Princess Series Three: The Beauty Within A Beast

V

One year later...

"Belle, you really need a day off. Hindi ko na ma-take ang mga wrinkles mo!" sambit ni Jasmine at medyo natawa ako.

"Jas, it's fine. Clishique is doing so well and it's satisfying," sabi ko at tinuon ang pansin ko sa laptop ko. I was reviewing the financial status of Clishique.

Ari nudged my arm and I turned to her. "You know, she's right. Malayo na ang narating ng Clishique and you've done so much already. You need a break."

"At sobrang busy ka pa sa pagiging secretary ni Prince," dagdag ni Erella na binigyan kami lahat ng Oreo milkshake.

I smiled at my friends' concerns. "Girls. I'm fine. Magba-bakasyon din ako, okay? Hindi lang ngayon. Masyadong hectic ang dalawang kumpanya."

"I'm just glad you're not doing any managing for ELITES dahil kung oo, suicide na 'yun!" bulalas ni Ari.

"My dad and Jake can handle everything," sabi ko. Isa pa, I know nothing about the ins and outs of ELITES as much as they do. Mas lalong wala akong ideya sa mga ginagawa nila. I can never make something new. Even Jake invented something a couple of months ago that finally sealed the deal with Royal ICON. Much to sir Prince's dismay, dahil halatang ayaw niya talaga kay Jake. I don't even know why, mabait naman si Jake. May pagka-unprofessional lang siya around me, pero naiintindihan ko naman kasi madalas na kaming magkakilala and we know each other on a more personal level. Walang malisya.

"Hindi mo parin ba naide-date 'yang si Prince?" tanong ni Jasmine sa'kin.

I shook my head. "No. Walang time."

"Tinanong mo na ba siya?" Erella asked me this time.

"No. Kailan ba dapat?"

"Girl," simula ni Jasmine, "you've been with the guy for a whole year now. Bakit hindi mo pa niyayaya? Akala ko ba you want him for yourself?"

Napangiwi ako at binitawan na muna ang laptop ko. "Seriously? Yes, I want him for myself. Pero hindi naman ganun kadali. Especially with him. He's so unpredictable."

"Unpredictable?" Tinaasan ako ng kilay ni Jasmine. "Hun, all you need to do is show him you're interested. You need to show him a bait first."

"At anong bait naman?"

Jasmine snickered at me. "You of course. Offer him your body!"

"Jasmine!" eskandalong sambit ni Ari at taas-kilay kong pinanood ang pamumula ng buong mukha niya.

Natawa si Erella. "Oh my gosh. That was golden, Jas!"

Sumimangot si Ari. "Bi, huwag mong patulan. We're not supposed to encourage Belle into something like that!"

Jasmine nudged Ari. "Kung makapagsalita ka parang 'di kayo nagkakantutan ni Eric!"

Namula ulit si Ari tapos mahinang sinampal ang bunganga ni Jasmine. "I swear, Jas, your mouth is so foul!"

"Pero, Belle," tawag sa'kin ni Erella kaya napatingin ako sakanya. "I get that you're demure and all, pero agree ako kay Jasmine. Seduce him na!"

Napailing ako. "Hindi kaya ako magmumukhang unprofessional niyan? Napaka-seryoso pa naman nun pagdating sa trabaho."

"Who the hell cares?" singit ni Jasmine. "Look, Belle, you have to make a move on the guy. Hindi p'wedeng hanggang secretary lang ang tingin nun sa'yo. Like, seriously, when was the last time you wore a skirt to work?"

Kumunot ang noo ko tapos nagkibit-balikat ako. "Hindi ko na alam. Mga last year? Pinagalitan kasi one time, e. Kaya 'di na ako umulit."

Jasmine sighed exasperatedly. "Hay nako, Belle! So what? Test his patience! Hindi mo ba alam 'yung kasabihan na anger creates sexual tension?"