Maxie's P.O.V

“Sir may kailangan pa po kayo?” I stroke Snow's fury back and look at him with questioning eyes.

Umiling siya at inabot ang kape na pinabili niya sa akin ngayon lang.

“Then I'll just see myself out sir.”

“Hmm... Make sure that pet of yours won't make any mess here. Or you'll see it in your plate the next moment.”

Mabilis akong lumingon sa kanya saka sinamaan siya ng tingin. He raised his eyebrows as if he's challenging me. I hugged Snow protectively in my arms and stormed out of the room.

Masaya ako kanina dahil pinayagan niya akong dalhin si Snow pabalik sa condo niya pati na rin dito sa office. Pero paulit-ulit naman niya akong tinatakot na kapag magdudumi o makikita niyang pakalat-kalat si Snow ay ipapaluto niya ito. Nakakainis talaga siya.

Paupo na sana ako sa upuan ko nang bumukas ang elevator at lumabas si Diane. She smiled when she saw me and waved her hand. Napangiti ako at kumaway pabalik.

“Max! Nice seeing you again,” bumaba ang tingin niya sa hawak ko. “Ano 'yan?” nakakunot noong tanong niya.

Nag-angat ng ulo si Snow at tiningnan si Diane. I know Snow will remember Diane when they'll see each other again. Matalas kasi ang memory ng mga kambing.

“She is Snow, a pygmy.” I told her.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Diane at mas lalong lumapit sa akin. She touched Snow's head fondly.

“She's cute. I didn't know mahilig ka pala sa mga goats,” tumawa siya. “Well, I love dogs and I also have pets.”

Tumango ako at nginitian siya. Magkakasundo na naman kami sa parteng 'to. Nagkwento siya tungkol sa tatlong alaga niya na aso. Iyong dalawa raw ay galing sa parents niya na niregalo sa kanya noong nakaraang taon. While the other one, nakita lang daw niya ito sa daan at parang walang nagmamay-ari rito. It was still a baby and seems like weeks old pa lang ito. Mahina pa at hindi kayang mag-isa kaya she decided to adopt it.

“Bakit ka nga pala nandito? Are you looking for Duke- I mean mr.-”

Napapitlag ako dahil sa biglang nagsalita sa likuran ko. “What are you doing here, Diane? Bakit hindi ka tumuloy sa office ko if you want to see me?” nakakunot ang noong tanong niya.

Napatingin kami ni Diane rito. Diane smiled at him when she saw him. Lumapit si Diane rito at hinalikan ang pisngi ni Duke Zachary.

“Hello kuya. Bakit nakakunot na naman ang noo mo? Chill kuya,” tumawa ng mahina. “I'm here to tell you that daddy want to invite to his birthday. Actually, he also wants to invite uncle and auntie pero alam naman natin na hindi pwede si uncle kasi kailangan pa niyang magpahinga, and auntie needs to be with him. Kaya gusto niyang kahit ikaw man lang daw ay makakapunta. It'll just be a simple family dinner kuya.”

Mas lalong kumunot ang noo ni Duke dahil sa paliwanag ni Diane. “How about you? Aren't you going there?”

Mabilis na umiling si Diane. “No, nagpaalam na ako kay dad na hindi ako makakapunta. Hindi pwedeng hindi ako sisipot sa pageant na sinalihan ko or I'll be dead. Kaya ikaw na lang please, kuya. Pretty please?”

Zachary looked at her with a grim expression. “You're saying that, that pageant is more important than your own father's birthday.”

Nagusot ang mukha ni Diane. “Daddy already let me and still we're going to celebrate his belated birthday two days after. Don't you want that kuya? Take it as an opportunity to relax dahil palagi ka na lang nakababad sa trabaho,” huminga ng malalim si Diane na para bang napakalaki ng pinoproblema. “I already told your housekeeper there na siguraduhing handa ang lahat doon kasi doon ka magsstay ng isang linggo.”

Duke Zachary inhaled loudly as he massage his forehead. Actually, I agree with Diane. It's an opportunity for Duke to take a break from his exhausting workloads. Nakakasama ring palagi na lang siyang nagtatrabaho at wala nang ibang iniisip kun'di ang trabaho.

Ni hindi ko nga kayang mastuck sa isang silid kasama ang mga papel na hindi niya hinihiwalayan. Maging sa pagtulog ay kasama niya ito at ayaw lubayan. E 'di pakasalan na lang din kaya niya ang mga papel na 'yon? I can't help but roll my eyes at that thought.

“Okay, fine. And you're right. I need to take a break and have a time to fully relax.”

Nagliwanag ang mukha ni Diane at mabilis na yinakap si Duke. “Thank you kuya! The best ka talaga.”

“Alright, alright. You're such a pain,” humarap sa akin si Duke Zachary kaya napatayo ako ng maayos. “You're going to the club with me.”

Kaagad kong naintindihan ang kanyang ibig sabihin. He's going there to meet with his friends. Nakakainggit kasi matagal ko na ring hindi nakita sina Ace at Candy. Nakakamiss din pala ang mga 'yon kahit puro bangayan lang naman ang palaging kong naririnig sa kanila. Ilang linggo na lang rin naman and I can finally see them freely again.

“Sa club kayo?” ngumiti ng malaki si Diane. “I want to come with you guys.”

Tumango lang si Duke at napatingin kay Snow na nanahimik lang sa bisig ko. “Leave her to tatay Juan,” tukoy niya sa matandang driver na nakabalik dahil gumaling na ang apo nito. “And there's no drink for you.”

Napakurap-kurap ako. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang maproseso ng aking utak ang kanyang sinabi. Pinagloloko ba niya ako?

“Pupunta ako doon tapos hindi mo 'ko papainomin. Anong purpose kaya ako pupunta doon? Manonood lang. Kung hindi na lang din kaya ako sasama.” pero syempre, hindi totoo ang huli kong sinabi. Hindi siya maaaring mawala sa paningin ko. Hindi siya sumagot at walang emosyon lang niya akong tiningnan. “Hehehe. Sabi ko nga eh.”

I groaned secretly. I know that I can't get drunk again like what happened last time, but it's still frustrating.

I sighed exasperatedly. Everyone's enjoying themselves while here I am, sitting on a stool sipping an orange juice. Just wow. Kuya Finn, Troy and Samuel are also enjoying themselves. Allan didn't go with us dahil mayroon daw siyang dapat gawin.

I wonder where did Diane go. She excused herself awhile ago and still she haven't came back. Probably, she's downstairs and dancing to random strangers. Tumingin ako kay Duke na nasa tabi ko lang at abala sa pakikinig sa kanyang nga kaibigan. Lahat ng mga kaibigan niya ay may mga katabing babae at siya lang ang naiiba. Kapag mayroon namang lumalapit ay pinapaalis niya kaagad.

Kinalabit ko si Duke Zachary. Nakakunot noong binalingan niya ako ng tingin at hinintay akong magsalita.

Tumayo ako bago siya sinagot. “Just goin' to the cr. I'll be back in no time.”

Nang tumango na siya ay saka ako tumalikod.  Bumaba ako sa hagdan at saglit na napapikit dahil sa mga iba't-ibang kulay ng ilaw. Nang masanay na ang aking mga mata ay nagpatuloy ako sa paglalakad. Half of the crowd are dancing wildly on the dance floor like they don't care about anything. Some are just sitting on the couches with their folks. Inalis ko ang aking tingin sa kanila at lumiko. Napahinto ako sa tapat ng mga cr. Napakagat ako sa ibaba kong labi at iniisip kung saan ba ako papasok.

I scowled at the men sign. I haven't tried going in a men's comfort room ever since I put on this disguise. My eyes immediately glance at the other side where the women sign was. This is really annoying. Hindi ko alam kung saan ako papasok. Ayokong pumasok sa cr ng mga lalaki at baka kung ano na ang makita ko doon. Samantalang, kapag sa cr naman ng mga babae, baka ipadampot pa ako sa gwardiya. I don't want that to happen.

I started pacing back and fort, still torn and confused. Kung pipigilan ko na lang din kaya no? Pero hindi rin yatang pigilan ang ihi ko hanggang sa makauwi kami ni Duke.

Dahil sa kakaisip ko ay hindi ko napansin ang babaeng papalabas mula sa comfort room ng mga babae. “Ouch!”

Hinawakan ko ang magkabila niyang balikat para hindi siya tuluyang matumba. Nagulat ako nang makilala kung sino ang nabangga ko.

I looked at her apologetically. “Diane, I am so sorry-” nanlalaki ang mga matang napahinto ako sa pagsasalita.

Ganoon din siya. Her eyes went wide and a gasp escape from her lips. Mabilis kong kinapa ang aking leeg at nagbabasakaling naroon ang voice changer necklace. To my realization, wala roon ang kwentas ko.

Yumuko ako dahil baka nahulog iyon sa sahig dahil sa pagkakabangga namin ni Diane. At tama nga ako. It was there, lying on the floor just beside my shoes. I picked it up and held it close to me.

Diane's looking at me like I am some alien that just arrived in this planet. ‘I am so dead.’
I was about to put it back around my neck when she stopped my hand. Mariin akong napalunok.
Inilapit niya ang kanyang mukha sa akin and she scrutinized me. “Did I just hear it right?” hindi makapaniwalang tanong niya. “Your voice changed.”

Umiling ako ng mabilis at akmang isuot ang kwentas pero pinigilan niya ako. Tinitigan niya ako ng mariin habang na hinawakan ang aking braso. She pulled me in a dark place.

“Don't lie to me. I hate it when a person lies and won't tell the truth.”

Bumuka ang aking bibig but I can't utter a single word. I don't want her to find out about ny identity but I also know I can't escape without telling a reasonable and acceptable explanation. She stared straight into my eyes like she's reading it. My mission will be doomed with a wrong answer. I grip my hair in frustration.

“So what now?” She folded her arms with a stubborn look and seems that she won't let me go until I'll explain everything.

I can't help but let out another deep sigh. Never thought that I'll be found out and stuck in this kind of situation. I am just so confident that I won't be found out so I didn't think of an explanation in advance.

Well atleast she didn't immediately speculate and told every person of what she just found out. Diane's letting me explain my side and that's very much better. Kung hindi siguro siya ang nakaalam tungkol dito ay kanina pa ako nagmission failed. Maybe hindi masamang mag-explain ako sa kanya kahit kaunti. She will understand me.

“T-Tama ang narinig mo,” I told her in a low voice. Itinaas ko ang kuwentas na aking hawak upang makita niya ng maigi. “This is a voice recorder. This helped me change my voice kaya panlalaking boses ang naririnig niyo. I am a woman, Diane, like you.”

Nanlaki na naman ang kanyang mga mata na tila ba ay hindi makapaniwala sa narinig.

“Y-You are a woman!” she gasped. She pointed her index finger at me while her other hand's covering her mouth.

“I am s-sorry for fooling you.”

Suminghap siya ng malakas. I thought I was already completely doomed but her next words made me speechless.

“That's not the point! The point is that, I am almost crushing over a woman! Oh dear, mabuti na lang at nalaman ko ito agad. Or else magiging tomboy ako.”

Nakatulala lang ako sa kanya habang patuloy pa rin siya sa pagsasalita. Napatigalgal ako dahil sa naibulalas niya. Walang ni isang salita akong naintindihan sa mga pinagsasabi niya. Napansin niya yata na nakatitig lang ako kaya huminto siya sa pagsasalita.

Namula ang kanyang mukha at halatang nahihiya. “A-Ano, muntik lang naman,” she shyly said. Muling sumeryoso ang kanyang mukha. “But why, Max? Or is it really Max? Was your name even real or it's just made up. Does kuya Zach know about this secret of yours?”

Umiling ako bilang tugon. “I am sorry dahil hindi ko maaaring sabihin ang rason ko. But I swear that I won't do anything to harm anyone. I have no bad intention and no. Hindi niya alam ang tunay kong pagkatao.”

Hindi siya nagsalita. And here goes her deep stares, scrutinizing me. I know she's torn between believing me or not. Hindi ako nag-iwas ng tingin kahit naiilang ako sa titig niya upang iparating na seryoso ako at hindi ako nagsisinungaling. Na kahit ngayon man lang ay mas pinili kong magsabi ng tutuo. Isang linggo na rin na puro kasinungalingan na lang ang mga pinagsasabi ko. At least just today for the whole month ay nagsabi ako katotohanan.

“Alright,” she said but doubt was still evident in her voice. “Whatever your reason is, I just hope it's anything but bad. Kung mapapahamak si kuya dahil sayo, I will blame myself. And also sana sasabihin mo rin kay kuya Zach ang totoo mong katauhan. Kung ayaw ko sa mga sinungaling, mas lalo na siya.”

Napalunok ako ng mariin. Aamin siguro ako kapag tapos na ang one month para hindi na ako muling magpapakita sa kanya pagkatapos. Ayokong masaksihan kung paano magalit ang isang Duke Zachary. Just imagining it made me shiver in fear.

Inaya na ako ni Diane na bumalik kaya mabilis kong sinuot ang kuwentas. Bago kami umalis ay tinanong ko siya.

“Bakit ka nga pala muntik nang magkacrush sa'kin?” I asked curiously. Balik na sa panlalaki ang tunog ng aking boses.

Muling namula ang kanyang mukha at hindi man lang niya ako matignan sa mata. “Well, I just felt na napakagaan ng loob ko sayo. Masarap kang kasama lalo na noong sinundo mo ako at nagpunta tayo sa mall. Also, you look decent yourself.”

Nagpakawala ako ng malutong na tawa. She's blushing hardly while saying those words. Her cuteness made me want to pinch her cheeks.

“Akala ko ba magccr ka? Why are you here flirting with my cousin?”

Sabay kaming napabaling sa pinanggalingan ng boses. Nakahalukipkip si Duke Zachary at nakakunot ang kanyang noo.

“Kuya-”

“Go back, Diane. I'm going to deal with him,” he said coldly but with full of authority.

Walang nagawa si Diane kun'di ang sumunod sa inutos ni Duke Zachary. Nang makaalis na ito at mawala na sa aming paningin ay lumapit sa akin si Duke. His face was way darker. My heartbeat's going wild and unconsciously, I took a step back not knowing that it was a dead end. He put his arms on the both sides of the wall. He trapped me, I have nowhere to go now. My predator's wild furious eyes boring in mine. Nagbaba ako ng tingin upang umiwas sa kanyang titig. But it only made him grip my chin and forced me to look at him in the eyes.

“You are so hard headed, Aoki,” I can even smell his breath because of our close proximity. “Don't let me see you flirting with her again. Because the next time I will make sure that you will regret it. Understood?”

I let out the breath that I didn't realise I was holding. “Yes sir.”

“Good.”

And he even ruffled my hair as if he's satisfied with my answer.

(A/N: please bear with the errors. Weeks without an update, I SUCK! )