HIS MODERN CINDERELLA (Taming A Casanova #2) - Published under Pop Fiction

Chapter 8

CHAPTER 8

VAUGHN CRAIG's POV

I really think I've gone crazy. Hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit nag-aaksaya ako ng oras at pera para kay Natalia. Her presence in my life was totally distracting me away from Sam. And, I really didn't understand.

Tulad nang dati ay kinayag ko ulit si Terrence pero ang hirap na talaga niyang hagilapin. At tulad ng iba kong brothers, mukhang pati siya ay tinamaan na nang kamalayasan. Jeez... What was so good about settling down for one woman?

You can't date other woman.

May curfew.

Detailed responsibilities.

Tantrums?

No more night life.

Kids.

Damn. I'll be doomed.

That wasn't a dream at all. I can't give up everything just for one woman. Never. At least, not just yet, because I knew eventually I have to settle down. Pero hinding-hindi pa ngayon. Hindi ako kasing tanga nila Chance, Tyrone at Dalton. Nasa tamang wisyo pa ang utak ko at wala akong balak sayangin 'yun.

May kung ilang araw ding panay ang kain ko sa restaurant na pinagta-trabahuhan ni Natalia para lang makita siya. But like before, sobrang aloof pa rin niya at talagang hindi namamansin. I couldn't believe her. It was so easy for me to seduce a woman. I actually think I never did seduce any of them. With just one smile, they were all over me. But with Natalia, damn. Lahat na yata nagawa ko pero wala lang. It kinda pisses me off every damn time she played hard to get and totally ignored me. At hindi na rin nasundan ang kiss na 'yun kahit pa mag-offer ako nang mas malaking halaga. She's absurd.

"Dude, alone again?" nakangising tanong pa ni Amir. Tulad nitong nakakaraan, laman na naman ako ng club niya. Ni hindi ko na nga napupuntahan ang mga bar na paborito naming tambayan ng mga barkada. Kung sabagay ay nag-iisa na nga lang din pala ako. Wala naman akong makayag na iba.

"Terrence is busy," tipid na sagot ko lang sabay bahagyang umiling.

"Parang alam ko na kung bakit," natatawang sabi pa niya sabay tapik sa aking balikat. "Call me if you need anything. May problema lang sa kitchen."

"I'm fine, dude. Thank you."

"Are you sure ayaw mo ng ka-table? May mga safe akong available."

"I'm fine," tipid na sagot ko lang sabay inom sa Vodka.

"You really like Natalia, huh?" nanunuksong himig pa niya pero mapaklang ngiti lang ang isinukli ko sa kanya.

"She's challenging me, dude."

"What if she's not really challenging you?"

"What do you mean?" Kumunot ako at hindi ko makuha ang ibig niyang sabihin.

"No offense meant, dude. Paano kung ayaw lang niya talaga sa'yo?"

Umiling ako at mapaklang ngumiti. Who wouldn't be drooling over me? Alam kong may agenda lang siya kaya siya ganoon.

"In no time, she'll be offering herself for free, dude," natatawang sagot ko at iiling-iling naman siyang sumagot.

"Hmm, we'll see about that." Tumangu-tango pa siya as if he's not really convinced. "I really need to leave. Will you be all right here?"

"Yes, thanks." Kinagat ko ang ibabang labi ko at muli kong itinuon ang atensyon ko sa may stage. Hindi ko na rin nilingon si Amir dahil mas interesado ako sa magsasayaw sa harapan.