Every Tick of Serendipity ( Ruler of Fate Series #3 )

KABANATA 37

Kabanata 37

The thirty-seventh tick
‎

‎
I sighed and hopped in my service van after my bodyguard opened it for me. Pumikit ako nang mariin at sinandig ang likod ng ulo ko sa upuan.

"Boss..." My forehead creased, hearing that exactly in front of my face.

I slowly opened my eyes, only for Atlas to greet me with a smile. He whistled and raised his brows playfully, which made me roll my eyes. Mula sa dulong hilera ng upuan ay lumipat siya sa tabi ko.

"You have the audacity to sneak in here, huh?" Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin at mahinang sinabunutan. "After all the mess you made?"

"Ako pa nga ang sinisi..." He chuckled, while trying to move his head away from my hands. "Sino ba kasing nagsabing bumili ka ng album namin? Ikaw naman nag-umpisa nito, Boss."

My lips parted. "A-Anong me?!" I gasped. "Huwag kang feeling! It wasn't you that made me buy all those things, ah!" Naiiritang sagot ko at mas lalo pang sinabutan ang kaniyang ulo.

He grabbed both of my hands and pinned them together on my thighs. Sumimangot siya sa'kin, "Grabe ka naman sa rumored boyfriend mo..." nagpapa-awang sabi niya na halos ikasuka ko.

Ngumiwi ako. "Oh, please..." I shook my head in disbelief. "You're not pasok sa standards ko, Atlas."

Saglit siyang natigilan kasabay nang pagtagal ng tingin niya sa'kin. "Sumakay lang ako para hindi sabihing na-one sided love ka." I again saw his teasing smile when he regained his senses.

"Wow..." I scoffed. "Thank you, ah?"

"Labag pa ata sa loob mo, Boss, ah?" His eyes blinked. "Bakit? Gusto mo ba ng..." He cleared his throat and brought his two hands in front of him. He was acting like a reporter all of a sudden.

Bumaba ang tingin niya sa kamay niyang umaaktong may hawak na card, pabalik ulit sa'kin. "Amber Nyxene Valentina, a known supermodel of Nous Model Agency, the face of the top one in cosmetics — Aerial — and the highest paid ambassador of everyone's favorite new clothing, A.Feronias... His eyes squinted as he leaned forward toward me. "Is said to be in love secretly with the Rival of Tomorrow's drummer: the mightiest, the greatest, and the most handsome of all... Atlas Isaiah De Me—"

"Ew." I said, which cut him off.

His lips parted, like he was so offended by what I did.

Inirapan ko siya. "The mightiest? The greatest?" Sunod-sunod siyang tumango sa bawat salitang sinabi ko na ikinangiwi ko ulit.

"And?" His head tilted sideways, purposely letting me see his ear, waiting for me to add something.

Tumingin ako kay kuya driver imbes na sundin ang gusto niya. "Can we please stop? I don't want liars in my van."

I felt a nudge on my shoulder coming from Atlas, which again made me roll my eyes.

"Boss kita, pero boss ka ba niya?"

My forehead creased, looking so done because of what he said.

He pointed at the driver's seat with his lips. Sinundan ko ang tinuturo niya at muling tumitig sa taong nagmamaneho ng sasakyan.

My eyes blinked, seeing a tall frame and another built than my usual driver. I pouted and held the backrest of his chair before I slowly peeked at him. Bumalik ang pagkakakunot ng noo ko nang mamukhaan na sya. "Kuya?"

"What?" He answered, along with another voice away from my vision.

Nang tignan ko ang katabing upuan ay si Kuya Zyler naman naman ang bumungad sa'kin na may kagat-kagat na isang piraso ng fries.