I Found a Man

Kabanata 31

Kabanata 31

The project is almost finished and I was so happy about what we've done so far. We hired some labourers mula sa company na kinuha ng mga Wrights but I also insisted na kukuha din ako ng mga local na taga dito. Alam ko parin kasi na walang tatalo sa kasipagan ng mga taga San Andres lalo na at nakita ko kung gaano sila kasaya nung sabihin ko na kukunin ko silang magtrabaho para sa hospital nitong lugar.

Kagaya ko, alam nila kung gaano kahirap mabuhay sa lugar na malayo sa hospital. Kaya tuwang tuwa sila at bukal sa loob ang pagtrabaho. Some even volunteered to work for free, but I insisted that they need to be payed.

Hands on ako sa pagtanim at pag design and I'm even shocked that Zec is also helping me. After we talked that night, he didn't brought it up anymore and I'm glad. Dahil hindi ko nanaman alam ang gagawin ko kung sakali mag open up siya tungkol doon.

"Sandy here's your water." Abot sa akin ni Meg. She wanted to help since business partners naman daw kami, but I know better, she's here because she wants a vacation. She just broke up with her ex boyfriend. She opened her own bottle, tumabi sa akin at humarap sa direction ni Zec. "Ang gwapo noh?"

Hindi ako nagsalita. Totoong gwapo si Zec, lalo na ngayon na naka topless siya with his farmer's hat and a face towel on his shoulder. I gulped as I stare at Zec. His skin is also glittering with sweat. I heard Megan sigh.

"Ang yummy niyan for sure." Kinikilig na sabi niya. Hindi na bago sa akin ang makarinig ng ganyang comment sa lalaki galing kay Meg. She's somewhat the liberated type. Nakuha niya kasi ang ugaling british. Mas matagal kasi siyang tumira doon kesa sa akin at halos doon na nga siya tumanda.

"Tumigil ka nga sa kakapantasya mo diyan. Magtrabaho ka lang." Sabi ko habang hindi inaalis ang tingin kay Zec.

"What if yayain ko siya ng one night stand? You think papayag siya?" Mabilis akong lumingon sa kanya. "I'm not the kind to have one night stand but damn girl, I bet it'll be worth it."

"Don't you dare!" Agad kong natikom ang bibig ko dahil masiyado yatang napalakas ang boses ko. Napansin ko din na napalingon si Zec sa amin. He made a thumbs up asking if I'm okay. I smiled and nodded my head at him.

"Mm-hm. What was that all about?" Meg raised a brow at me. I shrugged at nagkunwaring busy. "Sandy, may hindi ka ba sinasabi sa akin?"

"Wala."

"Oh come on. Nagkamabutihan na ba kayo ni Dr. Markus?" Hindi ako sumagot. Hindi rin naman siya maniniwala kahit anong sabihin ko. "Dang! I knew it!"

"You knew what?" I said trying to sound innocent and cool.

"You fancy him, don't you?" Nanlaki ang mata ko dahil sa sinabi niya and her mouth turned into a big O while her eyes twinkle with amusement. "You like him!"

"I don't! Will you please shut the hell up?!" Nakakahiya baka mamaya may makarinig sa kanya dito at isipin na totoo ang sinasabi niya.

"You're face is already giving me something to fish in the pond. Give me some details!" I rolled my eyes at her.

"Stop being such a nose ointment, Meg. I don't fancy him, alright?" Nagkunwari akong busy sa pagtingin ng halaman pero kilala ko si Meg, she won't stop until I tell her something that she wants to hear.

"So have you done it? Have you tasted the meat and two veg?" Agad kong tinakpan ang bibig niya gamit ang mga kamay ko. Sana lang walang nakakaintindi sa mga pinagsasasabi niya.

It's a good thing most Filipino knows American english. Kung hindi lagot na ako, because meat and two veg in British means the male's private part. At hindi maganda kung maririnig ng iba na pinag uusapan namin ang ganoong parte ng katawan ni Zec.

"So hindi pa nga? Can I try?" Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin. She smirked. "Oooohh, scary. It's like you're tempting me to find it all out myself."

"Hi." I glanced sideways when I heard Megan as she approached Zec. Tumayo naman ng tuwid si Zec at humarap sa kanya. I know what she's doing. Lumalapit siya kay Zec to fish some information that I wasn't feeding her. "I'm Megan nga pala. Buisness partner ni Sandy."

I moved my head a little for me to see them more in my peripheral vision. Ayaw ko namang tumingin sa kanila ng deretso dahil mahahalata ako ni Meg at alam kong mang aasar siya lalo kapag ganon. Meg extended her hand and Zec took it and smiled at her. Napasimangot ako. Bakit may pangiti-ngiti pa? I don't want him to dazzle her more with his smile.

"Markus." Megan's smile grew wider. I know that smile—that flirty smile. Pero mukhang wala naman iyong epekto kay Zec dahil inosente lang siyang nakatingin kay Meg. Good to know. Pinigilan ko ang mapangiti.

Alam ko naman kasi na mas ang charisma ni Megan kesa sa akin. Megan is like a vixen, she can easily stand out in a crowd. Magaling siyang makisama sa iba and her out-going personality makes her more attractive. While I'm her opposite. I'm like her shadow whenever we go out, cause I'm too plain and boring to be noticed. Kahit naman kasi nag ilang taon ako sa UK, hindi ko pa rin maiaalis ang pagiging probinsayang Pilipina ko.

Minsan kasi naririnig ko pa ang boses ni lola sa utak ko na pinapagalitan ako.

"So, are you single?" Tanong ni Megan sabay sulyap sa kamay ni Zec. Napakagat labi siya. She must've realized na walang suot si Zec na ang inig sabihin ay single. "No ring." Napatingin din si Zec sa sarili niyang mga kamay. "Any girlfriend?"

Magsasalita pa sana si Zec upang sumagot pero hindi na siya binigyan ni Meg ng chance na magsalita.

"Though that's really not an issue for me." Megan laughed pero hindi tumawa si Zec. He looked at me, confused. I sighed. Kawawa naman si Zec dahil siya pa ang napag buntunan ni Megan ng curiosity niya. I walked towards the both of them.

"Meg, let's go. Stop harassing Zec." I was about to drag her away when she pulled her arm.

"Zec?" I stiffened as Meg repeated what I called him.

"I mean Mr. Wright. Wag mo nang gawan ng issue tara na." Hahawakan ko na sana ulit ang braso ni Megan nang bigla akong hinila ni Zec palapit sa kanya at hinawakan sa magkabilang balikat.

"I like her." Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa sinabi ni Zec, pero seryoso lang siyang nakatingin kay Megan na ngayon ay nakangisi lang sa amin. I know that proud look on her face and she looked at me knowingly. She looked at me like she's saying the she won. Para naman akong nanigas sa kinatatayuan ko dahil sa mga sunod na sinabi ni Zec.

"No. I love Krisandra."