The Great Pretender

Chapter 2: The Fortress

Vaughn Miguel

"So, what should I call you, then?" Tanong ko sa kanya habang nagmamaneho ako patungo sa isa sa mga bahay ni Kuya Simon dito sa Metro. There is no way na iuuwi ko siya sa actual apartment ko. I also can't believe that I made a deal with a criminal and that she is sitting on my passenger's seat right now. Well, she's a criminal with morals—but she is still a criminal.

"Robina Hued, Jayzen Santos, Earlie Kramer, Josephine Hunters..." Inisa-isa ko ang aliases niya na ini-send sa akin ni Doodie.

"God, you sound so hot when you call me names. How about you call me your dirty little slu—"

"Shh!" I shushed her and threw a glare. Nang-aasar lamang siyang nakangiti sa akin. She's still wearing the clothes from earlier, her hair is now dry and naka-posas siya. I put her in handcuffs because I don't trust her. She resisted at first pero wala na siyang nagawa noong naisuot ko na sa kanya iyon.

"Can you stop with the séx jokes already?"

Umiling siya.

"No, sorry, I like seeing your cheeks glow red, Sir Vaughn Miguel." Kinindatan pa niya ako.

Napailing na lamang ako at bago ko itinuon ang aking paningin sa dinadaanan.

"Call me Kamila," Sabi niya matapos ang ilang sandali na katahimikan. "It's my favorite fake name, big boy."

I just shook my head when she called me that annoying nickname.

"Kamila...a female name that has Italian origin, it means perfect." I can't help but say that. "Are you perfect?" Tanong ko. I don't even know why I asked that and why I am having a conversation with an international wanted criminal.

She scoffed.

"Fúck no, I am far from being perfect." Sagot niya.

"Then bakit mo pinili ang fake name na 'yun?" I asked, my eyes are still on the road.

"I had a very fúcked up life that was so far from being perfect. It's nice to atleast feel like you're perfect even if it's just through a fake name.." I heard say.

Sandali naman akong natigilan. Her tone wasn't teasing or sarcastic...kahit na ganoon ay hindi ko siya dapat paniwalaan, but somehow, I felt like she was telling me the truth.

Napalingon ako sa kanya.

"Oh, my god, naniwala ka!" Tatawa-tawa niyang sabi niya na ikinasimangot ko agad. "Binigay lang sa akin na pangalan iyon noong gumawa ng fake documents ko." She added that made my frown even deeper.

Hindi ko na siya kinausap matapos noon. I just focused on driving and telling myself that I must never let my guard down around this woman. Matapos ang ilang minuto ay nakarating na kami dito sa harap ng isang simpleng gate. Hindi ko kinailangan na bumaba pa upang buksan iyon, dahil may built-in sensors iyon kung saan ini-scan nito ang mga in-authorize na sasakyan ni Kuya Simon.

And since I told him that I'm gonna need this house for a few weeks, he authorized this car that I'm currently using.

"Woah, that's some hi-tech shî—"

"Can you not curse please?" I asked her as the gates opened.

I saw her pout through my peripheral vision.

"What are you gonna do? Susumbong mo ako kay Mommy mo, huh, big boy?" She taunted.

Imbes na patulan siya ay hindi na ako kumibo. I just parked the car in front of the two storey modern house. Before she even throw another joke about intercourse, bumaba na ako at umikot patungo sa pintuan niya.