Condition
Iminuwestra ko ang sofa. Draven nodded and walked silently. Kahit ang paghakbang niya, halos dama ko. Ang bawat galaw ay pansin ng mga mata ko.
I can smell the expensive masculine fragrance he's wearing. I've never been meticulous with men around me but this man who just came in like a tamed beast gave me butterflies in the stomach. Talagang kuhang kuha niya ang mga gusto ko sa lalake. O sadyang noon pa man, siya na ang naging basehan ko sa mga lalakeng nagugustuhan ko.
"Kumuha ka ng makakain at maiinom niya, Arthur," I said carefully.
Arthur nodded and bowed his head a bit before closing the door. Nakita ko si Draven, nakatuko ang mga kamay sa nakabukaka niyang mahahabang binti at nakasalikop ang mga daliri sa isa't isa.
Humakbang ako papalapit. His eyes watched me carefully. Inukupa ko ang harapang sofa habang napapagitnaan kami ng bilugang babasaging mesa.
"So you want to buy our entire hotel?" deritso kong tanong nang wala siyang maisip na iba pa kaya gusto ko siyang makausap nang masinsinan.
He nodded. "Yes..." he said in a low tone, halos namamaos ang pagbulong.
And even his voice sounded manly too. Not that he doesn't sound manly from the past but he's a teenage boy. Kakaibang kakaiba siya ngayon. Kung itatabi siya sa Draven na kilala ko noon, baka maisip ko pang ibang tao sila.
His vibe is the same. Calm yet mysterious. Ramdam ko iyon sa paninitig niya, na kahit anong gusto kong basahin kung ano man ang tumatakbo sa isipan niya, talagang blangko. Hindi ko alam kung natutuwa ba siya ngayon, galit, o blangko lang.
"The land isn't for sale, Engineer," I said in a cold tone, trying to match his vibe.
"That's why I'm gonna double the price," he insisted.
Napangisi ako roon. His eyes drifted on my lips. He licked his lowerlip and looked at me again in the eyes with no trace of emotion.
"That's not how it works. Hindi naman lahat madadaan sa pera," I said.
"That's the only memory we had with our mother that's why I want it back," marahan niyang bigkas.
I'm shock that he's not getting aggressive with the talk. And fuck it, Ashtraia, I can't believe you find it very hot!
Humalukipkip ako at ipinatong ang hita sa isa kong hita. I leaned against the headboard of the sofa as I eyed him carefully just to calm my senses down.
"Itong hotel lang din ang magiging memorya ko kay Lola kung sakaling nawala siya," and I can't believe I'm using Lola's excuse now huh?
"Why? Is she... dead?" his thick brows knitted as if he's confused or curious.
"Hindi pa naman..."
His expression calmed down. He nodded.
"The Hotel has a sentimental value. Kahit pa triplehin mo ang offer, we won't sell this so easily. You're gonna demolish not just an important asset but also a valuable property. The project manager of this hotel is none other than Lola's only daughter..."
"Is she... dead?" he confirmed.
"Hindi pa," I leered at him. "Kailangan bang may mamatay muna ang may-ari para ituring na importanteng bagay ang pagmamay-ari niya?"
He shook his head carefully. "No..."
I gritted my teeth. Naiirita sa sarili kung bakit natuturn-on ako sa simpleng mga galaw niya. Sa sobra niyang kalma! I can't believe this!
"But the land is important to us. I promised to my mother I'll... take it back... once I'm successful," mataman niya akong tinitigan.
Successful. Naalala ko noon kung gaano niya ka gustong magkolehiyo kahit kapos sila. Kung paano siya iginapang ng kanyang kapatid. Is this the reason why the two were eager to fight for their rights with the land?
