Bad Times at Sunrise (La Fortuna Series #3)

Kabanata 3

Kabanata 3

Hire

A woman like me.

Ano ba akong klaseng babae? A whore? A slut? A gold-digger? Bakit, masama na ba ngayong kumayod para sa ikauunlad ng buhay ko? Ng mga kapatid ko?

Ico's words made a deep cut. Kung tutuusi'y wala naman siyang sinabing masama. He didn't specify what kind of woman I was, but then it didn't take a goddamn Sherlock to know what he meant. He thought I was someone immoral and dishonorable.

He could judge me for the ways I had chosen and for the roads I had driven to improve our way of life but he could never never judge me for wanting a better future. Kung may choice ba ako, ibababa ko ng gan'to ang sarili ko? Putang inang 'yan. May pinag-aralan ako! I was the smartest of our batch but there's only much that intelligence could give!

He was a fucking jerk.

"Gaga, 'yong cellphone mo, nagri-ring."

Sinipat ko si Minerva na nakahiga sa sofa ng apartment namin. Nakadantay ang paa niya sa arm rest habang nagn-nailcutter sa mga kuko niya sa kamay. I next darted my eyes at my phone. Nang makitang unknown number ang tumatawag ay 'di ko 'yon pinansin. Humiga rin ako sa kabilang sofa at saka itinaas ang tingin sa kisame.

"Mine, mukha ba akong pokpok?"

Napaubo-ubo siya. Nang matanto niyang seryoso ako'y umayos siya ng upo sa couch. I did the same so that we could now face each other properly.

"Hm, gusto mo ng honest answer?"

"God, Mine, siyempre!" Napairap ako sa hangin. "And don't you dare kiss my ass, okay? Just straight up tell me if I really look like a slut."

Bumuntong-hininga siya. "Sa kasamaang palad, hindi ka naman mukhang pokpok."

"Okay? So ano ako?" I shot up a brow.

"Mukha ka ngang mayaman, sa totoo lang. Sexy ka pa at nakakainggit 'yang pang-diwata mong buhok. You have Russian roots, right? 'Yong tatay mo Russian tas Filipina ang nanay mo?"

"Sabi lang ni Laurel." Nagkibit-balikat ako. "Pero 'di ko sure. 'Di rin niya sure."

Ngumiwi siya. "Ang walang-silbi naman niyang si Laurel bilang adopted mother mo! Inampon ka lang siguro niyan para pagtrabahuhin, e."

Sasagot na sana ako nang mag-ring ulit ang cellphone ko. Ayoko sanang sagutin dahil unknown number 'yon at wala akong ganang makipagdiskurso sa ibang tao ngayon. Mine's eyes were nudging me though, so I didn't have a choice. Dinampot ko ang cellphone at sinagot ang tawag.

"Hello, this Sunny Veg—"

"I want a pizza." It was Ico's voice.

Napasimangot ako. "Sino 'to?"

"Icarus Benavidos," he answered in a husky voice. Of course, I know! "I would like to order a box of pepperoni pizza. Please deliver it to the summer house and kindly do it as soon as possible. I have work at 9 AM."

"Okay. That would be all, Sir?" I asked in a phony receptionist voice.

"One more thing. Deliver yourself along with it, uh, Sunny Vega."

My brows furrowed. "Huh? Me? Why?"

"Because I need you."

Putangina, wow! Just Wow! Pagkatapos niya akong husgahan dahil binigyan ko siya ng calling card ko, tatawag siya ngayon at sasabihing kailangan niya ako? What a fucking dick!

I was supposed to bail on him but Minerva and her annoying hearing skills knew that the call was from Ico. Dahil do'n ay kinaladkad niya ako papasok sa kuwarto ko't pinabihis ng marangal na damit. Binigyan niya pa ako ng pera pang-taxi patungong Cavura. And now here I was driving along the country road leading to the farthest South. Naka-motor lang ako dahil naibalik ko na kahapon kay Levi ang Aventador niya.