyang mukha.

Hindi ko napigilan tumawa dahil sa ginawa niya, "Oli, how are you there?" I said as I continued chuckling.

Hinarap niya ang camera sa mukha niya at ngumiti na tila walang tinatagong problema. I smile at her and she said, "I'm good, I'm good, tumawag lang ako para i-congrats ka, napanood ko kagabi yung Nadya pati na 'rin yung short movie para sa Delavines' Scents. Kabog ka gurl, mas lalo kang humuhusay!!!" sobrang lakas ng boses ni Olivia habang sinasabi iyon kaya mas lalo lang akong natatawa sa kanya.

Si Olivia talaga ang taong kaya akong patawanin kahit wala siyang sinasabing joke. Her presence is enough to make me smile and feel light.

"Thank you so much, do you want an autograph, ba?" tanong ko na may kasamang pag hagikgik. Tumawa si Oli mula sa kabilang linya at pinakita ang suot na shirt.

"Here, pakipirmahan lods," she playfully said and we both laughed together. "By the way, maglalabas pala ako ng panibagong design ng shirt ko, papadalhan kita ah." sabi ni Oli, tumango ako at ipinakita ang aking pagngiti sa kanya pero sa loob-loob ko ay nakakaramdam ako ng lungkot para sa kanya.

I know that she doesn't have her own clothing up until now, nakita namin siya ni Sienna last time in New York, she's working as a maid, and that just breaks our hearts. I don't understand why she has to lie to us, pero we understand her and we will support her.

"Sure, you know naman na your shirts are my comfort clothing," I genuinely said, "Isa pa, nakita mo ba yung ig post ko, pumunta kami ng friends ko sa gym kanina, yung suot kong shirt 'don, kung gusto mo ng ganung design papadalhan kita,"

"Sure, I would love that," sambit ko kahit na ang totoo ay hindi ko pa nakikita ang post niyang iyon. "Ahm, Oli, where are you right now?" tanong ko.

"Ahh, ako? Nandito ako sa shop, tingnan mo oh, bagong interior kami ngayon hehe," she showed me the shop she said was hers, but when I searched it on the internet, it's not owned by her. It is owned by a sibling named Jalsey Jacob.

"Ang ganda diba, itour kita, tingnan mo ang buong shop." nakangiti niyang sambit at nagsimulang maglakad.

I nodded, ipinakita ko sa kanyang naniniwala ako sa lahat ng sinasabi niya, I feel bad doing this to her, pero alam kong mas masasaktan siya pag nalaman niyang alam namin ang tinatago niya.

My chest felt heavy while watching her tour me around her fake shop, pero nanatili akong nakangiti at nakafocus sa mga ipinapakita niya sa akin.

"Ahmm... Oli, c-can we v-visit you there?" mahina kong sambit, bakit ako kinakabahan.

"Huh? Ano iyon? Hindi ko narinig gurl," she said and now she stopped walking and put her phone near her face.

"I said, me and Sienna were planning to visit you there in New York next month, if you're fre—--" hindi niya na ako pinatapos magsalita.

"Ay naku, sobrang busy ko next month dahil maglalabas ako ng winter season design ng shirts, eh sobrang daming stocks ang kailangan ihandle kaya hindi ko 'rin kayo mahaharap 'non. At isa pa wala ka bang project d'yan? Saka na kayo pumunta dito ah, sige na aalis na kami ng mga friends ko, alam mo na party-party, bye I love you!!!" hindi niya na ako hinintay sumagot at agad ibinaba ang tawag.

She's completely avoiding us when it comes to New York, "It's summer in New York next month Oli, hindi ka talaga marunong magsinungaling." I whisper.

Binuksan ko ang instagram ko para tingnan ang sinabi ni Olivia na post, at iyon agad ang una kong nakita pag-scroll ko sa account ko. She was at the gym with some girls, but hatala namang hindi siya kilala ng mga ito, she just takes a picture na mukha silang magkakasama.

I know you so well Olivia, you can't hide something from us.

I sigh and like the picture and scroll down, I stop when I see Prime's new post. It was a picture of the red-carpet premiere last night and I can see myself on the side, it was my back.

I read the caption, and it says, 'It's so nice to work with you, again.' Then after that a rabbit and heart emoji. I know it was something but I choose to ignore it and put my phone down.

Tumayo ako at tumuloy sa aking banyo upang maghilamos ng mukha at magpalit ng damit. Dumiretso ako sa aking kama pagkatapos gawin lahat ng dapat 'kong ayusin sa aking sarili at tuluyang humiga.

Maya-maya lang ay hindi ko na namalayan na nakatulog na ako, naalimpungatan na lang ako ng makaramdam ako ng pagbukas ng pinto. Nakapatay na ang ilaw sa kwarto ko kaya ng bumukas ang pinto nito agad akong nasilayan ng liwanag mula sa labas.

I open my eyes and saw a blurry shadow of a guy entering my room, dahan-dahan akong umupo at pumungas na pinunasan ang aking mga mata upang makita kung sino ito.

Binuksan nito ang ilaw dito sa loob ng aking silid at dahil doon, nakita ko na siya ng mas malinaw. It's Vlad. pasimple akong tumanaw sa wall clock ng kwarto ko at nakitang alasdos na ng madaling araw.

What is he doing here?

"Why didn't you text me? Why did you leave the house? I was expecting you there when I went home. I also bought you a soup, but you weren't there." malumanay at mahina nitong sambit, nakasuot siya ng black muscle tee at black pants paired with black leather Dr. Martin's boots.

Mas pinili kong hindi magsalita at bumalik sa paghiga ng maayos, I turn my back at him and cover myself with my comforter. "Ellouise, I'm talking to you, don't turn your back at me right now," hindi kagaya ng nakasanayan, malumanay ang pananalita niya ngayon at wala itong bahid ng galit na tono.

"If you're leaving, turn of the lights and don't forget to lock the doors." mahina kong sambit at ipinikit ang aking mga mata.

Pero iminulat ko 'rin ito kaagad ng maramdaman siyang umupo sa gilid ng aking kama, tiningnan ko siya ta agad napaupo ng makitang naghuhubad siya ng kanyang sapatos.

"What are you doing Vlad?" I ask with frowned brows. He glances at me and say, "I'm sleeping, the shoot was fucking tiring," kalmado niyang sambit at itinabi ang sapatos sa gilid ng kama.

Hindi makapaniwala akong napailing at tiningnan siya, "You should go home, the doctor said I need to rest, and you should too," ani ko, kaya hinarap niya ako at sinabi, "Yeah, I understand that, that's why we're going to rest together," nanlaki ang aking mata dahil sa kanyang sinabi pero mas lalo akong nagulat ng hubarin niya ang suot na muscle tee sa aking harapan.

"Vlad, you can't sleep here, I need to rest and I want to be alone tonight," I said in a pleasing tone of my voice. But, he didn't listen, he lay down on the bed, went inside my comforter.

Tiningnan niya ako gamit ang kanyang mapungay na mga mata at kitang-kita dito ang pagod mula sa kanyang trabaho, "I can't sleep without you tonight, come here." he said and in just a glimpse he pulls me back to bed.

He wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me close to his chest. Tinulak ko siya palayo sa akin at iritable siyang tinalikuran, "Fine, you can sleep here but don't hug me, I just feel irritated," ani ko at tinalikuran siya.

Akala ko naintindihan niya ang aking sinabi pero hindi pala, naghintay lang siya ng ilang sigundo at maya-maya ay niyakap niya ako mula sa aking likuran. Nang subukan kong tanggalin ang kanyang kamay sa aking bewang, mahigpit ito ay halatang wala siyang balak magpatalo sa akin.

"Vlad, let go," I uttered but this guy just didn't listen, and he started snoring.

Hindi ako nanalo sa kanya, kaya wala akong choice kung hindi matulog ng kasama siya.

Ano bang bago Ellouise, you never win when it's him.

You'll never win against Teivel Vlademire Hidalgo.